How to get more room on my android device?

By iSammieJo
in Android Support

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iSammieJo

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I'm not sure if this is in the right section, Mods feel free to move as needed. I'm new to this community and new to my android device and would like advise on how to reallocate apps to external memory to make room for system updates. I have glimpsed over information regarding rooting an android device to achieve this goal; is rooting allowed to be discussed or is this even the direction i need to be considering to accomplish my task? I have an LG Optimus L9 running Android Jellybean 4.1.2 and after installing a rather large game I can no longer perform system updates. I would like to be able to move my game and other apps to an external storage of an SD card. Can I achieve this by rooting my device; if so, how do I root it? Anyone with experience have any suggestions or advise for me, or is able to point me in the right direction? It's very frustrating being limited by the internal storage that came on my phone. If rooting is a solution, what are the proper procedures to do so on an LG Optimus L9 running stock android jellybean 4.1.2? I am open to MODs and other solutions.

Grand Master

The Evil Overlord

Posted
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I'm in no way an expert on android, but my s3 and my note 10.1 gave me an option to default save to sd card, whick by happy coincidence also saved games to the sd card too, is there such an option somewhere in the menus of your device?

(if yes, maybe try uninstalling then reinstalling with the new save location as the sd card?)

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iSammieJo

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I'm in no way an expert on android, but my s3 and my note 10.1 gave me an option to default save to sd card, whick by happy coincidence also saved games to the sd card too, is there such an option somewhere in the menus of your device?

(if yes, maybe try uninstalling then reinstalling with the new save location as the sd card?)

i can't seem to find a setting or menu option to modify the default save; am i missing it somewhere? Where should i look or what else should i do?

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iSammieJo

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I don't know, I'm sorry, I only have the 2 sammy's and am relatively new to android myself, but as a guess I'd check under memory or storage options then try the settings soft key (if applicable)

I already looked there but did not find anything. but thank you anyway.

Grand Master

PNWDweller

Posted
Posted

AFAIK - Google stopped allowing apps to be moved to SD after 4.x or maybe earlier in the game, but sometime between gingerbread and ice cream sandwich this took place.

The only thing you can do now is store app data on sd card but none of the apps out there currently do this unless you are Rooted and then need to have a special script to basically override the symlink from SDCARD0 (The internal memory) to (ExtSDCard) which is your true SD Card.

http://forums.androi...crosd-card.html (has some background)

http://teamuscellula...ernal-sd-cards/ (This applies to Samsung Galaxy Axiom which I have but does point in the right direction)

Basically, you must be rooted to do these modifications.

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Ars Lykaion

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If you don't have a rooted device, your only option is to move (part of) your apps to microSD. Going to Settings > Apps > On SD Card will show you a list of apps which can be safely moved to SD. Generally, apps moved to SD this way have a handful of restrictions placed on them, they can't autostart at boot, their widgets will stop working, and some other limitations.

If you want to root your device, looking up XDA Developers should be a good start. Be sure you learn how to restore your device to its stock firmware BEFORE you start rooting. Its unlikely these days, but there's still a slight chance something could go wrong. Once you have a rooted device, you should generally have an access to ROMs/kernels which support init.d. Flash one of them.

To completely move apps to SD when rooted, search for Mounts2SD or Link2SD in the Play Store. If you have a slow SD card, it is recommended that you only move your apps, not your app data which should be left in internal storage, otherwise you're going to lag like crazy. For a good SD card that has enough performance to support moving data to it as well, I've had good experiences with Sandisk's Ultra and Extreme Pro families. Good luck.

Experienced

CyberManifest

Posted
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Forgive me, but the original post is that of my girlfriend's and she isn't exactly as technical as most people on this forum, please provide simplistic answers that are easy to understand for a non technical person. Please use terminology that isn't too difficult to understand. All this talk of XDA Developers, ROMs/kernels, init.d, Flash, Mounts2SD, Link2SD is enough to make a person's head spin, and creates more work for ME to have to explain to her :/. A step by step guide would be ideal; also, please provide relevant information that applies to her specific device. (It's not helpful to follow menu options, if those menu options don't exist on her phone; or provide procedures if they don't apply to a device because of compatibility.)

Grand Master

PNWDweller

Posted
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Simply swap the internal and external memory by altering your vold.fstab file. This method works perfectly on Android 4.2.2 on my device.

That would work as long as OP is rooted which it doesn't sound like. And for moving apps to the SD, disabled in newer Androids courtesy of Google.

Rookie

Ars Lykaion

Posted
Posted

Forgive me, but the original post is that of my girlfriend's and she isn't exactly as technical as most people on this forum, please provide simplistic answers that are easy to understand for a non technical person. Please use terminology that isn't too difficult to understand. All this talk of XDA Developers, ROMs/kernels, init.d, Flash, Mounts2SD, Link2SD is enough to make a person's head spin, and creates more work for ME to have to explain to her :/. A step by step guide would be ideal; also, please provide relevant information that applies to her specific device. (It's not helpful to follow menu options, if those menu options don't exist on her phone; or provide procedures if they don't apply to a device because of compatibility.)

Well, if you're not even going to bother visiting XDA Developers and searching for your device there, I'd say your best bet is to stick to the non-root method. In order to get the most benefit out of rooting and hacking your device, you will need to get your hands dirty and learn some stuff. But of course it's not for everyone.

It's also difficult to provide precise instructions for a specific device unless you actually have the device yourself, because although it's the same Linux kernel and same Android OS, each manufacturer skins and modifies them accordingly for each phone. But there should be a Settings > Apps > On SD Card menu on the L9, or something roughly along those lines.

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iSammieJo

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Well, if you're not even going to bother visiting XDA Developers and searching for your device there, I'd say your best bet is to stick to the non-root method. In order to get the most benefit out of rooting and hacking your device, you will need to get your hands dirty and learn some stuff. But of course it's not for everyone.

It's also difficult to provide precise instructions for a specific device unless you actually have the device yourself, because although it's the same Linux kernel and same Android OS, each manufacturer skins and modifies them accordingly for each phone. But there should be a Settings > Apps > On SD Card menu on the L9, or something roughly along those lines.

i go to settings and then apps then it shows all my apps, the running ones and my downloaded ones and thats it. i do not see a on SD Card setting.

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