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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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THANK YOU!! William j1 and SUroot,
i dont have a clue what i just did but it worked and ive managed to move my gameloft games to my sd card.
the link in the guide got me SDK r09 and i couldnt find the file so i deleted it and used SUroots link to SDK r06 and that one worked perfect:D:D.

im very basic when it comes to PCs etc so im well pleased with myself for even taking this on.
wouldnt of been possible without all the info on here though so thanks to everyone who has taken time to share.
 
still not working for me. Followed the very basic instructions.

here is a copy from the black box after I do it.

Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]
(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.
C:\Documents and Settings\cody>cd\android-sdk-windows\tools
C:\android-sdk-windows\tools>ADB shell
adb server is out of date. killing...
* daemon started successfully *
$ pm setinstalllocation 2
pm setinstalllocation 2
Error: unknown command 'setinstalllocation'
usage: pm [list|path|install|uninstall]
pm list packages [-f]
pm list permission-groups
pm list permissions [-g] [-f] [-d] [-u] [GROUP]
pm list instrumentation [-f] [TARGET-PACKAGE]
pm list features
pm path PACKAGE
pm install [-l] [-r] [-t] [-i INSTALLER_PACKAGE_NAME] [-s] [-f] P
pm uninstall [-k] PACKAGE
pm enable PACKAGE_OR_COMPONENT
pm disable PACKAGE_OR_COMPONENT
pm setInstallLocation [0/auto] [1/internal] [2/external]
The list packages command prints all packages. Options:
-f: see their associated file.
The list permission-groups command prints all known
permission groups.
The list permissions command prints all known
permissions, optionally only those in GROUP. Options:
-g: organize by group.
-f: print all information.
-s: short summary.
-d: only list dangerous permissions.
-u: list only the permissions users will see.
The list instrumentation command prints all instrumentations,
or only those that target a specified package. Options:
-f: see their associated file.
The list features command prints all features of the system.
The path command prints the path to the .apk of a package.
The install command installs a package to the system. Options:
-l: install the package with FORWARD_LOCK.
-r: reinstall an exisiting app, keeping its data.
-t: allow test .apks to be installed.
-i: specify the installer package name.
-s: install package on sdcard.
-f: install package on internal flash.
The uninstall command removes a package from the system. Options:
-k: keep the data and cache directories around.
after the package removal.
The enable and disable commands change the enabled state of
a given package or component (written as "package/class").
The getInstallLocation command gets the current install location
0 [auto]: Let system decide the best location
1 [internal]: Install on internal device storage
2 [external]: Install on external media
The setInstallLocation command changes the default install location
0 [auto]: Let system decide the best location
1 [internal]: Install on internal device storage
2 [external]: Install on external media
$


thanks for any help
 
hmm. Looks like it gives me the same problem.

Microsoft Windows [Version 6.0.6002]
Copyright (c) 2006 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
C:\Users\Home User>cd\android-sdk-windows\tools
C:\android-sdk-windows\tools>adb shell
adb server is out of date. killing...
* daemon started successfully *
$ pm SetInstallLocation 2
pm SetInstallLocation 2
Error: unknown command 'SetInstallLocation'
usage: pm [list|path|install|uninstall]
pm list packages [-f]
pm list permission-groups
pm list permissions [-g] [-f] [-d] [-u] [GROUP]
pm list instrumentation [-f] [TARGET-PACKAGE]
pm list features
pm path PACKAGE
pm install [-l] [-r] [-t] [-i INSTALLER_PACKAGE_NAME] [-s]
pm uninstall [-k] PACKAGE
pm enable PACKAGE_OR_COMPONENT
pm disable PACKAGE_OR_COMPONENT
pm setInstallLocation [0/auto] [1/internal] [2/external]
The list packages command prints all packages. Options:
-f: see their associated file.
The list permission-groups command prints all known
permission groups.
The list permissions command prints all known
permissions, optionally only those in GROUP. Options:
-g: organize by group.
-f: print all information.
-s: short summary.
-d: only list dangerous permissions.
-u: list only the permissions users will see.
The list instrumentation command prints all instrumentations,
or only those that target a specified package. Options:
-f: see their associated file.
The list features command prints all features of the system.
The path command prints the path to the .apk of a package.
The install command installs a package to the system. Options:
-l: install the package with FORWARD_LOCK.
-r: reinstall an exisiting app, keeping its data.
-t: allow test .apks to be installed.
-i: specify the installer package name.
-s: install package on sdcard.
-f: install package on internal flash.
The uninstall command removes a package from the system. Options:
-k: keep the data and cache directories around.
after the package removal.
The enable and disable commands change the enabled state of
a given package or component (written as "package/class").
The getInstallLocation command gets the current install location
0 [auto]: Let system decide the best location
1 [internal]: Install on internal device storage
2 [external]: Install on external media
The setInstallLocation command changes the default install locati
0 [auto]: Let system decide the best location
1 [internal]: Install on internal device storage
2 [external]: Install on external media
$

