How to Move Apps to SD Card (Android)

Running low on internal storage is a common Android problem, and moving compatible apps to your SD card can free up significant space. This guide walks you through the built-in Android method, plus what to do when an app won’t move. You’ll need an Android phone or tablet with an SD card installed (and formatted as portable storage), and you’ll be using the Settings app—no computer or special tools required.

What You’ll Need

An Android device (phone or tablet) running Android 6.0 or newer—the steps are similar on most versions.
An SD card that is already inserted and recognized by your device. If you haven’t set it up yet, go to Settings > Storage and follow the on-screen prompts to format it as portable storage.
About 5–10 minutes of your time. The actual moving process takes a few seconds per app.

Step-by-Step

Open Settings. Swipe down from the top of your screen to open the notification shade, then tap the gear icon. Alternatively, find the Settings app in your app drawer.
Go to Apps. Scroll down and tap Apps or Applications. On some devices it’s called App Manager or Application Manager.
Select the app you want to move. Scroll through the list and tap the app’s name. If you have many apps, use the search bar at the top if available.
Tap “Storage”. Inside the app’s info page, you’ll see a section labeled Storage. Tap it. On some phones, this might be labeled Storage & cache.
Look for “Change” or “Move to SD card”. If the app supports moving, you’ll see a button that says Change (on stock Android) or Move to SD card (on Samsung, LG, and others). If you don’t see it, the app cannot be moved—skip to the Common Mistakes section.
Tap the button and select “SD card”. A dialog will appear asking where you want to move the app. Choose SD card and confirm.
Wait for the move to finish. The phone will take a few seconds to transfer the app. You’ll see a progress bar. Once it’s done, the button will change to Internal storage—that’s how you know it worked.
Repeat for other apps. Go back to the app list and repeat steps 3–7 for each app you want to move.

Common Mistakes

Trying to move apps that don’t support it. Many apps, especially system apps and some games, are coded to run only from internal storage. The option simply won’t appear. Don’t force it—it’s not a bug.
Using the SD card as internal storage. If you formatted your SD card as “internal” (adoptable storage), the option to move apps to the SD card disappears because the phone treats the card as part of the internal storage. In that case, you don’t need to move apps—the system already uses the card automatically.
Moving apps that update frequently. Some apps, like Google Maps, get updated often. After an update, the app may move back to internal storage automatically. You’ll have to move it again.
Expecting the SD card to be as fast as internal storage. SD cards are slower, so apps might take a bit longer to open. This is normal.

Tips

Move large apps first. Games and apps with lots of media (like navigation apps with offline maps) free up the most space. Check the “Storage used” figure on the app info page to prioritize.
Use the “Move to SD card” option in the app’s own settings. Some apps (like Spotify or Netflix) have a built-in option to store downloaded content on the SD card. This is often more reliable than moving the whole app.
Keep your SD card healthy. Use a high-quality card (Class 10 or UHS-I) to avoid slowdowns and crashes. Back up important data regularly, as SD cards can fail.
Check storage regularly. Go to Settings > Storage to see how much space you’ve freed up and which apps are taking the most room.

Troubleshooting

The “Change” or “Move to SD card” button is grayed out. This means the app doesn’t support moving. There’s no workaround on stock Android. You can try third-party tools like “App2SD” but they require root access and aren’t guaranteed to work.
The app moves but then crashes. This usually happens with apps that rely on widgets or background services. Move the app back to internal storage by following the same steps and selecting “Internal storage”. If it still crashes, restart your phone.
You can’t find the SD card option at all. Make sure your SD card is properly inserted and recognized. Go to Settings > Storage and check if it shows up. If not, remove and reinsert the card, then restart your phone.
The move fails with an error. Try restarting your phone, then attempt the move again. If it still fails, the SD card might be corrupted—try formatting it (back up your data first) or using a different card.
After moving, the app’s widget disappears. This is expected. Widgets don’t work from the SD card. Move the app back to internal storage if you need the widget.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why can’t I move some apps to my SD card?
A: Developers can choose to disable moving for their apps. System apps and apps with background services or widgets often can’t be moved because the OS needs them on internal storage.

Q: Will moving apps to the SD card make my phone faster?
A: It can free up internal storage, which helps if your phone was nearly full. However, SD cards are slower than internal storage, so the apps themselves might load slightly slower.

Q: What’s the difference between “portable” and “internal” SD card storage?
A: Portable storage treats the SD card like a removable drive—you can take it out and read it on a computer. Internal (adoptable) storage merges the card with your internal storage, letting the system use it for anything, including apps, but the card is encrypted and can only be used in that phone.

Q: Will I lose my app data if I move an app to the SD card?
A: No, moving an app preserves its data. The app’s files and settings are transferred along with the app. However, if the SD card is removed or corrupted, you could lose that data.

Q: Can I move apps to the SD card on iPhone?
A: No, iPhones don’t have SD card slots. This guide is for Android devices only.

Q: How do I move apps back to internal storage?
A: Follow the same steps, but choose “Internal storage” instead of “SD card” in step 6. The app will be moved back.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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