Home Android GuidesAndroid Guide: How To Force Apps to the SD Card Without Rooting!

Oct

Android Guide: How To Force Apps to the SD Card Without Rooting!

Written by Rachid Otsmane-Elhaou. Posted in Android Guides

With the Froyo 2.2 release of android, we also gained the ability to install some* apps to the sd card. This is something that many people wanted to enable us to install more apps and more games than previously possible. However one of the poor features of froyo a2sd is the fact that we can only move those apps to the sd card that the app developer has allowed us to, something many forget to code when releasing their app. There is also the fact that we have to manually click to move apps to the sdcard, when for most of us this is the required default behaviour.

Well, there is actually a way to force your android phone running 2.2 or above to install all apps to your sd card by default, regardless of whether the developer has allowed you to do it or not. Oh, and you do not need be rooted to do this (in fact, there is a much easier way if you are rooted)! Just follow the jump for instructions!

movetosdcard

Instructions

Download the Android SDK from here.
Unzip the contents of this folder somewhere convenient.
Turn on usb debugging on your phone
1. Settings > applications > Development > Tick USB Debugging
Now plug in your phone to your PC.
Your PC may install the required drivers itself.
If your PC shows you the New Hardware Wizard window, then follow the instructions below:
1. Download the drivers here:
2. Unzip the drivers somewhere convenient.
3. For XP:
  1. Select Install from a list or specific location and click Next
  2. Select Search for the best driver in these locations
  3. Un-check Search removable media
  4. Check Include this location in the search
  5. Click Browse… and locate the folder where you unzipped the drivers zip file
  6. Click Next to install.
4. For Vista/Win7:
  1. Select Locate and install driver software
  2. Select Don’t search online
  3. Select I don’t have the disk. Show me other options
  4. Select Browse my computer for driver software
  5. Click Browse… and locate the folder where you unzipped the drivers zip file
  6. Click Next
  7. Click Install to install
Open the folder where you unzipped the android sdk to (the first file you downloaded) and go inside tools folder.
Copy the address of this folder.
Open a new command prompt window:
1. Press the Windows key + r
2. Type cmd
3. Click OK
In this command window type cd
Now paste in the address of the tools folder you copied in step 7 together with a preceding space
1. It should look something like cd C:android-sdk-windowstools
Press enter.
Now type adb shell and press enter.
There should now be a $ or a # sign.
Type pm setInstallLocation 2
Unplug your phone and restart it.
From now on every app you install will be installed to the sd card by default!!

But… [READ ME]

There was actually a reason behind google not installing all apps to the sdcard by default. That reason is because some apps will not work properly if they are installed on the sd card. You need to be aware of this because if you don’t know, then those apps will start to break and malfunction. Apps that fall into this category are those that require a background service running all times, and ALL widgets.

So, twitter, instant messages, any app with a widget and also launcher replacements hyave to be manually moved back to the internal memory, or they will break. So, just the same way as you used to move apps to the sd card, simply do the opposite and move the apps similar to what I have described back to the internal memory.

Any issues please leave a comment, good luck!

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Rachid Otsmane-Elhaou

Rachid Otsmane-Elhaou (27) is a Business Analyst by day, but his real passion is technology, and in particular android (how can you not love the little green guy?). Rachid runs the Droid-Den website, that came about with a mission to help and inform android users about the great device(s) they have in their grasp.

Find me on Twitter (Le3ky) and Google+.

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http://twitter.com/kop_04 siraj

Fantastic! Thanks m8
ion

Please could you explain this?
(in fact, there is a much easier way if you are rooted)
- http://www.droid-den.com Rachid
  
  Install this app and use it to set the install location: http://goo.gl/fAJ6
  - jutt
    
    the link of app u gave is not working… :/
    - rajiv
      
      check its working
    - Dragon@Droid
      
      Sorry to interrupt but the link Rachid gave is perfectly working!!!!
  - Dragon@Droid
    
    May i ask something…? according to the comment below by ”Silviu Georgian” while downloading the app frm the store its says something like-
    “this app cannot be installed to the default location” is this true and if yes wats the solution and IMPORTANTLY IS THIS “ROOTING LIKE(not actuall rooting just like it)” process Undo-able ?
  - Darko
    
    Sorry, which program is this? It’s been a year since you posted this and the link appears not to be working (Mediafire is reporting the file has been removed)
  - Rajus25
    
    the above link , not found, pls advise
    rajkumar
- Daymoss
  
  Much easier yes but for some reasone some people cannot root their phones (like me)
http://twitter.com/sbsxaid Zaid Amer

And I thought u brought a solution for the poor 2.1 hero guys
Sounds a good solution tho, cheers
Reed Alex16

i have done all of that. Just wondering,how do i move apps back across to the phone memory?
- RICHARDJR31
  
  just go into settings click on the app and click move th phone
Tinusch

Will this kill the guarantee of my phone?
Otherwise thanks for description… would solve a lot of my problems…
- http://www.droid-den.com Rachid
  
  Technically err maybe, but practicallyi think you’ll be ok
http://twitter.com/SealTree SealTree

