Database Users

[Q] couldn't install on usb storage or sd card

So I am getting an "couldn't install on usb storage or sd card" error with paid apps via the google play store. It is preventing updating paid apps as well as installing new ones.
I have tried a handful of different fixes found by searching XDA, rootzwiki & google but nothing has made any headway with the problem.
Specifically, I have tried:
Changing kernels as per suggestions on the internet
Faux123's 9/09 released kernel, Franco's r6, Trinity Seven, default kernels with PA2.10-2.12 as well as the default kernel with AOKP build 1
I tried to find the smdl2tmp.asec file in the two places I found mentioned through my previous searches, but I am assuming that its location is for versions < JB since those directories don't seem to be present on my N7.
Many people also mention unmounting -> remounting the SD card fixes their issues, but with only the one storage location in the N7 it doesn't seem to apply to this device, unless I am really missing something.
I've also cleared the play stores cache specifically as well as doing a full on cache+dalvik cache clear from TWRP.
On AOKP the problem appeared immediately after flashing the new ROM but with ParanoidAndroid the problem manifested itself later. With PA I have been able to install paid apps but after a certain point it begins to kick this error my way. This would be acceptable since I don't use many paid apps except for the fact it is also blocking updates. Also, I don't think it is a faulty SDcard as everything else seems to work fine with regards to it.
If there is more useful information I can give please let me know and I will. Any ideas and advice is appreciated.
EDIT: I just read a workaround where someone installed the app on another device and then dropboxed themselves over the apk. I don't have another android device to try this with, but another idea would be to install the app manually after google play downloads it, but I can't seem to locate where the play store puts the files it downloads.

I am having that exact same problem with my Motorola Droid RAZR Maxx after installing a new ROM. I have actually installed two different ROM's, and I keep getting the same error message: "Couldn't be installed to USB storage or SD card."
I have tried searching for that tmp file, but couldn't find it. I also re-mounted the SD card, and I tried installing the app with the SD card safely removed and installed.
I can't even install my favorite XDA-Developers app, so I'm using the browser to navigate the forums. I dislike browsers.

[x] said:
I am having that exact same problem with my Motorola Droid RAZR Maxx after installing a new ROM. I have actually installed two different ROM's, and I keep getting the same error message: "Couldn't be installed to USB storage or SD card."
I have tried searching for that tmp file, but couldn't find it. I also re-mounted the SD card, and I tried installing the app with the SD card safely removed and installed.
I can't even install my favorite XDA-Developers app, so I'm using the browser to navigate the forums. I dislike browsers.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try this:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1965039

galaxy S4 microsd card problem

Hello
I have SanDisk 64gb microsd. I have not done anything to the phone and now periodically the phone stops reading the 64gb card .It does not say unmounted just when I check gallery the photos are not there and I have to restart the phone.
I have a rooted 4.3 ROM..The only thing I can think of is ES file explorer potentially caused issues. I noticed things acting weird after I used it when I do heavily.
Please help. Any and all advice welcome. Thanks

Tried to re flash a nandroid still issues. I noticed in general my touchwiz is running so slow. I flashed sacs red theme about a month ago. Not sure if that had anything to do with it. Should not have.
It will reread it when I remount it or reboot. Not sure specifically what is causing it though.

mikeprius said:
Tried to re flash a nandroid still issues. I noticed in general my touchwiz is running so slow. I flashed sacs red theme about a month ago. Not sure if that had anything to do with it. Should not have.
It will reread it when I remount it or reboot. Not sure specifically what is causing it though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you tried searching the forums for sdcard fix? Google it? There have been issues with 4.4 and sdcard reading issues. Also downloading foldermount from the playstore has helped others with issues. If all else fails reinstall rom.
Sent from my SPH-L720 using XDA Free mobile app

I searched on Google and there is not really a concise answer as to why this happens. It is a very ambigious issue, however; it seems to be a reoccuring issue with SanDisk cards and 4.4 KitKat ROMs.
What I did was completely flush out and re-installed both custom recovery and my ROM to 4.2.2
It is disappointing because I really like my Samsung Galaxy S4 phone and you'd think upgrades mean better quality product when it has not. 4.4 KitKat ROM is not that good. I don't like both CM and TW versions of KK. One feature I do not like with TW KitKat is the inability to hide icons. There are also issues with battery drain and free hotspot mod.
I don't know what is going on. When I plug my phone into the computer I can access the SD card. When I check the phone it is not reading the SD card. Don't know what the problem is.

Have you tried a different SD card? That would help you determine if it is specific to the card or potentially a phone issue.

What I will do is try and format the SD card with the phone, then put everything back on. So far, I have isolated it to ESFile explorer. Initially I did not update the apk and thought that would work. It did not.
Here's what has happened:
I use ESFile explorer to access the SD card. Then when I went into clockworkmod, I tried to delete a nandroid copy I made. It says 'failed to delete'.
Then the ROM and sdCard do not work correctly anymore, so I have to wipe and re-flash an old nandroid.
Makes me wonder if something is corrupted in the SD Card. Everything used to work fine, but now whenever I access the SD Card with ESFile explorer, even the old version of it, it causes issue.

