What applications can be transferred to a memory card in Samsung smartphones: we understand the limitations and nuances

Smartphone owners Samsung with a limited amount of internal memory, sooner or later they are faced with the need to make room for new applications, photos or updates. A memory card microSD seems like an obvious solution - but it’s not that simple. The fact is that Android limits the transfer of applications to external drives, and manufacturers (including Samsung) often make their own adjustments to this function.

In this article we will look into smartphones which applications can be transferred to an SD card in smartphones Samsung Galaxy (using the example of models from A10 to S24 Ultra), why some apps remain “glued” to the internal memory, and how to bypass these limitations without risk to the system. You will also find out which hidden settings in the One UI firmware allow you to expand the transfer options information that is rarely mentioned even in official documentation.

Why can’t all applications be transferred to a memory card?

The main reason lies in the architecture Android and security policy Google. Starting from version Android 6.0 Marshmallow, the system supports the function Adoptable Storage (binding a memory card as an internal drive), but manufacturers, including Samsung, often disable it or modify it. Here are the key restrictions:

• 🔒 System applications: apps pre-installed Samsung or Google (for example, Samsung Health, Google Play Services) are blocked from transfer. Removing or moving them may disrupt the operation of the firmware.
• 📱 Applications with widgets: If the app has a widget on the main screen (for example, Weather or Clock), its transfer to an SD card is usually impossible - the system loses access to the files when the card is unloaded.
• 🔄 Applications with background processes: Messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram), antiviruses and apps with constant synchronization (for example, Google Drive) rarely support transfer due to the risk of loss data.
• 🎮 Games with high requirements: Modern games (for example, Genshin Impact or PUBG Mobile) often block transfer due to protection against piracy or the need for quick access to files.

In addition, Samsung the firmware One UI adds its own restrictions. For example, in models Galaxy S22/S23 transferring applications to an SD card is disabled by default - this function must be activated through Developer settings or third-party utilities.

⚠️ Attention: Transferring applications to a class memory card SDHC (up to 32 GB) or slow microSD (grade 4/6) may cause lags and errors. For stable operation, use cards UHS-I (class 10 or higher) with a capacity of 64 GB.

Which applications can be transferred without restrictions?

Despite strict rules, there are categories of applications that almost always support transfer to a memory card in smartphones Samsung. They have one thing in common: they do not require constant access to system resources and can work in “offline” mode. Here is the complete list:

Category	Examples of applications	Notes
📖 Book readers	Moon+ Reader, FBReader, Cool Reader	Completely transferred, including libraries books (if they are stored on the card).
🎵 Music players	Poweramp, VLC, JetAudio	Music files are usually stored on an SD card, but the application itself can also be transferred.
📷 Galleries and photo editors	QuickPic, Snapseed, PicsArt	Transfer is possible, but the cache and temporary files may remain in the internal memory.
📝 Notes and documents	Evernote, Google Keep, WPS Office	Document files are often stored on the card, but the application itself is not always transferred.
🎬 Video players	MX Player, BSPlayer, Kodi	Video files are usually on the SD card, and the application itself is transferred no problem.

It is important to understand that even in these categories not all applications support transfer. For example, Google Play Books or Spotify may block this function due to DRM content protection. Before transferring, check the application information in Google Play (section "Permissions").

How to check if an application supports transfer to an SD card?

Before trying to transfer a app, you need to make sure that it even supports this function. In smartphones Samsung with firmware One UI 5.0 and later the check algorithm is as follows:

1. Open Settings → Applications.
2. Select the desired application from the list.
3. Tap on the item Storage.
4. If there is a button at the bottom of the screen Change or Move to SD card, it means transfer possible.

If there is no button, then the application is either blocked by the system, or its developer has disabled support for external drives. In some cases, the button may appear after clearing the cache or rebooting the smartphone.

Why may the "Transfer" button disappear after an update?

After updating the firmware One UI or the application itself developers can change the data retention policy. For example, in Android 13 Google he tightened the requirements for working with external drives, and many applications lost support for transfer.

For a more detailed check, you can use third-party utilities, for example AppMgr III (available in Google Play). This application shows which apps theoretically can be transferred, even if there is no button in the settings. Samsung the button is missing.

⚠️ Attention: Some applications (for example, Netflix or banking apps) can stop working after transferring to SD card due to licensing or security restrictions. Before transferring, create a backup copy of your data!

Step-by-step guide: how to transfer an application to a memory card in Samsung

If you are sure that the application supports transfer, follow these instructions. The process may vary slightly depending on the model Samsung and version One UI, but the general scheme remains the same.

Make sure that the memory card is formatted as portable storage|Check the free space on the SD card (you need at least 10% of the application volume)|Close the application you plan to use carry|Connect the charger (in case of a long process)-->

1. Insert the memory card into the smartphone and wait for it to be recognized. Make sure it is formatted as Portable storage (not as internal memory!). You can check this in Settings → Device care → Memory → Settings → Storage.

2. Open Settings → Applications, find the desired application and tap on it.

3. Go to the section Storage. Here you will see how much space the application takes up in the internal memory.

4. Press the button Change (or Move to SD card in older versions One UI). Confirm the action.

5. Wait for the process to complete. The transfer time depends on the size of the application and the speed of the memory card (on UHS-II it takes a few seconds, on slow cards - up to a minute).

After transfer, the application will remain in the menu, but its data will be stored on the SD card. Please note: if you remove the memory card, the app may stop working or reset to factory settings.

What to do if the “Move to SD card” button missing?

