Link2SD
Link2SD

Link2SD is an android application by Bulent Akpinar that lets you move apps and games to the 2nd partition of your SD card. Why do we have to use Link2SD when Froyo and Gingerbread’s Native Apps2sd moves the files to the SD card? Native apps2sd only moves the apk file of the application leaving other files in internal memory thus you still have to manage your on-board memory and limit your choice of apps because it will eat up your memory and later on you cannot install any files anymore. Additionally, widgets and some applications are not intended to be moved to the SD card. However, Link2SD is only for root users because it is required that your phone is rooted.

Link2SD

The idea behind the application is the same. But Link2SD has more relevant features which the Native Apps2sd lacked giving Android 1.5 and up users the chance to have a taste of what it’s like to have a big phone memory. Additional features were added by the developer to furher optimize the usage of android devices. By using Link2SD, you can move not only the application file, but also  the dalvic-cache and libray files of the application. This means that data will be the only one left to consume your internal memory thus installing applications and games would be easier because you can install anything you want without worrying about the famous low memory problem. Furthermore, Link2sd covers all files even moving widgets and the unmoveable applications to the 2nd partition of your SD card.

This is a step by step guide on how you can run Link2SD on your device. This tutorial will work for both stock and cutom ROMs. For ClockWorkMod Recovery users, you can check the other guide below. Follow all the instructions carefully to eliminate possible problems.

  1. First you have to download Mini Tool Partition Wizard Manager. You can download it HERE.
  2. Insert your SD card to a card reader and open it on your computer.
  3. Back up all your files to the computer because partitioning will wipe your data.
  4. Open Mini Tool in your computer. Locate your SD card (be careful in choosing and make sure not to choose the drive of your computer)
  5. Right click and choose Delete.link2sd 3
  6. Right click on it again and choose Create New. Create “FAT32” partition (This is where all your media files will go. Be sure to make it bigger than the 2nd part)
  7. Select “Create as: PRIMARY” link2sd 4
  8. Next, create an ext2/ext3/ext4 partition (if you’re on stock ROM, choose ext2). This is where your apps will go. I suggest a value of 512Mb or 1Gb would be big enough but if you insist you can go as high as 2Gb.
  9. Select “Create As: PRIMARY” (make sure that it is both set to primary because it will not work if it is not set to primary) link2sd 5
  10. Click the “Apply” button on the top left corner and wait for it to finish the process. Done.
  11. Put back your SD card to your phone and switch it on.
  12. Download and install Link2sd from Google Play Store.
  13. Open Link2sd. You will be prompted to choose between ext2, ext3, ext4 and FAT32. Select ext2. link2sd 6
  14. It will say mount script created. Reboot your phone now.
  15. Open link2sd and if the message doesn’t show up, you succeded.
  16. Go to Link2sd>Settings>check the autolink (to automatically move apps upon installation)
  17. If you already have some apps, select “move to phone” then after moving select “Create Link” (be sure to check the three files: app, dalvic-cache and library files)
  18. link2sd 2link2sd
  19. To check your memory, select “Storage Info”. This will show you the current state of your internal memory, FAT32, and ext2 partition.                                                                                             link2sd 7
  20. Now you’re done and ready to install vast amount of applications as you wish!
FOR CLOCKWORKMOD RECOVERY USERS ONLY( ALTERNATIVE METHOD)
NOTE: You can also use the instructions above. This guide will work on both stock and custom ROMs.
  1. Back up all your files to your computer. Partitioning wipes the files of your SD card.
  2. Go into recovery mode
  3. Select “Advanced”
  4. Select “Partition SD card”
  5. Choose your SD-ext size (if you’re using a 2Gb SD card, choose 512Mb. If your SD card is 4Gb or greater, you can choose 1024Mb)
  6. Select 0 swap
  7. Wait for the process to finish. Reboot.
  8. Download and install Link2SD from Google Play Store.
  9. Open Link2SD you will be prompted to choose between ext2, ext3, ext4 or FAT32. Choose ext4.
  10. Follow instructions number 14-20. DONE!

Having troubles? Feel free to comment and post your questions below. Enjoy! :)

Join the Conversation

613 Comments

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  1. Can you make the second partition a NTFS instead of FAT32? Only 4gigs is allowed in copying files in FAT32, ‘it would say not enough space’,despite the fact ,that you still have large amount of space remaining. tnx!

    Reply
    1. Reply

  2. It worked perfectly, you don’t know how hard it was doing this by other methods. Thank you!!! – Samsung Galaxy ACE

    Reply
    1. Reply
  3. Reply
  4. Reply

  5. Hello mate! First of all thanks for such an easy tutorial. Before making partition i want to assure myself with asking u some questions(don’t afraid, it won’t be many hehe).

    1. Before starting the partition process I’ll be copying all my 16gb data to one folder which will include all my apps and music-videos files and when the process is finished do i have to re-install all my apps again or i just need to copy my files to the memory card and it’ll work?

    2. While moving certain apps Link2SD shows “segmentation fault” and won’t allow to move apps. With partitioning the drive, will this error be removed?

    3. Will memory card show the partitions the same way our computer hard-drives do on PC?

    Hoping to get a reply soon. Thanks again.

    Reply

    1. 1. Yes, that’s the ideal way to back up.

      * You don’t need to reinstall them. You only need to ‘Create Link’.

      2. I don’t understand this question.

      3. The 2nd partition will not be detected by Windows.

      Reply

  6. Ive followed the procedures above to partition my sd card and it was successful, yet whenever I linked my installed apps using Link2SD..apps size becomes more bigger and my phones keeps on warning me for low memory. What should I do? :(

    Reply
    1. Reply

  7. Lo thanx !!
    works great !! But how can i put music into the fat32 partition? Because when i connect my phone to my pc, windows only shows the internal sd en not the extern ?

    Reply

    1. Maybe you forgot to set the first partition to primary. FAT32 – Primary, EXT2 – Primary. The FAT32 should be read by Windows while the EXT2 is only viewable in Link2SD.

      Reply

  8. Lo thanx !! Works great. But now how can I putt music on the external sd ? Windows shows only the internal sd now ??

    Reply

  9. how to get phone rooted??m facing d same prob Link2SD could not obtain root access, If you have root access make sure to allow or grant to the superuser request. Please help me what to do.

    Reply
    1. Reply

  10. Hi. I followed these steps and am able to move and link my apps to my External SD card. However, my phone shows a “Blank External SD Card” notification and is unable to detect my FAT32 partition. The only way for it to recognize this partition is when I mount it via CMRecovery. What do I do to fix this? Thanks.

    Reply
    1. Reply