How to Force install Android Apps on SD Card without Root
By default, Market Applications install in Internal memory storage instead of big size external SD Card. Many devices in market have a little internal storage space and soon run out of memory so, what we do is Move installed applications to SD card manually using App2SD.
Wouldn’t it be great if there is some way through which we could force installation of applications directly on SD card instead of moving them afterwards. Yes, This article will guide you to do that using Android SDK even on non-rooted phones.
Even If your phone is rooted then you have prepare SD card for App2SD to move apps to external SD card.
What you need to carry out the hack
Before you begin, download the following programs:
- Java Development Kit (JDK)
- Android Development Kit (SDK)
- Device USB drivers (These are device specific and often installed alongwith PC suite if any
And on your mobile, go to Settings > Applications > Development and activate USB debugging.
1. Installing the SDK and Platform-tools
To begin, install the Java JDK, then do the same with the Android SDK. After installing the SDK, Android SDK Manager runs and marks the Android SDK Platform tools. Install it.
This toolkit contains the Android Debug Bridge, a utility that allows you to communicate with an Android device from the command line. It is the need to tell Android to install it all on the memory card.
2. Connect Android Device to Computer using USB
3. Open a command console and carries out checks
Go to Start> Run, or press Windows + R, and type cmd. In the command console, go to the directory “Program Files” and enter the path AndroidAndroid-SDKPlatform-tools. Once there:
- Write adb devices to see if the phone is connected and recognized
- You should see a device with a serial number
- If not, or appears as offline, try another USB cable
- Enter netstat and see if port 5037 is in use
- Is the use ADB. If in use, close the process in use
Before proceeding, you should disable any firewall or antivirus resident, since it can interfere with the ADB connection with the mobile.
4. Run the command to force the installation to SD
Android has a parameter that describes how to install the default applications on the mobile. This parameter is called setInstallLocation, and accepts three values:
- 0 [auto]: Let the phone decide the best location for an app
- 1 [internal]: It installs everything in the internal storage
- 2 [external]: It installs everything in the memory card
As you guessed, you have to do is change the value from 0 to 2 setInstallLocation. To do this, run the following command:
- adb shell pm setInstallLocation 2
If it does not error message, unplug your phone, restart your phone. Now all applications installed on the SD card. If you want to return to the previous situation, repeat the process changing a zero to 2.
A note of caution
Some applications will not run from the memory card. It then must be moved manually from the SD card to the phone. An example of apps that need to be on the phone are the widgets.
I always faced problem with big sized games especially moving Gameloft games to SD card on Android phone.
Have you had problems of space on your Android phone? Which method you use to make room?