Methods to Save WhatsApp Files to SD

Last update: 04/10/2024
Methods to Save WhatsApp Files to SD

Would you like to know the best methods for saving WhatsApp files to your SD card ? This time, we'll show you the simplest and most effective ways to move your files to an SD card, which are as follows:

  1. with a computer
  2. Without a computer
  3. Setting up your device

If you have been using WhatsApp for quite some time, it might be taking up a lot of space. And since you might not want to delete some of the media files from your WhatsApp account to free up space, your best bet is to be able to move WhatsApp to the SD card.

Here you can read about: WhatsApp Voicemail Not Working - 8 Best Ways to Fix It

Method 1: Save WhatsApp files from SD to computer

Now that you've chosen an SD card that perfectly suits your needs, it's time to move your WhatsApp media files to the new SD card. One of the easiest ways to do this is using your computer. This method is simple and only requires your phone, the SD card, and a USB cable . Follow these easy steps to do it:

  1. Step 1:: Start by connecting your device to your computer using USB cables. Wait for your computer to detect your device. On some devices, you may need to enable USB debugging before your computer can detect your device.

Methods to Save WhatsApp Files to SD

  1. Step 2:: Open the device's internal memory folder Android on your device and then locate the WhatsApp folder from the list of folders in the storage internal device. Copy the WhatsApp folder.
Copy the WhatsApp folder
Copy the WhatsApp folder
  1. Step 3:: Paste the WhatsApp folder into your SD card folder and all your WhatsApp data will be moved to the SD card.

Method 2: Save WhatsApp files to SD without computer

You can also alternatively move the WhatsApp folder to the SD card without connecting the device to the computer. To do this, you need to use a file explorer app on your device known as ES File Explorer. Follow these simple steps to do so:

  1. Step 1:: Start by installing the application ES File Explorer on your device. You can find it at Google Play Store.
ES File Explorer
ES File Explorer
  1. Step 2:: Once the app is installed on your device, open it and click on “Internal storage files«.
  2. Step 3:: You should see all the files and folders that are stored on the internal storage of the device. Look for “WhatsApp» and then click on it to open the files in the folder.
Search for "WhatsApp"
Search for “WhatsApp”
  1. Step 4:: Locate the folder called «Media» located inside the WhatsApp folder and cut it.
  2. Step 5:: Now, head over to the “SD» and create a new folder that you can call «WhatsApp» and then paste the media files into the newly created folder.

Method 3: How to set SD card as default WhatsApp storage

The above solutions will help you move current WhatsApp media files to the SD card. Unless you set this process to automatic, you will have to save WhatsApp files to the DS card every time there is a buildup of data in the WhatsApp folder.

The best solution in this case is to set your SD card as the default storage for your WhatsApp data. To do this, you'll need an app like XInternalSD.

However, it's important to note that these apps will only work on rooted Android devices . Here are the steps to do so:

  1. Step 1:: Download a secure copy of the application XInternalSD on your device. The app may not be available on the Play Store, but you can find it on major developer websites.
  2. Step 2:: Install the app and then open it. Go to «Configuration»And touch«Path to internal SD card» to change it to an external SD card.
  3. Step 3:: Now it's time for "Enable for applications»And select«WhatsApp» from the list of applications that you can save to your SD card.
Select "WhatsApp"
Select “WhatsApp”

Once WhatsApp is enabled, all WhatsApp data will be saved to your SD card by default.

Other proven ways to save WhatsApp files to SD

Can we save WhatsApp files to SD by moving WhatsApp App to SD card on our Android and save space on internal storage? If you also own an Android device and are running out of free storage space, you might have a similar doubt.

These days, social apps like WhatsApp can consume a lot of data on your device and can also affect processing. If the app has a lot of data stored on it, such as videos, photos, etc., you might want to simply move WhatsApp media to an SD card.

While the app doesn't provide a native solution, read on to learn how to transfer WhatsApp data to SD cards in different ways.

Part 1: Can you move WhatsApp directly to SD card?

