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How to Make SD Card Default Storage – Step-By-Step Guide

How to Make SD Card Default Storage – Step-By-Step Guide

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.

 

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.

How to Make SD Card Default Storage
How to Make SD Card Default Storage

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.

Choose the SD card that is compatible with your device as the first step in making your SD card the default storage
Choose the SD card that is compatible with your device as the first step in making your SD card the default storage

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.

Once you find the SD card compatible with your device, insert it
Once you find the SD card compatible with your device, insert it

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.

After reformatting your SD card, reboot your Android device
After reformatting your SD card, 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.

Install a blank SD card on your Chromebook's SD card slot
Install a blank SD card on your Chromebook’s SD card slot

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.

After setting your SD card as the default storage, reboot your Chromebook to finalize the changes made
After setting your SD card as the default storage, reboot your Chromebook to finalize the changes made

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.

Travis Author Givemegadget

My name is Travis and I am a gadget fan. It started when I received my first Nintendo Entertainment system with 6 years old and never ended. I made it my mission to answer all your gadget questions.