How to Add More Storage to Android Phone or Tablet?

Add more Storage to Android phones or tablets

If you’re running out of storage on your Android phone or tablet, don’t worry! There are a few simple ways you can expand Android storage to add more space. In this guide, we’ll show you how to use a microSD card, a cloud storage service, or an OTG device to expand Android storage capacity. The easiest way is to add a memory card for Android tablet or phone. Learn more about how to add more storage to Android tablets or phones.

Increase Android Storage Space using microSD cards

It is not possible to increase the phone internal memory to boost Android phone storage. However, you can add microSD cards to increase storage space on Android devices. They’re relatively inexpensive and easy to use. To use a microSD card, simply insert it into the microSD card slot on your device. Once it’s inserted, your device will automatically recognize the card and start using it for storage.

If you already have a microSD card, you can replace it with a larger capacity card. Hardware wise, this is the only way to add storage to the actual Android device its self. For information about What size external storage will your Android device use?

To format your microSD card for use on your Android device, go to Settings > Storage > Format microSD card. This will erase all of the data on the card, so make sure to back up any important files before you do this.

Once your microSD card is formatted, you can start using file manager to store files such as photos, videos, music, and documents. You can also move apps to the microSD card to free up space on your internal storage.

microSD cards are also useful for transferring data from one device to another. Use your file manager to copy files to the SD card, the remove the card and insert it into the alternate device you want to transfer data to.

The typical microSD memory card size limits for Android phones or tablets will depend on the technology used by the card and the compatibility of the device itself. Here’s a breakdown:

SD cards: These have the lowest capacity, typically holding up to 2GB of data. They’re not very common anymore for Android devices.

SDHC cards (Secure Digital High Capacity): These are more widely used and can store between 4GB and 32GB. Most modern Android devices will be compatible with SDHC cards.

SDXC cards (Secure Digital Extended Capacity): These offer the highest capacity, ranging from 64GB and theoretically up to 2TB. However, not all Android devices can support SDXC cards. They require exFAT formatting, which some older devices might not handle.

Comparison chart of microSD cards for Android:

MicroSD Card	Capacity	Speed	Price	Pros	Cons
Samsung Evo Select	32GB, 64GB, 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB	Up to 100MB/s read, up to 90MB/s write	Starting at \$10	Fast read and write speeds, durable, affordable	Can be slow for some apps and games
SanDisk Extreme	32GB, 64GB, 128GB, 256GB, 512GB	Up to 160MB/s read, up to 90MB/s write	Starting at \$15	Very fast read and write speeds, durable	Can be expensive
Lexar Professional 1066x	32GB, 64GB, 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB	Up to 160MB/s read, up to 90MB/s write	Starting at \$18	Very fast read and write speeds, durable	Can be expensive
Kingston Canvas Go! Plus	32GB, 64GB, 128GB, 256GB, 512GB	Up to 130MB/s read, up to 100MB/s write	Starting at \$12	Affordable, fast read and write speeds	Not as durable as some other options
PNY Elite X microSDXC	32GB, 64GB, 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB	Up to 100MB/s read, up to 90MB/s write	Starting at \$10	Affordable, durable	Can be slow for some apps and games

When choosing a microSD card for your Android device, it is important to consider the following factors:

Capacity: How much storage space on your Android phone or tablet do you need? If you plan on storing a lot of photos, videos, or music, you will need a card with a higher capacity.
Speed: How fast do you need the card to be? If you plan on running apps and games from the card, you will need a card with faster read and write speeds.
Price: How much are you willing to spend? MicroSD cards range in price from around \$10 to \$100 or more.
Variety of SD cards: There is a large variety of SD cards to choose from. This article on the Sandisk website gives an example of the types of SD cards. Sandisk SD cards

Add more storage to Android using Google Drive

Other options for increased storage is to use a cloud storage service such as Google Drive. How to use Google Drive on Android? These on-line services charge an fee based on how much storage you need. Google Drive provides free 15Gb for each Gmail account. One advantage of using cloud storage is that you can access this storage to retrieve files from any device including a phone, tablet, PC, laptop, etc.

