How to transfer photos to the SD card to free up space is a question that we have all asked ourselves at some point. With each photo we take, our mobile storage fills up and its responsiveness begins to decrease. So we see ourselves in need of free up internal storage space by transferring photos, videos and other files to an external drive. How to do it? In this post we explain the procedure to follow, both on iOS and Android devices.
As you probably already know, Apple brand phones do not have a microSD memory slot. To overcome this inconvenience, there are external SD card adapters that can be connected to iPhones via USB-C. On the other hand, most Android phones support microSD cards of different capacities, where you can send photos and videos to relieve the internal memory of the mobile. Let's address each situation separately.
How to transfer photos to SD card on iPhone?
iPhones are very popular devices that offer many advantages to their users, but they also have some limitations. One of them is the lack of an SD card slot, which prevents expanding the internal storage space of the mobile. This can be a problem if we want to save a lot of photos and videos on our iPhone, since the memory won't take long to fill up.
Now, there are some ways to get around this problem and transfer photos to SD card on iPhone, even if they are not as straightforward as on other devices. Next we explain how to do it using an SD card adapter and using a computer.
Method 1: Use an SD card adapter
One of the easiest options to transfer photos to SD card on iPhone is to use a sd card adapter that connects to the Lightning port of the mobile. These adapters usually have a slot to insert the SD card and another to connect the iPhone charging cable. In this way, you can transfer the photos while charging the mobile.
To use this method, you need to have an iPhone-compatible SD card adapter, an SD card with sufficient capacity, and a charging cable. The steps to follow are described below:
- Connect the adapter to the Lightning port of the iPhone and the SD card to the corresponding slot.
- Open the Photos app on your iPhone and select the photos you want to move to the SD card. Remember that you can select several photos at the same time by holding down one of them and sliding your finger over the others.
- Tap the 'Share' icon in the bottom left corner and choose the 'Import' option with the adapter symbol.
- Wait for the transfer to complete and check that the photos have been successfully copied to the SD card.
Once your photos are safe on the SD card, it is time to delete them on the mobile to free up space. All you have to do is go back to the 'Photos' app on the iPhone, select the photos that you have transferred to the external memory and touch the 'Delete' icon in the lower right corner.
Method 2: Use a computer
Another way to transfer photos to SD card on iPhone is use a computer with a card reader or a USB adapter. In this case, you will need to connect iPhone to computer via USB cable and copy photos from computer to SD card. Obviously, this method is slower than the previous one, but it also allows you to back up your photos to your computer.
To use this method, It is necessary that you have iTunes installed on your computer, which serves as a player and a bit of a file manager on Apple devices. Of course, you will also need a USB cable and an adapter with an SD card reader. The procedure is very simple and we explain it below:
- Connect iPhone to computer via USB cable and open iTunes if it doesn't open automatically.
- Click the iPhone icon at the top left of iTunes and then 'Photos' in the left side panel.
- Check the 'Sync photos' box and choose the folders you want to copy to your computer.
- Click 'Apply' and wait for the sync to complete.
- Disconnect iPhone from the computer and connect the SD card to the card reader or USB adapter.
- Open the computer's file explorer and find the folder where the iPhone photos have been saved. They are usually located in C:\Users\Your Name\My Pictures\iTunes\iPhone Photo Cache.
- Finally, copy the photos you want to transfer to the SD card and paste them in the folder you want on the card.
How to transfer photos to SD card on Android?
Transferring photos to the SD card on Android phones is much easier than doing it on iPhone. This is so because the first they do have a slot to insert variable capacity microSD cards. Moving images, videos and other files from the internal storage to the SD card is something you can do directly on the mobile, no need to connect adapters or computers.
For Android devices, the first thing you should do is insert an SD card, if you don't already have one working. For it, first turn off the phone, open the slot with a suitable tool and insert the memory carefully. There are two ways to transfer photos to the microSD on Android: from the pre-installed file manager on the mobile or through an external application.
Method 1: From the pre-installed file manager
- Open the pre-installed file manager on your mobile (usually called 'Files', 'My files' or something similar).
- Find the folder where the photos are stored, which is usually DCIM or Camera.
- Select the photos you want to transfer to the SD card and press the 'Copy' or 'Move' option.
- Look for the SD folder where you want to save the photos and press the 'Paste' or 'Move' option.
Method 2: Using an external app
Another option to transfer photos to the microSD on Android is using an external app, such as Google File, Google Photos, or Dropbox. The first works like a Google file manager, and allows you to copy, move, order, and delete the photos, videos, and other files you have on your mobile. The other two applications are used to make backup copies in the cloud, from where you can download the files to the SD that you have installed.
As you can see, transferring photos to SD is a simple procedure that allows you to free up space on your devices and save images and other important files for you. Whether you do it from an iOS or Android mobile, remember to take your time and make sure the photos have been transferred correctly.