Can You Put Apps on an SD Card? Android Storage Explained

What you need before moving apps to an SD card

First, confirm that your phone or tablet actually has a microSD card slot. Many Android devices still support expandable storage, but plenty of newer phones do not. If you're not sure about the difference between SD, microSD, SDHC, and SDXC, start with our SD vs microSD format guide.

If your device has a slot, the next question is how Android and the manufacturer allow that card to be used. Having a microSD slot does not automatically mean you can install or move apps to it.

There are three things worth checking:

• Device support: Does your phone allow apps to use the microSD card?
• App support: Has the app been configured to allow installation or movement to external storage?
• Card performance: Is the card suitable for the random read/write workload created by apps?

If terms such as capacity, speed rating, SDXC, and Application Performance Class are new to you, our complete guide to microSD cards covers the basics, and our SD card symbols guide decodes every logo printed on the card.

Two ways Android can use an SD card for apps

Android has used two main approaches for putting apps on removable storage. They sound similar, but they work quite differently.

Method 1: Move part of an app to the SD card

Android has supported installing eligible apps on external storage since Android 2.2. On devices that still expose this option, you may see a button such as Move to SD card or a Change option under the app's storage settings.

This does not necessarily move everything. Android can place the app's APK on external storage while keeping important components in internal storage, including private user data, databases, optimized code, and extracted native libraries.

That is why moving a large app to an SD card may free less internal storage than you expect.

Method 2: Adoptable storage

Android introduced adoptable storage in Android 6.0. When a device supports it, the microSD card can be formatted so Android treats it as part of the device's storage rather than simply as portable media.

Supported apps and app data can then be placed on the adopted storage. However, the card is formatted and encrypted for that device, which means it is no longer intended to be removed and casually used in another phone, camera, or computer.

Adoptable storage is part of Android, but manufacturers decide whether to support or expose it on a particular device. You should not assume that every Android phone with a microSD slot includes the feature.

Exact menu names and behaviour vary by Android version, manufacturer, and device model.

How to move an app to an SD card on Android

If your phone supports moving individual apps, the option is usually found in the app's storage settings. The exact path varies between manufacturers, but it commonly looks something like this:

1. Open Settings.
2. Open Apps.
3. Select the app you want to move.
4. Open Storage or Storage & cache.
5. Look for Change, Move to SD card, or a similar storage option.
6. Select the microSD card and follow the on-screen instructions.

If there is no option to change the storage location, that does not necessarily mean anything is wrong with your card. The phone manufacturer may not support the feature, or the app itself may not allow external installation.

How to use an SD card as internal storage

If your device supports adoptable storage, Android may offer an option to format the microSD card for use as device or internal storage.

The process typically looks similar to this:

1. Insert the microSD card.
2. Open the storage notification or go to Settings > Storage.
3. Select the microSD card.
4. Choose the option to format it for internal or device storage, if available.
5. Read the warning carefully.
6. Back up anything important before continuing.
7. Format the card and follow Android's prompts for moving supported content.

Formatting erases the card. Once adopted, Android encrypts the storage and associates it with that device.

That makes adoptable storage fundamentally different from using a microSD card for photos, videos, documents, or other portable files. If you would rather keep the card portable, format it as regular storage instead; our guide to formatting an SD card on Android (FAT32 vs exFAT) walks through it.

Why does this work on some Android phones but not others?

Android provides the underlying storage features, but manufacturers have significant control over how those features appear on their devices.

A phone can therefore have a perfectly functional microSD slot for photos, videos, downloads, and documents while still preventing the card from being used for apps.

Samsung, for example, does not support Android's adoptable-storage feature on Galaxy devices. On supported Samsung models with microSD expansion, some individual apps may still offer an option to move part of the app to the card.

Other manufacturers may implement storage differently, and support can change between models or software versions. The safest approach is to check the storage settings on your exact device rather than assuming that a feature available on one Android phone will appear on another.

There is also a simpler limitation: many current flagship phones no longer include a microSD slot at all.

Why won't an app move to the SD card?

If one app can be moved but another cannot, the difference is often intentional.

Common reasons include:

• The developer has configured the app to remain in internal storage.
• The app relies on features or components that should remain available even when removable storage is unavailable.
• The app is a system app or an important part of the phone's software.
• Your phone manufacturer has disabled app movement or adoptable storage.
• The device does not have a microSD slot.

Apps installed on removable storage can become unavailable when that storage is removed or mounted elsewhere. That is one reason Android gives developers control over whether their apps are eligible for external installation.