If there is no transfer option in the application settings, this does not mean that nothing can be done. Here 4 working methods to bypass the restrictions (from the safest to the most risky):

• 🔧 Use the card as internal memory
  

  In some models Samsung (for example, Galaxy A52 or M31) you can format the SD card as internal storage after Settings → Device care → Memory → Settings → Format as internal. Minus: after this the card cannot be used in other devices.

• 🛠️ Enable developer mode
  

  Activate Developer mode (tap 7 times by Number build in Settings → Phone information, then in Developer settings find the option Force allow transfer to SD (if your model has it).

• 📱 Use ADB commands
  

  For advanced users: connect smartphone to the PC, activate USB debugging and run the command:

  adb shell pm set-install-location 2

  This will force the system to install applications on the SD card by default. Risk: Some apps may malfunction.

• 🔄 Install modified firmware
  

  Some custom firmware (for example, LineageOS) remove restrictions on transferring applications. Minus: loss of warranty and the risk of “bricking” device.

The most reliable and safest method is the first one (formatting the card as internal memory). However, remember that after this all data on the card will be deleted, and the card itself will become “linked” to your smartphone.

⚠️ Attention: The use of ADB commands or custom firmware can lead to loss of warranty the device. If you are not sure of your actions, it is better to contact the service center Samsung.

What problems may arise after transferring applications to the SD card?

Moving applications to an external drive is not always the ideal solution. Here 5 most common problemsthat users encounter Samsung Galaxy:

• 🐢 Slowdown: Memory cards (even class UHS-I) work slower than built-in memory UFS. This is especially noticeable in games or heavy applications.
• ❌ Update errors: Some applications (for example, Google Maps) may not update after Play Market after the transfer. The solution is to temporarily return them to the internal memory.
• 🔌 Data loss when removing the card: If you remove the SD card without safely removing it, the application may reset or corrupt its files.
• 🔒 Security blocking: Banking applications (for example, SberBank Online) or instant messengers (WhatsApp) can block access if they detect launching from an external drive.
• 📱 Crashes after reboot: Some applications “forget” their status after rebooting the smartphone and require transferring again.

To minimize risks, follow these rules:

• Use memory cards only class 10 or higher (for example, Samsung EVO Plus or SanDisk Extreme).
• Do not transfer applications to the SD card that sync with the cloud (for example, Google Photos or Dropbox).
• Before removing the card, always use the function Safely remove in the notification curtain.

💡

If after After transferring, the application starts to slow down or generate errors, return it to the internal memory. To do this, in the application settings, click Change → Internal memory.

Alternative ways to free up memory in Samsung without transferring applications

If transferring applications to an SD card is impossible or leads to problems, there are 5 alternative ways free up space in internal memory:

• 🗑️ Clearing the cache
  

  Go to Settings → Device care → Storage → Clear. The system will automatically delete unnecessary temporary files. You can also manually clear the cache for individual applications in Settings → Applications.

• ☁️ Transfer media files to the cloud
  

  Use Google Photos (free until 15 GB) or Samsung Cloud (15 GB for accounts Samsung) for automatic downloading of photos and videos. After downloading, the files can be deleted from the device.

• 📁 Using the file manager
  

  Applications like Files by Google or Samsung My Files help to find and remove duplicate files, large downloads or unnecessary documents.

• 🔄 Disable pre-installed applications
  

  Many system apps Samsung (for example, Samsung Free or Bixby) cannot be deleted, but you can disable. To do this, go to Settings → Applications, select an unnecessary application and click Disable.

• 📱 Reset to factory settings
  

  Extreme method: Settings → General → Reset → Reset data. Before doing this, be sure to make a backup via Samsung Smart Switch or Google Account.

If you often experience low memory, consider buying a smartphone with a larger volume of built-in storage. For example, in the line there are models with memory, which radically solves the problem. Samsung Galaxy A54 or S23 there are models with 256 GB memory, which solves the problem radically.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about transferring applications to an SD card in Samsung

🔹 Is it possible to transfer WhatsApp to a memory card?

Officially WhatsApp does not support transferring to an SD card due to security requirements (message encryption). However, there is a workaround:

1. Create a backup copy of chats in Settings → Chat → Backup.
2. Move the folder WhatsApp to the SD card manually through the file manager.
3. Install WhatsApp again and restore chats from backup (specify the path to the file on the SD card).

Risk: When updating the application or removing the card, chats may disappear.

🔹 Why did the application stop updating after the transfer?

This is a common problem related to policy Google Play. Solutions:

• Temporarily move the application back to the internal memory, update it, then transfer it to the SD card again.
• Install the update manually by downloading the APKfile from the official developer website.
• Format the SD card how internal memory (but this will delete all data on it!).

🔹 Is it possible to transfer Samsung system applications?

No, system applications (for example Samsung Internet, Galaxy Store, Bixby) are blocked for transfer. They can only be disable (but not completely deleted without root access). To do this:

1. Go to Settings → Applications.
2. Select a system application.
3. Click Disable (button Delete will be inactive).

🔹 How to transfer games to an SD card?

Most modern games (for example Call of Duty Mobile or Genshin Impact) do not support transfer due to piracy protection. However, you can:

• Move game cache only (folder Android/obb) to an SD card manually.
• Use the card as internal memory (but this will slow down loading levels).
• Install the game on the SD card via ADB (developer rights required).

Important: Transferring the cache may cause the game to crash if the memory card is slow.

🔹 What happens if you remove the SD card without safely removing it?

The consequences depend on what applications were transferred:

• If only media files were stored on the card, nothing critical will happen.
• If there were transferred applications on the card, they will stop working until the card is reinserted.
• In rare cases, it is possible data loss or damage to the file system of the card (especially if writing was in progress at the time of removal).

To avoid problems, always use the function Safe removal in the notification curtain.