How to Set the Default Location for Downloaded Apps to External SD Card on your Galaxy S5

If you own a Samsung Galaxy S5 and find yourself running out of storage space for downloading apps, you’re not alone. Many users encounter this issue due to the limited internal storage on their device. However, there’s a solution that can help you free up space and make use of the unused memory on your external SD card. In this guide, we will walk you through the process of setting the default location for downloading apps to your external SD card on the Samsung Galaxy S5.

When you try to download videos or apps from the internet onto your Galaxy S5, you may receive an error message stating that you don’t have enough memory. This can be frustrating, especially if you have a significant amount of unused storage on your external SD card. The default setting for app downloads on the Galaxy S5 is the internal storage, which is often limited in capacity.

Solution for Downloading Photos, Music, and More

If you want to set the default location for downloading photos, music, and other files to your external SD card, you can do so by changing the settings within each individual app. Not all apps provide this option, but for those that do, follow these steps:

1. Open the app you want to change the download location for.
2. Look for the settings or preferences menu within the app.
3. Locate the option to change the download location and select the external SD card.
4. Save the changes and exit the settings menu.

If the app you’re using doesn’t offer the option to change the download location, you may need to find an alternative app that does. There are many file manager apps available on the Google Play Store that allow you to set the default download location to your external SD card.

Downloading Apps to the External SD Card

Downloading apps directly to the external SD card is a bit more complicated and requires specific conditions to be met. Here’s what you need to know:

1. Make sure your Samsung Galaxy S5 is running on at least Android “Marshmallow” (6.0) or a newer version. If not, check if an update is available for your device.
2. Check if your phone allows for changes to be made to the default storage location. Some manufacturers restrict this option, so it may not be available on all devices.
3. If your phone meets the requirements, follow these steps to change the default storage location for app installations:

For Android “Marshmallow” (6.0) and Newer Versions

1. Go to the device settings by tapping on the gear icon in the app drawer or by pulling down the notification shade and tapping on the gear icon.
2. Scroll down and select “Storage” from the settings menu.
3. Locate and select your external SD card.
4. Tap on the three-dot menu icon in the top-right corner of the screen.
5. From the menu, select “Settings.”
6. Look for the option to format the SD card as internal storage and tap on it.
7. Follow the on-screen instructions to format the SD card as internal storage.
8. Once the formatting process is complete, your SD card will be treated as internal storage, and you can start installing apps directly to it.

It’s important to note that formatting the SD card as internal storage will erase all data on the card, so make sure to back up any important files before proceeding. Additionally, keep in mind that removing the SD card from your device after formatting it as internal storage may cause some apps to stop working correctly.

For Android “Nougat” (7.0) and Newer Versions

1. Go to the device settings by tapping on the gear icon in the app drawer or by pulling down the notification shade and tapping on the gear icon.
2. Scroll down and select “Storage” from the settings menu.
3. Look for the details of your SD card at the bottom of the list.
4. If the option to format the SD card as internal storage is available, select it.
5. Follow the on-screen instructions to format the SD card as internal storage.
6. After the formatting process is complete, you can start installing apps directly to the SD card.

Remember to back up any important data on your SD card before formatting it as internal storage, as the process will erase all existing data.

Conclusion

By setting the default location for downloading apps to your external SD card on the Samsung Galaxy S5, you can make the most of the available storage space on your device. Whether you’re downloading photos, music, or apps, following the steps outlined in this guide will help you optimize your storage usage and alleviate the frustration of running out of memory.