If the option is missing for a particular app, forcing it onto the card is generally not a good idea. It can create problems with updates, widgets, background services, or normal app behaviour.

A1 vs A2 microSD cards for Android apps

App storage creates a different workload from simply saving photos or recording a continuous video file. Apps frequently access many small files, so random read and write performance matters more than the headline MB/s figure on the package.

That is what the SD Association's Application Performance Class was designed to address. A1 and A2 are the two ratings.

An A1-rated card provides defined minimum random-performance requirements designed for running and storing apps. A2 raises those minimum random I/O requirements substantially.

There is one important catch with A2: achieving its full performance benefits requires support from both the A2 card and the host device. An A2 logo on the card does not guarantee that every Android phone will take advantage of all A2 features.

A card without an Application Performance Class rating is not necessarily slow or unusable, but A1 and A2 provide defined minimum random-performance levels designed for app workloads.

Which microSD card should you buy for Android apps in Canada?

Within the SanDisk range we carry, the Application Performance Class rating is printed on the card and the packaging, so it is easy to match a family to the job:

Both ship from Canada with free shipping on orders over $100. For a side-by-side of every family, read SanDisk Ultra vs Extreme vs Extreme PRO.

Once you know the performance rating you need, the next question is capacity. Our memory card capacity guide can help you choose between 64GB, 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB. If you also want a USB-C drive for backing up photos from the phone, see our phone and tablet storage collection.

Before formatting an SD card for app storage

Back up anything important on the card before changing its storage mode. Formatting the card for adoptable storage erases its existing contents.

It is also worth thinking about how you normally use the card. If you frequently remove it from your phone to copy photos to a computer, portable storage is usually more convenient. Adoptable storage is designed around leaving the card inside one device.

The reliability of the card matters as well. If Android is relying on the card for apps and application data, a failing or unexpectedly removed card can cause more disruption than losing access to a folder of transferable media.

No microSD card should be treated as the only permanent copy of important files.

Can you put apps on an SD card? The bottom line

Yes, but only when your phone and the app support it.

On some Android devices, you can move part of an eligible app to the microSD card. Other devices support adoptable storage, allowing the card to become more closely integrated with the phone's storage. Some phones support neither option, even if they have a microSD slot.

Start by opening the storage settings for one of your apps and looking for a Change or Move to SD card option. You can also check your device's storage settings to see whether Android offers a way to format the card as internal or device storage.

If you plan to use a microSD card for apps, look for an A1 or A2 Application Performance Class rating rather than choosing on capacity alone. In Canada, that means SanDisk Ultra (A1) for everyday use or SanDisk Extreme (A2) for heavier app and game workloads. Just remember that A2's full performance benefits depend on host-device support.

FAQ

Can I install apps directly on an SD card?

Sometimes. Android devices that support adoptable storage can use a formatted microSD card as part of the device's storage. Other phones may only allow part of certain apps to be moved to the card. Support varies by device and app.

Why can't I move some apps to my SD card?

The app developer may have restricted external installation, the app may depend on components that need to remain in internal storage, or your phone manufacturer may not support moving apps to removable storage.

Why don't I see a "Move to SD card" option?

Your phone may not support moving apps, or the specific app may not be eligible. Check several apps before assuming there is a problem with the microSD card itself.

Can I use an SD card as internal storage on Android?

Some Android devices support adoptable storage, which formats and encrypts the microSD card for use as part of the device's storage. The feature is not available on every Android phone, even when the phone has a microSD slot.

Does Samsung support adoptable storage?

Samsung does not support Android's adoptable-storage feature on Galaxy devices. Some apps on Galaxy devices with microSD support may still offer an option to move part of the app to the card.

Is A1 or A2 better for Android apps?

A2 has higher specified minimum random read and write performance than A1. However, the full benefits of A2 require support from the host device. Both ratings are specifically designed to identify cards suitable for application workloads.

Which microSD card should I buy in Canada for Android apps?

SanDisk Ultra is A1-rated and the value choice for everyday apps and media. SanDisk Extreme is A2-rated and better for large apps, games and adoptable storage. Both are stocked by Top Select and ship from Canada.

Will moving apps to an SD card make my phone faster?

Not necessarily. Moving apps is mainly a way to reduce pressure on limited internal storage. Internal phone storage is often faster than a microSD card, so moving an app can sometimes reduce rather than improve performance.

Can I remove an SD card after formatting it as internal storage?

You should not treat an adopted card as normal removable storage. Android encrypts and associates it with the device, and apps or data stored on it may stop working when the card is removed.