Quick Answer
To set your SD card as the primary storage for WhatsApp on Android, you need to first insert and mount the SD card on your device. Then go to WhatsApp > Settings > Chats > Chat Backup > Backup to Google Drive and turn it off. Now go to Phone Settings > Storage > Select your SD card > Format as Internal Storage. Reboot your device and your SD card will now be used as internal storage for apps including WhatsApp. New chats will automatically be stored on the SD card.
Steps to Make SD Card Default Storage for WhatsApp
Follow these steps to set your SD card as the default storage location for WhatsApp chats and media:
1. Insert and Mount the SD Card
First, you need to insert your SD card into the phone’s SD card slot if it’s an external card. If your phone has inbuilt expandable storage, then ensure the SD card is properly mounted.
To check, go to Settings > Storage and you should see the SD card listed under Portable Storage or SD Card. If not, try re-inserting or remounting the SD card.
2. Disable WhatsApp Chat Backup to Google Drive
WhatsApp automatically backs up your chats to Google Drive by default. This needs to be turned off so that new chats get saved directly to your SD card instead of cloud storage.
To disable backup:
- Open WhatsApp and go to Settings
- Tap Chats > Chat Backup
- Turn off the toggle for Backup to Google Drive
This will stop WhatsApp from backing up chats to Google Drive.
3. Format SD Card as Internal Storage
Now you need to format your SD card as internal or adoptable storage. This converts the external SD card into expanded internal memory.
To do this:
- Go to Settings > Storage in your phone
- Select your SD card
- Tap on the 3-dot menu in the top-right corner
- Choose Format as internal from the options
- Confirm by tapping Format
This will format the SD card and convert it to internal storage.
4. Reboot Your Device
Once the SD card formatting is complete, you need to reboot your device for the changes to take effect.
Power off your phone and turn it back on. Upon reboot, your SD card will now be set as the default storage.
5. Start Using WhatsApp
Open WhatsApp and start chatting or sharing media as usual. New WhatsApp chats and media will automatically get saved to your SD card storage instead of phone memory.
To confirm, go to WhatsApp Settings > Storage Usage and you’ll see files are being saved to the SD card.
That’s it! Your SD card is now the default storage for WhatsApp.
FAQs about Using SD Card for WhatsApp Storage
Does WhatsApp work properly with SD card storage?
Yes, WhatsApp is designed to work seamlessly with SD card storage. Setting the card as internal storage allows WhatsApp to read/write data normally like with phone memory. All features will work properly.
Can I transfer existing WhatsApp data to SD card?
Unfortunately, you cannot directly move your existing WhatsApp data from phone memory to SD card. However, your chat history is synced to Google Drive, so you can backup chats, uninstall and reinstall WhatsApp to start fresh on the SD card.
How much SD card space do I need for WhatsApp?
A minimum of 16GB SD card is recommended for WhatsApp usage. The app can take up to 2-3GB space for chats, media and cached data. More space is required if sharing lots of photos/videos. A 64GB or 128GB card gives ample room.
Will my chats/media be lost if I remove the SD card?
Your WhatsApp data will become inaccessible if you remove the SD card on which it is stored. However, it will not be lost – your chat history still exists on the cloud backup. Just pop the card back in to access chats/media again.
Can I use SD card for WhatsApp on iPhone?
Unfortunately, you cannot set SD card as default storage for WhatsApp on iPhone. Apple does not allow apps to store data on external SD cards. WhatsApp can only use the internal storage on the iPhone.
Pros and Cons of Using SD Card for WhatsApp
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Conclusion
Setting your SD card as internal storage is a convenient way to free up space on your Android phone and allow WhatsApp to store all data on the card instead. This prevents filling up your phone memory with chats and media.
The process involves first disabling Google Drive backup, then formatting the SD card as internal storage via phone settings. Once rebooted, the SD card will be used by WhatsApp and other apps for data storage. A minimum of 16GB card is recommended for a seamless WhatsApp experience.