Database Users

Xoom storage, why MTP instead of USB file system, true APP2SD (from Google developer)

If you are still wondering:
- What is the breakdown of that 32GB Xoom internal memory (how many parition, how much space for apps / files)?
- Why Google is using MTP instead of USB file transfer on Honeycomb?
Here is straight answer from Google developer:
MTP is a big improvement over USB mass storage — for devices with lots of internal memory, a manufacturer no longer needs to come up with some hard partition between the USB mass storage and internal storage. Instead, they are all in one partition, with MTP providing access to the directory of media files that would normally be available through USB mass storage.This means there is no longer a need for apps on SD card for such devices, because what used to be the “internal SD card” is in the same partition as where applications are stored. The storage on your device can be used for either applications or media, depending on what you want to put on it. You aren’t stuck with how much space the manufacturer decided to leave for the two areas.
Oh also this means that the media storage doesn’t need to be unmounted from Android when it is being access through the PC.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://phandroid.com/2011/02/27/mac-users-require-file-transfer-utility-for-android-3-0/
Finally, true APP2SD You now have 32GB to put all your apps!!!

Sounds like a good thing!

This is a great explanation. Thanks for posting.

There is no doubt that mtp has advantages over mass storage. On the other hand I miss the ability to attach it to any computer and access files. It is not a huge problem but does add a limitation that was not there before.
That saod it is nice being able to access files on my computer without losing access to the partition on the device.
Sent from my Xoom using XDA App

I only see a problem if you flash different roms and have to do full data wipes.
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA Premium App

jvs60 said:
I only see a problem if you flash different roms and have to do full data wipes.
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA Premium App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm sure future versions of CWM will be set to ignore that one folder.. I hope. Otherwise nandroid backups will take forever.

I'm not sure in terms of security it is a huge improvement; unless there is an option to turn it on/off somewhere.
Previously I would have to plug an Android device in to my computer, turn the device on, enter my unlock code, and then specifically allow the computer access via the USB. This morning I just plugged my xoom in and, poof, access to all my stuff.
At least before someone had to take my sdcard out at put it in their computer manually

Does MTP have anything to do with file size limit? I've seen posted on this forum that you can't load video files larger than 4gb onto the Xoom because of FAT32, is that still the case?

This MTP also seems to hide a lot of file from being seen by a pc. I open folders with File manager on the Xoom and see more folders namely the android folder which has game save data and other odd ball files. When hooked to a pc its blank. With MTP it seems all your allowed to do is transfer music, video and pics.

Malcus1 said:
Does MTP have anything to do with file size limit? I've seen posted on this forum that you can't load video files larger than 4gb onto the Xoom because of FAT32, is that still the case?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Still haven't got around to testing (so many things to try out!), but in some of the video threads, I've been told XOOM uses EXT4 format not FAT32, and thus, should not have that 4GB limit. I've been re-encoding video files to meet XOOM's current playback limitations, and have been reducing them to sub 4GB anyway, so I haven't tested that for myself.

Android File Transfer GS3

Was wondering about everyone's thoughts about this new feature. Personally I think it's crap. I can't view/read ANY files from the sd cards unless I FIRST transfer them to my mac...GAY! Why can't we just mount the SD cards like the GS2???

Can you please explain because I'm having this issue managing files from the sd
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using XDA

20blks said:
Can you please explain because I'm having this issue managing files from the sd
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using XDA
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Basically, the mac tells me I have to transfer a file to the mac to view it....which sucks. With phones like the Galaxy S2, I was able to plug in and mount the sd cards and it would act like any other USB mass storage external memory drive.

