Database Users

[SOLVED] External SD card issues

Hello, I have searched around for solutions for this problem but can't find anything that helps me; I have an 8gb external sd card with some music, files, etc. stored on it. There are three problems I have noticed so far with this:
The music files are not found by the stock music player or any others except Tinyplayer
Pictures stored on the external SD card only show up in the gallery until the media scan runs and then they dissapear, but are still accessible through Astro.
And I am unable to transfer files from the external sd to the internal sd
As mentioned above I can still play music files with tinyplayer and access photos using Astro but this is a very annoying problem! I have also tried formatting the card (FAT32) but this has not fixed the problem.
Thanks in advance for any help!
Solved thanks to:
sargasso said:
do you have a .nomedia file somewhere high in the directorytree?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Deleting this file solved my problem!

using astro you can copy and paste file from external to internal, but why do you want to do that?
after the media scan runs, the thumbnails will remain until you eject the external card again
using gallery picture viewer you can see external sd pictures
it use a music player called "player" way better than the stock player, and you can have the pictures anywhere and it will pick it up

The thing is I can't though, if I try to move a file from external to internal Astro brings up an error that says "Move Error - Move Failed".
When taking photos and videos I have set it to store them in the external card but after they have been taken they only appear in the gallery momentarily and then will dissapear even though the card is still in the device.

Save your files on computer and format sd from phone

Sorry I've tried formatting and the same thing happens annoyingly!
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA App

NorcoFox said:
Sorry I've tried formatting and the same thing happens annoyingly!
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Find someone with a card and try with his. Yours might not be good

it sounds like the Internal SD card is the problem here, not the External
are you able to create any file or save anything into the Internal SD?

NorcoFox said:
The thing is I can't though, if I try to move a file from external to internal Astro brings up an error that says "Move Error - Move Failed".
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same here with Astro.. If I try to copy with My Files works ok.
Media is OK (in Music app, Gallery, etc)

what ROM are you 2 running?
that doesn't sounds right to me at all
I copy and paste files often between external to internal SD card and viceversa using Astro File, and it works without the error message you guys have reported.
try upgrading to a newer version of Astro File
if "my files" app is working then it must be either a bug in Astro version you guys are running or a bug in the ROM
i'm on Astro 2.5.2

Saving files to the internal sd seems fine and I am using the stock ROM, not rooted or anything special!
I have found out I can move files from external - internal and viceversa using the My Files App! So that particular problem must be something to do with Astro, which is strange because I am also running version 2.5.2!
I still have the problem of not being able to see media stored on the external card through most apps though, so I will try @exadeci's tip tomorrow and put some songs and pictures on an alternative card and let you all know how it goes!
Thanks for the help so far though guys

do you have a .nomedia file somewhere high in the directorytree?

sargasso said:
do you have a .nomedia file somewhere high in the directorytree?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
YES! It's fixed, I created a .nomedia file on the root of the external sd when I first got the phone and forgot about it, just deleted it and everything is now fine! Thank you very much!

<facepalm>

@AllGamer I have already the latest version of Astro..
JF5 rooted

Instaling apps from sd card

I just bought my Xperia play, and tried to move some .apk games and apps to the sd card. On PC it shows they were transferred, but on my phone, no sign of the .apk files.
I'm new to the Android system, so maybe I've done something wrong.
How am I supposed to transfer/install those files?
PS: Music and videos successully transferred.
Edit: Solved, used Easy Installer.

Me, I used Appinstaller..
On a side note, I thought you were asking for installing app to sdcard coz we have a poor internal memory.. oh well to answer this, first i used app2sd, but not as helpful as I expect, there are still apps/games that you couldn't be transfer on sd card, so I use link2sd, perfect app for me, now all apps/games can be transfer to sdcard.. But it requires your phone to be rooted and you should have partition on your sdcard.

If you view apk files from astro file manager, it'll let you install them from there. Make sure you have the phone set to allow installation of apps from unknown sources.
Sent from my R800a

Browse to the apk file using any file explorer and open it from there.

If you need/want to move apps to SD on the Galaxy Tab 2 7.0

Try Link2SD available on the Play Store
There's a thread for it here -> http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=919326
Make sure to read, read, and then again read the instructions before proceeding.

moving apps
According to published info moving apps to ext SDcard in ICS is possible with Gemini App Manager 2.4.5/smile.gif

Thanks for the information. I was wondering which app people were running for moving apps to the SD.

yeah this is def needed, i love this tablet 7

EZ moving apps to SD
The ability to move apps, folders and media files is built into GT2. Use the native My Files app to drag and drop files from internal to external sd card. Move files from the right pane into the External SD card folder in the left pane.