Log into Google Drive with the Gmail account on your Android phone or tablet.

If you have a lot of music or photo files taking up a lot of space in your tablet, you can use on-line services such as Google Music or Google Photos to upload these files. How to backup photos and videos?

Once your files are uploaded to the cloud, you can access them from anywhere by opening the cloud storage app on your Android device or by logging in to the cloud storage website on your computer.

Expand Android Storage using OTG USB Flash devices

OTG devices allow you to connect external storage devices such as USB flash drives and portable hard drives to your Android device. To use an OTG device, you’ll need a USB-C to USB-A adapter.

Some of the new Android phones and tablets have a charge port that can be also used as a USB Hosted port which will allow you to add additional USB flash drives to your phone or tablet. Many of the Samsung Android devices, for instance, have this ability. How to use a USB flash drive on Android?

Once you have the adapter, simply connect the OTG device to your Android device using the adapter. Once it’s connected, your device will automatically recognize the OTG device and start using it for storage.

You can use an OTG device to store files such as photos, videos, music, and documents. You can also move apps to the OTG device to free up space on your internal storage.

Free up space by moving data and apps to external storage

There are some options for configuring the microSD card. For instance, you can move apps from internal storage to USB storage or to the SD card. You can accomplish this by going to Settings, General, Application Manager, then touch an app you want to move. When the App Info opens, if the app can be moved, a button labeled Move to SD Card, or Move to USB Card will be highlighted. Tap the button and the app will be moved from internal storage.

Which method is right for you?

The best way to expand storage on your Android device will depend on your individual needs and budget.

If you’re looking for a budget-friendly option, a microSD card is a good choice. microSD cards are relatively inexpensive and easy to use.

If you need more storage space, or if you want to be able to access your files from anywhere, a cloud storage service is a good option. Cloud storage services offer a variety of pricing plans, so you can choose one that fits your needs and budget.

If you need to transfer files between your Android device and other devices, an OTG device is a good option. OTG devices are relatively inexpensive and easy to use.

Frequently asked questions and answers to add more storage to Android:

Q: What is expandable storage?

A: Expandable storage is a type of storage that can be increased beyond the device’s internal storage capacity. This is typically done by inserting a microSD card or connecting an OTG device.

Q: What are the different ways to expand storage on an Android device?

A: There are three main ways to expand storage on an Android device:

microSD cards: microSD cards are the most common way to expand storage on Android devices. They are relatively inexpensive and easy to use.
Cloud storage services: Cloud storage services such as Google Drive, Dropbox, and OneDrive allow you to store your files online, so you can access them from anywhere.
OTG devices: OTG devices allow you to connect external storage devices such as USB flash drives and portable hard drives to your Android device.

Q: Which method of expandable storage is the best?

A: The best method of expandable storage for you will depend on your individual needs and budget.

If you are looking for a budget-friendly option, a microSD card is a good choice. microSD cards are relatively inexpensive and easy to use.

If you need to transfer files between your Android device and other devices, an OTG device is a good option. OTG devices are relatively inexpensive and easy to use.

Q: How do I use a microSD card to expand storage on my Android device?

A: To use a microSD card to expand storage on your Android device, simply insert the card into the microSD card slot on your device. Once it’s inserted, your device will automatically recognize the card and start using it for storage.

Once your microSD card is formatted, you can start using it to store files such as photos, videos, music, and documents. You can also move apps to the microSD card to free up space on your internal storage.

Q: How do I use a cloud storage service to expand storage on my Android device?

A: To use a cloud storage service to expand storage on your Android device, simply create an account and download the app to your Android device. Once you’ve logged in, you can start uploading your files to the cloud.

Once your files are uploaded to the cloud, you can access them from anywhere by opening the cloud storage app on your Android device or by logging in to the cloud storage website on your computer.

Q: How do I use an OTG device to expand storage on my Android device?

A: To use an OTG device to expand storage on your Android device, you’ll need a USB-C to USB-A adapter.

You can use an OTG device to store files such as photos, videos, music, and documents. You can also move apps to the OTG device to free up space on your internal storage.