[HOWTO] MicroSD as internal storage on latest Marshmallow stock firmware

[ale29-09]

Hi guys.
I got Galaxy S7's trick, for set the MicroSD as internal storage, working on latest Marshmallow stock firmware.

Requirements: PC, ADB drivers.

I'm reporting here the steps:

0. Turn on "USB Debugging" in Settings->Developer Options;
1. Open the Terminal Emulator (Windows+R and then type "cmd.exe", on Windows) and place in the folder where the adb.exe file is placed;
2. Type "adb shell";
3. Type "sm list-disks", copy the result, and paste it in place of "[diskname]" in the next step;
4. Type "sm partition [diskname] private" if you want to set the whole MicroSD as internal storage, "sm partition [diskname] mixed 50" if you want to set just half of the SD as internal storage;
5. Optional: reboot the device;
6. Go in Settings->Storage->Click on the SD Card->Click on the three dots menu and then migrate data on the SD (thanks to jervine!)

Bugs:
The amount of total usable storage isn't showing, an impossible value is showed instead.

 

[myeepad]

Hi guys.
I got Galaxy S7's trick, for set the MicroSD as internal storage, working on latest Marshmallow stock firmware.

Requirements: PC, ADB drivers.

I'm reporting here the steps:

0. Turn on "USB Debugging" in Settings->Developer Options;
1. Open the Terminal Emulator (Windows+R and then type "cmd.exe", on Windows) and place in the folder where the adb.exe file is placed;
2. Type "adb shell";
3. Type "sm list-disks", copy the result, and paste it in place of "[diskname]" in the next step;
4. Type "sm partition [diskname] private" if you want to set the whole MicroSD as internal storage, "sm partition [diskname] mixed 50" if you want to set just half of the SD as internal storage;
5. Optional: reboot the device.

Bugs:
The amount of total usable storage isn't showing, an impossible value is showed instead.

Seems that there's a limitation on the SD Card. I put my 128GB and 64GB MicroSD card in and it only knows if for external storage, no option in making these as internal storage.

 

[ale29-09]

Seems that there's a limitation on the SD Card. I put my 128GB and 64GB MicroSD card in and it only knows if for external storage, no option in making these as internal storage.

As you can see in screenshots I used a 64GB Samsung Evo MicroSD, but I only tried splitting it in half. I'll try with the whole space asap.

Sent from my Nexus 6P using XDA Labs

 

[1sol]

Exactly same problem with Z3 compact.
64GB card, insane numbers with minus as a device storage.

 

[fleckdalm]

I tried this method but it won't let me copy anything from the computer to this "new, big" storage because it says there is not enough space available...

Gesendet von meinem SGP511 mit Tapatalk

 

[fleckdalm]

I can't even download apps because of this :/ I'm not sure if it even actually worked...
Any ideas?

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[jervine]

You need to migrate data to the 'new' adoptable storage, which then should mark the adoptable storage as the default location for new installs.

Once you have formatted the card as described in the first post, then select it in the 'Storage' settings, and then opt to migrate (or maybe it's move) data to this card in the three dots drop down settings here. Once done you should have freed up space and future installs should use the adoptable storage.

For what's it worth I have this set up on both my Z5 phone and Z2 tablet with 128GB Samsung SD cards formatted in a 50:50 hybird fashion. Working well so far.

 

[fleckdalm]

Thanks!!
This wasn't clearly stated in the tutorial and as the option is hidden behind the three dots I didn't even see it... Now it seems to work

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[SaschaG82]

You need to migrate data to the 'new' adoptable storage, which then should mark the adoptable storage as the default location for new installs.

Once you have formatted the card as described in the first post, then select it in the 'Storage' settings, and then opt to migrate (or maybe it's move) data to this card in the three dots drop down settings here. Once done you should have freed up space and future installs should use the adoptable storage.

For what's it worth I have this set up on both my Z5 phone and Z2 tablet with 128GB Samsung SD cards formatted in a 50:50 hybird fashion. Working well so far.