I'm not quite understanding what you mean by "mac". This issue is KILLING me. I can't even find my sd card unless I use the built I file manager
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using XDA

hapary said:
Basically, the mac tells me I have to transfer a file to the mac to view it....which sucks. With phones like the Galaxy S2, I was able to plug in and mount the sd cards and it would act like any other USB mass storage external memory drive.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's due to the way that Ice Cream Sandwich handles the Memory. It's always live in the system. The only way to access the Memory is through MTP. There is an advantage of using such because it means that if your phone is formatted ext4 (speed increases if I am not mistaken) you can take advantage of that and still access the data. Both Windows and Linux support MTP, unfortunately Apple has not implemented such even though devices are starting to use MTP more these days.
For Further reading go here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Media_Transfer_Protocol
From reading the site, there is a 3rd party implementation, not sure how up to date it is, but you might be able to make it work.
http://www.wentnet.com/projects/xnjb/ check that out to see if you can enable MTP on your mac which would reduce the need for Android File Transfer.
Also it has been a while since I have used Mac but you might be able to use these instructions to install a Ubuntu supported MTP software on your mac through X11 (allows you to run linux software on your mac) http://www.humans-enabled.com/2011/12/how-to-fix-samsung-galaxy-nexus-mtp.html
One final link.... http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1355913

Thanks very much. I'm looking into it now

Ok.. I am using the Android File Transfer program and I can copy individual files to/from my GS3 BUT I cannot create folders for some reason. Even with the +Folder button. The error message reads: "Could not create folder. Try reconnecting or restarting your device." (Obviously I have done both multiple times.
Any thoughts?

on my PC it shows up as a portable media device and allows me to access both internal and SD memory
i did install the galaxy s3 drivers found on the rooting guides though

Can't transfer files with a Mac
M988 said:
on my PC it shows up as a portable media device and allows me to access both internal and SD memory
i did install the galaxy s3 drivers found on the rooting guides though
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can't get Android File Transfer to work with my Galaxy S3 running CM9 (or CM10, for that matter), either using MTP or using the camera setting. This is really annoying. Anyone know of a way to get it to work? I really wish that USB mounting still worked, so I wouldn't be required to use client software.

It works fine on my mac at work and I have a 5 year old macbook pro. It's not all that bad. I just use it to transfer files when I'm at work.
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda app-developers app

hapary said:
I can't view/read ANY files from the sd cards unless I FIRST transfer them to my mac...GAY!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
so it's perfectly acceptable and deserving of equal rights?

ergibson83 said:
It works fine on my mac at work and I have a 5 year old macbook pro. It's not all that bad. I just use it to transfer files when I'm at work.
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, it doesn't work for mine at all. Any tips? Did you have to anything to get it to work? Which ROM are you using?

Batmensch said:
Well, it doesn't work for mine at all. Any tips? Did you have to anything to get it to work? Which ROM are you using?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
All I did was install the app and it popped up a window that displayed sdcard and phone. Each option displays a list of the content on that storage device.
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda app-developers app

[Q] gallery

I have always used "gallery" to view pictures that I have stored on my external micro SD card. This new ATT galaxyS4 doesn't allow it. It only displays pictures that are stored on the internal SD card.
I got root and use an app called "root explorer" is the only way to view the pictures I have stored, which is ok but there is no slide show function in root explorer.
I postponed the update that came in over the airwaves, but it processed last night while asleep. I don't see any difference except it's not rooted anymore. Gallery is still limited to viewing only the onboard chip that's full of bloatware.
Does anyone else notice gallery not seeing the external SD?

fukenbiker said:
I have always used "gallery" to view pictures that I have stored on my external micro SD card. This new ATT galaxyS4 doesn't allow it. It only displays pictures that are stored on the internal SD card.
I got root and use an app called "root explorer" is the only way to view the pictures I have stored, which is ok but there is no slide show function in root explorer.
I postponed the update that came in over the airwaves, but it processed last night while asleep. I don't see any difference except it's not rooted anymore. Gallery is still limited to viewing only the onboard chip that's full of bloatware.
Does anyone else notice gallery not seeing the external SD?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
All my pics are on my External SD card and I can see them all - never been anything otherwise.

gallery is so slow for me, sucks.

fukenbiker said:
Does anyone else notice gallery not seeing the external SD?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
External SD works fine for me also.

