Simple Question:
When moving my Apps to my SD card using the "Manage Applications" section... Where exactly do they go?
Also, do I need to use an app for this if my EVO already supports this?
They go into .android_secure on your SD card. However, you won't see them while the card is mounted on your phone. If you switch to Disk Drive mode or use the card in a card reader, you'll see .asec files. These are encrypted containers that are tied to a key on your phone (so you can't just insert a card full of paid apps into a friend's phone and do "Move to Phone").
There are a few programs on the market that are out there just to help you identify which apps can be moved to the SD card. They still use the native feature, but out of the box there's no way to tell at a glance what can be moved and what can't. Other than that, you don't need it (but I find it very useful and do use Apps 2 SD Free myself).
There's also the apps2sd method that's an option for rooted users, but that's something totally different. That moves all apps to the SD card, whether they're flagged as eligible for the SD card or not. It involves a little more work to setup.
Wow, everything I needed to know. Thanks.
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Hi!
I was looking after this issue since my holidays. My Glide just uninstalls random applications that are on SD card (external_SD) after reboot. The replication is 8 out of 10. I had almost 30 apps on the SD card (mostly games).
What I did:
-restart the launcher
-wipe/factory reset
-change microSD cards
-reformat microSD card
How can I tell apps are uninstalled?
-checked Market
-checked TiBu (Backup/restore > Uninst. filter)
As I said, different apps are uninstalled every reboot. If I again reboot my device, the app(s) previously removed will be installed and another app(s) is removed.
Temporarily, my apps are transferred on my Internal storage (2gb) and so far, no issues. This quite puzzles me for I did not encounter any issues using my microSDs in file transfers, media and etc except for this one.
May you have similar issues and have solutions for them, please share and it will be greatly appreciated.
I posted this in the subforum for this only happened on my Glide (did not see in my Captivate and Infuse with same micrSDs). If you see this as inappropriate, please leave me a message or reply, or simply report my post.
Thanks
Correct me if I am wrong but apps moved to SD actually install to the 4gb USB storage in the unit (/sdcard). Nothing goes to the external SD (/sdcard/external_sd) unless manually moved there. If you want to install a program to the SD you have to use root utilities.
Doesn't help you with your issue but you should be able to completely remove the SD card and see if you continue to have the problem.
I haven't noticed this on my wife Glide but it does happen on my Skyrocket.
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Installed adw launcher last night and haven't had a problem with the disappearing apps.
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eddiert said:
Correct me if I am wrong but apps moved to SD actually install to the 4gb USB storage in the unit (/sdcard). Nothing goes to the external SD (/sdcard/external_sd) unless manually moved there. If you want to install a program to the SD you have to use root utilities.
Doesn't help you with your issue but you should be able to completely remove the SD card and see if you continue to have the problem.
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No your wrong when you hit the button move to SD Card it actually goes to the MicroSD card. I tried hitting that button without a Microsd card and I get an error it says not External card detected or something like that. When I installed my MicroSD card it moved the apps to it.
JB
dudejb said:
No your wrong when you hit the button move to SD Card it actually goes to the MicroSD card. I tried hitting that button without a Microsd card and I get an error it says not External card detected or something like that. When I installed my MicroSD card it moved the apps to it.
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You are correct. Good to know. I verified that I have a few apps moved to SD and they do not work when the SD is removed.
However, I can not replicate the OPs original issue. I put the SD back in and the apps are launchable again. All apps remain after reboot. When the SD was swapped was it with a different brand/model. I am using an 8gb Sandisk.
I could not replic
dudejb said:
No your wrong when you hit the button move to SD Card it actually goes to the MicroSD card. I tried hitting that button without a Microsd card and I get an error it says not External card detected or something like that. When I installed my MicroSD card it moved the apps to it.
JB
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That's weird because I was able to move to SD without inserting a Micro SD card and when I move to SD, it moves them to the internal USB storage instead of the Micro SD card.
vil33 said:
That's weird because I was able to move to SD without inserting a Micro SD card and when I move to SD, it moves them to the internal USB storage instead of the Micro SD card.
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Weird how we both have different results here. I have the Rogers running Android version 2.3.5 and Kernel version 2.6.36.3
JB
responses are greatly appreciated....I also tried moving two apps on SDcard after transferring them to the internal (2GB) storage. my glide automatically removed one of them after reboot. Well it's not a concern until i ended up running out of space on my internal
I noticed this as well on some apps I just reinstalled them on the internal and will not transfer them to the SD I again. I guess some programs don't want to be transferred to SD.
