Help Option "Move to SD Card" Completely Missing

[jmlport98]

So far I am dissapointed in my Optimus f3, not only having a pathetic 2 GB of internal storage but wasting my money on a 32GB MicroSD card that I cannot move my apps onto! The "Move to SD Card" option in App Info for any of my apps in not grayed out, it just isn't there. I tried rooting my device and it is still missing. Is there some way I can move my apps to my SD card?

 

[MLSS]

That's an ICS/Jellybean issue not your phone.

 

[jmlport98]

There has to be some way to move apps to the SD card.

 

[bkttk2]

There has to be some way to move apps to the SD card.

Have you looked into Link2sd

 

[sneaky_1]

It has been talked about extensively in this forum. Root, then use link2sd and gl to SD if needed.

http://androidforums.com/virgin-mob...s-root/760890-link2sd-gl-sd-your-friends.html
There are more too.

 

[grandamn]

Link2SD is bull unless you use a custom ROM and want to give up wifi calling. Link2SD will move some apps but all the apps that I had that were using lots of space were unable to move ex. chrome, google music, evernote. The stock rom uses the device for cache regardless. Root Browser works great though. The key is to create a folder in EXTSDCARD and create a shortcut to the programs data folder. I'm just having problems linking evernote to the EXTSDCARD because Evernote user profile is in the SDCARD folder directory and not the DATA folder. Any folder in the SDCARD directory wont let me create a shortcut to EXTSDCARD. Very frustrating.

From scorpiodsu


One of the painpoints with Play Music for me is not natively being able to pin music to my SD card and only the device storage. When you have over 10GB that's really not feasible for a 16GB SG4. Of course streaming is an option but with data caps and unreliable data connections at times, it's best to have this on extra storage. Afterall, that's why we buy storage cards, right? Anyhow, this little workaround was found a long time ago and I thought I'd bring it here. As in the title, device needs to be rooted.

The apps you will need are ROM toolbox and of course, play music.

1. Open ROM Toolbox > Root Browser
2. Navigate to your SD card and create a folder. e.g. music
3. Once created, long press and select "Create Shortcut" that appears at the bottom
4. Navigate to /data/data/com.google.android.music/
5. Select Paste. This will create the shortcut to your music folder here.
6. Delete the "cache" folder in this directory
7. Rename the shortcut to "files" Play music now will look at the "files" folder for the music library.

Any music you pin from Google music will be stored to the original folder on the SD card.


I know there are some better music players and streaming apps but this is probably the best all in one app for free and I always look to eliminate redundancy and this has helped me do so. No credit for coming up with this. I read it a long time ago and can't find the original thread to post.

 

[mygenericemail]

Im having the same issue. Tried those App2card programs, which did not work at all.
Also tried a computer program that help manages your apps on your phones, which did not work either.

I have been told that rooting on these phones not only does not work, it can harm the phone, as well as kill your warranty on the phone.

I would suggest moving all of your music and photos to your SD card instead.

 

[Fox Mulder]

Rooting works just fine on this phone, many of us have done it successfully. Check the root sub-forums at the top (or bottom, depending on how your preferences are set) of this section.
The only harm can come from deleting or modifying system apps or files after you root. If you're careful and leave the important stuff alone you won't break anything.
Link2SD does work, but requires root. It doesn't move everything, app data files do remain on internal storage, but it moves the apps themselves and does help significantly to stretch the available internal space. There are other apps and manual methods that can move more files to the external SD, with a bit more effort than Link2SD (and they also require root).
It's true the no-root apps that claim to let you move apps to the SD card are pretty worthless.

 

[Murf1]

I have been told that rooting on these phones not only does not work, it can harm the phone, as well as kill your warranty on the phone.
I would suggest moving all of your music and photos to your SD card instead.

Rooting the phone does nothing except allow programs (with your permission) and yourself to have access to a part of the phone memory that you otherwise would not. Having that access does not mean you have to go in there and tinker with it. I do not tinker with it - did not remove bloatware or anything (because I don't want to accidentally break something). I did it solely so I could install apps that need root - mainly for Link2SD.

But you are right in that it is a good idea to put you music and photos on SD card so you have more room on your internal user storage for apps.

 

[nicstocks]

Here are step by step instructions on how to partition your SD card so you can move apps using link2sd

How to Partition SD Card and Use Link2SD in any Android Phone with Screenshots

I did it and it works like a charm I can move just about anything to the SD card now

 

[phillyundead]

Im having the same issue. Tried those App2card programs, which did not work at all.
Also tried a computer program that help manages your apps on your phones, which did not work either.

I have been told that rooting on these phones not only does not work, it can harm the phone, as well as kill your warranty on the phone.

I would suggest moving all of your music and photos to your SD card instead.

Rooting is the best thing you can do on any Android phone. Most phones now you can unroot it too and I've had a few phones bust while being rooted and the carrier still honored the warranty. You might as well go apple bro.

 

[move2sd]

it took me ages to find, but the solution is rather simple,

follow these steps and the option will appear
1- go to the settings
2- tab on storage
3- choose default storage sd-card
4- reboot and after this the option Move to SD is available

hope this works

 

[XxHaimBondxX]

Wow, it's amazing! How did you find this!?!?! Do you see dead people too?