any thoughts?
 
cant figure our why, because this line here:

Code: 
pm setInstallLocation [0/auto] [1/internal] [2/external]

Clearly suggests that "pm setInstallLocation 2" should work.

Have you got any apps or anything that could be preventing this?

Are you copy / pasting it or typing it? Could there be a space in there that shouldnt be?
 
figured it out.

first I had "setinstalllocation" then I had "SetInstallLocation" but the correct is setInstallLocation.

thanks for your help
 
OMG yes you are the man. Thank you so much. It works!

THIS MIGHT HELP
I will describe some of the small problems I encountered in how I overcome them for those that might struggle with them too.

1. Can't connect to sync after installing SDK

- close SDK and HTC sync, and eject your phone. Open task manager and end process called "adb". Open sync, connect phone, select sync option again.

2. When entering "adb devices" you are told it is not reconized...blah blah

- you are in the wrong folder. check that you are in

"cd desktop\android-sdk-windows\platform-tools" (win7 users - described in guide)


Cheers again, so awesome
 
SUroot said:
Not really, look at this:

1) download and install htc sync



2) download sdk and extract to C:\


3) Connect your phone by USB and select the HTC sync option


4) Open command prompt (in Windows)


  • Go to Start > Run
  • Type "Cmd" and press OK


5) In the black window:


  • Type "cd\android-sdk-windows\tools" and press enter
  • Then Type "adb shell" and press enter
  • Then Type "pm setInstallLocation 2" and press enter

Done


;)
Click to expand...

Just did it on my HTC Desire and it seems to have worked. Although the link to HTC Sync in #1 didn't work for me... but just went to the HTC site and found the download fine.

Thanks
 
Thanks for the great guide. Worked fine for me.

Couple of notes:
Gutted that none of google maps,adobe flash, gmail or voice search cannot be moved as they are the biggest apps i have (other than launcher pro, which is understandable that it cannot be moved).

Gmail app in the market says there is an update for it but when i press update it says "The requested item could not be found", to fix this should i repeat the process but return the setinstalllocation back to 0?

I've Managed to move a few other apps that wouldn't before but still am pretty short on space (15 mb left). Am thinking of performing a factory reset at the weekend, but don't want to lose my angry birds progress or my texts. Any idea as to how i can save those? Also do texts take up much internal memory i have about 1000 on the phone at the moment?

cheers.
 
I performed the process last week and now my HTC Desire is able to move more apps to he SD card.
I have noticed now that when I use HTC Sync to sync with my PC that SD card mounts as a disk drive as soon as the initial sync has completed making the apps unavailable and Outlook Contacts and Calendar only sync down from the PC no longer up from the phone as well. Has anyone else experienced this?

Thansks
 
William thanks for this...very much appreciated. It does beg the question as to why the phone wasn't designed with this in mind in the 1st place! Sure leave all the system stuff untouchable, but why make it so difficult to move other apps. Thanks again
 
Android only brought it in because of phones like the desire that have limited space available. They didnt really have to.
 
SUroot said:
Not really, look at this:

1) download and install htc sync




2) download sdk and extract to C:\



3) Connect your phone by USB and select the HTC sync option


4) Open command prompt (in Windows)


  • Go to Start > Run
  • Type "Cmd" and press OK



5) In the black window:


  • Type "cd\android-sdk-windows\tools" and press enter
  • Then Type "adb shell" and press enter
  • Then Type "pm setInstallLocation 2" and press enter


Done



Identity protection ;)
Click to expand...

Hi,

just about to give this a shot, but just have a few (potentially obvious) questions. I'm using windows 7 and when I go to start, there doesn't seem to be an option to 'Run', how do I get that. Secondly do I include the inverted commas when I type in the text. And, lastly, can this be reversed should I want to do so?