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dudejb said:
Weird how we both have different results here. I have the Rogers running Android version 2.3.5 and Kernel version 2.6.36.3
JB
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I have the exact same phone, I think you are confused. Move to SD never moves to external SD. Why else would apps like 'Apps2SD' exist then?
Apps2Sd allows you to map certain folders that are hard coded to the sd internal. For example game loft games install on the internal applicaton 2 gig partition a small installer and then Download extra content on the internal sd card. Apps2Sd allows you to map the game directory from the internal sd to your micro sd card. Similar in linux with a sym link. The Move to Sd from the Os (gingerbread). Allows you to alleviate some room from your 2 gig applications partition and move apps to the Microsd card.
JB
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dudejb said:
Apps2Sd allows you to map certain folders that are hard coded to the sd internal. For example game loft games install on the internal applicaton 2 gig partition a small installer and then Download extra content on the internal sd card. Apps2Sd allows you to map the game directory from the internal sd to your micro sd card. Similar in linux with a sym link. The Move to Sd from the Os (gingerbread). Allows you to alleviate some room from your 2 gig applications partition and move apps to the Microsd card.
JB
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Could it be that whether it move to internal or external SD depends on the app? None of my apps have been moved to the external microSD yet. Maybe it is because I have extra space on my internal microSD? Also when I go to Manage Apps > On SD Card, it shows the space used and remaining on the internal SD(USB storage).
vil33 said:
Could it be that whether it move to internal or external SD depends on the app? None of my apps have been moved to the external microSD yet. Maybe it is because I have extra space on my internal microSD? Also when I go to Manage Apps > On SD Card, it shows the space used and remaining on the internal SD(USB storage).
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if you are rooted, look for a folder named .android.secure on your Glide's hard drives. That folder contains apps that are moved to SD card. I see mine on /sdcard/external_sd/.android.secure
Hi, even if this thread is an old one, the same issue happened to my phone:
I can't use the internal memory to move apps because they are uninstalled every time the phone is rebooted. What is the clue?
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I am on Warm 2.3 and it gives me the option to moves apps to my SD card, now my SD card is not partitioned for this. What will happen if I hit move to SD anyway? The only reason I haven't used djrez;s method yet is because I don't feel like backup up my SD card to do it. But I was just wondering whatr would happen if I did. Thanks
If its in the manage apps most roms have this option it puts.them in a folder labeled android secure on the SD card no partition needed BUT it will only move some apps unlike a2sd scripts which will move almost all app data to an ext partition and then symlink them back to /data so the phone thinks they are still on internal allowing movement of Widgets and other typically nonmovable apps
We are legion, for we are many.
I noticed when using apps2sd on sense,apps will disappear from your drawer,if that happens,just move them back to internal.For some reason sense based roms do this,now if you use Darktremors apps2sd it works just fine,no disappearing apps.
What is the difference between darktremors and djrez;s method?
DRatJr said:
What is the difference between darktremors and djrez;s method?
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I've never heard of that proceedure.So i'm not sure.
Security?
I've read here that security is not enforced on files written to external storage. Is this the case with apps moved to the SD card by way of the mechanisms discussed here? From digging around on my SD card, it seems that .android-secure is root owned, mode 700, and the files inside are encrypted (.asec). Does this make the apps stored on the SD card safe from non-root attack vectors? If yes, then what set of files is the Android Devs page referring to?
I have a 16gb sprint galaxy s3. I have a 16gb card in it. Is there a way to seamlessly make the sd be added to the internal so it functions as a 32gb? I need more storage for apps bad. If I could make my sd add to the internal storage I'd be set! Any help would be appreciated.
Try "Droidrail Super App2SD Lite" from the market if you're rooted. It allows you to move almost any app to your SD. I don't believe that you can make the phone recognize the external SD as internal though
Out Of The Ground, I Rise To Grace
I am rooted. will tis allow me to install apps to the sd card and run them from my android menu like any other app?
i tried this app, thanks but all it does is go to the screen on the manage apps menu for that app when I go to move it. doesn't actually work.
Any way to truly move apps to the external SD card?
I have just recnetly learned that moving apps "to the SD card" in the settings>apps menu doesnt truly move them to the external SD card.
Why is that?
I dont have many apps yet, but it seems the apps i do have slowly get larger and larger as i use them and they save user data. (game progress for example).
