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Apologies if this question was already asked.

Is it possible to move the /data directory to the external SD card?

I want all apps, app data, downloads and files to be automatically saved to the external SD card, instead of to the internal storage.

Information:

The internal storage is 178 MB, where 157 MB is used by apps. There's no internal SD card and my external SD card has 32 GB.

/sdcard is a symbolic link to /storage/sdcard0 which is the 32 GB external SD card.

The device is rooted and uses CM11/4.4.2.

Tried:

  1. Used Link2SD but could only move the APKs and dalvik. The app data and system apps couldn't be moved. Unfortunately I can't buy the new Link2SD.
  2. Tried FolderMount but it doesn't allow access to /. It only allows access to the SD card.
  3. Couldn't find fstab in /etc or /system/etc
  4. Tried Root External 2 Internal SD but there's no internal SD card, just "internal storage" (shows 178 MB) and "SD card" (shows the 14 GB FAT32 partition on the external 32 GB SD card).

Considered:

su -
cp -r(p?) /data /storage/sdcard0/data
rm -r /data
ls -s /data /storage/sdcard0/data

However, I'm new to modifying Android and don't want to accidentally brick my device. When I tried to copy the data directory as root, it said that some files/directories did not exist.

Does anyone have suggestions?

Thank you for reading.

Edit: @programming Thanks for your help. I can't find the option on the storage page.

The storage page looks like:

Storage (clicking on `:` gives the option "USB computer connection")
Internal storage:
Total space ...
SD card:
Total space: ...
Erase SD card

There are no additonal options, as in: http://teckfront.com/use-external-sd-card-primary-storage-android-4-4-3-phone/

It's a Samsung smartphone with Android 4.4.2 and CM11 rom.

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2 Answers 2

Reset to default
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If you want to set your SD card as the default storage device, go to settings > storage, then select default writing disk to SD card. This will make your phone store everything to the SD card by default if possible. Hope it helps!

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  • Hello @programming, thanks for your answer. Unfortunately the "default writing disk" option doesn't appear on Samsung, Android 4.4.2 with CM11. Should I upgrade to CM12/Android 5?
    – user143322
    Commented Dec 29, 2015 at 22:39
  • I got a new lg g4 and I can't find it either I don't know why it's not there.
    – maks112v
    Commented Dec 29, 2015 at 22:52
  • Do you know another way to move /data from internal memory (no internal SD card) to an external SD card? I'd try symlinks, but could potentially corrupting /data lead to a brick?
    – user143322
    Commented Dec 29, 2015 at 23:34
  • Back it up before you try symlink
    – maks112v
    Commented Dec 29, 2015 at 23:40
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Try AppMgrIII from the Play Store. It doesn't move everything to your MSD, but it moves quite a lot and it's easy and seamless.

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