Forcing Apps to install to the SD Card without root

[El Presidente]

One of the biggest complaints levelled at the HTC Wildfire S is the severe lack of internal memory. There are ways around this, one of which is forcing downloaded apps to install to the SD Card. There are a couple of pre-requisites, but the process itself is relatively straight forward.

You'll need HTC Sync installed (or at least the drivers that come with HTC Sync) and ADB (Android Debug Bridge) or the Android SDK. The SDK itself is a >100MB download and can be relatively difficult to install, however if you head here, look under the section entitled Mini SDK, click show, you can download a zip file called SDK-Tools.zip. Once downloaded, extract the contents of that folder to a folder of your choosing. I recommend somewhere easy, like C:\SDK-Tools as you'll need to navigate to it via a command prompt later.

You'll also need to enable USB Debugging on your phone, that's easily enough done by heading to Settings -> Applications -> Development -> USB Debugging. You'll get a warning message, but just ok that you'll be fine.

Once you've done all the above, the process is as follows:

1. Connect the Phone to the PC in Charge Only mode
2. Open a command prompt (Start -> Run -> CMD, you'll need to run as Administrator)
3. Navigate to the folder you extracted ADB to. In my case, the command would be "cd\SDK-Tools" (minus the quotes).
4. Type adb devices and press enter. You should then see the serial number of your phone displayed on screen. If you don't check, that USB Debugging is enabled and you're connected in Charge Only Mode. If you get an error stating" 'adb' is not recognized as an internal or external command", it might well you've another SDK-tools folder within the original. If this is the case type "cd\sdk-tools\sdk-tools" and try again.
5. Type adb shell, press enter.
6. Type pm setInstallLocation 2 press enter (it's important you enter this exactly as written as it's case sensitive)
7. Type exit, then disconnect your phone.
8. PROFIT!

You can now move apps that are already on the handset to the SD Card. Head to Settings -> Applications -> Manage Applications -> All -> Click an app -> Move to SD Card. All new apps will install to the SD Card.

It's worth mentioning that apps with active widgets cannot be moved and a certain portion app will remain on the phones data partition, but this goes a long way to assist with the lack of internal memory!

Pics for the ADB stuff below:

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[Harish Harris]

One of the biggest complaints levelled at the HTC Wildfire S is the severe lack of internal memory. There are ways around this, one of which is forcing downloaded apps to install to the SD Card. There are a couple of pre-requisites, but the process itself is relatively straight forward.

You'll need HTC Sync installed (or at least the drivers that come with HTC Sync) and ADB (Android Debug Bridge) or the Android SDK. The SDK itself is a >100MB download and can be relatively difficult to install, however if you head here, look under the section entitled Mini SDK, click show, you can download a zip file called SDK-Tools.zip. Once downloaded, extract the contents of that folder to a folder of your choosing. I recommend somewhere easy, like C:\SDK-Tools as you'll need to navigate to it via a command prompt later.

You'll also need to enable USB Debugging on your phone, that's easily enough done by heading to Settings -> Applications -> Development -> USB Debugging. You'll get a warning message, but just ok that you'll be fine.

Once you've done all the above, the process is as follows:

1. Connect the Phone to the PC in Charge Only mode
2. Open a command prompt (Start -> Run -> CMD)
3. Type cd\ and press enter until you are in the root directory of your PC. This is denoted by a C:\>.
4. Navigate to the folder you extracted ADB to. In my case, the command would be "cd\SDK-Tools" (minus the quotes).
5. Type ADB Devices and press enter. You should then see the serial number of your phone displayed on screen. If you don't check, that USB Debugging is enabled and you're connected in Charge Only Mode.
6. Type ADB Shell, press enter.
7. Type pm setInstallLocation 2 press enter (it's important you enter this exactly as written as it's case sensitive)
8. Type Exit, then disconnect your phone.
9. PROFIT!

You can now move apps that are already on the handset to the SD Card. Head to Settings -> Applications -> Manage Applications -> All -> Click an app -> Move to SD Card. All new apps will install to the SD Card.

It's worth mentioning that apps with active widgets cannot be moved and a certain portion app will remain on the phones data partition, but this goes a long way to assist with the lack of internal memory!

If needed, I can post some pics later to make the process a little easier to understand.

Thanks a lot for the post buddy. I will give it a try.
It would be helpful if you post any screen shots too as i'm a beginner when it comes to android and stuff

 

[El Presidente]

Thanks a lot for the post buddy. I will give it a try.
It would be helpful if you post any screen shots too as i'm a beginner when it comes to android and stuff

Yeah, no problem mate. I've just finished nights so I'm in need of a sleep but I'll sort something out later on today for you.

 

[GerJ]

Thanks for the info! Two questions, however. Does this also work with Android 2.3.5? And if installed with a previous version, did updating to 2.3.5 go withoiut a hitch??

