Moving apps to SD card

Forums › Android › Moving apps to SD card

freitasm

BDFL - Memuneh
79061 posts

Uber Geek

Administrator

ID Verified

Trusted

Geekzone

Lifetime subscriber

#108569 1-Sep-2012 10:39

Hello folks.

I have a test device that I rather like - mainly because it's the only one that actually works well (not 100% but better than others) when synchronising with Exchange.

This a LG Net, the first Touch2Pay device - also handy because it works well with Snapper/NFC apps.

The real problem though is the low storage on board. It drives me nuts - currently only 20 MBytes available and that's with all possible apps moved to SD cards.

This means any app install that downloads a large file might fail before it even starts.

Is there a way to allow me to move those apps that have the "Move to SD card" button greyed out - without having to install the Android SDK and go mucking around?

Is there an app for that?

nzgeek

618 posts

Ultimate Geek

#680054 1-Sep-2012 12:10

Apps have to specify in their manifest files whether or not they can be moved to the SD card. If the Move To SD button is disabled, it's because of the manifest setting, and chances are that the app won't work when moved.

There is a way around this. The process involves moving the app's folder, then creating a symlink from the original location to the new location. The bad news is that you need root privileges to do this. I've heard that it's a toss-up whether unrooted phones will allow root access during an ADB session, so rooting the phone might be needed.

If you do decide to do this, there are a few free apps that can do the work for you.

Lenovo

Shop now for Lenovo laptops and other devices (affiliate link).

3g

341 posts

Ultimate Geek

#680057 1-Sep-2012 12:15

Like you Mauricio, I wanted an app (most definitely didn't want to have to root my phone).

But in the end the simplest method that I found for my low-end Motorola phone was to follow the instructions at the link below:

http://www.bongizmo.com/blog/moving-all-android-apps-to-sdcard-apps2sd-froyo/

Yep, you do need the Android SDK installed - but this really isn't a big task and once you've run the commands, you're a lot better off and can get around those annoying space limits.

Nigel H.

SCUBADOO

191 posts

Master Geek

#680058 1-Sep-2012 12:16

freitasm

Link2SD works perfectly for me. The only files added to the internal memory are links.

I commented here a couple of days back.

There is not one app that I have not been able to move.

Perhaps I should requote:

FWIW

Once you have sorted the microSD card issue it may be worth looking at Link2SD.
You do have to create a second partition on the SD card. I have a 1GB partition.

I am using it on my el cheapo X1 and Acer tablet.
The Huawei X1 currently has 247 apps all linked to the 32GB SD card.

Link2SD currently reports:
Internal storage is still at 157MB used and 72.8MB free.
SD Card 2nd Part 880MB Used

Everything works perfectly.

lchiu7

6466 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#680161 1-Sep-2012 18:14

This is a continuing issue on the Nexus One I had (and now my son has it). The only way our was to root (which it is) and then using the apps already referred to.

I was continually deleting apps, deleting browser cache just to operate normally.

I plan to upgrade the phone to ICS when I get the chance but that requires even more surgery than just rooting alas. I think I need BlackRose to increase the system partition just to store the ROM, let alone apps.

Bad design for the N1 and apparently now for the LG phone.

Staying in Wellington. Check out my AirBnB in the Wellington CBD. https://www.airbnb.co.nz/h/wellycbd PM me and mention GZ to get a 15% discount and no AirBnB charges.

freitasm

BDFL - Memuneh
79061 posts

Uber Geek

Administrator

ID Verified

Trusted

Geekzone

Lifetime subscriber

#680163 1-Sep-2012 18:17

Do people using Android run anti-malware software or is just me being paranoid?

I tried five difference packages to root the LG, all from different sources, and all of them had malware:

Or is just that people don't mind installing spyware, rootkits and adware just in name of rooting a device?

nzgeek

618 posts

Ultimate Geek

#680355 2-Sep-2012 12:47

From what I can see, Lotoor is Android malware that attempts to root the phone. I would guess that the rooting tools use the same method to root the phone, and your virus scanner is using exploit vector rather than the payload as a signature.

You probably don't have to worry much about this. If you want to be safe, pick a tool that has its own dedicated thread on XDA. Any concerns with the tool would definitely be addressed there.

bazzer

3438 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#681194 4-Sep-2012 10:02

As implied above, the reason they are coming up as threats is because they use exploits to gain root access. Doesn't mean they are bad, just that they're using the same "bad" techniques.

eXDee

4032 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#681373 4-Sep-2012 15:59

Of course it's coming up as malware. They are security exploits used to gain root privileges. All should be marked as an exploit in an AV.
I don't run an AV because I find its a waste of resources and battery. When I'm only installing apps which are very popular and known to be safe as a result. By the time an app in the market is found to be malicious and marked in the AV its going to be removed anyway. And since I don't install new unknown apps it's not a problem.

oxnsox

1923 posts

Uber Geek

#681389 4-Sep-2012 16:37

eXDee: ...Snip.... When I'm only installing apps which are very popular and known to be safe as a result. By the time an app in the market is found to be malicious and marked in the AV its going to be removed anyway. And since I don't install new unknown apps it's not a problem.

