How to Make SD Card Default Storage? Running out of storage space can be frustrating, but adding more storage doesn’t have to be a difficult process.
On many devices, you can easily add more storage with an SD card.
Some devices, like Android phones, even allow you to set an SD card as your default storage.
When an SD card is your default storage, all of the files and apps that you download will automatically be sent to your SD card so you can maximize the storage space available.
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How to Make an SD Card Your Default Storage on Android
On Android, you can make your SD card your default storage via the Settings menu. Here, you can select your SD card and reformat it as your internal storage. Once your SD card is properly formatted, downloads are automatically saved to your SD card.
While this process may sound complex, it’s actually something you can do in a matter of minutes.
1. Get a Blank SD Card That’s Compatible With Your Device
The card that you set as your default storage will be erased during the formatting process, which means it needs to be completely blank.
If you’re planning on using a card that contains files, transfer those files before you reformat the card.
Most Android devices have micro SD slots, which means you’ll need a micro SD card.
Look for a card with ample storage and a higher transfer speed.
2. Place the Card In Your Device
Once your card is ready, place it on your device.
After the card is installed, you’ll have the option of saving files to the card, but it won’t be your default storage.
3. Access the Menu for Your SD Card
Open up “Settings” and navigate to “Storage.”
Select “SD Card” and then select the three-dot menu you’ll find in the upper-right corner by clicking it to open up the menu for the card.
4. Reformat Your Card
In the Settings menu for your SD card, select “Format as Internal” and then “Erase and Format.”
This will start the process of re-formatting your card.
5. Reboot Your Device
After your card has been formatted, reboot your Android device.
Once you start the device back up, downloads are expected to be saved to the SD card automatically.
How to Make an SD Card Your Default Storage On a Chromebook
Chromebooks have minimal storage space, which can cause issues if you want to download files and apps to your device.
Thankfully, you can easily install an SD card and set it as your default storage by following these steps.
1. Install a Blank SD Card
Place a blank card in the SD slot on your device.
Make sure that you choose a faster card with plenty of storage space.
2. Access Storage Settings in the Menu
Click the dot in the lower-left corner of your screen to open up your Chromebook’s search bar.
Type “Storage Management” and select the right option from the dropdown box below to bring up the storage settings for your device.
3. Set Your SD Card as Your Storage
Click on “External Storage Preferences” to bring up a list of storage solutions available on your device. Select your SD card on the list.
4. Restart Your Chromebook
Once you’ve finished this process, restart your Chromebook to finalize the changes.
From this point on, files and apps are expected to be automatically saved to your SD card.
How to Make an SD Card Your Default Storage On a PC
If the storage on your PC is limited, you can use an SD card to quickly add additional storage to your device.
While it’s easy to transfer files to an SD card, making an SD card your permanent storage is slightly more complex.
In order to install programs on your SD card, you’ll need to follow these steps.
1. Re-Format Your SD Card
Insert an empty SD card into your computer and navigate to “My PC.”
Right-click on the SD card and select “Format” on the menu that pops up.
Under “File System,” select “NTFS.” Ensure to tick off the “Quick Format” box before hitting “Start” to begin formatting your card.
2. Create a New Folder for Your SD Card
Click on “Windows(C:)” in the File Explorer window.
Right-click and choose “New,” then “Folder” to make a new folder titled “SD Card.”
3. Mount Your SD Card
Hit the Windows key and type “Disk Management” in the search bar.
Select “Create and Format Hard Disk Partitions” to access the Disk Management window.
From this window, find and select the drive of your SD card. Right-click on the card and choose “Change Drive Letter and Paths.”
Select “Add” to add a new path for your SD card. Hit the Browse button and search for the folder that you create in the previous step before clicking on “Ok.”
4. Restart Your Computer
Once you’ve confirmed that the folder you created leads to your SD card, you can restart your computer.
This will confirm the recent changes you’ve made to your computer.
5. Set Your SD Card as Your Default Download Location
Now that your SD card is mounted, you can begin setting it as the default download location for files.
Hit the Windows key and then select “Settings” from the menu.
Select “System” and then “Storage.” Under the “More Storage Settings” under the “Storage” screen, click on “Change where new content is saved.”
From here, you can set your SD card as the default download location for new apps, music, photos, and more.
You may also need to update the default download location in your browser and in programs like steam.
Frequently Asked Questions about How to Make SD Card Default Storage
Can You Make an SD Card Your Default Storage On an iPhone?
iPhones do not have SD card slots, which means there’s no way to set an SD card as a device’s default storage. However, you can change the default save location for downloads under Settings.
How do an SD Card and a Micro SD Card differ?
Micro SD cards are simply the smaller versions of the SD cards. However, a micro SD card can still be used in an SD card slot if you have a micro SD adapter.
Are SD Cards Universal?
You can use any SD card that’s the right size for your device, but not all cards will be fast enough for your needs. If you want to set a card as your default storage, look for a card with a faster speed.
Conclusion
SD cards are an affordable and easy way to add additional storage to a device.
Whether you need more storage for your Android phone, your Chromebook, or a PC, you can easily set an SD card as your default storage.