Before discussing how to save WhatsApp files to SD, it is important to look at its native features.

As of now, WhatsApp does not provide a built-in solution to make the SD card the default storage or move your data to the attached SD card.

However, users can go to their device storage and manually move their WhatsApp media to SD cards.

Part 2: How to Move WhatsApp to SD Card with MobileTrans – WhatsApp Transfer

If your device is running out of space, then you should consider backing up your WhatsApp data and then deleting media files from the storage.

To do this, you can take the assistance of MobileTrans – WhatsApp Transfer. With just one click, it will take a complete backup of your WhatsApp data including chats, attachments, contacts, voice notes, and more. The app will make sure that the data quality remains intact and 100% safe.

Besides that, you can use it to transfer WhatsApp directly from one phone to another and back up/restore other apps like Kik, LINE, WeChat , and Viber. You can download it below.

You can download it here

  1. Step 1:: Connect your smartphone to the system and start Mobile Trans in it. From the home page, visit the module «Backup and restore«.
Backup and restore
Backup and restore
  1. Step 2:: Connect your phone to the computer using a USB cable. Then go to Backup y application restore> Backup and choose to backup Whatsapp.
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App Backup & Restore > Backup
App Backup & Restore > Backup
  1. Step 3:: A new screen will be displayed, now you can start backing up your WhatsApp by simply clicking on the Start button.
click the Start button.
Click the Start button.
  1. Step 4:: After performing the process mentioned above, the App will start saving WhatsApp files to the SD. To avoid errors in the data transfer, the device must remain connected. You can then view your data or export it in HTML format.

click the Start button.

Part 3. How to save WhatsApp files to SD with ES File Explorer

As you can see, WhatsApp's native settings don't allow you to move WhatsApp to SD cards. Fortunately, you can use a file explorer app to do the same. If your Android device doesn't have a built-in file manager, you can use ES File Explorer.

It is a freely available Android app that allows us to manage and move our data from one source to another. However, before learning how to move WhatsApp media to SD card, make sure that the destination location has enough free space to accommodate the transferred data.

  1. Step 1:: Install ES File Explorer on your Android by visiting Play Store and launching it every time you want to move WhatsApp data to an SD card.
  2. Step 2:: As it would open the file explorer, it will allow you to browse the storage of the device/SD card. From here, go to the folder Internal storage > WhatsApp. Now, you can view all kinds of data stored by WhatsApp on your device's internal storage. Simply select the folders or files you want to move.
Internal storage > WhatsApp.
Internal storage > WhatsApp.
  1. Step 3:: After making the appropriate selections, simply tap the “Copy» in the toolbar. You can also go to more options and tap the «Move to«.
"Move to"
"Move to"
  1. Step 4:: Now, find your SD card and simply select the location where you want to move WhatsApp media to your SD card. Confirm the location and transfer the selected data to your SD card storage.

"Move to"

NOTE : Keep in mind that if you are cutting off WhatsApp's media from the source, it will also not be available in the app.

"Move to"

Part 4: How to save WhatsApp files to SD without rooting

Most Android users choose not to root their devices for different reasons. While rooting will allow you to set the connected SD card as the default WhatsApp storage, there is still a workaround for non-rooted devices. You can simply connect your device to your system and go to the location where WhatsApp data is stored.

This way, you can access your WhatsApp media and transfer it to any location you choose. Here's how to save WhatsApp files to your SD card using Windows Explorer.

  1. Step 1:: Using a working USB cable, connect your Android device to your computer.
  2. Step 2:: After the device is detected, you will receive a connection prompt on your phone. Tap on it and choose to connect your device for media transfer.
Connect your device for media transfer
Connect your device for media transfer
  1. Step 3:. Now, head to Windows Explorer and open the device storage. Simply look for the WhatsApp folder and copy/cut the files you want to move.
  2. Step 4:. That's it! Later, you can go to your SD card storage (or any other location) and paste the copied WhatsApp data to the target location.

