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.
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.
- First you have to download Mini Tool Partition Wizard Manager. You can download it HERE.
- Insert your SD card to a card reader and open it on your computer.
- Back up all your files to the computer because partitioning will wipe your data.
- 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)
- Right click and choose Delete.
- 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)
- Select “Create as: PRIMARY”
- 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.
- 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)
- Click the “Apply” button on the top left corner and wait for it to finish the process. Done.
- Put back your SD card to your phone and switch it on.
- Download and install Link2sd from Google Play Store.
- Open Link2sd. You will be prompted to choose between ext2, ext3, ext4 and FAT32. Select ext2.
- It will say mount script created. Reboot your phone now.
- Open link2sd and if the message doesn’t show up, you succeded.
- Go to Link2sd>Settings>check the autolink (to automatically move apps upon installation)
- If you already have some apps,
select “move to phone” then after movingselect “Create Link” (be sure to check the three files: app, dalvic-cache and library files) - To check your memory, select “Storage Info”. This will show you the current state of your internal memory, FAT32, and ext2 partition.
- Now you’re done and ready to install vast amount of applications as you wish!
- Back up all your files to your computer. Partitioning wipes the files of your SD card.
- Go into recovery mode
- Select “Advanced”
- Select “Partition SD card”
- 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)
- Select 0 swap
- Wait for the process to finish. Reboot.
- Download and install Link2SD from Google Play Store.
- Open Link2SD you will be prompted to choose between ext2, ext3, ext4 or FAT32. Choose ext4.
- Follow instructions number 14-20. DONE!
Having troubles? Feel free to comment and post your questions below. Enjoy! :)
Sir I got an error message: “Mount script created, please restart your phone to mount the second partition of your SD Card.” It means that the second partition cannot be mounted automatically at boot. I restarted my tablet for several times, but i got the same result. Thanks in advance!
If your 2nd partition is ext2 or 3 or 4, try FAT for both primary partitions. Try different types. It should work.
sir gumawa aq ng remedyo dahil ayaw ng create link sa mga system apps. cinonvert q ung iba to user apps then dumederecho cla sa 2nd partition. is that ok?
No. I don’t advice messing with system apps. You can remove bloatware but don’t go as far as converting the SMS app (and other important apps) to user app and creating a link to the SD card.
sir i’ve followed the steps.all are good.but when it comes to the create link part, it’s grayed out.cannot click it.why?
What did I do wrong? I followed your instruction and it work perfectly for a day with my apps linked every time I installed them but after a day when I rebooted my phone it somehow restored my phone to the point where I first installed the link2sd app and the rest of the installed apps after that are all gone. I can’t even access google play too.
hi good day…bkit po pag nag crecreate link ako eh lumiliit ung internal storage ko parang dun nappunta ung apps..pero pag chineck ko naman ung memory ng ext2 ko sa link2sd eh may nasasave naman na mga apps sa ext2 ko….pano po un? namomove ba ung apps sa internal and ext2 ko ng sabay?
Yes, just reboot your phone and you will see the difference.
hi good day…bkit po pag nag lilink and move ako sa sd card eh parang sa internal napupunta….lumiliit ung internal memory ko pag nag crecreate link ako.tama nman lahat pagkagawa ko sa instructions.
Sir. Pa help naman po sa a919 ko panu po yun partition? Di ko makuha help plss
sir Question – i have a cherry mobile flare and i have an external sd card na 32gb.
i read of an instruction where link2sd can belinked to internal memory instead of SD card. is that aadvisable? currently i have 2gb+ free internal memory. is it advisable to do link2sd? please advise on the best set up – will doing this put my 2gb+ internal memory doing nothing?
Yes, it can be done but that depends on your needs. I don’t swap my microSD card to my internal storage but that’s just me. AFAIK, it’s mainly used in storing huge amounts of HD games.
Before partitioning i move apps from link2sd by just clicking “move to sd”…but after partitioning should i follow the steps 17&18 to move apps to FAT32 or should i follow those steps to only move it to ext2(3 or 4)….what i mean is can i move apps to FAT 32 without linking after partitioning (like before partitioning)
When its linked does it move to sd card??