Should i use my sd card as portable storage or internal storage (Explained)

SD card is one of the devices uses in a mobile phone, very essential to those that has expandable storage on their mobile phones.

The question we have here is, should i use my sd card as portable storage or internal storage?

Honestly, I don’t see the need to use the sd card as an internal storage on a mobile phone but rather use the sd card as a portable storage cause there are lots of disadvantages derived from using the sd card as an internal storage on a mobile phone.

Basically what I’m trying to say is that I don’t see the need for a person to use the sd card as internal storage for a mobile phone. I have my reasons, and that which I have explained on below.

Should i use my sd card as portable storage or internal storage?

No, it is not commendable to use the sd card as an internal storage as many a time the sd card might get damaged or corrupt, and in turn makes you to lose lots of files and saved data.

Rather you should use the sd card as a portable storage on your mobile phone.

It doesn’t end here.

Before going further into the topic, you should ask yourself this question;

Iphone users, do they have expandable storage in their mobile phones

The answer is no.

What of the likes of samsung galaxy s21, samsung s21+, or the galaxy s21 ultra or any of the high end Samsung phone released in 2021, they absolutely has no room for expansion. 

This is to tell you that right now in 2021, sd card is not a necessity than it used to be back in the days.

Here are reasons why I don’t recommend to use the sd card as an internal storage.

1. Problem of the sd card damaging in the future

Should i use my sd card as portable storage or internal storage

We have lots of good quality sd cards especially the Samsung, SanDisk sd card, etc, but the truth is sd cards do tends to have short life span compared to a mobile phone.

If you moved all your files and data to the sd card and after a period of time the sd card gets damaged or corrup, what will be your fate.

Definitely you will lose all your phobe data except if you have a backup, then you restore the data back to your mobile phone.

2. Having a slow speed rate

There’s no doubt that a mobile phone internal storage is way faster than the sd card, and to crown it worse if you bought a cheap or inferior SD card.

Should i use my sd card as portable storage or internal storage

 

You will have a hard time copying files or moving files from one location to another because of the speed rate.

Normally it wouldn’t take more than 10 seconds to copy or move a file of 400mb, but using an sd card as an internal storage might take up to 45 seconds to move a 400mb file size from one location to another.

Asking should i use my sd card as portable storage or internal storage, you should bear in mind that using an sd card as an internal storage will slow down your mobile phone.


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3. Issue of sd card failing always

This is one of the most frustrating experience you may encounter while using an sd card as an internal storage on your android phone, sd card failure.

There are issues that makes an sd card to fail though most times you may not actually find out what is causing the problem.

When an sd card fails in a mobile phone, that’s it. You can’t have access to your files and data until the sd card start to work again. If after many tries and still you’re having sd card failure on your mobile phone, what will be your fate?

Definitely you will get pissed off.

Sd card failure is another major reason not to use an sd card as an internal storage but rather as a portable storage.

These are the three major reasons why you shouldn’t use an sd card as an internal storage but rather as a portable storage on your mobile phone.

Remember, not all Android apps can be installed to an sd card, you will have it hard time installing these apps on your android phone. 

The benefits you will get from using the sd card as portable storage is the ability to increase your phone storage and contain large files on your mobile phone. 

When talking about mobile phones I mean to say android phones cause right now iphones no longer support the use of an sd card, and samsung is going towards that direction with their 2021 high end galaxy phones.

So if your android phone has a room for expansion using the sd card, then you should get one and use it as a portable storage only.

If your phone internal storage is full, kindly move some of the downloaded files to the SD card or any other external storage and save space in your phone internal storage. You can get an OTG USB or a hard drive and store your files in these drives.

Once more my answer to the question of should i use my sd card as portable storage or internal storage is no, don’t use an sd card as an internal storage but rather use it as a portable storage on your mobile phone.

You still prefer to use an sd card as an internal storage, well this is how to go about it. 

Below is how to Use SD card as internal storage on Samsung phone.

  • Get a quality sd card like samsung or SanDisk  sd card to avoid issues later in the future.
  • Insert the sd and open the settings app
  • Scroll down and go to the Storage section.
  • Tap the name of your SD card.
  • Tap the three vertical dots on the top right corner of the screen.
  • Tap Storage Settings.
  • Choose format as internal option.
  • On the next screen, you have the final chance to decide whether you want to change your mind. Tap Erase & Format if you want to format your SD card as internal storage.
  • You will be notified if Android finds that your SD card is slow. Tap OK to continue.
  • start the data migration process now or do it at a later stage.
  • Tap Done to finish the storage adoption process for your SD card.

That’s it you have successfully migrated all your files and data to your SD card.


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This is where I conclude the post on the topic of the day, should i use my sd card as portable storage or internal storage. It is left for you to make your decision as to whether you still prefer to use an sd card as an internal storage instead of a portable storage on your mobile phone.

About Kennedy

I'm Amaechi Uchenna by name, a mobile tech enthusiast who love writing articles about tips and tutorials especially relating to gadgets.

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