How to add cards to OSU! on Android: 5 proven methods

The game OSU! on Android has gained popularity thanks to its convenient gameplay and a huge library of custom maps (bits). However, many players are faced with a problem: how to add new tracks to the game if the standard client offers a limited set of songs? In this article we will look at installation of cards - from official import to manual addition through the file system. all current methods installing maps - from official import to manual addition through the file system.

It is important to understand that the process depends on the version OSU!droid (official or modified), the presence of root access and even the smartphone model. For example, devices Xiaomi or Samsung with aggressive battery optimization may experience errors when downloading maps directly. We took these nuances into account and prepared universal solutions.

If you are a beginner, start with the official method —it is the safest. Experienced players will also find advanced techniques here, for example automatic synchronization of cards via osu!direct without manually copying files.

1. Official method: import through the game menu

The easiest method is to use the built-in import function OSU!droid. It is suitable for maps downloaded from the official website osu.ppy.sh or from trusted sources in the format .osz.

To add a map:

• 📥 Download the map file (.osz) to your device. It is better to save to a folder Download or OSU for convenience.
• 🎵 Launch OSU!droid and go to Settings → Import maps.
• 🔍 Select the downloaded file. The game will automatically unpack the archive and add the track to the library.
• 🔄 Refresh the list of maps (swipe down in the main menu) if the new track does not appear immediately.

⚠️ Attention: Some versions OSU!droid (especially pirated ones) block the import of maps due to modified license checks. In this case, use manual method.

2. osu!direct: automatic download of maps

Function osu!direct allows you to download maps directly from the game without going to external sites. It is available in most modified versions. track or author. OSU!droid (For example, Lazer or DroidOsu).

Algorithm of actions:

1. Open the game and go to the section Beatmaps.
2. Click on the magnifying glass icon (search) and enter the track name or author.
3. Select the desired card from the results and click Download.
4. Wait for the download to complete - the card will be automatically added to the library.

OSU!droid version	Osu!direct support	Required Is the account
Official (Google Play)	❌ No	❌ No
DroidOsu	✅ Yes	❌ No
Lazer (preliminary)	✅ Yes	✅ Yes (for some cards)
Modified assemblies	✅ Yes (most often)	❌ No

⚠️ Attention: Use osu!direct in unofficial clients may violate community rules ppy. If you participate in tournaments, check the allowed sources of maps with the organizers.

3. Manually adding cards through the file manager

If automatic methods do not work, you can add cards manually. To do this, you need to know the folder structure OSU!droid and be able to unpack archives .osz.

Instructions:

1. Download the map in format .osz (for example, with osu.ppy.sh/beatmaps).
2. Rename the file to .zip and unpack it using any archiver (for example, RAR or ZArchiver).
3. Connect your smartphone to the PC or use a file manager (for example, FX File Explorer).
4. Go to the game folder:

   /sdcard/osu_droid/Songs/

   If there is no folder, create it manually.

5. Copy the unpacked folder with the map (it should contain the file .osu and an audio file) to /Songs/.
6. Restart the game - the map will appear in the library.

💡 Tip: To avoid duplicates, before copying, check if there is a folder with the same name in /Songs/. If there is, delete the old version.

What to do if the map does not appear in the game?

Make sure that the folder structure is correct: inside there should be a folder with the name of the map, and in it there should be files .osu, .mp3 (or .ogg) and a background image (if any).
Check the file encoding .osu —it should be in UTF-8.
Restart the game or clear the cache in Android settings (Settings → Applications → OSU!droid → Storage → Clear cache).

4. Third-party launchers and map managers

For convenience, many players use specialized applications that automate the downloading and updating of maps. Popular options:

• 📱 Beatmap Manager for osu!droid —allows you to search, download and update maps directly from the application.
• 🔄 OsuSync - synchronizes maps between PC and Android, useful for those who play on both platforms.
• 🌐 Sayobot (via Telegram) — a bot that searches for maps upon request and sends files .osz directly to the chat.

Example of working with Beatmap Manager:

1. Install the application from Google Play or .apk (for example, from 4PDA).
2. In the settings, specify the path to the folder /sdcard/osu_droid/Songs/.
3. Use search by title, artist or beatmap ID.
4. Click Download —the manager will automatically unpack and place the card.

