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Root Force App Install to Internal Memory?

L

lexluthor

Android Expert
Not sure if this is a root specific question, but I'll start here.

Is there any way to force all apps to install to the internal memory? We have so much internal memory that I really don't want apps installed on the SD card.

What's even more annoying is if I originally install and app and it goes to the SD card, by default, then I move the app to internal memory manually, if I then update the app, it goes back to the SD card.

Is there a way to tell apps that support apps to App2SD and are coded to default to the SD card to still install to internal memory?
 
CM7 supports forcing all apps to install one place or another.

Probably not exactly the answer you were looking for, but it's there.
 
No, not the answer. I should have mentioned I'm stock 2.3/rooted.

But, if CM7 can do it, there must be a way.

Surprised there's not an root app that can allow me to toggle the setting.

Ok, someone can figure this out I'm sure.
 
i have also heard of a different trick that uses paid apps on the sd card which is morally wrong and no one should do it, i personally havent tried this, because i dont want to so :p i take p3droids word on it
 
I didn't even realize you had that option in CM7.......don't know that I will ever use it, but nice to know nonetheless :D
 
VoidedSaint said:
i have also heard of a different trick that uses paid apps on the sd card which is morally wrong and no one should do it, i personally havent tried this, because i dont want to so :p i take p3droids word on it
Click to expand...

That's not what he means. He means installing it from the market, copying the APK from /data/app to your SD card and then returning the app.
 
binary visions said:
That's not what he means. He means installing it from the market, copying the APK from /data/app to your SD card and then returning the app.
Click to expand...

yeah that same technique is being used on some paid apps, transfering it to sd card, copying that same data, and refunding the money in 15 mins
 
lexluthor said:
Is there any way to force all apps to install to the internal memory?

Is there a way to tell apps that support apps to App2SD and are coded to default to the SD card to still install to internal memory?
Click to expand...

Lex,

Don't think I have a concrete answer, but I have some background info that might shed a little more light on your issue / question.

Beginning with Android 2.2 / Froyo, the AndroidManifest.xml for each app can contain an android:installLocation attribute in the manifest element that can have a value of either "preferExternal" or "auto".

Here's the description (taken from App Install Location | Android Developers):

If you declare "preferExternal", you request that your application be installed on the external storage, but the system does not guarantee that your application will be installed on the external storage. If the external storage is full, the system will install it on the internal storage. The user can also move your application between the two locations.

If you declare "auto", you indicate that your application may be installed on the external storage, but you don't have a preference of install location. The system will decide where to install your application based on several factors. The user can also move your application between the two locations.

(There's also a lot of other good / interesting information in the above linked page).

Anyway, it seems to me that since the content of the AndroidManifest.xml file in the app's .apk controls where the app can be installed, it doesn't seem likely that you can dynamically modify the AndroidManifest.xml file's android:installLocation attribute's value, re-pack, and re-sign it just prior to being installed.

Also, the Android package installer's APIs are no longer public (ref. Google, Android, and Private APIs. Al Sutton's Blog), so it must be that the CyanogenMod team has developed their own app installer to affect where an app eventually gets installed.

Hope that helps a little.

Cheers!
 
lexluthor said:
I just found this thread.
[APP][Froyo][root] Move2SD Enabler - ex SetInstallLocation - xda-developers
Seems like the main use is to force install to SD Card, but looks like it also has an option to force install to internal memory.

Somewhere in the middle of the thread, there's a link to a beta version that works on gingerbread.

Little scared to try it though.

Thoughts?
Click to expand...

Says it for Froyo only (although I didn't read through each page of the thread to see if the OP got it to work for GB or if a GB user had any success with it).

You're not on Froyo still are you, Lex?
 
I'm on gb.

This post has a link to a beta version that should work for gb.
xda-developers

Not sure I really want to try it though.

Do you all think this might work to allow me to install always to internal memory by default?
 
No one really figured this one out yet? Surprised there's not some easier way to do this. I hate having an app on internal memory and then when I upgrade, it goes to the SD Card and then I have to move it back.
 
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