Adopt SD Card as Internal Storage on Marshmallow and Move Apps to SD Card (How to)

One of the most exciting features of Android 6.0 Marshmallow is ‘adoptable storage’ feature that lets you use external SD card as internal storage on your phone. Once you adopt SD card as internal storage, your phone will install apps and store data on the SD card. This is a great feature for devices with low internal storage, like the Android One phone to extend internal storage space.

In this tutorial, we show you how to adopt SD card as internal storage on Android 6.0 Marshmallow and move already installed apps to SD card to gain space. Before you get start, note that once you enabled this, your SD card will format into Ext4 and encrypt, so you cannot use the adopted SD card on other devices without decrypting it.

Note: You can also get Android 6.0 Marshmallow’s ‘Adoptable Storage’ like feature on older Android versions, but require root access. Interested users read this [HERE] post.

How to adopt SD card as internal storage on Marshmallow

1. Go to phone Settings and select Storage

2. Select your External SD Card and then select ‘Erase & Format’ option

3. You will get an option ‘Format as internal storage’. Select ‘Erase & Format’

4. On the next page, select ‘Use as internal storage’ and tap Next

Your SD Card will now be formatted (EXT4) as internal storage and encrypt it. Enjoy your extended internal storage and freedom from low storage space issue.

How to move installed apps to external SD card

Some apps will not install on adopted SD card, so you need to manually move such apps to adopted SD card.

1. Go to Settings -> Storage & USB -> Internal Storage -> Apps

2. Select the app you need to SD card.

3. Select ‘Change’, then select your SD Card and then select Move from the ‘Move Authenticator’. That’s it.

Note: You cannot move pre-installed apps to adopted SD card in this way.