Android phone - managing storage

07.24.12: Have you ever wanted to change where data is stored on your android smartphone?

First a little info on Android (non iPhone) phone structure.

This information pertains to a Samsung Galaxy smartphone and should be applicable to any non-iPhone. 

To view all storage areas on your phone go to Settings - Storage.

Samsung has identified its storage area on my Galaxy Note as:

1. Internal Storage (2g) - the phone

2. USB Storage (16gb) - internal SDcard (identified as sdcard folder)

3. SD card (16gb) - a micro SDcard I added (identified as sdcard/external_sd sub-folder)

All Samsung apps and files (photos, music, videos and downloads) default to the USB Storage area (folder labelled sdcard). 

Samsung has made it a little confusing by identifying the USB Storage area as sdcard folder.

You are allowed to move most apps from the USB Storage to the external sd card.

I have moved all apps, that can be moved, to the external sd card. 

If an app can be moved, it will indicate at main menu - Settings - Applications and select an app. It also allows you to easily move these apps back and forth, as your needs change.

You can change the storage location for photos and videos (taken with Camera) by making this change:

In the Camera app, switch from photo to video and tap the Settings icon and then tap the "Edit shortcuts" item and drag the storage icon to a blank area on the menu. Then select this storage icon and select "Memory card" instead of "Phone". If you don't see a storage icon, there is no external SD card recognized in the phone.

I use my external SD card for all downloads.

For downloads via a browser, open the Internet icon (Chrome browser) menu - Settings - Advanced - Default storage - Memory card.

I installed a few file manager apps but always came back to the one that came with my phone "My files". 

It has a good way of presenting the storage areas and folders within.

I don't suggest moving this app to the external sd card.

You can move/copy files between storage areas with this app.

I backup some files (pics, etc) on both the USB Storage (sdcard folder) and the external sdcard (sdcard.external_sd sub-folder).

I then take out the micro sdcard and backup to my computer or attach the usb cable and copy to computer.

If you have any useful tips, corrections or suggestions, pls let me know and I will augment this blog item.