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How to move apps to sd card on an unrooted device: A noobs guide. **Updated 09/02/11**

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The only way for all apps and dalvik cache to not be on internal .memory is to root. Even then you can't stop app cache being there
 
Silvio said:
I too had the "low on space" problem. This is the solution:
[TOOL] Enable APP2SD on Froyo 2.2 devices without the need for root permissions - xda-developers

Needs no root. I don't know how it works. You need to register in an italian (in italian) forum to download the patch. If anyone has trouble with that I can send it via e-mail.
This will solve all memory problems.
Click to expand...

So this does the same as the other method? But it is simpler to do? I think if this is so, it needs its own thread :)
 
used the method on page 1 to do this and at the 2nd attempt it worked.

Swype for those that have it, transferred to SD for me taking it from 17mb down to 5mb, but when I switch phone off & back on again then I have to go into settings to reactivate that keyboard ... no biggie as I dont tend to reboot much anyway.

most of the tiny apps all transferred ok, just wish flash, maps & facebook etc would as thats whats taking up most room, but in all it freed up 25mb+ for me, so that allows a lot more to be added if wanted. even found a new car home type app that dictates texts etc using voice only, so giving it a try with the extra space (Vlingo), seems pretty good so far
 
Many thanks ,finally got up the nerve,dont usually like to mess in case i ruin something i cant afford to replace,but gotta say it worked a treat,didnt save much space initially but presume that future apps will now go over to sd and stop it getting much less.
 
Have found a slight problem ,some apps that have installed automatically to sd after doing this fix ,keep failing ,such as word clock ,ok at first then when switch screen back on it just say failure to load ,same with folder organizer,i have to uninstal and reinstal to get them to work .Also when i plug into my laptop then unplug sense reboots and returns to default wallpaper.Anyone else getting similar.
 
Some apps already have the option to move to SD but still end up retaining a lot of internal memory (Rockplayer for one @ 9MB). After applying this method will more of their size move to the SD?

Edit: Answered it myself after biting the bullet...

Nope, no change. It still takes up 9MB. Shame.

Of my largest apps, the effect of this change was:
Flash - won't move
Maps - won't move
Rockplayer - Already SD (but still 9MB)
Handcent - Widget, shouldn't move but can
Poweramp - Widget, shouldn't move but can
Gmail - won't move
Dolphin Browser HD - Already SD
Soundhound - Moved
Shazam - Moved
Fotmob - Widget, shouldn't move but can (and breaks the app when you try ;))
Movies - Already SD
IMDB - Moved
Sky+ - Moved

The first 6 of those account for 45MB alone...

A few smaller ones also moved realising an approximately 10MB gain. Not brilliant, but considering I was getting the low space warning every so often it is a handy reduction.
Soundhound updated successfully after moving. (Possibly with a restart in between)
 
hi

thanks for the post, been looking for something like this

followed the instructions and that worked fine, but cant get swype to work after its installed to SD card.

its ticked in the language and keyboard settings, but whenever i go to use the keyboard, its the standard one.

any ideas?
 
This isn't working very well for me.

Copy the second folder into the sdk named "android-sdk-windows" to the desktop.
Click to expand...
Do you mean copy the second folder in (or from) the SDK to the desktop? Or am I actually copying something into the SDK?

Open the folder on the desktop and open the file, SDK Manager.exe (as no such file as setup.exe exists in the new version of the SDk)
Click to expand...
The second folder in the archive is named "Platforms", and has no files at all in it. SDK Manager.exe is just in the root of the archive.

Close the command / windows command prompt window that opens
Untick all options you are promted to download except ones like the manuals, and Essentially, ensure the USB driver option is selected / ticked.
Click to expand...
Despite SDK Manager.exe not being where the instructions said, I copied it to my desktop and ran it anyhow. A command window briefly popped up, then closed by itself. There's nothing prompting me to download. I tried running it as administrator too.