Can you help please? I have followed instructions and all apps are now on the SD…But I’m still getting the ‘Low on Space’ message…where ‘on the phone’ it shows 147 MB of memory used and only 6.5MB available.
Any ideas what that 147MB is for?
- RICHARDJR31
  
  open ap2sd and see what ones are still on phone . remember it resets where downloads go but does not move what is already on phone
Ts

I got an permission denied when typing “setinstalllocation 2″
- RICHARDJR31
  
  its pn set(capitol)i and (capitol)L in the words
  - RICHARDJR31
    
    sorry … pm and the rest
Anthonypadilla8

it says adb is not reconized as a internal or external command operable program or batch file what do i do?
- http://www.droid-den.com Rachid
  
  did you paste the address of the tools folder correctly?
  - Brekel
    
    You’ll find a file in the /tools directory called “adb_has_moved.txt”. This tells you how to get it.
- RICHARDJR31
  
  move the adb application to the android-sdk-windows directory i had to do that too
- RICHARDJR31
  
  and remember the i in install and the l in location are caps
Heaberbelle

i have download the driver, however even when i select the folder they are stored in, it doesn’t find them or install them? I can only get as far as into tools, after that it doesnt work for me? help please? x x x x x
- RICHARDJR31
  
  it did not place the drivers directory in the right place put that directory in the android_sdk_windows directory
- RICHARDJR31
  
  oh and make sure to move the android_winusb file to the drivers directory if not there
Faizan Mansuri

when i type adb shell and press enter it says adb is not recognised as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file…
please tell me what shall i do???
Elenac

I am trying to do the above but must install all on D given
that C doesn’t have anymore room. I got all downloaded, went to execute
in CMD and got the following error message. What can I do now?
Microsoft Windows [Version 6.1.7601]

Copyright (c) 2009 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
C:UsersAsus>D:program filesandroid-sdk

‘D:program’ is not recognized as an internal or external command,

operable program or batch file.
- http://www.facebook.com/MrZoolook Stuart Kagamine Len Hayes
  
  Put the directory between quotes..
  “d:program filesandroid-sdk”
  
  Its easier to use the tab key… just type ‘d:p’ then just press tab until the command becomes ‘d:program files’ then just delete the second ” and type ‘a’ press tab. It sounds complicated, but tab completion is a dream to use when using the command line.
  - Red-Hawko
    
    U foret to write cd infront of everything.
    Must have: cd
    D:program filesandroid-sdk
    cd – means change directory
http://www.facebook.com/dominic.leung888 Dominic Leung

The adb shell is moved!
- Chris
  
  Thats right. Its now in the Project Tools file
http://www.facebook.com/daryl.s.buday Daryl Salas Buday

is this still applicable with Ice Cream Sandwich????
angelo

do you have also a guide for Mac?
- 2easy
  
  Yep, sell it and buy a pc
http://profile.yahoo.com/RXTAXXNL4D4UD4CZEW466EWQIM Zym

I got problem of full message memory so glad to hear I can install apps to SD card but you said that some apps are meant to be installed on phone so may not work if installed on SD card but can I, after install (it will go directly to SD right?), I move the app to phone? and is this action reversible?
http://profile.yahoo.com/RXTAXXNL4D4UD4CZEW466EWQIM Zym

I got problem of full message memory so glad to hear I can install apps to SD card but you said that some apps are meant to be installed on phone so may not work if installed on SD card but can I, after install (it will go directly to SD right?), I move the app to phone? and is this action reversible?
Vishu Singh

but it doesn’t work on my Sony ericsson neo v [Ice cream sandwich}………….plz help me for this
http://twitter.com/_Jagz Jagdish

Works Flawlessly!!! Thanks mate!!

Note: You have to do it again when you find the new apps sneaking into the phone memory. Have APP2SD installed to alert you when that happens
- http://www.droid-den.com Rachid
  
  Awesome!
- Chrisjjsaiflk
  
  A2sd is very shit.. It ignores more then the half of the apps you have!
http://www.facebook.com/sumanyu.soniwal Sumanyu Soniwal

Usually i don’t comment on posts…

But dis post has helped me tonnnsssssss..

Thankuuu soooo much…
- http://www.droid-den.com Rachid
  
  You’re welcome!
Chrisvlietvan

ADB shell is moved! That’s right! Its now in C:android-sdk-managerplatform tools
Chris

Thank you! I’m saving 52 MB internal space now with this method! Very handy! I never have to delete apps anymore because they are too big for my internal space! Again; Thanks!
- http://www.droid-den.com Rachid
  
  sweet!!
Almamun666

How can I move built in apps to SD Card???
Guest

command prompt says that adb is not a recognised command ??
HELP PLEASE ?
- Red-Hawko
  
  find file adb.exe and then chance directory to location of adb.exe,
  in my case it was C:UsersmynameAppDataLocalAndroidandroid-sdkplatform-tools
  (not tools, but platform-tools)
http://www.facebook.com/Maggot26 Silviu Georgian