Works fine for me as well.

fukenbiker said:
I have always used "gallery" to view pictures that I have stored on my external micro SD card. This new ATT galaxyS4 doesn't allow it. It only displays pictures that are stored on the internal SD card.
I got root and use an app called "root explorer" is the only way to view the pictures I have stored, which is ok but there is no slide show function in root explorer.
I postponed the update that came in over the airwaves, but it processed last night while asleep. I don't see any difference except it's not rooted anymore. Gallery is still limited to viewing only the onboard chip that's full of bloatware.
Does anyone else notice gallery not seeing the external SD?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Storage and reading of the external SD card for pictures works great for me.
One thing to note if you are having problems with the gallery, is to reformat the SDCard in the phone.
I was getting laggy gallery images, and a high battery drain from the Gallery.
Reformatting the SD card cleared up all my problems!

When you open gallery, hit menu and content to display. Make sure all is selected.
Sent from my SGH-I337M using xda premium

Is there anyway to save all downloaded pictures/screenshots to the SD card? I wiped my phone the other day and my downloaded pictures got deleted because it was in Internal Storage

Dallenn said:
gallery is so slow for me, sucks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You might have a corrupt photo.

ogxku5h said:
Is there anyway to save all downloaded pictures/screenshots to the SD card? I wiped my phone the other day and my downloaded pictures got deleted because it was in Internal Storage
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you use stock browser anything downloaded will go to external sd. Camera also asks you to save pictures on external sd when inserted, if not it can be changed in camera settings.
Sent from my SGH-I337M using xda premium

prking07 said:
If you use stock browser anything downloaded will go to external sd. Camera also asks you to save pictures on external sd when inserted, if not it can be changed in camera settings.
Sent from my SGH-I337M using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you save a picture that was texted to me, it saves internally rather than on the SD card. Is there is anyway to fix this?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using xda premium

thanks
Grant H said:
Storage and reading of the external SD card for pictures works great for me.
One thing to note if you are having problems with the gallery, is to reformat the SDCard in the phone.
I was getting laggy gallery images, and a high battery drain from the Gallery.
Reformatting the SD card cleared up all my problems!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I stuck a different 32 gb class 10 microSD chip in the external memory slot and gallery started working finally.
So I assume the chip I've always used needs formatting sounds like.
Thank you for the feedback.

I have a similar issue as OP. I have a 64gb Sandisk SDXC, and it came straight over from the S3 and the S4 gallery didn't see my pix from the card either nor the music player see all my music. I have to format the card in the phone then copy everything over from pc to phone via usb for the gallery and music player to see what's on my ext card. Then the phone restarted by itself, and it says the sd card is damaged, then the OTA update came just in time, updated, amd magically the Sd card was fixed, now it only see select videos and images and still none of my music. If it's in the inter sd then it's fine.
Do you guys think my sd card is shot?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using xda premium

edit - nm

sd card
bacuy82 said:
I have a similar issue as OP. I have a 64gb Sandisk SDXC, and it came straight over from the S3 and the S4 gallery didn't see my pix from the card either nor the music player see all my music. I have to format the card in the phone then copy everything over from pc to phone via usb for the gallery and music player to see what's on my ext card. Then the phone restarted by itself, and it says the sd card is damaged, then the OTA update came just in time, updated, amd magically the Sd card was fixed, now it only see select videos and images and still none of my music. If it's in the inter sd then it's fine.
Do you guys think my sd card is shot?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It sure sounds like it. My chip still works, all I did was use the computer to format it.
The only way to tell is get another chip and put some files on it for a test.
It ticks me off they don't even populate the external SD slot with a cheap chip like they used to. ATT phones used to come with a one or two gigabyte capacity bottom dollar chip for free but alas they got even more greedy!

prking07 said:
If you use stock browser anything downloaded will go to external sd. Camera also asks you to save pictures on external sd when inserted, if not it can be changed in camera settings.
Sent from my SGH-I337M using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I used foldermount and moved the DCIM folder to the external sd, so all the setting have it looking at the mounted folder on the internal card, even the burst shots are stored right onto the external. the longer I've had foldermount, the happier i am with it. endless possibilities!

