With WhatsApp being one of the most popular messaging apps, many users are looking for ways to free up space on their phones. One option is moving WhatsApp to an SD card. This allows you to offload the app data from internal storage to external storage.
There are a few things to consider when deciding whether or not to move WhatsApp to SD card. In this article, we’ll go over the pros and cons, how to move WhatsApp to SD card, what happens when you move WhatsApp to SD card, and some troubleshooting tips.
Pros of Moving WhatsApp to SD Card
Here are some of the advantages of moving WhatsApp to your SD card:
– Frees up internal storage space: This is the main reason most people want to move WhatsApp to SD card. Offloading the app and its data to external storage frees up your phone’s internal storage for other apps and files.
– Allows more WhatsApp data storage: WhatsApp can consume a lot of storage over time as your chat history and media files accumulate. If your phone has limited built-in storage, moving WhatsApp to SD card allows more room for the app to grow.
– Quick transfer of data to new phone: When you get a new phone, if WhatsApp is on your SD card, you can quickly move it over to the new phone along with your messaging history and files.
– Better backup: Backing up directly to external SD card can be faster and more convenient than backing up to cloud or internal storage.
Cons of Moving WhatsApp to SD Card
However, there are also some downsides to keep in mind:
– Slower performance: Since external SD cards are generally slower than internal storage, you may notice some lag when launching WhatsApp or while chatting/sharing media files.
– Media transfer issues: Moving existing WhatsApp media to SD card can sometimes cause issues with retaining the files properly.
– App instability: WhatsApp may crash more often or have problems updating when running from an SD card.
– SD card corruption: If your SD card gets corrupted or unmounted unexpectedly, you could lose your WhatsApp data. Always keep backups.
– Doesn’t work on all phones: Older devices may not allow moving WhatsApp to SD card due to software limitations. Check first if yours supports it.
How to Move WhatsApp to SD Card
If you want to move WhatsApp data to external SD card, here are the steps to follow:
1. First, insert your SD card into your Android phone if you haven’t already. Make sure it is properly mounted and has enough free space for WhatsApp.
2. Open your phone’s Settings app and go to Apps & Notifications > See all ### apps > WhatsApp.
3. Tap Storage and then tap CHANGE.
4. Select your external SD card from the storage options.
5. Confirm the move when prompted.
6. Wait for WhatsApp to move its data files to the SD card. The time taken depends on how much data you have.
7. Once completed, you can check storage usage under your phone settings to confirm WhatsApp is now on SD card.
What Happens When You Move WhatsApp to SD Card
When you migrate your WhatsApp data from internal storage to an external SD card, here are some key things that happen:
– The WhatsApp app itself will remain on your device storage. Only the app data and files get transferred to SD card.
– Your WhatsApp media files like photos, videos, documents, etc. will be moved to the SD card.
– Chat databases and history will also be exported to the external SD card.
– Any incoming media or files will be automatically saved to your SD card from now.
– Backups will now be stored on SD card rather than device storage or Google Drive.
– You may see “SD Card” labelled on WhatsApp storage usage after the move.
– If you ever remove or swap your SD card, WhatsApp won’t work until you insert the card back.
Overall, the app largely functions the same but now reads/writes data from the SD card you moved it to instead of internal phone storage.
Troubleshooting Tips
If you face any issues moving or using WhatsApp from SD card, try these troubleshooting tips:
– Check if your phone model supports moving WhatsApp to SD – some older phones don’t allow it due to software restrictions.
– Ensure your SD card is working properly and has sufficient free storage space.
– Try rebooting your phone after moving WhatsApp to SD card.
– If WhatsApp crashes or force closes, clear its cache and data before moving it to SD again.
– Check that you selected the correct external SD card for the move and not phone storage.
– Make sure you have the latest WhatsApp update installed. Old versions may not support SD properly.
– If your media files disappear from WhatsApp after the move, don’t panic. They still exist on the SD card. You can access them from your phone’s Files app.
– In case of any error messages during the process, note them down and search online for solutions.
– As a last resort, you can back up chats, uninstall WhatsApp, move it back to phone storage, and restore backup.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it safe to move WhatsApp to SD card?
It is generally safe to move WhatsApp and its data to an SD card, as long as you use a high-quality card and ensure proper setup. Be sure to backup your chats in case the SD card has issues later.
Can I move WhatsApp back from SD card to phone storage?
Yes, you can revert WhatsApp storage back to internal phone storage from SD card by going into WhatsApp settings. Just select phone storage when prompted instead of the SD card.
Will my chat history and media stay intact?
Your WhatsApp chat history, media files, and backups should remain completely intact when properly moving the app to an SD card. However, if the card is corrupted, they could be lost.
Can I use WhatsApp without the SD card?
No, once you move your WhatsApp data to SD card, you cannot use the app without that same SD card inserted. You’ll get an error if the card is removed.
Will moving WhatsApp to SD card affect performance?
It can slightly affect performance since SD cards are generally slower than internal storage. You may notice lags in launching the app or sending large files. But for general usage, it should not be too significant.
What happens if my SD card runs out of storage?
If your SD card fills up while WhatsApp is stored on it, you will stop receiving new media and files. WhatsApp may freeze or crash in such cases. You should immediately move WhatsApp back to phone storage or free up space on SD card.
Conclusion
Moving WhatsApp to SD card can be a convenient way to free up storage space on your Android phone and allow the app more room to grow. However, there are some performance tradeoffs to consider, and you need to be careful to avoid data loss in case of SD card issues. Follow the steps properly, keep backups, and regularly check your SD card health to avoid problems. For most users, shifting WhatsApp to external storage works fine if done carefully.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Frees up internal storage | Potentially slower performance |
| More data storage for WhatsApp | Media transfer issues |
| Quick transfer to new phone | App instability |
| Better backups to SD card | Risk of SD card corruption |