 

[MotoDefy]

it took me ages to find, but the solution is rather simple,

follow these steps and the option will appear
1- go to the settings
2- tab on storage
3- choose default storage sd-card
4- reboot and after this the option Move to SD is available

hope this works

also looking for more space on my F3 I followed your steps ... in the storage tab I see no option to choose(default storage sd-card)

 

[Murf1]

also looking for more space on my F3 I followed your steps ... in the storage tab I see no option to choose(default storage sd-card)

My phone (on Virgin Mobile) has no such option either. It must be based on your phone provider.

 

[chucksaysblah]

That's an ICS/Jellybean issue not your phone.

This is not entirely true. I bought my wife a zte phone running 4.1 and it has a move all apps to SD card option in the settings.

 

[suobs]

That's an ICS/Jellybean issue not your phone.

The phone is Jellybean, therefore it's a phone issue.

 

[suobs]

I'm also more disappointed in the Android version than the phone. The phone is nice and would be fine if you could use the SD for something. I have installed a few bare-bones "extra" apps on mine (browser, email, calculator) and it's constantly running out of space - ONLY because (a) you can't move apps to SD, and (b) you can't uninstall the two dozen useless Google and other pre-installed apps. I'm thinking iPhone next time because Android is weirdly unpredictable about whether their newest version is actually better than the last version or a downgrade in disguise.

 

[suobs]

My phone (on Virgin Mobile) has no such option either. It must be based on your phone provider.

I'm also Virgin Mobile. The option is not available. Hard to believe the provider would or could do this.

 

[Raptor_Jesus]

I'm also more disappointed in the Android version than the phone. The phone is nice and would be fine if you could use the SD for something. I have installed a few bare-bones "extra" apps on mine (browser, email, calculator) and it's constantly running out of space - ONLY because (a) you can't move apps to SD, and (b) you can't uninstall the two dozen useless Google and other pre-installed apps. I'm thinking iPhone next time because Android is weirdly unpredictable about whether their newest version is actually better than the last version or a downgrade in disguise.

I'm also Virgin Mobile. The option is not available. Hard to believe the provider would or could do this.

Why not root and use the app2sd guide? Works like a miracle

http://androidforums.com/lg-optimus-f3/801368-mod-app2external_sd-fixed-duplicate-files.html

 

[drashishgandhi]

So far I am dissapointed in my Optimus f3, not only having a pathetic 2 GB of internal storage but wasting my money on a 32GB MicroSD card that I cannot move my apps onto! The "Move to SD Card" option in App Info for any of my apps in not grayed out, it just isn't there. I tried rooting my device and it is still missing. Is there some way I can move my apps to my SD card?

Move to SD is disabled android 4 onwards. Also App2SD AppMgrIII etc all are useless. I found best solution to this problem after a-week-long search on google I found this very useful new app called FolderMount

see: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.devasque.fmount

Of note, you need to Root your phone. Root It by Easiest means Mobogenie

I tried it on 3 folders (in free version only 3 can be tried) and then immediately bought the pro version; its worth.. just cleared lot of place on my Galaxy Mega 6.3.


Also, You might be interested in this check
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ficeto.alliancemanager

It customizes your android and allows you to uninstall Built-in Apps (called as Bloatware, many of you which we never use and never need)

Cheers

Ashish

 

[Murf1]

Move to SD is disabled android 4 onwards.

Ashish

Anyone care to validate this statement?

I had hoped we would get this feature back with KitKat.

 

[Hadron]

... and it's constantly running out of space - ONLY because (a) you can't move apps to SD, and (b) you can't uninstall the two dozen useless Google and other pre-installed apps.

(a) is relevant, but (b) is not. System apps (which usually means anything pre-installed) live in a different storage partition, so you'd not actually gain space by removing them.

I had hoped we would get this feature back with KitKat.

You mean you hoped that ZTE would add it back? Google removed it, and there's no point hoping they will change their mind on that

 

[Murf1]

You mean you hoped that ZTE would add it back? Google removed it, and there's no point hoping they will change their mind on that

So it is not present on KitKat?

Any idea why they would want to restrict a user from adding storage to a device to make it more useful?!??!!?

They want you have to pay more for a device with more GB?
That sounds like the draconian policies of (Cr)Apple!
I thought Android was suppose to be a good alternative to Apple - not more of the same.

I just don't get that mindset. I'm starting to like Google less now...

 

[Hadron]

They removed it in 4.0 or 4.1. TBH the official apps to SD was always rather limited (only moves some apps, and only part of the app), and I think it was only introduced to paper over the limitations of many early devices (e.g. my HTC Desire, which had only 147MB internal storage).

Their current assumption is that devices have more internal storage, which can be used for anything, and that external cards are for media rather than apps. I'll not defend their logic (though there is something ugly about having an app partially on the phone and partially on a removable card), but I see no realistic prospect of that changing.

Root solutions to this problem were always more effective than the official one, but not everyone wants to root.