Can the camera app save pics to SDcard?

Not sure if the camera app has the option to save to sd card. Or do we have to manually do it ourselves.

if its pure Android, then the camera app will have a storage setting to int/ext sd

ttkyles said:
if its pure Android, then the camera app will have a storage setting to int/ext sd
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was about to create a thread. Since I have seen this thread similar to what I wanted to post, I am sharing how I am using external SD to save images taken using Google Camera.
It is very simple and easy using the app Foldersync (I am using pro version to have unlimited folder pairing).
Here is the play store link for Lite version LINK
Use of this app is mainly to transfer files to cloud server but does the job to copy / move from internal memory to external SDcard.
You can see sample screenshot attached.

Yes, you can save pictures to the SD card directly from the stock camera app. If you bring out the side menu while in the viewfinder, scroll down and you'll see a little SD card icon. Tap that, and choose SD card instead of internal storage.
No need for a third party app.

jonathanbailie said:
Yes, you can save pictures to the SD card directly from the stock camera app. If you bring out the side menu while in the viewfinder, scroll down and you'll see a little SD card icon. Tap that, and choose SD card instead of internal storage.
No need for a third party app.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Exactly!

smokarz said:
Exactly!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The question was how to push images taken from Google camera in to external sdcard without manual copying process from folder to folder. Also, it can be used to move any periodical update on to internal memory to external sdcard (eg. anything downloaded which saves in to internal memory under Download folder).

smohanv said:
The question was how to push images taken from Google camera in to external sdcard without manual copying process from folder to folder. Also, it can be used to move any periodical update on to internal memory to external sdcard (eg. anything downloaded which saves in to internal memory under Download folder).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I didn't see "Google Camera" anywhere in the original question. I just see this:
Subject: Can the camera app save pics to SDcard?
Thread: Not sure if the camera app has the option to save to sd card. Or do we have to manually do it ourselves.
In this case, my directions are what the OP needs to do in order to save photos directly to the SD card.

jonathanbailie said:
Yes, you can save pictures to the SD card directly from the stock camera app. If you bring out the side menu while in the viewfinder, scroll down and you'll see a little SD card icon. Tap that, and choose SD card instead of internal storage.
No need for a third party app.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My camera isn't showing the option to save to sd. Any ideas as to why?

DattDude87 said:
My camera isn't showing the option to save to sd. Any ideas as to why?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Should look like this but you may need to spin the settings wheel around
Sent from my XT1575 using Tapatalk

dottat said:
Should look like this but you may need to spin the settings wheel around
Sent from my XT1575 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No I've checked. Not sure why it doesn't show. But they are saving to the card.

DattDude87 said:
No I've checked. Not sure why it doesn't show. But they are saving to the card.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you using adaptive storage for your card?

uh60james said:
Are you using adaptive storage for your card?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's also resetting apps saved to the card. It changes from Swiftkey backnto stock keyboard and I'll have to put passwords back in things like Facebook. Bad card maybe?

If you are using adaptive storage for your SD card, which it sounds as if you are, then you will not get the option on the camera app. Adaptive storage makes the SD card essentially like an extension of your internal storage therefore recognizes only internal storage. There are no other storage options to choose from.

DattDude87 said:
It's also resetting apps saved to the card. It changes from Swiftkey backnto stock keyboard and I'll have to put passwords back in things like Facebook. Bad card maybe?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It sounds like you are using adoptive storage on your SD card. I use adoptive storage and don't have any issues with it, the camera does save to the SD card for me and I do not have the option to change that in the camera app since the system shows the card as internal storage. So like aybarrap1 said, you will not see the option in the camera app.
The other issues you are having are strange. I suppose your card could be going bad. Do you have a fast card? Perhaps it is too slow and that is why you are having issues with apps saved to it.