Sorry for being obtuse, but this doesn't seem to be working.
 
I'd suggest saving off the downloaded android-sdk_r07-windows.zip to your desktop. Then right click on it and select Extract Here. That should give you the folder structure you need.

You should end up with:
C:\Users\Username\Desktop\android-sdk-windows
C:\Users\Username\Desktop\android-sdk-windows\add-ons\
C:\Users\Username\Desktop\android-sdk-windows\platforms\
C:\Users\Username\Desktop\android-sdk-windows\tools\
C:\Users\Username\Desktop\android-sdk-windows\SDK Manager.exe
C:\Users\Username\Desktop\android-sdk-windows\SDK Readme.txt

^^^That's on Vista. Run the SDK Manager.exe from within that and all will be well (hopefully!)
 
Thanks Bartlet, that got it. I guess I was getting confused the the phrase "second folder" ... I thought it meant the second one listed, whereas I guess it means the second indenture. I'm good to go now.
 
Dumb(ish) question: I've already successfully followed William's instructions and done a factory reset to claw back about 30Mb of internal memory. Now, if I do the "Apps2SD for unrooted phones" trick, a) will I also have to redo William's trick (I presume so as I guess I'll also have to do a factory reset which will void this), b) is it worth doing all of it anyway, and c) if so, in what order should I do this?
 
William, you rock !! I don't consider myself a noob but i seem to be in this case. I wanted to move Copilot 8 to the SD card and it worked perfect !

thanx a zillion ! :):)
 
Silvio said:
I too had the "low on space" problem. This is the solution:
[TOOL] Enable APP2SD on Froyo 2.2 devices without the need for root permissions - xda-developers

Needs no root. I don't know how it works. You need to register in an italian (in italian) forum to download the patch. If anyone has trouble with that I can send it via e-mail.
This will solve all memory problems.
Click to expand...

The site now has an "in English" option, but when you click on it it doesn't go anywhere - neither does the Italian version for that matter. Looks like the page has been pulled. Any comments / advice / alternative sites for the same thing?
 
droidzone said:
The option still doesn't perfectly move apps. Only those that were primarily designed to be allowed. Just changes the default setting toggle. If u want a more refined solution, suggest u try app2sd+ after installing an extra partition.
Click to expand...

how do i do these things.. sorry really just trying to get the most out of my phone but cant afford to void a warranty this is my only option...and does it work on Eclair?
 
MF DROID said:
how about making a list of what apps have been moved and are still working perfect?!?

so far i have tested

runnkeeper
google translate
LED scroller
astro
folder organiser


has anyone tried swype?

[EDIT] unless there is allreadt a list i havent seen
Click to expand...

Since I use folder organizer widgets, I was unable to keep that on the SD card as the widgets would disappear everytime I rebooted, or mounted SD card.

I was unable to keep swype as my default keyboard when it was on the SD card - the setting would reset upon a reboot. I suspect that when Android is booting up and setting up default associations, it cannot find swype - probably for the same reason why it couldn't find widgets on the SD card; it isn't available in time.

However, since swype is so large, I deal with having to re-set my default keyboard everytime I reboot.. as I would rather it on the SD card than internal.
 
turbohobbit said:
The site now has an "in English" option, but when you click on it it doesn't go anywhere - neither does the Italian version for that matter. Looks like the page has been pulled. Any comments / advice / alternative sites for the same thing?
Click to expand...

Ok, got it and loaded the patch, but it doesn't look like it's doing anything different to William's trick to be honest...
 
ok i tried this and another noob guide, not working i get the following message on the last step

Error: unknown command 'setInstallLocation 2'
usage: pm [list:path:install:uninstall]
pm list packages [-f]
pm list permission-groups
pm list permission [-g] [-f] [-d] [-u] [GROUP]
pm list instrumentation [-f] [TARGET-PACKAGE]
pm list features
pm path PACKAGE
pm ................................the list goes on anybody able to help??
 
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