Thanks!
 
trevytrev said:
Hi,

just about to give this a shot, but just have a few (potentially obvious) questions. I'm using windows 7 and when I go to start, there doesn't seem to be an option to 'Run', how do I get that. Secondly do I include the inverted commas when I type in the text. And, lastly, can this be reversed should I want to do so?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

No you dont include the quotation marks. Yes it can be revered by using setinstalllocation 0 (automatic) or 1 (internal)

Right click on start button > Properties > start menu> Customize

Go through the list and Tick "Run Command" and OK.
 
SUroot said:
No you dont include the quotation marks. Yes it can be revered by using setinstalllocation 0 (automatic) or 1 (internal)

Right click on start button > Properties > start menu> Customize

Go through the list and Tick "Run Command" and OK.
Click to expand...

Thanks sorted that but when I type in cmd initially, it's coming with with a message saying that it's not recognised as an internal or external command. Any idea why?
 
Thank you so much! This is very welcome. Frees up some much needed space on my Desire!
 
Itching to do this to release some storage. When I tried to open the SDKmanager.exe file it said that I don't have Java installed and then when I went to install it from the site suggested \I got the message

"We were unable to detect a recent version of Java Runtime Environment (JRE) on your system. With the latest JRE, you can automatically download, install, and run Sun Download Manager (SDM) directly from this page. We highly recommend SDM to easily manage your downloads (pause, resume, restart, verify, and more). Visit java.com for the latest JRE."

Can anyone tell me what Java is and translate the above paragraph for me please?!
 
Pinmac1 said:
Itching to do this to release some storage. When I tried to open the SDKmanager.exe file it said that I don't have Java installed and then when I went to install it from the site suggested \I got the message

"We were unable to detect a recent version of Java Runtime Environment (JRE) on your system. With the latest JRE, you can automatically download, install, and run Sun Download Manager (SDM) directly from this page. We highly recommend SDM to easily manage your downloads (pause, resume, restart, verify, and more). Visit java.com for the latest JRE."

Can anyone tell me what Java is and translate the above paragraph for me please?!
Click to expand...

You need this:

http://java.com/en/download/inc/windows_upgrade_xpi.jsp

You shouldn't even need to open the sdk manager. The only steps you really need to do are below:


1) download and install htc sync




2) download sdk and extract to C:\



3) Connect your phone by USB and select the HTC sync option


4) Open command prompt (in Windows)


  • Go to Start > Run
  • Type "Cmd" and press OK



5) In the black window:


  • Type "cd\android-sdk-windows\tools" and press enter
  • Then Type "adb shell" and press enter
  • Then Type "pm setInstallLocation 2" and press enter
 
Woohoo! I've done it. Thanks so much to William and to SUroot for the help and advice. Apart from one sticky moment when I had finished, turned it off and it flatly refused to turn back on until I removed and reinstalled the battery, all went very smoothly and I've gone from 18Mb free to 36Mb free which seems like loads. Off to raid the Market now! Thanks again.
 
Before I try this, I'd like to describe my problem. I am afraid this won't solve it.

Old phone: Moto Backflip Installed "wordup" game 3/11 fell in love with game installed to phone memory I guess

New phone: HTC Aria purchased 3/13. SAME sim card. No apps were transferred over. The market wont even show me the apps it thinks i have. This sucks although I did manage to get my google maps again

Tried to switch sim card back to old phone to see if I could move the app. Old phone does not recognize sim.

Now what?
 
rockalittle said:
Before I try this, I'd like to describe my problem. I am afraid this won't solve it.

Old phone: Moto Backflip Installed "wordup" game 3/11 fell in love with game installed to phone memory I guess

New phone: HTC Aria purchased 3/13. SAME sim card. No apps were transferred over. The market wont even show me the apps it thinks i have. This sucks although I did manage to get my google maps again

Tried to switch sim card back to old phone to see if I could move the app. Old phone does not recognize sim.

Now what?
Click to expand...

Why can't you just go onto the market on the new phone and download again? Even it doesn't say installed in the market, if you click buy again in the market, it won't charge you if you all ready bought it.

Also, if you are asking how you move over game data (saves etc) from the old phone, you would need to be rooted.
 
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