(1).png "Expand storage via SD card (Android)")
Short of storage on your smartphone or tablet? Some Android devices can be expanded with an extra memory card.
Limited storage
Storage space is limited on some tablets or smartphones. Android, the operating system, already eats up a few gigabytes anyway. Then install a few apps, start shooting enthusiastically with the device and the memory will be full in no time. With the more expensive models, with 64 or 128 GB of storage, this does not happen so quickly. But anyone who has to make do with 4, 8 or 16 GB will undoubtedly recognize the problem.
Expand memory with SD card
The memory of Android devices can usually be expanded via an SD card. First check whether there is space in your device for an SD card. This can be found in the manual, or take a look at the device.
The most direct way is to reach for your device. Usually the place for an SD card is next to the SIM card, but some devices have a separate tray for extra memory. These drawer(s) are located on the top or side of your device and look something like this:
- Turn off your smartphone or tablet.
- Open the SIM card drawer by pressing a pin into the hole. This can be done with the SIM card pin that came with the device, but with the end of a paper clip or earring will also work.
- The drawer comes loose. Pull it out to see if there is room for extra memory.
What kind of SD card?
If your device supports an SD card, get one. Make sure that it fits in the device, because there are different sizes; SD, mini SD and micro SD. Wikipedia keeps an overview of the different formats and their dimensions at https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/SD-card. If necessary, take the smartphone to the store and have the SD card inserted into the device.
Working with extended memory
Google, the developer of Android, isn’t exactly thrilled with expandable memory. That has had an impact on the way Android handles SD cards. Keep in mind some restrictions. Thus, not all apps can be transferred to the SD card. Standard apps from Google, for example, do not. But this can also apply to other apps. The developer of the app must indicate whether it is allowed to save an app on an SD card.
After the SD card is inserted in the device, the screen will ask how you want to use the card. In that case, choose Internal storage. The card is then formatted and paired with the phone. Apps, photos and documents that allow this are now stored on the card.
It is also possible to manually transfer apps and data to the SD card. This option only appears with apps that allow it. It works in the following way:
- Tap the app Institutions.
- Swipe down and tap apps.
- Tap the app you want to transfer.
- Tap on Storage area or Storage.
- Under ‘Storage used’ or ‘Storage used’, tap Modify. If it’s not visible, you can’t move the app.
- Tap on SD card or on the name your SD card has, for example with us that is ‘SeniorWeb’..
The app is transferred to the map.