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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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Done this to my phone all ok but still having space problems have moved apps that will move and also deleted some. Some apps will not move (shaded out) and still not able to download updates/new apps as phone tells me not enough space. What is the real solution to this space problem apart from get a new phone ?

Stop press phone showing 33 mb left. Also if I try to download an app it fails saying 'couldnt istall on usb storage or sd card' card has 14 gb space left.
 
This worked well...however a lot of the android market updates wont install to the sd path. And many new android installs also dont like the new path.
 
KillNEO said:
This worked well...however a lot of the android market updates wont install to the sd path. And many new android installs also dont like the new path.
Click to expand...

Having the same problem any work around other than root, I don't really understand root what rom do you go for. I like sense and the phone as it is just need more room.
 
flyingeng said:
Having the same problem any work around other than root, I don't really understand root what rom do you go for. I like sense and the phone as it is just need more room.
Click to expand...
For such wishes, the steps are:
1) Root
2) Get a Sense ROM with a2sd+ support. One example is Leedroid.
 
hey........ i want to ask... after i do all thiss...can i factory reset my phone ? will the settings b in place afterwards ?
???
 
Is there any work around for this problem of apps not wanting to download to the phone after this workaround.
Usta I wouldnt root as not sure what it entails and also not sure of operating system to use. To be honest would entertain selling the phone and getting something else if there is no other option to improve things.
 
This method is not ideal anyway. It can cause problems. Rooting is the best option and theres plenty to read up on in my signature. Should answer all questions.

As for what operating system - well its always going to be android. Although there are variations which people can point you in the direction of.

But if you really dont want to get into this, get one of the newer HTC's. They have addressed the small memory issue now.

It is a shame. Big failure of HTC but apart from that, the desire is great.
 
Solved the problem with a factory reset. Also more room and with apps2sd can move new apps now. Any more problems with space and phone on e bay and another model on order. Shame good phone.
 
flyingeng said:
Solved the problem with a factory reset. Also more room and with apps2sd can move new apps now. Any more problems with space and phone on e bay and another model on order. Shame good phone.
Click to expand...

It worked for me. But every time I check the phone memory it gets smaller and smaller to a few 100 kb. And then it gets to say 8 mb. :confused: What's going on? Is there a way to make it think that it has more free memory?
 
xsenzeix said:
It worked for me. But every time I check the phone memory it gets smaller and smaller to a few 100 kb. And then it gets to say 8 mb. :confused: What's going on? Is there a way to make it think that it has more free memory?
Click to expand...

Some of the app remains on internal memory otherwise apps would not function.

Also, data is stored there, not just apps.

No you cant trick it to be more memory. Why would you want to do that?
 
SUroot said:
Some of the app remains on internal memory otherwise apps would not function.

Also, data is stored there, not just apps.

No you cant trick it to be more memory. Why would you want to do that?
Click to expand...


Thanks for an answer. But... So this is how it's supposed to be? Check memory->6 mb ->Check memory again->5 mb->Check memory again->3 mb etc. And later it resets itself to some random number, when it reaches zero.:(

"Trick" is the wrong word then, I meant stop it from thinking it's losing memory. I know that Data is stored there, but I don't know what data/app is responsible for this memory loss. Or how to stop it, if this is unusual.
 
It could be losing memory though.

Its going to be quite tough to identify if that is the case.

I would probably use mybackup to backup all the apps, do a factory reset and do the procedure again, then restore the apps.

You would have a lot of setting up to do again. Its pretty drastic, but sometimes it needs to be done.
 
When I get to the "adb devices" part of the command prompt im getting 'adb' is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file. Any help? ( yes im the world bigggest noob)
 
swade1234 said:
When I get to the "adb devices" part of the command prompt im getting 'adb' is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file. Any help? ( yes im the world bigggest noob)
Click to expand...


Just follow these exact steps. Nothing more, nothing less

1) download and install htc sync




2) download sdk and extract to C:\



3) Connect your phone by USB


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
 
SUroot said:
Just follow these exact steps. Nothing more, nothing less

1) download and install htc sync




2) download sdk and extract to C:\



3) Connect your phone by USB


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
Click to expand...
Ok, so I've been trying all week to sync my phone and sort this out. I've clicked on the links you've supplied and managed to sync my phone but when I type pm setInstallLocation 2 I get 'pm is not recognised as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file'

Any ideas?

Thanks
 
Successfully done so on Samsung Galaxy Mini. But still i have only 28Mb of internal memory free! I want more:s "SNS" takes up maximum of 10Mb rest are hardly 5-7mb and on SD Card now! What I need to know is how to gain more Internal Memory!!!!Plz help,28mb not enough.
 
jonno1975 said:
Ok, so I've been trying all week to sync my phone and sort this out. I've clicked on the links you've supplied and managed to sync my phone but when I type pm setInstallLocation 2 I get 'pm is not recognised as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file'

Any ideas?

Thanks
Click to expand...

You dont need to sync anything.

Are you definitely on android 2.2 froyo?
 
Mir. said:
Successfully done so on Samsung Galaxy Mini. But still i have only 28Mb of internal memory free! I want more:s "SNS" takes up maximum of 10Mb rest are hardly 5-7mb and on SD Card now! What I need to know is how to gain more Internal Memory!!!!Plz help,28mb not enough.
Click to expand...

Have you manually moved all your existing apps to sd card?
 
SUroot said:
Have you manually moved all your existing apps to sd card?
Click to expand...

Yup all moved manually! I have hardly 34mb now. I want more! Got only 18Apps (all on SD Card) .

Maps,Navigation,Latitude and Places all came pre-installed,and probably installed on Internal Memory. But does they take up 80% of my 180mb internal memory?:s

I even deleted my Facebook "synced" contacts from contact list to get some memory,got an mb only i think!

Is there any folder which might keep downloaded "setups" of programs from market?A temp folder sort of? Help me get memory,if possible!

Thanks a lot for the help though:)
 
Maps and navigation should be on the /system partition. Your "internal storage" is only the /data partition.

Do you use accleaner to clear caches?

There is a temp download folder for the market, however this is the /cache partition and again, does not affect your "internal storage".

Your free space does seem rather low given the apps you have installed but its hard to figure why.
 
SUroot said:
Maps and navigation should be on the /system partition. Your "internal storage" is only the /data partition.

Do you use accleaner to clear caches?

There is a temp download folder for the market, however this is the /cache partition and again, does not affect your "internal storage".

Your free space does seem rather low given the apps you have installed but its hard to figure why.
Click to expand...

Means no solution?? Iv used various cache cleaners, but that havent helped gain more than 4mb!

Helllllllllllllpppp please! It keep minimizing,n i hardly use for texting.Facebook only mostly.its gone down to 25mb now:confused:
 
Had all this sorted out and working well on my Desire but had to wipe it and start again. Did as SURoot suggested again but like others above, I get all the way to the last command and then get 'pm is not recognised as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file'. Any suggestions please?
 
hey i have a galaxy mini tooo, i did this, it worked perfectly fine, i have abt 90 apps and 25 mb of free space.....had to read a lot to get ths far..... there is surely a solution to your problem, u need to back up all ur data, contacts, app data etc from internal memory, and back up all your songs/ videos . etc to ur computer, format your memory card, do a factory reset on your phone, do this proceedure (change the default install location) and start from scratch

u r good to go... it takes some time but trust me its worth it...
 
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