Slow cards could cause apps to be flaky. I personally don't use adoptive storage yet. Waiting on the fast cards (90+ read and write speeds) to hopefully come down in price. Since internal storage is not an issue for me ATM, I'm not really stressing it.

I also using adoptive sd card but pics and videos are being saved in internal memory instead external ,actually I don't understand this new feature I still have 2 different memory internal and external,even I'm running out of memory help please
PS I have a 64gb Samsung card so is not slow is the one that came with my s7 edge I'm guessing is good speed

jonathanbailie said:
Yes, you can save pictures to the SD card directly from the stock camera app. If you bring out the side menu while in the viewfinder, scroll down and you'll see a little SD card icon. Tap that, and choose SD card instead of internal storage.
No need for a third party app.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh that was SO the right answer. Thank you!

My Moto X Pure does not show the option to save on SD card either. I have all the other options in the user manual except the SD card. It runs Android 6.0 and uses SanDisk Extreme PLUS microSDXC UHS-1 64 Gb card.

SD card as internal.

I have a 128 gb class 10 SD card. If I use it as internal can I still copy my 45gb of music through my computer?
Also what happened to the move to SD card option for apps?
I've also notice with Google play music you can't select SD card as storage for offline music.
I was pretty excited about this feature but I'm a little disappointed.
Maybe if I explore it a bit more I'll figure it out.

Spacemonkie4207 said:
I have a 128 gb class 10 SD card. If I use it as internal can I still copy my 45gb of music through my computer?
Also what happened to the move to SD card option for apps?
I've also notice with Google play music you can't select SD card as storage for offline music.
I was pretty excited about this feature but I'm a little disappointed.
Maybe if I explore it a bit more I'll figure it out.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you connect your Play (with adaptive storage active) to a computer via usb the computer cannot seem to veiw anything on the phone. So you can't copy anything to the phone. Not very good really.
If you go settings, apps and then select an app you then select storage of that app and you have the option to move the app from there. That said not all apps have the storage option including Google Play Music. I do find that MM manages storage between internal and the sd card very well when adaptive storage is used. It's not perfect though. My next phone will be bigger than 16gb which is silly in this day and age. Relying on cloud storage is all well and good but can be useless in some rural locations (UK) with no data service signal.
I'm a little disappointed but on the whole I've got past the limited storage of a 16gb phone. Note to self - don't EVER buy a 16gb phone again. The music thing I get round by using Google Music and Spotify. You can copy music to your phone via such as Solid Explorer and move music from your cloud service (Drive, dropbox etc) to your phone. Solid Explorer and others can see folders and files on your phone.

You should be able to set the "Storage Location" in the Downloading section of Google Music's settings screen. Perhaps setting your SD card as internal memory removes your ability to select it though.

Spacemonkie4207 said:
I have a 128 gb class 10 SD card. If I use it as internal can I still copy my 45gb of music through my computer?
Also what happened to the move to SD card option for apps?
I've also notice with Google play music you can't select SD card as storage for offline music.
I was pretty excited about this feature but I'm a little disappointed.
Maybe if I explore it a bit more I'll figure it out.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Move to SD card option is gone with MM.
Sent from my XT1562 using Tapatalk

K.khiladi said:
Move to SD card option is gone with MM.
Sent from my XT1562 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can I use my card as internal but somehow copy my music to it?

Chaotic-Entropy said:
You should be able to set the "Storage Location" in the Downloading section of Google Music's settings screen. Perhaps setting your SD card as internal memory removes your ability to select it though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah it does, option is gone with sd card as internal. Hopefully they fix it.

Spacemonkie4207 said:
Can I use my card as internal but somehow copy my music to it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The move to SD card option won't be back now until Google wants that and that doesn't seem happening.
You can't do anything with your card once it's formatted as internal storage. The system will automatically decide what to do.
Sent from my XT1562 using Tapatalk

K.khiladi said:
The move to SD card option won't be back now until Google wants that and that doesn't seem happening.
You can't do anything with your card once it's formatted as internal storage. The system will automatically decide what to do.
Sent from my XT1562 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've heard it can kill the SD card very quickly because of cache and number of reads and writes. How much truth is there to this?