⚠️ Attention: Some card managers (especially from unverified sources) may contain malicious code before installing, check reviews on the forums 4PDA or Reddit.

5. Synchronizing maps from PC (for multi-platform players)

If you play OSU! on both PC and Android, you can synchronize your map library between devices. This will eliminate the need to download the same tracks twice.

Synchronization methods:

• 🖥️📱 Via the cloud: Upload the folder Songs from PC to Google Drive or Mega, then download it to your smartphone and unzip to /osu_droid/Songs/.
• 🔌 By cable: Connect the phone to the PC in file transfer mode (MTP) and copy the folder Songs manually.
• 📡 On a local network: Use an FTP server (for example, Solid Explorer) or KDE Connect for wireless transfer.

🔹 Important: When synchronizing, keep in mind that:

• Some cards may not be supported on Android due to high performance requirements.
• Files with the same names will be overwritten - make backup copies.
• To save space on your smartphone, you can delete background images (.jpg or .png) - they do not affect the gameplay.

6. Solving common problems

Even if you follow the instructions correctly, errors may occur. Let's look at typical cases and ways to eliminate them.

Problem	Possible cause	Solution
The card does not appear in the game	Incorrect folder structure	Check that inside /Songs/ there is a folder with the name of the card, and in it there are files .osu and audio.
Error "Invalid beatmap"	Damaged file .osu	Download the map or check it on your PC via osu!editor.
The game crashes when loading the map	Lack of memory or high card requirements	Close background applications or try a card with a smaller one CS (Circle Size).
Maps cannot be downloaded via osu!direct	Traffic blocking or outdated client version	Update the game or use VPN.

🛠️ Additional tips:

• If maps take a long time to load, disable background animation in the game settings (Options → Display → Background Dim).
• To speed up loading, use Liteversions of maps (without video and high-quality audio).
• On on weak devices (for example, Redmi 5A or Samsung Galaxy J2), disable the skin and reduce Resolution in the settings.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about cards in OSU! on Android

Is it possible to add cards from osu!lazer to OSU!droid?

Yes, but with reservations. Maps from osu!lazer (format .osu) are compatible with OSU!droid, however:

• Some elements (for example, Storyboard) may not be displayed.
• Complex cards with high AR (Approach Rate) may lag on weak devices.
• Video backgrounds (.avi or .mp4) are not supported in most versions OSU!droid.

We recommend testing such maps on a PC before transferring to Android.

Why some maps are not downloaded through osu!direct?

This may be due to:

• 🔒 Restrictions by rating: Maps with a rating higher than your level may be hidden.
• 🌍 Regional blocking: Some servers are not available in your country (use VPN).
• 🛑 Account ban: If your account has been restricted for cheating, access to osu!direct may be blocked.
• 📵 Problems with the client: Outdated version OSU!droid may not support new card formats.

Try downloading the card manually from the website or through a third-party launcher.

How to delete unnecessary cards to free up space?

There are two ways to delete cards ways:

1. Through the game:
   1. Go to Song Selection.
   2. Press and hold your finger on the map.
   3. Select Delete in the menu that appears.
2. Through the file manager:
   1. Open the folder /sdcard/osu_droid/Songs/.
   2. Delete folders with unnecessary cards (each folder = one card).
   3. Clear the game cache in the Android settings.

💡 Advice: To save space, delete in First of all, cards with video backgrounds (.mp4) - they take up the most memory.

Is it possible to play OSU! on Android without the Internet?

Yes, but with limitations:

• 🎵 Local maps will always be available if they are correctly installed in /Songs/.
• 🔄 Single game (Solo) works without the Internet, but the rating will not be saved.
• 🏆 Multiplayer and tournaments requires a network connection.
• 📊 Updating leaderboards and downloading new maps is impossible offline.

For offline play, download the necessary maps in advance and disable automatic updating in the settings.

How to transfer maps when reinstalling OSU!droid?

When reinstalling the game, all maps remain in place if:

• You did not delete the folder /osu_droid/ manually.
• The new version of the game has the same folder structure (usually it does).

If the cards are missing:

1. Check if the name has been renamed folder /osu_droid/ to /osu_droid_backup/.
2. Copy the folder Songs from the backup (if you did).
3. Reinstall the game and manually specify the path to the old folder with maps.