How to Set an SD Card as Default Storage in Android

This article explains how to set an SD card as the default storage device on Android.

How to Set an SD Card as the Default Storage Device on Android

Configuring your device to use an SD card as internal storage lets you install apps directly to the SD card and avoid the trouble of constantly moving over other files when you're running low on built-in space. Here's what to do:

1. Insert an SD card into your device.

   Your phone may have a micro SD card slot, a micro SD card tray, or its tray may be shared with both the SIM and the SD card.

2. Go to Settings > Storage.

3. Tap your SD card from the Portable Storage section.

   If it isn’t already formatted, you’ll be prompted to do so before you can proceed.

4. Select the three-dot menu in the upper right corner.

5. Tap Storage settings.

6. Tap Format as internal.

7. Tap Format SD card.

   When an SD card is formatted, its contents are erased. Back up whatever you want to keep before completing this step.

8. Tap Move content.

9. Tap Done. Your SD card will now function as internal storage.

Why Use an SD Card as Internal Android Storage?

The option to use an SD card as internal storage is primarily useful for Android devices that don’t have a lot of built-in storage space. If your phone has a small amount of storage and an SD card slot, then setting a large, fast SD card as the internal storage method will let you download more apps, store more photos and videos, and even speed up the use of the device.

The issue with using an SD card as internal storage is that they're typically slower than built-in storage. That isn’t always the case, but it typically is. Your device will even warn you if your SD card is especially slow because some apps won’t run correctly if the storage isn’t fast enough. Saving and loading photos, videos, and other files on slow cards can also take noticeably longer.

Why Can’t I Set My SD Card as Internal Android Storage?

Using an SD card as internal storage was first introduced with Android 6, so it isn’t available at all on devices with older versions of the operating system. If you are running a compatible OS version, but you don’t see the option to format the SD card as internal, then it has probably been disabled by the manufacturer.

Some phone manufacturers disable this feature because their phones don’t have SD card slots, and others do it because using a slow card results in a poor user experience. So rather than allowing you to have a poor experience, they disable the feature altogether.

If you do see the "format as internal" option, but it won't work, there may be a problem with the card or your device. In that case, you can try to fix the corrupted SD card, replace the card with a known good one, and update the Android OS.

Something else to keep in mind is even if you can't complete these steps, but the card does work, you can still move apps to the SD card (some only run on internal storage) and move over files.