Swap external SD card as internal storage

[george08807]

Recently I bought a F6 for my mom, who knows very little about technologies. Like other folks, I soon found that the 1.2GB internal storage limit is a real pain.

From research on the internet, common solution is to use Link2SD, which seems to be too complex for my mom. I also found two great threads on this forum by JVene and WarrantyVoider, which are very helpful. But I'm concerned about possibility for need of fixing /data partition in case of non-clean shutdown. Again it seems a bit too hard for my mom. So I need some way with little maintenance needed.

I finally found a solution in another forum by a guy called seagate (all credit goes to him). I've been using it for some time and it seems to be stable. Just list the steps below in case it could benefit someone.

DISCLAIMER: This is FYI only, please proceed with caution as always. I'm not responsible for any damage to your device.

My F6 is MetroPCS (LGMS500), on stock ROM (MS50012b). Steps below:
1. Get a microSD card, mine is 16GB, no need to have multiple partitions, just one FAT32 partition, insert into the phone
2. Root the phone
3. Install TWRP, create a backup
4. Rename /system/bin/sdcard to /system/bin/sdcard.disable (e.g., use ES File Explorer)
5. Keep a backup copy of /etc/vold.fstab (again, can use ES File Explorer and also the following step)
6. Change the content of /etc/vold.fstab: insert following line (a copy is attached FYI)
dev_mount sdcard /storage/sdcard0 auto /devices/platform/msm_sdcc.3/mmc_host
7. Reboot your phone

After this step, you can see from settings that the internal storage will become 16GB, and many apps can now be installed without issue.

I found some apps may complain that external SD card is not present. One example is WeChat. For this, continue with the following steps:
8. Install Script Manager from Play Store
9. Create a script file, e.g., call it mount_externalSD.sh (also attached FYI). in the script file, type the following line:
busybox mount --bind /storage/sdcard0 /storage/external_SD
10. Then in Script Manager, find the above script, enable SU and Boot icons, save config
11. Reboot your phone

After this, the sdcard0 is also linked to external_SD. Then WeChat no longer complains.

 

[pwarsknightsp]

Hello, great work here and thanks. I was wondering though, I tested this out and the internal storage does show my 29gb from my SD card; however in settings> apps, it still appears to show the original 1.2 gb of internal storage at the bottom. So I'm kind of confused as to how much space do I have for my apps?

 

[george08807]

Hello, great work here and thanks. I was wondering though, I tested this out and the internal storage does show my 29gb from my SD card; however in settings> apps, it still appears to show the original 1.2 gb of internal storage at the bottom. So I'm kind of confused as to how much space do I have for my apps?

I guess that's the /data partition. In my understanding, most of the app data would be stored in the internal storage area (sdcard0), /data is only for the app binaries. Before I switched external SD to internal, I would get the 'not enough storage error' pretty after installing a few apps. Now I still have 700+MB left on /data after installed 30 apps.

As mentioned earlier, this phone was bought for my mom. She doesn't use a lot of apps, and no maintenance is more important for her. If a lot of apps are needed, and the 1.2 GB is not enough for the app binaries, I think best to use Link2SD as well, or use WarrantyVoider's approach.

 

[Ivor Davies]

Hi, I installed TWRP and created a backup, then the tablet rebooted and now all I have is a picture of a dead android Robot lying down with its stomach panel open with a red exclamation mark and the words "No Command" underneath. Has my tablet been bricked?

Recently I bought a F6 for my mom, who knows very little about technologies. Like other folks, I soon found that the 1.2GB internal storage limit is a real pain.

From research on the internet, common solution is to use Link2SD, which seems to be too complex for my mom. I also found two great threads on this forum by JVene and WarrantyVoider, which are very helpful. But I'm concerned about possibility for need of fixing /data partition in case of non-clean shutdown. Again it seems a bit too hard for my mom. So I need some way with little maintenance needed.

I finally found a solution in another forum by a guy called seagate (all credit goes to him). I've been using it for some time and it seems to be stable. Just list the steps below in case it could benefit someone.

DISCLAIMER: This is FYI only, please proceed with caution as always. I'm not responsible for any damage to your device.

My F6 is MetroPCS (LGMS500), on stock ROM (MS50012b). Steps below:
1. Get a microSD card, mine is 16GB, no need to have multiple partitions, just one FAT32 partition, insert into the phone
2. Root the phone
3. Install TWRP, create a backup
4. Rename /system/bin/sdcard to /system/bin/sdcard.disable (e.g., use ES File Explorer)
5. Keep a backup copy of /etc/vold.fstab (again, can use ES File Explorer and also the following step)
6. Change the content of /etc/vold.fstab: insert following line (a copy is attached FYI)
dev_mount sdcard /storage/sdcard0 auto /devices/platform/msm_sdcc.3/mmc_host
7. Reboot your phone

After this step, you can see from settings that the internal storage will become 16GB, and many apps can now be installed without issue.

I found some apps may complain that external SD card is not present. One example is WeChat. For this, continue with the following steps:
8. Install Script Manager from Play Store
9. Create a script file, e.g., call it mount_externalSD.sh (also attached FYI). in the script file, type the following line:
busybox mount --bind /storage/sdcard0 /storage/external_SD
10. Then in Script Manager, find the above script, enable SU and Boot icons, save config
11. Reboot your phone

After this, the sdcard0 is also linked to external_SD. Then WeChat no longer complains.

 

[Gump_Worsley]

Hey, thanks for this! I was super excited try this on my T-Mobile LG D500, but unfortunately it didn't work. Do you think it could be because of the different carriers (even though they are exactly the same phone)?

I tried changing the system/bin/sdcard file name with ES Explorer Pro, but each time it said 'task failed'. So, then I thought that maybe renaming the /etc/vold.fstab file first would allow me to go back and type in the .disable, but that didn't work either, just an error notification and no changes saved.

Aside from the different carriers, I can think of two other things that might be causing problems: one is that my SD card is partitioned (90% FAT32, 8% ext4, the rest Swap), and the other thing is that I was using the Link2SD method for a while, but recently did a factory reset (but retained root access). Would either of these things cause issues? Do I need to return completely to stock/unroot? I'm guessing this might be the case because the line of text in the vold.fstab file on my phone reads:

#dev_mount sdcard /storage/sdcard0 external_sd auto /devices/platform/msm_sdcc.3/mmc_host
#LGE-UPDATE 20120903, fx1-fs-bsp@lge.com dev_mount external_SD /storage/external_SD auto /devices/platform/msm_sdcc.3/mmc_host

I've never tampered with that file before today so I'm not sure how 'external_sd' got there, but I'm guessing it's residual stuff from Link2SD and whatnot.

Sorry for the supernoob questions, I'm not tech savvy but I'm learning! Thanks again.

 

[su_me]

Just wanted to post my thoughts on this thread. I would definitely go with warrantyvoiders approach if you are considering upgrading internal space with ZERO maintenance. I have been using it problem free for almost a year now. It seems like a pain to partition your sd card but it realy isnt. Use aparted and do it directly from your phone (no pc necessary). Also the setup to change boot scripts and swap scripts are all packed into an executable file so you dont have to worry about making them or putting them in the correct places. I split my 32 gb in half and my device shows 14 for internal and 14 for external. After the setup of sd card and execution of DataOnSd file the only maintance there after would be if you pull the battery out. If that happens you just execute the file again and your right back where you were apps and all. Your method is literally redoing whats already been done and been opperating flawlessly for months. Its super simple to do and i HIGHLY recommend warrantyvoider/ JVenne's method. Sorry for the long post but it really is worth it.

 

[paulhen]

I have searched here and Playstore but find no reference to either
warrantyvoider
or
JVenne's method

Can someone be so kind as to post a link or direct me otherwise?