How to connect an SD card and use it on an Android.
When choosing a mobile phone, buyers first think about the technical specifications of the device. Inexperienced beginners find it hard to get a handle on megapixels, RAM types, and processor names. Therefore, what is most taken into account is the size of the internal memory. But, by the law of pettiness, this memory sometimes runs out. This problem can be solved by using an SD card. We will show you how to connect the SD card on your Android phone.
Why do you need a memory card?
The existence of external storage devices is surprising for novice users. They are convinced that the memory, which is listed in the specifications of the device, is not expandable in any way. SD cards defy this assumption, increasing the total storage capacity by 4, 8, 16 and sometimes up to 512 GB (half a terabyte). In addition, the memory expansion is not the only advantage.
All SD cards are universal, divided only into microSD and normal cards. Therefore, if the memory card is removed from one phone, it can be easily connected to another, or to a computer (using a special adapter). This feature allows you to use the external drive as a place to store your photos. Has your phone broken, but you need to take your photos? No problem, just remove the drive and plug it into another device. The process takes no more than 10 minutes.
However, SD cards have their drawbacks. First, they are more prone to failure. Sometimes these failures are solved by rebooting, and other times you have to format the external drive. By the way, in the second situation it is better not to reuse the same SD, as it may fail again. The second drawback is the writing speed. When copying to an external drive, the write speed is usually slower. Also, if the photos are in the SD, they will take longer to load when opening the gallery.
How to connect it
The physical connection algorithm may vary depending on your device model. However, there are two basic methods:
- Through the slot located on the right or left side of the case. It is removed by means of a key (a normal solid needle) which must be inserted into the hole next to the slot.
- Through the slot under the battery. These slots are no longer used in modern devices. Therefore, we will not consider it.
After removing the slot, the SD must be placed in the correct slot. Do not be confused with the SIM card compartments (they are signed). The cards usually have an angle that shows how to insert them correctly. The last step is to reinsert the slot. No key is required for this, just push the slot until it clicks into place.
Then, it only remains to turn on the device, if it has been turned off before.
Other settings
Once the phone is turned on, the system immediately detects the external drive. The first thing the device may suggest is to format the USB stick to resolve compatibility issues. Please note that if there is any data on the stick, it will be permanently deleted.
The second step of the configuration is to select the files that will be stored on the SD. Yes, you can move files manually, but this process can be configured and automated. There are many solutions to optimize SD on our website. Here are some of them:
- How to specify the SD as the main location for photos, read here.
- Instructions on how to transfer apps to SD.
- Combine internal and external memory here.
It is not necessary to perform these actions, they only increase the usefulness of the card.
Posible problems
As we have said before, memory cards are more capricious than internal storage, so the following problems can arise with them:
- Constant notifications about the need to format the drive.
- Forbidden to read or write.
- The files are disappearing somewhere.
If this is the case, we recommend that you try to format the card or just throw it away. This will protect you from losing important data.
Thank you for reading.