There is a problem with some Sandisk SD cards. Evidently there was a bad batch. I had some of the same issues. My card was bad. I went to Sandisk's website and they replaced it for free. I was without my card for a week but I got a new one and everything seems to be working fine now.

Can you explain how you did this ? So an update on my situation. I can read the sd card but it will not format and nothing can be written to the card. I tried using recovery and touchwiz to format and it fails.
Can access what is on there but cannot write or format anymore. Any ideas ? At this point I swapped to a new SanDisk card I had lying around. Don't know what to do with the old card

mikeprius said:
Can you explain how you did this ? So an update on my situation. I can read the sd card but it will not format and nothing can be written to the card. I tried using recovery and touchwiz to format and it fails.
Can access what is on there but cannot write or format anymore. Any ideas ? At this point I swapped to a new SanDisk card I had lying around. Don't know what to do with the old card
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I assume you are asking me how I got my card replaced. I did some research and found the issue mentioned here on XDA as well as on the internet. I went to Sandisk's website, http://kb.sandisk.com/app/answers/list/kw/microsd microsdhc/, and did some more research. I finally contacted their customer service and they told me the process for getting the replacement shipped. If I were you I would just contact their customer service on their website and let them run you through the process.

Moving apps to sd card says app not installed

Hi my g900w8 is rooted and have used the sd card fix. I have a SanDisk ultra microsd. It saves my pictures, transfers music, documents etc fine.
I've used the application manager to move apps to the SD card ie. Challenger comic viewer and once I move it the icon goes grey looks like a sd card icon and when I tap the icon it loads then I get a pop up the app is not installed.
At the moment I'm on stock firmware, I'll be trying some custom roms so I hope with the custom roms this issue is corrected.
I am asking this because I wasn't sure if this was an issue for stock and custom firmware and anytime I tried to search all the topics are about moving apps to sd card using the app manager but nothing about issues.
Thanks for any help if I somehow missed a thread regarding this or I'm S.O.L. because this is an issue with kit Kat. Then I apologize for wasting ppl time
Sent from my SM-G900W8

..

Same issue here.
Apps moved to extsd in app manager and using a specific app which effectively takes you to the same move to sd stage in app manager.
Same results but not immediately.
All showed up for a week.
Next day 2 were missing.
Following day another.
Only way to get them running again is to re download and install from market (where they don't show as installed).
Thought it might have been my SanDisk 64GB card.
sent from my Galaxy S5 running NeatRom v2.3

[Q] Apps are deleted after being moved to SD card!!!

hello everyone
I have been experiencing this issue since I flashed the new lollipop custom ROM "AntaresOne & Alucard24's optimized CM12 builds", and it works pretty well... I have just noticed that whatever I move to the SD card from phone storage gets erased.. i don't know why.. I'm moving the apps from the settings by going to "settings" > "apps" > and I select the app and move it... I've moved an app recently just for experiment, and I rebooted the phone, checked the sd card apps and it says no apps.. so I'm not sure if this is a problem of my sd card or an issue in this ROM.. I've been using this sd card previously and it was just fine..
-please note that this happens only after I reboot the phone and I lose all the apps that were moved and I need to download them again from the play store..
Any idea guys?!
thanks in advance!

I don't know. The GPE lollipop rom I am using doesn't have that feature to move apps to sd card. I heard it's not supported. I'm not sure if on this particular gpe rom or on lollipop in general.
But if moving apps to sd is a custom feature from CM12 then it might still be buggy and thats why they get deleted.
I think you'll be more successful searching the rom thread.

Hi,
It is indeed a bug in CM12, happened the same to me. So, don't worry about it being any problem with your sdcard, I didn't find any solution other than copy the app from the sdcard to the phone as soon as it is installed.
~Lord

Sd card critical error!!!

Hi there,
This is my first post here.hope I'm posting at the right place.
So I'm using a rooted,6 yrs old smg355h my father gave me a few days ago. I am already facing a critical problem with the sd card.i cannot install most of the games that is movable to sd card(ex:clash of clans will insall but free fire shows error).i have tried both play store and installed manually but it never installed.i unmounted the card and every apps installed like a charm but when i mounted bqck again and tried to move them to the card it showed me error...i have tried to
1.format the card from settings and windows
2.change file system from twrp and windows
3.repairing the card from twrp and windows
4.tried 2 different sd cards
5.tried installing in cm12.1
6.factory reseted twice
7.deleted .android secure folder
8.finally flashed twice using odin
None of them fixed this issue for me.i remember it wasn't like this 6 years ago.finally i have collected the logs using catlog and the last log was something like this.
17 03:07:24.503 D/PackageManager(632): returnCode: -18
I can't upload the logs(where can i upload it?)i am really annoyed with this error and this is slowing down my device.
Any help will be highly appreciated!:angel: