Launches Android applications from microSD free up storage space on internal disks our smartphones. And it doesn’t matter how much space you have. The maximum in computer technology indicates that you will eventually occupy it. And it always comes true.

There are a large number of smartphones that no longer support microSD. The industry followed Apple’s (bad) example as in many things (see removing the audio jack) and removed its support. But there are still tens of millions of devices where the use of these removable memory cards is a must.

Although the main goal of this format is still data storage, and in fact there are devices that use it as a single medium, they are also used to run complete operating systems, as we do in a mini single board computer such as the Raspberry Pi. And for many more uses on multiple devices, as we will see today with mobile applications.

How to run Android applications from microSD

First of all, external memory cards will always be a bit slower than internal storage. Although it will depend on it and the microSD that we use, because the latest interfaces (UHS 3 and Class 10) offer sufficient performance (120 Mbytes per second when reading) so that the user does not experience slowdowns when running software from them.

The recommendations here are clear. If we use it for these tasks, we should always buy it fastest card which our mobile can support. In terms of capacity, it will depend on the needs of each user, but these cards are very cheap and you will find 128Gbyte models for only 15 euros.

Another point to consider is that it will not always be possible to move all the applications you already have installed. without rooting the mobile. This is a mechanism for obtaining advanced or superuser privileges, which we have informed you about several times and which we include in the manuals for installing our own ROM. Also, some applications may not be compatible and will only work in the internal memory. And finally, it will also depend on the version of Android you have installed.

Customizable storage

After making the previous considerations, comment that without the need for alternative ROMs or rooting, the vast majority of Android applications can be run from microSD. And that’s because since Android Marshmallow (v 6.0), Google has introduced an important change that has been maintained in later versions in the way smartphones handle memory cards. The function is named “adaptive storage” and in practice, it allows you to configure microSD cards to work as if they were internal drives.

Instead of two different types of storage as separate spaces, Android sees the memory card as an extension of internal storage. This feature is Ideal if you want to use microSD to run software on Androidbecause data and applications can be written as needed. This eliminates the need to worry about where applications are stored, even if the memory card is fast enough so that the difference from internal memory is not excessive and does not reduce storage performance.

It must be said that the card is permanently configured and encrypted for the terminal, so you cannot extract it and transfer it directly to another computer to move it until you reformat it. If your terminal allows adaptive storage its configuration is simple, as you will see:

• Make sure you have backed up your data. The card will be formatted and you will lose all information.
• Insert the card into the terminal. When the “New SD card” notification appears, click Configure.
• Select the phone storage as “internal storage”.

• Select SD card format or Erase and format.
• In terminals from Android 9.0 onwards, in the same process, the option of transferring content, including applications, to the card is also offered. You’ll also see how much space you save on internal storage.

Save internal storage space

If you can’t move too many apps, another basic option free up space in internal memory And what will work on any device is to copy files, such as documents, videos, music or photos, to a microSD card and then delete them from the internal storage.

• Open the Settings application on your device.
• Click Storage and USB.
• Click Internal Storage.
• Select the type of file you want to move to the SD card.
• Long press the corresponding files.
• Press More More and then Copy to …
• In the “Save to” section, select the SD card.
• Select where you want to save the files and press copy.

In addition, applications such as those designed for device cameras usually offer the option save screenshots to microSD card even if the application is running from internal memory. Photos and videos usually take up a large amount of internal memory unless it is configured to store in external memory.

Use of third party applications

If your phone does not support moving and using applications on the microSD, or if you want to move applications that do not allow it individually, there are third-party applications that allow it. Apps2SD and FolderMount are among the most powerful and popular, but both require terminal rooting.

Another option is Link2SD, a solution that has root functionality as well some features do not need to be rooted. You can use it to move applications to the tab in bulk, “force” applications that don’t normally allow it, and download data folders for larger applications and games to external storage.

As with the previous ones, the maximum benefits are achieved after the terminal is rooted. Recommended technique for users who control security issues because it allows you to do many useful things that are not allowed on standard locked smartphones, as basic as launching Android applications from microSD, which, as you may have seen, is not always easy as should be in some terminals and some of them do not support the shared storage that this allows. In others yes and it is useful to free up internal storage space.