I've used My Files to move files and folders but would that actually work with an app? I would think the app would become unusable or would it even be seen anymore?

I have moved the apk from the data folder into the external SD card and the apps have continued to work fine. Of course some apps should not be moved, ie: those with Widgets.

Well, I'm gonna have try that out. Thanks.

Magandangwahine said:
I have moved the apk from the data folder into the external SD card and the apps have continued to work fine. Of course some apps should not be moved, ie: those with Widgets.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I may be doing something wrong since, despite being rooted, I can't seem to get to the Root directory to access Data/App using the My Files app. Would you mind showing us the steps to do that?
With your suggestion, we have to manually move each app that we install? Kinda tedious.
If so, I'll stick to Link2SD.
Sent from my GT-P3113 using XDA Premium HD app

Magandangwahine said:
The ability to move apps, folders and media files is built into GT2. Use the native My Files app to drag and drop files from internal to external sd card. Move files from the right pane into the External SD card folder in the left pane.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry, not the same thing. Moving files from int SD to Ext SD is not the same thing as Apps2SD.
The method list in the OP works for me.

thanks! but the data of the apps, which is the more space that has it can't be moved.

Am I the only one that can't move apks to the external SD?
I tried all of these suggested apps but all of them tell me that there is not enough space...
I've an EMPTY 32Gb SD well partitioned (28gb FAT32 and 1gb Ext3). What's wrong on my tablet? :cyclops:
Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 routed
Model: GT-P3110
Version: 4.0.3
Kernel: 3.0.8-378347-user [email protected]#1
Build: IML74K.P3110XXALD4

Try gl2sd or directory bind or app2sd but first format the card in s2 or s3 or tab2 device not in computer
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda app-developers app

Mohamedselim said:
Try gl2sd or directory bind or app2sd but first format the card in s2 or s3 or tab2 device not in computer
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just formatted with the tablet without any result... not enough space!

does NOT move apps to SD on Galaxy tab 2
carlos 107 said:
According to published info moving apps to ext SDcard in ICS is possible with Gemini App Manager 2.4.5/smile.gif
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
this does not work and was using v2.5.3 on JB 4.1.1

Stock firmware can't read ext3, u must format your second partition in ext4. Link2sd works, but move only apks data, not all data (u can move an apk of a game but not all 1gb or more...)
Gltosd moves all datas. I use it.
It will be useful if the creator of the script to swap internal/external sd card, will make a p3100 version of his script....:angel:

Large games on sd card

Hello,
I was searching for a way to put large games like (asphalt 8, nova3, and any other games) on sd card on my rooted samsung galaxy s4 because the internal storage is very low and about to be full.
First i tried to use the file manager i have sent the odd file and the apk(which in the data folder) but the game didn't work, it was searching for required files and asked to download them.
Then i tried many apps which need root acces on my device to send the games on sd card but i got the same problem...
Is there are any way to send the game on sd card and make it work there?
Thanks.

try app2sd...it is on play store ?

I have already tried it but it send the apk file only i want app or any way to send the apk and the odd to the sd card and make it work there.

This depends on what rom you're using.
You could try Folder Mount

Actually all these apps aren't useful i can already use any file manager to send the game files to the sd card but the problem is when i add the game to sd card when i open the game it dont find the game's files.
And about which rom am i using i didn't get it and how to know my rom?

I use the xposed module Obb2SD, so all my games are moved to SD card then the Obb files are also moved onto the SD card.
I am using a custom Rom.

mahmoudgamal1 said:
Actually all these apps aren't useful i can already use any file manager to send the game files to the sd card but the problem is when i add the game to sd card when i open the game it dont find the game's files.
And about which rom am i using i didn't get it and how to know my rom?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you are using the stock samsung rom then you just have to go to Manage apps and find the game you want to move and the press "Move to sd card".
Moving the apps manually will not work.
Folder Mount will move the app data to the sd card and trick the system into thinking it's on the internal storage.

I have just used folder mount by sending the game files (the folder in the data and its folder in the odd) but the game won't find their files

Did you get the phone new? Did you flash any custom rom on it or is it the stock samsung firmware that comes with the phone?

