How To

Beginner’s Guide #5: How to fit more apps on your Android phone

Posted by tomdunmore on the 25th February 2011

Android, best apps, essential apps, memory, space, storage

Managing storage on Android is a bit of a convoluted affair. But with Apps2SD, you can easily clear enough space to allow you to download the latest graphics-heavy games.

Two types of storage

The key thing to undertstand is that your phone’s storage is split between a small amount of ‘Internal Storage’ – where all your downloaded apps live – and a large amount of space for movies, photos and other media on SD card or (as in our video) built-in USB storage.

You can see just how much internal storage you’re using by choosing’Settings > Applications > Manage applications.’

Choose an app from the list and – if you’re running Android 2.2 or above – you’ll find an option to shift it from internal storage, thereby creating more space.

But there’s a problem: only certain apps can be moved, and finding them is a hit-and-miss affair so you’ll come across a lot of greyed out ‘move to SD’ or ‘move to USB’ boxes.

Making life easier with Apps2SD

This is why it’s worth downloading an incredibly useful app called App 2 SD, which provides a summary of all the apps that you can move to SD, so you can easily clear the space you need to download newer, larger apps like graphics-heavy games or reference guides.

Even better, Apps 2 SD will monitor any new app downloads and place an alert in the status bar at the top of your phone’s screen – so you can quickly shift your new app to SD card or USB storage.

All of which makes App2SD an incredibly useful utility that every Android owner should have.

Comments

Dave Hoelcher
January 21st, 2012 04:03 AM

STILL waiting for ICS on my Transformer so I can ACTUALLY USE my HUGE MicroSD & SD cards I rushed out & bought for big bucks but are WORTHLESS on this rapidly aging HIGH DOLLAR 32Gb unit WITH keyboard….
John Chorley
October 24th, 2011 12:49 PM

You can also uninstall any applications you are not using to free up storage space.
Guy DERIDET
June 27th, 2011 03:01 AM

Appmonster Pro includes App2sd plus the hability to quickly backup and restore on Sd card any app. Few money for big services !
edward tucker
March 1st, 2011 12:36 PM

Already rooted my android tablet (was quite painless) while someone has been working on a custom rom 2.2 for my device it’s in ALpha so is a bit too buggy!
Better to save up for a new 3.0 device anyway!
edward tucker
February 25th, 2011 02:53 PM

what can us users stuck with 2.1 or less do to manage apps and space?

tomdunmore
February 27th, 2011 09:59 AM

Not good news – unless you want to go through the convoluted process of “rooting” your phone and installing a custom ROM which allows you to copy apps to SD card (which you probably don’t, unless you have a lot of time on your hands!).