Id like to know that I could at least move things that i dont care how fast they load to a truly external SD card (along with my wallpapers, ringtones, etc)
Even if theres a manual way via USB, thats cool. Just hoping someone with more than about a months worth of experience with a captivate glide (or really, i guess any phone that by default wont let you) could give some advice.
thanks!
Pawprints1986 said:
Any way to truly move apps to the external SD card?
I have just recnetly learned that moving apps "to the SD card" in the settings>apps menu doesnt truly move them to the external SD card.
Why is that?
I dont have many apps yet, but it seems the apps i do have slowly get larger and larger as i use them and they save user data. (game progress for example).
Id like to know that I could at least move things that i dont care how fast they load to a truly external SD card (along with my wallpapers, ringtones, etc)
Even if theres a manual way via USB, thats cool. Just hoping someone with more than about a months worth of experience with a captivate glide (or really, i guess any phone that by default wont let you) could give some advice.
thanks!
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You have sd card integrated to the board, its not true sd card. You can swap internal sd to external sd, then you can use same move function to use external micro sd card as application storage.
bubor said:
You have sd card integrated to the board, its not true sd card. You can swap internal sd to external sd, then you can use same move function to use external micro sd card as application storage.
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So theres no way to just manually tell it to move there without messing up whats already on the internal storage?
The Android system still has no option to move app to external sd. You can copy everything from internal (built-in) sd to external and apply change-fstab.zip to make Android think that your external sd is internal and vice versa. Works on every 4.4 rom. No performance drawbacks if using class 10 sd card. Worked for me flawlessly and thanks to bubor for this great feature.
And for manually... There's an app called Link2SD. It's some sort of workaround. You make second partition on your external SD and move apps there, leaving links for Android system on your internal storage. You can find it in google market, be sure to read instructions first.
Makshow said:
The Android system still has no option to move app to external sd. You can copy everything from internal (built-in) sd to external and apply change-fstab.zip to make Android think that your external sd is internal and vice versa. Works on every 4.4 rom. No performance drawbacks if using class 10 sd card. Worked for me flawlessly and thanks to bubor for this great feature.
And for manually... There's an app called Link2SD. It's some sort of workaround. You make second partition on your external SD and move apps there, leaving links for Android system on your internal storage. You can find it in google market, be sure to read instructions first.
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I remember trying link2sd on a friends tablet recently. it recognized certain apps as moveable, but when i actually tried to move them (on an SD that i had already partitioned) it said failure every time.
But im not sure i want to switch my storage entirely. I would just like to allow, say another 4 gigs on my SD card (with the other 4 being for wallpapers, ringtones, etc). i have an 8 gig card right now.
Then you should try link2sd here. Basically, no other options, unless you wish to emulate Link2SD work with some scripts and move apps manually. I saw some patches for Lenovo phones to combine internal storage or something like that, but they will not work on Glide obviously.
In what way does rooting free up the external SD card's capabilities?
Thanks.
schrodinger56 said:
In what way does rooting free up the external SD card's capabilities?
Thanks.
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None that I know of. Possibly allowing some apps to move to uSD. Allows Root Explorer to do more but other than that, none I know of.
I thought I'd read somewhere that rooting the Tab S allows the user to write (whatever that means?) to the external SD card instead of it defaulting to the internal SD card when unrooted.
There is an edit you can make to the build prop file to allow direct writes to the SD card. Definitely need to be rooted to do this. Additionally there are some apps that will allow you to move programs / large data file to the SD card and execute from there. Foldermount is an example of an app that I use to move large files to external SD card. It only works if rooted.
schrodinger56 said:
I thought I'd read somewhere that rooting the Tab S allows the user to write (whatever that means?) to the external SD card instead of it defaulting to the internal SD card when unrooted.
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One of the advantages of rooting indeed. I have noticed though the camera app on my T800 defaults to writing (saving) pictures to the uSD which is surprising (but welcome). I have several apps that require root and plan of rooting once 5.01 is officially released.
If you use FolderMount it should automatically add the require permission to the platform.xml in \system\etc\permissions when it starts for the first time. The free version let's you move 3 folders to the SD card to free up room on the internal storage. This will usually affect loading times on those games though as access speeds are much lower.
I think you were pointing to an update of Android where it is no longer possible to do a write on external sd. This is an update that happened on Kitkat 4.4.2 I believe.