Thanks!!!!! Now it works!

 

[ale29-09]

You need to migrate data to the 'new' adoptable storage, which then should mark the adoptable storage as the default location for new installs.

Once you have formatted the card as described in the first post, then select it in the 'Storage' settings, and then opt to migrate (or maybe it's move) data to this card in the three dots drop down settings here. Once done you should have freed up space and future installs should use the adoptable storage.

I added a screenshot about but also forgot to write it in the OP.
Added (with proper credits), thanks!

Sent from my Nexus 6P using XDA Labs

 

[bingoking]

This worked fine for me, following your instruction. Only thing not working is the camera. i get an error saying Storage not available. I did a full data wipe before installing 6.0.1, so Im wondering whats wrong.

 

[NexusLush]

This worked fine for me, following your instruction. Only thing not working is the camera. i get an error saying Storage not available. I did a full data wipe before installing 6.0.1, so Im wondering whats wrong.

I did not do a full wipe but can verify that I can use the camera and save photos.

 

[NexusLush]

Redlabour claimed in this post that this will not work for Sony devices long term and that at some point internal memory will fill up and break the device:

http://forum.xda-developers.com/xpe...bletsgp511-t3100821/post66537645#post66537645

I have asked where he heard this, as I can't find any other mention of it. Have any of you seen something about this or experienced this problem first hand? My tablet is still working quite well after following the instructions in this thread.

 

[TimeTurn]

64GB card, insane numbers with minus as a device storage.

Same here. Had to reset the microSD using Windows diskpart command. It lookls like this method is not usable at Sony ROMs - at least at the Z2 tablet.

 

[1sol]

I did not do a full wipe but can verify that I can use the camera and save photos.

I got same trouble with Camera app. When I partition my card as 50/50 (mixed 50), Camera app says that internal memory is corrupt or write protected, so I can save my photos to the SD card only.
When the card is partitioned for internal memory completely (private), there is no place at all for photos made by Camera app.
Did you partition the whole card or only a part? Where do you save photos?

 

[1sol]

Same here. Had to reset the microSD using Windows diskpart command. It lookls like this method is not usable at Sony ROMs - at least at the Z2 tablet.

After a couple of hours the numbers were magically fixed.

 

[fleckdalm]

I'm unable to see any userdata (or backups) in recovery any more after using this method :/
Any advice?

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[jfbaudio]

I tried it and ended up with the same feeling that this isn't working as designed -- possibly because the numbers are all wonky. I've reset the card and will try living with it for a while and see if it actually works on my Z3c tablet.

EDIT: Couldn't get Plex to download the new combined memory -- which was still 16GB. Too bad, wish it worked

 

[jervine]

Plex is 'funny' - it definitely doesn't see the adoptable storage as available, and this is one of the reasons I opted to format my SD card as a 50:50 hybrid, so that apps that don't see the new adoptable storage correctly can still have access to the SD card.

As noted in some posts above, I also found that the camera wouldn't work when set to save to the 'local' storage (i.e. non-SD storage), and it seemed that having the SD hosted adoptable storage confused/broke the camera. Setting the camera to save to (portable) SD (again because I've formatted as hybrid) allowed the camera to work, with the caveat that due to the SD card potentially being slower then I might get glitchy video or some camera effects might not work. I bought an SD card that had fast write speed to try and alleviate this problem.

My tablet is definitely using the adoptable storage for new installs etc. as I have installed games and apps that previously the tablet complained about not having enough space available to install. Currently my tablet reports:
10.5GB of 16GB internal storage used
12.37GB of 58.87GB adoptable storage used
125MB of 59.86GB portable storage used

And the big number at the top is totally wrong still -21477494784.00 B Total used of 16.00GB

 

[BadKingDookie]

The steps worked fine for me and up until now I've had no issues, but now I'm being prompted for an update from Sony and it fails when it restarts. I'll plug my tab into my computer when I get home and give it a try. Screenshot provided of about tab page