 

[El Presidente]

Yep, it should work with any Android version above 2.2. I've no idea about the upgrade though, I know I've done it on 2.3.3 but I've not upgraded to 2.3.5 yet as my handset is branded. I imagine you'd have to run the commands again after the upgrade though.

 

[JosephSayRelax]

I did all this and it all went fine except when I went to do that pm setInstallLocation 2, i copy as needed and it says ""pm " is not reconginized as an internal or external command... "

Yeah :S

And another question, Is it possible just to place the micro SD card as the internal memory. Make the phone believe that the micro SD card is the internal memory?

I'm an android noob so yeah :S lmao thanks man.

 

[hpguru]

I did all this and it all went fine except when I went to do that pm setInstallLocation 2, i copy as needed and it says ""pm " is not reconginized as an internal or external command... "

I got the same result but then I typed the adb commands in lower case and it worked just fine. Not sure if that was it or it just needed time to connect but it worked.

 

[JosephSayRelax]

I got the same result but then I typed the adb commands in lower case and it worked just fine. Not sure if that was it or it just needed time to connect but it worked.

what do you mean typed the adb commands in lower case. from the start? so like start over typing adb Devices... or like the install in lowercase.

 

[billbick]

Hello,

New to the forum, thanks to all for providing a site to discuss (and tweak) the Wildfire S phone. I performed all steps as described in the thread, and it seems to have worked, but when I go into Manage Applications, and try to move something (like HTC Likes, for example), the move to SD card button is grayed out. What apps have others been able to move to the SD card? Or will apps installed after this tweak be installed the SD card?


Phone Info
HTC Wildfire S (Virgin Mobile)
Android 2.3.4

 

[khendeeh]

how can I download HTC SYNC in to my wildfire s? It says the content is not supported on the phone. No application can be found to 9open this file.

What to do?

Thanks

 

[Kingduffy]

hello,
i have follow all steps, but when i type 'adb devices' it says 'adb is not recognized as an internal or external command'. please help me.
thanks.

 

[Harish Harris]

how can I download HTC SYNC in to my wildfire s? It says the content is not supported on the phone. No application can be found to 9open this file.

What to do?

Thanks

You need to download HTC Sync to your computer..

 

[karolisb]

Does it work with S-ON devices?

 

[xuerebx]

It works!

 

[davejp]

Thumbs up!!

Cheers for that, nice one.

 

[El Presidente]

Thanks a lot for the post buddy. I will give it a try.
It would be helpful if you post any screen shots too as i'm a beginner when it comes to android and stuff

Do you still need pics? Apologies, I got a little sidetracked with the festive season and totally forgot about this.

let me know and I can upload ASAP.

 

[Pootie Tang]

yes please, pics would be greatly appreciated..MUCH THANKS!

 

[Harish Harris]

Do you still need pics? Apologies, I got a little sidetracked with the festive season and totally forgot about this.

let me know and I can upload ASAP.

Thanks for your reply. I think i can do it after reading the comments.
But pics would be of more help

 

[El Presidente]

yes please, pics would be greatly appreciated..MUCH THANKS!

Thanks for your reply. I think i can do it after reading the comments.
But pics would be of more help

No probs, I'll get them uploaded once I'm home from work.

What do you need btw? Everything, or just the ADB stuff?

 

[Harish Harris]

No probs, I'll get them uploaded once I'm home from work.

What do you need btw? Everything, or just the ADB stuff?

The ADB stuffs will be enough for me

 

[El Presidente]

The ADB stuffs will be enough for me

I'd just added pics to the post 5 mins ago!

 

[Harish Harris]

I'd just added pics to the post 5 mins ago!

Cool.. thanks a lot

 

[Harish Harris]

It worked!!! My phone went from 30MB to 50MB free memory.
And for the folks who said when they type "adb devices", it gives the message 'adb is not recognized as an internal or external command', you would have extracted the sdk-tools to C:\sdk-tools\sdk-tools. Even i did the same. So you need to type "cd\sdk-tools\sdk-tools" in the command prompt. Hope this helps some one .

But i still need to move Gmail and Facebook to the SD card. But sadly i have to root my device to do that

Thanks again el presidente for your help.. cheers!

 

[hytekk]

Works great! Thank you very much!!!!

 

[Sash1]

Hi,

Can anyone help as I dont know what I am doing wrong.

I saved mines in the default download so when I type mines I put
'downloads\sdk-tools\sdk-tools\adb device' after c:\user\**** and thats fine it brings up that killing and shows me the serial number, Im confused as what to do next as the prompt screen goes back to c:\user\**** and then when I type adb shell it does nothing and says that not recognise stuff etc

I have different variations off trying to type adb shell but not getting anywhere passed this stage.

Can anyone help?

Thank