Anyone else is having problems formatting his sd card as internal storage in marshmallow? my phone gets stuck at 30% formatting and never finishes, and i tried factory resetting. Formatting as portable storage works just fine.
any ideas?

Just wondering... Which size? I would assume that there could be a max size per partition...

Spacemonkie4207 said:
I've heard it can kill the SD card very quickly because of cache and number of reads and writes. How much truth is there to this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not much, the card might be worn out quicker but your still looking at 3 to 5 years with heavy writes and by that time you will probably have changed phone.

dreinulldrei said:
Just wondering... Which size? I would assume that there could be a max size per partition...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
64 gb, but i've heard people with other devices that managed to make it work with 128gb cards
Enviado desde mi XT1562 mediante Tapatalk

About the adoptable storage in Android M and its work description (basing on analysis of upstream AOSP M code i did some time ago; note that there may be little differences depending on changes done by phone vendors for different devices).
There are 2 possible states of external storage (SD card in particular), the second one being available only if it is enabled in device configuration before build:
- portable - only accessible with Storage Access Framework and file browser in Settings app; most of the media apps won't see media files stored on external storage, as media scanner is disabled for this type of storage
- internal - external storage is wiped and encrypted with the same key as the very device (so factory reset will cause data loss, as then encryption key is changed, and after moving the storage to other device it content will be unavailable); this one has two substates
- - data not migrated: apps data and user data is being kept on internal storage; only internal storage is visible via MTP; if I remember correctly, external storage can be used only for moving apps installation on it in this case
- - data migrated: apps data and user data is moved to external storage and it replaces internal storage for user and app data storing; only external storage is visible via MTP (internal storage is used only for keeping system files and apps installations in this case); I would recommend not formatting SD card this way if it has lower capacity than internal storage.
About the issue of never ending formatting as internal: as the data is fully wiped from the card, new filesystem is created, and there is an overhead for encryption, this operation is time consuming. By default there is quite short timeout set for the operation, and if it is hit, formatting as internal will be aborted (leaving card in broken state). I suggest getting very fast card for this use (especially if it has high capacity), so for 128G the ones that people get to work were most probably ones with around 90+MB/s R/W performance.

Spacemonkie4207 said:
Can I use my card as internal but somehow copy my music to it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes. I was wrong earlier in this post. If you plug your phone into computer then from drop down menu on phone select MTP rather than charge only, you can then see all files on sd card. You should be able to copy files across as usual. Seems to work on mine with adaptive storage enabled. You can only see files on the sd card and not internal memory.

I have bought a 64gb sd card with 90MB/s read and 80 MB/s write. I hope it works now.

I formatted my SD card as internal but ran out of space. Although storage showed I had 50+ GB free I couldn't install anything.
Sent from my SM-T810 using Tapatalk

You can move some apps to sd card which will free up some space on internal. Not all apps give you the option though. I reverted back from adaptive storage.

Apps like Spotify don't save music data to "adopted" SD card. Google Music seems to have similar issue. I keep my music content on the SD card - do that is a bit of an issue for me that Google "hates" my SD card .
Maybe this issue will be resolved in future android/app updates.

One thing - Change your storage for pictures taken through camera to SD card
Also move songs that you download to SD card as they get stored to internal storage.
Dont format your SD card if you want to see the data in your SD card on pc and file managers.
Let the apps install on internal.
Try to move every other data to SD card periodically.
Sent from my XT1562 using Tapatalk

habskilla said:
I formatted my SD card as internal but ran out of space. Although storage showed I had 50+ GB free I couldn't install anything.
Sent from my SM-T810 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thats bonkers, i thought the whole point of adopted storage was you just ended up with one bigger lump of memory.