The only thing i have done with my phoned is rooting it with a custom recovery, there is no any custom roms im just using just the stock rom.

Then the rom should have the option to move apps to sd.
I know that my stock 4.4.2 samsung firmware had that option.
Go to settings > apps > downloaded, and tap any app you want to move. There should be an option "move to sd card" or something like that.

Cannot Manually Add files to internal Storage SD Card, but Apps can be transfered

I'm having a rather unique problem with my the Micro SD card I installed.
I can format it as internal storage and it won't pop up for file managers or my computer.
This means I can't manually move files to it all.
Despite that when it's internal storage I can move apps to it and it adds new apps to it by default.
I could go to move all and move everything it can on, but it's a fairly slow SD card so I'm hoping to mainly put music, videos and any pictures on there.
I worry about it moving the apps that I want to keep in internal storage for speed over.
Does anyone know how I could fix this?
EDIT:
I didn't manage to figure out how to add files manually while it was internal storage through either internal file managers or through the computer.
But I did manage to find the SD card while it was portable.
The trick is to use the built in file explorer on the phone and copy a small file onto the SD card.
With there being something other than just Android files on the SD card it can then be discovered by the computer.
This mainly solves my problem as I plan to use it primarily for storage of music and game files, with the emulators being on the phone itself.

I had this issue a few days ago. You have 2 options to format, (1) as a internal storage and only your phone can read this and other option (2)to use on others devices. Using the second option I managed to transfer files to my microSD like it used to be.
While using the first option I was able only to transfer apps to it through the system.
I hope it helps

I'm using one, but I'm not even able to find it with File Manager?
Is that normal for Internal Storage?
I expected there to at least be a folder in the normal phone space called SD card or something?
Is there no way to manually move music there when it's internal storage?
Also I tried changing it to be portable but my computer still couldn't see it.
File manager could actually see it and open it but I couldn't copy paste anything to it.
So I turned it back to internal as I can at least move apps to it successfully at the moment.

Rajvir8 said:
I'm using one, but I'm not even able to find it with File Manager?
Is that normal for Internal Storage?
I expected there to at least be a folder in the normal phone space called SD card or something?
Is there no way to manually move music there when it's internal storage?
Also I tried changing it to be portable but my computer still couldn't see it.
File manager could actually see it and open it but I couldn't copy paste anything to it.
So I turned it back to internal as I can at least move apps to it successfully at the moment.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When I tried as Internal Storage any File Manager found my SDcard too... Thats why I'm using as portable.
After that, i could see this.
Maybe you're missing something like changing the USB connection from Charging to File transfering.
Did you checked this?

Yes it can see the rest of my phone and move files, so I've made sure to change it to file transferring.
When you used internal storage file managers failed to find your SD card as well?
dennismac said:
When I tried as Internal Storage any File Manager found my SDcard too... Thats why I'm using as portable.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Here your saying that you could find it and that's why you swapped over?
I assume you forgot to say it failed to show up separately and that's why you changed to portable.

Rajvir8 said:
Yes it can see the rest of my phone and move files, so I've made sure to change it to file transferring.
When you used internal storage file managers failed to find your SD card as well?
Here your saying that you could find it and that's why you swapped over?
I assume you forgot to say it failed to show up separately and that's why you changed to portable.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry! Yes, I failed to find my SD card too, thats why i changed to portable.
Im assuming this is a normal behavior, my last Android phone was a Galaxy S2 and I stopped following Android changes for the lasts 4/5 years. But idk why you can't see it even in portable mode... That should work as worked for me.
Hope someone help you more than I did!

dennismac said:
Sorry! Yes, I failed to find my SD card too, thats why i changed to portable.
Im assuming this is a normal behavior, my last Android phone was a Galaxy S2 and I stopped following Android changes for the lasts 4/5 years. But idk why you can't see it even in portable mode... That should work as worked for me.
Hope someone help you more than I did!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for trying to help.
I think I might have figured out part of the problem, the file explorer I normally use doesn't have permission to add anything to the SD card. I'm not sure how I would go about giving it permission though.
But when I use the system built in I was able to copy paste some music onto it.
With a file on the SD Card my computer was able to locate it as well, and I can now copy and paste to the SD card using my computer.
So with your help I was able to figure out how to get portable working.
It is a bit disappointing that there isn't a way to manually add files while it is an internal storage though.
So again while your solution didn't directly work, it made me think and find a solution to my problem even if it's not the one I wanted.