Moto G - SD card rated too slow r90MB/s w 80

[Pelekas]

I have just installed a Samsung Pro 32GB micro SD read speed 90MB/s write 80MB/s as “internal storage” but my Moto G (Android 6) gave a message that the card is “too slow”.

I bought the £40 SD card for internal storage use and was told that this is the fastest available. Is my money wasted?

Looking at storage I have Internal - 4.80 GB used out of 5.51GB and SD card 44.70 MB out of 29.33MB.

I need the SD card to extend the internal memory since I am almost at the limit and I get messages saying that apps cannot be updated because of lack of space.

When selecting storage and tapping on the card image and then the 3 dots I get the options "rename/eject/format as portable". Can I assume that the card is registered as "internal storage" and if so how do I shift apps over?

 

[Marty48]

Since you seem to have very little on the SD card at the moment, you could move to the internal memory, unmount the SD card and start fresh with an SD card marked UHC-1. If your present card is marked as such it may be defective. Perhaps formatting your present SD card after the data is moved will do the trick.

 

[Pelekas]

Marty, thanks for your help


The Micro SD card is a Samsung UHS-1 class 10 / 3 32GB read 90MB/s write 80MB/s.

1 I unmounted the card – using eject
2 Powered the phone off.
3 Removed the SD card
4 Replaced the SD card
5 Powered the phone on.

I got no special message when the phone started. Looking at storage I have

Internal: 4.81 GB used out of 5.51
Samsung SD card: 44.04 MB used of 29.33GB

When I first loaded the card yesterday I registered it as “Internal storage” but received a message “not fast enough” or something similar.

When ejecting the SD card I got the message that the card can only be used on this device - so I guess it is registered as internal despite the "not fast enough" message.

The phone is Moto G 2 gen bought early 2015
Running Android 6.0
Android security patch level 1 Jan 2016
Device software: Up to date


I bought the 32GB card simply to extend my app storage, however I can see no way of moving either data or apps to the SD card. Last year it was possible but these features have gone. I read that registering “internal” with Android 6 should make sharing a seamless exercise – effectively all memory should be treated as internal.

My first problem is that I am so close to the Internal storage limit that I get the message “unable to update app because of lack of storage".

Any ideas?

Update
When I view the Moto G from my laptop with either MTP or PTP selected I can only see the SD card storage – showing 29.3 GB out of the 32.

But no sign at all of the internal storage.

I notice that taking photos the phone automatically puts them on the SD card. But how can I shift over the apps?

 

[Marty48]

Always try to cut a problem like this in half; that is isolate the issue to the phone or the card. I'm guessing here but there may be multiple issues to analyze and correct. Try to delete some data and/or apps from internal memory so the unmount process can be completed. Trying a known good SD card of a smaller size could prove the phone is OK. Does Motorola specify that a 32 GB card will work with your phone? If 32 GB is an acceptable size card, then could try installing again after formatting the card. It may also be that the 32 GB card is defective.

 

[Marty48]

Near as I can tell on my phone (Moto G3 2015), long pressing the SD card entry under storage and USB says the card must be formatted as internal in order to extend the internal memory and allow apps to be stored on the SD. (My phone is not formatted as internal.) An info screen there says the card must be formatted for security to be installed as internal. If it is possible to move an app, the command is going to be in App Info. Long press the particular app in the App menu to see this option. Hope this helps a little. Try this too: http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/how-to/google-android/move-data-from-android-phone-sd-card-s7-3466195/
Marty

 

[Pelekas]

Hi Marty,

I had a Samsung UHS-1 class 10 / 3 16GB SD card and after your tip I decided to try installing it instead of the new 32 GB card. I found that even though “internal” had been previously selected for the 16GB card it was still possible to switch back to “portable” and vice versa. Okay you are in danger of losing information if you are not careful but in my case I had nothing to lose.

Anyway the result is that after switching cards and trying various options I am now able to install my 32GB SD card and through the Settings/Apps/Storage/Change menus I can move apps from Internal storage to SD card – and it works.

My only problem is that when I view the phone from my lap top via the USB connection, I only see the SD card.

Initially I thought that this "SD memory" might include the internal storage but that is not the case.

Currently with 8GB internal and a 32GB card I get the following from the phone:

Android OS: 2.49 GB
Internal storage: 3.77GB used of 5.51 GB
Samsung SD card: 1.08 GB used of 29.33 GB


Why does the laptop not show the Internal storage use and individual element breakdown? I don't know.


But I can live with this – I am up and running.

Thanks for your help.

 

[Marty48]

Glad you were successful. With my phone connected via USB, I double click on the MotoG3 icon in the Windows 8.1 File Explorer and I see folder icons for the internal storage and my Lexar SD card. Both folders can be opened to reveal the typical underlying file structure. What about removing the SD card and connecting the phone and PC with the USB cable to see what happens? Have you ever tried adding the Moto as a device in your Homegroup to see the storage devices? I just tried to add mine and couldn't seem to make it work although I have done this before for other purposes. Except for these suggestions or an incorrect setting in Windows or on the phone, I'm fresh out of ideas. Time for a Google search! Cheers!

 

[Pelekas]

Marty,
I’m running Windows 7. My phone is labelled as XT1068 and clicking the left triangle opens up only one folder – the SD card. There’s no indication of any internal folder from Explorer.

When I open the SD card folder I can find the few test photos I’ve made, but cannot see any of the apps which I’ve moved over from internal.

All this is a bit puzzling but I’ve achieved my main objective of reducing the pressure on internal storage.

You suggest removing the SD card and checking what Explorer makes of this but since I’ve moved 1 GB of apps onto this card I’m reluctant to experiment.

Thanks for your communication Marty – good to have someone on the other end.

 

[Marty48]

My phone is xt1540. I'd suggest reposting as a new topic to get some fresh eyes considering your dilemma. Glad to help a fellow traveler on the technology highway.