Have you ever run out of space on your Android phone? As we install more apps and store more photos and videos, many of us are constantly bumping up against storage limits.
Fortunately, if your device supports it, you can set up an SD card to function as internal storage.
This allows you to keep all your apps and data in one place, seamlessly adding to your available space.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know to use an SD card as adoptable storage on Android.
What is Adoptable Storage on Android?
Adoptable storage, also known as flexible storage, is a feature introduced in Android 6.0 Marshmallow.
It allows you to format an SD card to function exactly like internal storage.
Once set up, apps, photos, videos, and other data that were previously only able to be saved to your phone’s built-in storage can now be saved directly to the SD card.
Your phone will even migrate data over to the card automatically as needed.
Essentially, adoptable storage makes an external SD card a seamless extension of the internal storage.
This means you don’t have to worry about managing files across multiple locations.
Benefits of Using an SD Card as Internal Storage
There are several major benefits to using adoptable storage:
- Adds substantial storage space – SD cards provide much more space than what originally comes built into phones.
- Data can be seamlessly managed in one location – You don’t have to decide what goes where. Your phone handles file transfer automatically.
- All apps can be installed on the SD card – Without adoptable storage, some apps can be installed on an SD card and some can’t. Adoptable storage removes this limitation.
- No need to manually move photos, videos, etc. to an SD card – All media is automatically stored wherever there is room.
- SD cards are affordable & reusable – High-capacity SD cards provide tremendous storage extensions at little cost.
As you can see, adoptable storage makes adding more storage simple.
Next, let’s look at what requirements you or your SD card need to meet to use this excellent feature.
Requirements to Use SD Card as Internal Storage
Adoptable storage has some specific requirements to function:
Phone Requirements
- Must be running Android 6.0 Marshmallow or above
- Needs to have an SD card slot – Most phones released in the past several years support SD cards, but some do not
SD Card Requirements
To format an SD card as internal storage, it must:
- Have a capacity of at least 32GB
- Be formatted as either exFAT or FAT32
- Have read/write speeds capable of handling apps – Look for an Application Performance Class rating of A1 or A2 for best results
Additionally, when formatting your card, you should back up any files you want to keep.
The formatting process erases all data on the card.
As long as your phone meets the Android version requirement and your SD card meets the capacity, format, and speed requirements, you’re ready to move forward with setup.
How to Set Up an SD Card as Internal Storage
The process of setting up an SD card as adoptable storage consists of two key steps – physically inserting the card and then formatting it through your phone’s settings.
We’ll cover each step in detail:
1. Insert the SD Card
Start by locating your phone’s SD card slot.
This is typically located along one of the device edges, sometimes under a tray.
Refer to your phone’s manual for exact placement.
The SD slot resembles a larger SIM card slot.
You may need to use your fingernail to gently pull the tray out to its open position.
Once open, orient your SD card with the metal contacts facing down and the angled edge oriented as shown in your phone’s manual.
Carefully slide the card fully into the tray, then gently push the tray back into the device to lock it into place.
When inserted properly, your phone will automatically detect the SD card.
You’re now ready to format it as internal storage.
2. Format the SD Card
With your card inserted, the next step is formatting.
This is done through your phone’s storage settings menu.
To access the storage settings, open your device’s Settings app and select Storage.
In the Storage settings:
- Select your SD card
- Tap Menu > Storage Settings
- Tap Format as an internal
- Read & accept the on-screen disclaimer
- Allow several minutes for the formatting process to complete
That’s it! Your phone will now optimize the card as adoptable storage.
All apps and data will automatically store content here as needed.
If you ever want to remove the card or access its data independently, simply go back into Storage settings and select your SD card.
Tap Menu and choose either Eject or Format as portable.
Checking Adoptable Storage Status
Wondering if your formatting worked or curious how much space you have left? It’s easy to check.
In your phone’s main Settings app, choose Storage.
You’ll now see a storage bar that displays:
- Total combined capacity of your phone & SD card
- Available free space
- Breakdown of space used by images, videos, apps, etc.
From this menu, you can also view any apps, photos, or other content specifically saved to your card.
Tap your SD card name for more details.
Troubleshooting Adoptable Storage Issues
Adoptable storage usually works right out of the box.
But occasionally issues come up – the SD card unexpectedly unmounts, doesn’t format properly, or apps aren’t saving to it.
Here are some potential solutions for common problems:
SD Card Keeps Unmounting
This is typically caused by a loosely inserted card or using a low-quality card.
Try reseating the card to make sure it’s fully locked in.
If problems continue, replace the card with a reputable brand.
Can’t Format Card as Internal Storage
First, double-check check you meet all the requirements covered earlier – Android OS version, SD card capacity, etc.
If it still won’t format, try these steps:
- Backup data and reformat as portable storage
- Reformat back to internal storage
- Try another high-quality SD card
Apps Won’t Move to SD Card
Not all apps support running directly from portable storage.
For adoptable storage, however, all apps should automatically store content wherever space is available.
If you notice apps stubbornly clinging to internal phone storage, try removing and reinserting the SD card.
