SD Card Trouble

[TheOneAndOnlyDavid]

I have a question. I have an 8 GB Samsung ZTE (I don't know much more than that about it) with a 64 GB SD card. When I first inserted this card, it was able to function to store all my downloaded apps and photos. It has now been factory reset, and the SD card erased. This SD card can only store photos and videos on it. I have tried googling this, but come up with no useful information. Can anyone help me out with some process or something to fix this issue? I have already tried formatting it on my phone.

 

[webworkings]

It depends on what version of Android you are using. In some cases it won't allow for using the card that way at all, in some you will need the instructions I am including below, and in a few cases you just need to go into your phones "Settings", then "Storage" and then "Select primary storage" (or something similarly worded).

First, you need to be using a phone that is running at least Android "Marshmallow" (or newer) or be able to upgrade to it. Second, you will need the instructions I am including below. And third, you need a phone 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 phone, or they don't work for you, then you have a phone that either has an older Android version or has been restricted by the manufacturer.


How to turn the "External" SD card into "Internal" storage on "Marshmallow".

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 phone.

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


How to turn the "External" SD card into "Internal" storage on "Nougat".

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.

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