If you find yourself running low on storage space on your Android phone or tablet, one solution is to move some of your files from the device’s internal memory to an SD card. Many Android devices support expandable storage via microSD cards, allowing you to easily add more space for your photos, videos, music and other files.
In this article, we’ll walk through the steps to transfer files from your Android device’s internal storage to an SD card. We’ll cover two methods:
- Using the built-in Files app on stock Android
- Using the My Files app on Samsung devices
Before we get started, make sure your Android device supports expandable storage and that you have a microSD card installed. The card should be mounted and accessible by your device.
Method 1: Using the Files App (Stock Android)
Here are the steps to move files using the built-in Files app on devices running stock Android:
- Open the Files app on your Android device. You can find it in the app drawer.
- In the Files app, tap on the Browse tab at the bottom.
- Navigate to the folder containing the files you want to transfer. For example, tap Images to find your photos.
- Tap and hold on a file to select it. You can also tap the Select button at the top right to select multiple files.
- With the file(s) selected, tap the More button (three dots) and then tap Move to…
- In the menu that appears, tap SD card. If you have multiple SD cards installed, select the one you want to use.
- Choose the folder on the SD card where you want to move the files, or tap New folder to create a new one.
- Tap the Move button to transfer the selected files to the SD card.
Method 2: Using My Files (Samsung Devices)
If you have a Samsung Galaxy phone or tablet, you can use the built-in My Files app to transfer files to your SD card:
- Open the My Files app on your Samsung device. You can find it in the app drawer.
- Tap on Internal storage to view files saved on your device’s internal memory.
- Navigate to the folder containing the files you want to move, such as DCIM for photos taken with the camera.
- Tap Edit at the top right, then tap the files you want to select. You can also long press a file to select it.
- With the files selected, tap More (the three dots) and then tap Move.
- Tap SD card to choose your SD card as the destination.
- Select the folder on the SD card where you want to move the files and tap Move here.
The selected files will now be transferred from your device’s internal storage to the SD card. Depending on the number and size of the files, this process may take some time.
Conclusion
Moving files to an SD card is a convenient way to free up storage space on your Android device. By following the steps outlined above, you can easily transfer photos, videos, music, and other files from your phone or tablet’s internal memory to an SD card.
Keep in mind that not all apps support storing data on an SD card, and some system files cannot be moved for security reasons. But for media files and documents, an SD card provides an easy and affordable way to expand your device’s storage capacity.
If your Android device doesn’t have a microSD card slot, you can still free up space by backing up files to cloud storage services like Google Drive, or by connecting your device to a computer and transferring files to its hard drive.
Hopefully this guide has helped explain how to move files from your Android phone or tablet’s internal storage to an SD card. With expandable storage and a few simple steps, you can make more room for the apps and files you need.
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