Restart your phone afterward if needed.
This will force data to properly migrate over.
Other Performance Issues
Sluggish response times, laggy behavior, and crashes can occur if your card is too slow.
As adaptable storage requires seamless integration with core system functions, poor read/write speeds significantly impact functionality.
To resolve this, replace your SD card with a model meeting the A1/A2 application performance guidelines covered earlier.
This ensures sufficient speed for apps.
Migrating Data to Your SD Card
Once you have your card formatted as internal storage, your phone will automatically begin transferring apps, photos, videos, and other files over as needed.
This happens seamlessly in the background.
But what if you want to manually move data to your newly expanded space right away? Here are some options for both app data and multimedia files.
Moving Apps to the SD Card
Not all apps support relocation to external storage.
For those that do, open the app info and look for a “Change” button that lets you specify the install location.
You can access app info screens through:
- Long press on an app icon > Tap the info icon
Or
- Settings > Apps & notifications > See all apps > Tap the app
If you don’t see storage options, the app does not allow relocation from its default install path which is now your SD card.
Transferring Photos & Videos
Thanks to adoptable storage, all new media is automatically stored wherever free space exists.
But to move your existing collections:
- Open the Photos app
- Tap Menu > Device folders
- Select the folders you want to move
- Tap Menu > Move to SD card
You can also move files directly within your phone’s Files app.
Just navigate to folders under Internal shared storage, long press files, select Move, choose the SD card location, and copy them over.
Adoptable Storage vs Portable Storage
Previously, SD cards could only be used as portable storage.
What’s the difference, and which should you choose?
Portable Storage
If you format an SD card as portable storage, your phone can read files saved there but will not integrate it with the system.
Apps cannot be installed to portable storage and you’ll have to manually move photos/videos.
It acts like external USB storage rather than an extension of built-in phone capacity.
Adoptable Storage
As detailed in this guide, adoptable storage essentially converts your SD card into unified internal storage.
This removes device storage limitations, lets you install all apps to the new space, and seamlessly manages files without manual transfers.
The only downside is losing the ability to easily share the SD card between devices.
But for most users struggling with limited space, adoptable storage is by far the superior choice.
Removing or Replacing an Adoptable Storage SD Card
Perhaps you need to recover data from your card, upgrade to a larger capacity model, or switch to using the card as portable storage.
Whatever the reason, removing an adoptable storage SD card is easy:
- Go to your storage settings
- Select your SD card details
- Tap Menu > Eject
This safely disables the card before removing it physically.
Once ejected, you can insert the same or a different SD card.
To format replacement cards as adoptable storage, simply repeat the process in the “Format the SD Card” section above. Or choose the portable option if reverting to standard removable storage.
Adoptable Storage: What’s Next?
Adoptable storage capabilities continue evolving with each new version of Android.
For example:
- Support for using an SD card as the sole storage for Android Go lightweight apps was introduced in Android 11.
- Features allowing more granular control over what content saves where first appeared in Android 10.
More enhancements like these are likely on the horizon. This will further bridge the gap between physical and external storage locations.
Additionally, while SD cards currently offer the most affordable and reusable adoptable storage expansion, other alternatives are emerging…
Beyond SD Cards: External SSD Storage
SD card technology has limitations for advanced users.
Standard models can hit maximum read/write speeds of around 100-200MB/s. And as you fill higher capacity cards, performance may suffer further.
External SSD (solid state drive) storage via USB 3.0 or USB-C can deliver speeds over 500MB/s.
That’s up to 5x faster for improved responsiveness.
However, external SSD storage currently requires third-party solutions to function as adoptable storage. And costs are substantially higher compared to SD cards.
But with USB Type-C and Thunderbolt 3 ports on new Android devices, external SSD adoption storage will likely grow. Watch for upcoming first-party integration support.
For now, external SSDs are best suited to portable storage usage. There they can provide excellent speed boosts for multimedia editing and gaming. But stay tuned for wider enhanced functionality ahead!
The Future is Flexible: Use Any Storage You Want
With portable storage plus adoptable storage – now extending support for external drives – Android offers more versatility than ever before.
You can carry media and files freely between devices using traditional SD cards. You can seamlessly meld extra space into one unified pool. Fast external SSDs show glimpses of even greater expansion capabilities ahead.
Android’s flexible storage improvements transform limitations into limitless possibilities. There’s never been a better time to augment your phone’s capacity.
So free up your mobile experience by setting up adoptable storage today. Then keep an eye out for more boundary-pushing developments right around the corner!
Adoptable Storage: Bottom Line
Adding an SD card formatted as internal storage can be an extremely cost-effective way to get the extra space you need. It seamlessly expands your available capacity without having to pay premium prices for built-in phone storage upgrades.
As long as your device runs Android 6.0 or higher, setting up adoptable storage is a straightforward process requiring just a few taps. And you get all the benefits of unified storage locations, automatic file management, and flexibility to remove the card later on.
Max out your phone’s storage – slide in an SD card and set up adoptable storage today! Any questions about the process? Let us know in the comments below.