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S4/Android 4 file system

One last question from a new S4 user: I am used to using the My Files app to explore the SD card, maybe move a file from Downloads to Documents, delete unneeded files, etc. But I'm having some trouble figuring out the file system. I don't know if it's peculiar to the S4, or to Android 4, or what.

Folders, including folders that apps use to store configuration and other data, seem to be duplicated between Device storage (which shows up as "storage/emulated/0") and the SD card ("storage/extSdCard"). But the contents of the folders are not identical. Basically, the SD card has the files that I transferred from my old phone, while the apps now seem to be maintaining these files in the device storage. I'm not sure that options I set in the apps make a difference in this. For instance, one app is definitely set, within the app, to store data on the SD card; but in fact they're being stored in device storage. I'd rather use the SD card, but I'm not sure if it's possible to tell the app to do so.

If anyone can either help me with this or point me to a good online explanation of the file system, that would be great. Thanks.

Comments

Ann154

Dave, remind me what your previous phone was?

Since ICS, the Android platform has preferred to store apps and app data in the internal storage "storage/emulated/0". I'm unaware of any way to force the applications to store the application data on the external SD card if it is available.

Dave-in-Decatur

My old phone was a Samsung Stratosphere I. Good old slide-out keyboard. Sigh.

OK. I can see wanting to keep data in internal storage, to keep users from accidentally swapping out SD cards and losing their data. I'll just have to be careful about how I back things up. And maybe delete the storage folders on the SD card so as not to confuse myself.

Given that I've told apps to store on the SD card, is the OS just simply rerouting those writes from SD to internal storage? I am a little concerned about the apps themselves getting confused. I guess as long as it's working (and it is) I shouldn't poke around unnecessarily.

Ann154

Samsung added the ability back into the S4 to allow apps on the SD card in the last update. As far as I know the S4 is the only Jelly Bean (android 4.1+) device to have the ability to store apps on the SD card. This update occurred mostly because of people complaining about the only 8 GB of 16 available for storage on the internal memory when first setting up the phone. I thought I saw that while the app might be on the SD card, the app data might still be stored on the internal memory. I don't remember if there was a lot of space on the Stratosphere, but I tried to not have apps stored on the SD card since my Tbolt running GB even if the option is available. I will store music, pictures and some app data that is generated by that app on the SD card to have an easier transition when switching SD cards or phones.

Hope that helps.

Dave-in-Decatur

Sorry to be a bit slow replying! The Strat had 4GB internal storage, so the S4 is a big improvement in any case. My phone currently shows 7.71GB available internally. Besides apps, media, and downloads, it shows 6.59GB taken up with "Miscellaneous files," a strikingly uninformative piece of information.

I'm with you, I'd rather keep apps on the phone--there's plenty of room--and store media and app data on the SD card, for simplicity of backup and changing phones. That's why I want to understand the file system and the app data storage. But it sounds like there's no way to force the phone to store app data on the SD card.

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