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Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →You can move files to a microSD card with a file manager, but moving apps depends on the tablet maker, model, software and app. First check that your tablet supports a microSD card. On a Samsung Galaxy tablet, use My Files to transfer files; for apps, check Settings > Apps > [app] > Storage for a Change option.
Before you start: check card and tablet support
Not every Android tablet has a microSD slot, and supported card types and capacity limits vary by model. Check the tablet’s specifications or its manufacturer’s support page before buying or inserting a card. The steps below for moving files and checking app eligibility are for Samsung Galaxy tablets; another brand may use different menus or may not support the same storage options.
Moving files and moving apps are separate tasks. A file manager can copy or move photos, videos and other files to a card. Whether an app can be moved is determined by the tablet and the app; a larger or faster card does not make an ineligible app movable.
Move files to an SD card on a Samsung Galaxy tablet
- Insert a compatible microSD card into the tablet.
- Open My Files.
- Find the files or folders you want to transfer, then touch and hold an item to select it. Select any additional items you want.
- Tap Move or Copy.
- Return to My Files Home and open SD card.
- Open the destination folder, then tap Move here or Copy here.
Choose Move to relocate items or Copy to leave the originals where they are. Samsung notes that available screens and settings can vary by carrier and software version. On a tablet from another manufacturer, use its file manager and model-specific instructions rather than assuming the Samsung labels will appear. See Samsung’s microSD card instructions for Galaxy devices.
#1 Best Overall
- EXPAND YOUR STORAGE. Insert your card to add massive storage up to 1.5TB[1] to your Android smartphones and tablets, digital cameras, and laptops.
- SPACE FOR MORE. With expansive capacities up to 1.5TB[1], capture and store hours of Full HD video[4], movies, music, games, photos, and podcasts.
- MOVE FILES FAST. Use your card with the SANDISK QuickFlow microSD UHS-I Card USB-A Reader[6] to achieve up to 195MB/s[2] read speeds [128GB-1.5TB models] and offload your content fast.
- LOAD APPS IN A SNAP. Rated A1[3], the SANDISK Ultra microSD card is optimized for faster app launch and overall app performance.
- EASY CONTENT MANAGEMENT. Easily back up, organize, and transfer your photos and videos with the SANDISK Memory Zone desktop or Android mobile app[5].
Check whether an app can move to the card
- Open Settings, then tap Apps.
- Select the app you want to check.
- Tap Storage.
- If Change appears, tap it, choose SD card, then tap Move and follow the prompts.
If Change does not appear, Samsung says the app’s storage location cannot be changed through this method. Preloaded apps cannot be moved this way, and an app developer may also disallow SD-card storage, including for performance reasons. Do not treat a missing option as a card-speed problem.
These are Samsung-specific steps, not a universal Android procedure. Android’s adoptable-storage feature can allow supported apps to move in Settings, but device makers decide whether to offer that mode. Samsung states that “Samsung Android devices do not support the Adoptable storage feature.” For other brands, check the instructions for the exact tablet model and software version.
Rank #2
- Compatible with Nintendo-Switch (NOT Nintendo-Switch 2)
- Expand your storage in a flash: ideal for Android smartphones and tablets, Chromebooks, and Windows laptops.
- Increase your TV show, movie, and Full HD video[4] recording collections dramatically with up to a massive 1.5TB[1].
- Transfer files fast with up to 150MB/s[2] read speeds and SanDisk MobileMate USB micro 3.0 microSD card reader[6].
- Load apps faster with A1-rated performance[3].
Portable storage and adoptable storage are different
Android describes two ways a device may set up an SD card. The choice affects whether the card can travel between devices and whether it can hold apps. Google’s SD card setup guidance explains the modes; the Android Open Source Project documentation on adoptable storage provides platform details.
| Storage mode | What it is for | Apps | Moving the card |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portable storage | Files such as photos and videos | Google says, “You can’t install apps on the SD card,” in its guidance for portable storage. | The card can be moved between devices. |
| Adoptable storage | Files and additional device storage | Can hold apps on devices that support the mode and the app. | The card is tied to the device and cannot be transferred between devices as portable storage. |
These modes are not available on every tablet. In particular, do not expect adoptable storage on a Samsung Android tablet. If portability between devices matters, portable storage is the relevant setup; adoptable storage is only an option on devices that offer it and ties the card to that device.
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Back up before formatting or changing storage mode
Formatting permanently erases the card’s contents. Before formatting or changing how a card is set up, copy any files you want to keep to another location. Do not proceed until you have verified that the backup is accessible.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Exclusive “Made for Amazon” SD memory card - The only one tested and certified to work with your Fire Tablet and Fire TV
- Load your Fire Tablet with more fun - By adding space for additional photos, music and movies
- Download your apps and games directly to the SD card
- Class 10 performance for Full HD (1080p) video recording and playback
- Designed to perform multiple simultaneous activities with no lag or delay
Rank #4
- EXPAND YOUR STORAGE. Insert your card to add massive storage up to 1.5TB[1] to your Android smartphones and tablets, digital cameras, and laptops.
- SPACE FOR MORE. With expansive capacities up to 1.5TB[1], capture and store hours of Full HD video[4], movies, music, games, photos, and podcasts.
- MOVE FILES FAST. Use your card with the SANDISK QuickFlow microSD UHS-I Card USB-A Reader[6] to achieve up to 195MB/s[2] read speeds [128GB-1.5TB models] and offload your content fast.
- LOAD APPS IN A SNAP. Rated A1[3], the SANDISK Ultra microSD card is optimized for faster app launch and overall app performance.
- EASY CONTENT MANAGEMENT. Easily back up, organize, and transfer your photos and videos with the SANDISK Memory Zone desktop or Android mobile app[5].
Choose a card for the work you need to do
- Confirm the tablet supports microSD and check its capacity limit in the device specifications.
- For files you want to carry between devices, use portable storage where the tablet supports it.
- For recording high-resolution video on a Galaxy device, Samsung recommends microSDXC. Check the specific tablet’s compatibility and recording requirements; this recommendation does not mean card speed will make an app movable.
- Use adoptable storage only if the tablet offers it and you accept that the card is tied to that device.
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