I have done this and everything went fine but I cannot install some apps from Market/play store. It says that “this app cannot be installed to the default location” or something like that.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000795589185 MùQtàdä HüşşâIņ

Everything works fine but when I type “setInstallLocation 2″ the reply is “Permission denied”
What to do?
guest

sorry but this is useless, the apps do not DL straight to the SD card. you still have to have the sufficient internal space or the app won’t DL. so say you have 10 gb on your card but only 10 mb on your internal storage, you still can’t DL that great 100 mb game you want so bad. this phone is junk because of the storage issue, its only good for calls and text, why pay 140$ for a smartphone if you can’t DL apps? that’s why i sold mine and paid 40 more for a much MUCH better smartphone .
- http://www.droid-den.com Rachid
  
  It’s a workaround, obviously if space is so important that should factor into which phone you buy!!
Saad_baig15

it worked perfectly for my HTC EXPLORER… THANKS MAN… THANKS A LOT
Owen Stillman

I get “adb is not a recognised command” Help!!!!
Pinkraynedrop

I did this on LG Optimus L5 E612. I have 32gb SD card storage & while I got it set to install to external (2) it will NOT install there at all & can not move any apps to SD card at all. They are ALL still on my internal storage. I don’t think this works with ICS (4.1.2) at all. I did get it to work on Gingerbread no problem. Anyone have a solution? I only have 2gb internal storage & nothing is installing on SD like it did on my last phone (even before doing all this). I’m DESPERATE for a solution.
- Yogi
  
  same problem with my sony xperia tipo st21i with ICS 4.0.4
Rpcorreosecundario1

Did all what appeared in the guide, but the apps still install themselves in internal storage. What can I do?
- Jacki
  
  Yep did the same. In fact it made it so I could NOT install anything at all. It’s internal storage (or their version the SD card) and NOT external_sd that it’s all going on.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000285399705 Kollin Spenrath

Could you make this more specific? I installed the SDK program and did what it said and I didn’t get that New Hardware Wizard window. I installed the drivers and everything but nothing happened.
http://www.facebook.com/farhan.azam.351 Farhan Azam

did it but still the previous state and nothing is happening…except it is allowing apps to move apps to sd card after when they get install in phone memory……not directly on sd card as default…. now what….??i got sick of it….firstly i have spent 2 days to do it….cause initiall steps were requiring new apps to download for doing this process…. i want to download every apps to sd card directly…not wanted to move already installled one… plz help me by mailing on “jack-boy1@hotmail.com”…. your help would be consider worthfull…
Manikandan V

Microsoft Windows [Version 6.1.7601]
Copyright (c) 2009 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

C:UsersManikantan>cd C:android-sdk-windowsadt-bundle-windowssdktools

C:android-sdk-windowsadt-bundle-windowssdktools>adb shell
‘adb’ is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.

C:android-sdk-windowsadt-bundle-windowssdktools>pm setInstallLocation 2
‘pm’ is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.

C:android-sdk-windowsadt-bundle-windowssdktools>

I followed your instructions. But it happened as shown above… I’m using windows 7 64bit OS. Why this happens?
Josepha19223

It doesnt work with Saumsung Phones
AMT

I already did the steps and it was successful but still it’s not automatically downloaded to sd card:(
http://www.facebook.com/kitty.dean Kitty Bywaters

the commands do not work it just keeps saing it does not recognise them
Joseph

Ubuntu? And this doesn’t seem to work with Samsung Phones
georgina

i cant do it and im going crazy!!! i already have my mobile drivers and then im stuck please help
Suman Dharmana

thanks dude, it worked. moves not all but some part to sd card.
- Ssss
  
  hi… i also done the same but it didnt worked for me
CarlosN

Excellent…
Thanks
Smile

Aww, it’s not working on my pc! It says that ‘adb’ is not recognized as an internal or external command
- Sssss
  
  go to sdk>platform-tools
  then type adb shell
Apreetikaa

can do til step 12 from the next step nuthing is happening and adb is there in platform tools
Dickeybirds

I can’t get the drivers to install. I downloaded them, put them in a file, and followed instructions regarding where to look for drivers… It looks and looks and never finds. Help?
Ezz El Din Hassan

about point 4

i didn’t get where i can type these items ??
pavan k

gives error like its not recognized or cant find internal or external command or batch file
http://www.cregox.info caue

I think this just doesn’t work on S3, as far as I could try, and try, and try. Seems like Samsung has changed how that works on its custom ROM, but I couldn’t find more info on that.

But thanks for the [READ ME] disclaimer. Very appreciated!
jacfat

device not found..im so tired.. what to do please..
http://www.facebook.com/djflevar Patrick Clottey

plese do you have a vedio for this
chris

when I go to use the adb shell command it tells me “device not found” didn’t see anyone else with this problem. Help please.
- chris
  
  ok, solved my problem. I did not have the correct drivers installed for my phone. works perfectly now. Thank you.

Android Guide: How To Force Apps to the SD Card Without Rooting!

But… [READ ME]

Rachid Otsmane-Elhaou

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