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! :)

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613 Comments

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  2. I am a clockworkmod user..what if i use ext2 instead of ext4…..when i used ext4 it says error but using ext2 it works. ??

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  3. Hello!

    I successfully manage my apps to free up my internal storage. Now what if I want to upgrade/change my external SD card? Can I manually move the whole file from old ext2 -> new ext2?

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  4. Hi sir, My phones internal storage is almost full and I link every application,but every time I move new application the internal memory also fill the space that I move but when I reboot my phone that becomes free again. My problem is every time I link apps is I always have to reboot my cp to be able to move new apps again. Is there a way to avoid this?

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  7. Hi! My Phone is Sony Experia Neo L is it possible to partition my SD Card with 16GB capacity? is it the same procedure on your guidelines above?
    Hopefully you will help me! tnx!

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      1. Thank you for your reply! Can you give me some application to avoid my phone being slow moving like freezing when im on games! hopefully you will help me again! Thank you!

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  8. thanks for this tut..finally managed to get link2sd working on my custom rom cyanogenmod 10 jellybean on my LG p500..

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  9. Hello!

    I finish the procedure as said above. From creating partition until Checking Auto Link.

    So when i’m about to move an application ( specifically Angry Birds ), it prompts that i’m out of space or insufficient storage.

    The message didn’t come back after I reboot so that means the 2nd partition mounted successfully, so why I can’t move application?

    Please help!

    Thank you! :)

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    1. Okay I got my problem solved, referring to Steve’s post to NoypiGeeks (Pinoy woot!).

      But I got one last question, if I will delete/uninstall an application, will I first remove the link from that certain application or I can delete/uninstall without removing the link?

      Thank you!

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      2. I have problem also regarding insufficient storage. can you give me a link of Steve’s post? Thank you

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        1. You can just link the chosen application directly without moving it to SD. The “Insufficient storage” prompts me because my phone (LG Optimus L5) stock ROM can’t read an external SD storage, resulting to that error.

          Linking application without moving works perfectly! If you enable “Automatic Link” option, newly installed app will automatically be linked (caches and data will be moved) to the ext2 filesystem of your external SD card.

          Uninstalling app will also automatically removed and unlink all the files such as caches and data.

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        1. Hello.
          If you’re asking for the “Moving to SD” issue, it is not necessary to do. You can directly link the selected application of yours.

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