Solved! Problems with SD card

Jan 11, 2019
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I have a Huawei Mediapad T 5. I put in a 128 gig SD card which the tablet recognised and set as the default storage location. I downloaded some stuff from Netflix and quickly ran out of space. I looked at several posts to find a fix. I looked for the option to format on the tablet but the option is greyed out so is unavailable. I tried formatting the card with my laptop. No joy. Can anyone help.
 
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That doesn't sound like problems with the card, it just sounds like you are trying to download things to the card that cannot be.

Netflix does not allow downloading things to a SD card for starters. The only things you can normally download to a card would be files. Videos (not from places like NF though), music, photos, etc. Not even apps unless the card has been converted over to "Internal" storage. I am including the info on how to make a card "Internal" storage rather than the standard "External" it normally is, just in case you wish to try.

First, you need to be using a tablet that is running at least Android "Marshmallow" (6.0) or newer, or be able to upgrade to it. Second, you will need the instructions I am including below...
That doesn't sound like problems with the card, it just sounds like you are trying to download things to the card that cannot be.

Netflix does not allow downloading things to a SD card for starters. The only things you can normally download to a card would be files. Videos (not from places like NF though), music, photos, etc. Not even apps unless the card has been converted over to "Internal" storage. I am including the info on how to make a card "Internal" storage rather than the standard "External" it normally is, just in case you wish to try.

First, you need to be using a tablet that is running at least Android "Marshmallow" (6.0) or newer, or be able to upgrade to it. Second, you will need the instructions I am including below. And third, you need a tablet that has not been restricted by the manufacturer from making this change. Which does happen.


NOTE: If any of the steps are missing on your tablet, or they don't work for you, then you have a tablet that either has an older Android version or has been restricted by the manufacturer. If that is the case, you will not be able to use this information.


How to turn the "External" SD card into "Internal" storage - Option A

NOTE: Please be sure you start with a blank SD card. It needs to be blank because when the card is converted to "Internal" storage, it will be formatted (wiped) and encoded (making the cards data only readable by that device).

1. Go to device “Settings”, then select “Storage”.
2. Select your "SD Card", then tap the “three-dot menu“ (top-right), now select “Settings” from in there.
3. Now select “Format as internal”, and then “Erase & Format”.
4. Your SD Card will now be formatted as internal storage.
5. Reboot your tablet.

NOTE: If you don't reboot the tablet, many things may not work correctly, so make sure you do.


How to turn the "External" SD card into "Internal" storage - Option B

IMPORTANT NOTE: Be sure you start with a blank SD card. When the card is converted to "Internal" storage, it will be formatted (wiped) and encoded (making the cards data only readable by that device), so anything on it prior would be gone.

1. Go to "Settings", and then select "Storage & USB".
2. At the bottom of the list you should see the SD card's details, including the option to format it and make it "Internal" storage.
3. Once this is done, reboot the device and you can start running things from the card.

NOTE: If you don't reboot the tablet, some things may not work correctly, so make sure you do the reboot.


A Final Note: If you set up the card as "Internal" storage, then the data on it will not be readable by any other device. To access the data you would have to connect the tablet to say a computer and copy it over to the computer from the tablet/card. Otherwise only that tablet can read the data. Also, be sure you do not reset (hard or factory) the tablet. If you do, then all the data on the card will no longer be readable, even by the tablet itself.

 
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