Valid point which I also try to follow. But have had AirPush(ed) malware (if thats what you'd call it).
So now run AirPush Detector and AVG.
The price one pays for not wanting to have to deal with unwanted and unexpected operation.

Linuxluver

5828 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Subscriber

#681944 5-Sep-2012 18:02

I suspect the "malware" is the business end of the app that runs the exploit that roots your phone. It just isn't "mal".

I tend to buy phones with a lot of internal storage...and avoid apps that need to eat up huge chunks of it. There are usually alternatives.

The Samsung Galaxy S series (1,2,3) and Tabs all have 2GB of app storage.

My LG 3D Max has 1GB. I now avoid anything with less.

But the solutions documented in this thread make it possible to avoid the issue. The only downside is apps that are called before the sdcard is fully ready on startup. They will probably crash.

_____________________________________________________________________

I've been on Geekzone over 16 years..... Time flies....

DrStrangelove

368 posts

Ultimate Geek

#687401 17-Sep-2012 20:39

OP, Another thing, when/if you gain root access on your device, is to load Titanium backup and 'clean' the Dalvik-cache and Application cache(s).

Ages ago I had a 'rouge' application that took up a large chuck of my /data partition and for the life of me I could not find what was using the space. I cleared the whole Dalvik-cache and then let it rebuild itself after a few days I still had half the partition free, so something in the cache was taking up ~100MB. Pity I didn't check before clearing it just out of interest.

You can check the cache at /data/dalvik-cache and check the dex files/size to see if there are apps you no longer have installed and just taking up space.

The same tasks of clearing the cache can be achieved using Link2SD too.

I like Link2SD and have had a lot of success with it.

You'll need to partition your SDcard to use it though.

webup

545 posts

Ultimate Geek

#687421 17-Sep-2012 20:54

If you get your software from reputable sources like XDA forum then it wont have malware and like others mentioned it the exploit that triggers warnings due to the way it works rooting the device.

eXDee

4032 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#687438 17-Sep-2012 21:24

Related for those on custom roms: Mount2SD is an excellent script from XDA which instead of making symbolic links, changes the actual mount points. For example now on my desire:
/system: Internal 180mb - Android OS
/data: SD 1GB - Apps, App Data
/sd-ext: Internal 250mb - Dalvik Cache
/cache: SD 1gb - Same partition as above

So what i'm doing is running it in reverse mount mode, remounting the whole of /data to the SD card, and mounting the internal memory to /sd-ext. This means that i can happily have 800mb of apps installed on the phone, and because its been been mounted directly, i get a true indication of how much space is left and used for apps, and the phone doesn't get low memory errors.

Dalvik Cache is using ~200mb of the system partition, and it has a bit more room to grow which is great, because it means app performance is generally better.

I do however have a 32gb Sandisk Ultra Mobile SD card, which has decent random IO performance. If anyone is interested in this, benchmark your card first, my Class 10 patriot is 100x slower at random IO. (11kb/s vs 1.1MB/s)

DrStrangelove

368 posts

Ultimate Geek

#687497 18-Sep-2012 04:44

eXDee: Related for those on custom roms: Mount2SD is an excellent script from XDA which instead of making symbolic links, changes the actual mount points.

I do however have a 32gb Sandisk Ultra Mobile SD card, which has decent random IO performance. If anyone is interested in this, benchmark your card first, my Class 10 patriot is 100x slower at random IO. (11kb/s vs 1.1MB/s)

Cool.

Using a secondary sd-ext2 data partition (reversed or linked) also means one can maintain access to applications when the /sdcard is mounted (via cable) to a PC. Re-link all existing SD card data to the sd-ext2 secondary partition and everything should work even when you don't have exclusive access to the /sdcard.

Another option is...cheat and move applications to the /system partition and install them as /system/app/xyz.apk ;-) Mind, I wouldn't go overboard on this option.

It's odd though, I have 465MB of space available in my /data partition of which 45% is free (212MB) and I have over 70 Google Play applications install, plus those that are side loaded and not designed for my XPERIA phone, but still run fine(ish).
I have another 70MB on my sd-ext2, but it'd still fit in a default /data partition of the current phone I have.

To fill up the data partition one must

a) Have a LOT of applications if standard move to SD card option is used.
b) Have a VERY small /data partition.

Does anyone know what the /data partition size of the LG Optimus Net is???

Yes, 32GB Class10 Ultra Mobile SanDisk are very nice. And you haven't been tempted by the 64GB? :-)
I read a few have had success with an XPERIA X10i and formatting a 64GB card to fat32 for use.
Android 'SD Tools' app gives some indication of MicroSD card I/O.
6.7MB/s write and 18.6MB/s read in a SE XPERIA X10i for SanDisk 32GB card.

freitasm

BDFL - Memuneh
79061 posts

Uber Geek

Administrator

ID Verified

Trusted

Geekzone

Lifetime subscriber

#687583 18-Sep-2012 10:06

Ok, done Root - it actually took two attempts, but it worked.

Titanium Backup says only 400 KBytes can be cleared from the cache, so not much gain there.

Link2SD worked great - managed to move a few more apps to the SD card and uninstall a couple of things not really needed...

Testing a few more apps now.