How to move photos and videos to an SD card on Android

First check whether your phone supports an SD card

Not every Android phone has a microSD slot, and manufacturers differ in how they handle one. Check your model’s specifications. On the Samsung models covered by Samsung’s support page, the card sits in the SIM tray, and Samsung asks you to confirm the card is compatible with your device.

If you cannot find a slot, this guide does not apply, and an alternative is backing up to cloud storage or a computer. See our guide on backing up before you delete.

Move existing photos with Files by Google

Google’s Files app can move or copy files to an SD card. Google says it works on Android 8.0 and up. Copy keeps the file in both places; Move frees the space on the phone. Labels can vary with app version.

1. Open Files by Google and select a category such as Images, or open SD card under Storage devices.
2. Select the photos or videos you want to move.
3. Tap More, then Move to (or Copy to), and choose SD card.
4. Pick or create a folder, then tap Move here (or Copy here).
5. Wait until the transfer finishes before removing the card, and open a few moved files to check they work.

Change where new photos are saved

Samsung’s support page says you can save camera photos and videos to the card: open the Camera app, tap the Settings gear, choose Storage location (some phones say Save location), then pick SD card. The option may only appear when a card is inserted.

This is a Samsung Camera feature. Other manufacturers may offer a similar setting in their own camera app, or none at all. The Google and Samsung pages used for this guide do not describe a general Android setting that applies to every phone, so look in your camera app’s settings.

Samsung’s page does not say whether every camera mode follows the setting, so after changing it take a test photo and confirm where it landed.

Cautions before you rely on the card

A card is one more place that can fail or be lost. Keep a second copy of anything you care about. Google’s Files help also notes that if your card is listed in Settings but missing in Files, it may be formatted as internal storage, and Google points to formatting it as portable storage. Reformatting erases a card, so move or back up its files first.

If you use Google Photos backup, check your backup settings after moving files. The Google and Samsung pages used for this guide do not describe how backup treats pictures that live on an SD card, so verify in the app that your photos still show as backed up.

Our guide on why Android storage stays full after deleting photos explains other places space can hide.

Move less by sorting first

A card only postpones the clutter. Sorting before moving means you carry fewer pictures to the card.

GallerySort is a swipe-based sorting app for iOS and Android: swipe left to delete, swipe right to keep, and tap an album to file a photo. Sorting first can mean fewer files to move. It does not change how Google Photos, your phone’s trash or an SD card works, and it makes no promise about how much space a cleanup will free.