Methods to Save WhatsApp Files to SD

Part 5: Bonus Tip: How to Set WhatsApp Default Storage to SD Card?

In case your Android device is rooted, you can also set the connected SD card as the default storage for downloaded WhatsApp media.

To do this, you can use several apps such as Photo & File Redirect, XInternalSD , and FolderMount . However, you should know that most of these apps only work on a rooted device.

Let us consider the example of XInternalSD and how we can use it to move WhatsApp to SD card by setting it as default storage.

  1. Step 1:. Unlock your Android device and download a safe copy of the apk file XInternalSD in it.
  2. Step 2:. Once the app is installed, launch it and head to settings. From here, enable the option to set a custom path for the SD card. Tap on the “Path to internal SD card» and change it to an external SD card.
Path to internal SD card
Path to internal SD card
  1. Step 3:. After changing the path to an external SD card, tap the “Enable for applications«.
Enable for applications
Enable for applications
  1. Step 4:. This will display a list of all the apps you can save to SD cards. From here, make sure the “WhatsApp» is enabled.
  2. Step 5:That’s it! Now, you can exit the app and save WhatsApp files to the SD. Then, delete it from the internal storage and restart the device to apply these changes.

Enable for applications

There you go! Now, when you know not one but several different ways to save WhatsApp files to SD, you can easily meet your requirements. Using these techniques, you can backup your WhatsApp data, free up more space on your device, and do a lot more.

However, if you want to manage your social app data like a pro, just use MobileTrans – WhatsApp Transfer. A highly professional tool, you can backup and restore your WhatsApp data in no time.

You can download it for free from here

How to save WhatsApp files to SD – OPPO

Are you wondering if there is a way to save your WhatsApp chat photos and videos to your SD card on your OPPO phone? Currently, there is no direct way to save WhatsApp files to SD, but in this part of the guide, we suggest you some ways to do it conveniently.

How to change the auto-save option in WhatsApp settings

Before we learn the one-tap transfer method, let’s make sure that your WhatsApp settings are configured to allow you to automatically save photos and files shared in your WhatsApp chat.

In your WhatsApp app, go to Settings and select [ Storage & Data ].
In your WhatsApp app, go to Settings and select [ Storage & Data ].

Here you can select whether you want to automatically save your WhatsApp files when you are connected to the Internet (Wi-Fi and mobile data).

  • NOTE: : If you do not want to save files automatically, remember to manually save the desired files to your Photo gallery.

Transfer photos and files with one touch to SD card

  1. Step 1:. Go to [ Configuration ]> [ Additional configuration ]> [ Storage ].
  2. Step 2:: In the top right corner, tap the tab [ SD Card ]
  3. Step 3: Touch [ Transfer to SD card ]
  4. Step 4: Touch [ Start transferring ]
  5. Step 5: Select the data you want to transfer and tap [ start transfer ].
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NOTE : Images, settings, and paths may differ from those on your phone, but this will not affect the description of this article.

How to save WhatsApp files to SD by default?

If you are in too many WhatsApp groups, you will notice that some files entering WhatsApp Messenger will be downloaded to your phone's storage, causing your device to slow down considerably.

To recover from this problem, it would be better if you just move WhatsApp data to SD card on mobile phone and for all the incoming messages, those data can be stored in SD card instead of internal storage so that internal memory can have adequate space left.

To make SD card as the default WhatsApp storage for your Android device, you need to root your device first, then use XInternalSD on your rooted device and configure it to store data on that SD card.

You should keep in mind that moving existing data from phone storage to an SD card or other flash drive is quite easy and you can do it if you need to have some good space on your WhatsApp.

If you root your device to treat the SD card as an internal phone memory, WhatsApp data will be saved there.

WhatsApp stores all media files (sent or received) on your device. But this usually reaches your phone's storage limit within a few weeks or months.

Advantages of saving WhatsApp files on SD:

If you can move your WhatsApp data to SD card, there are many advantages that you can get with your phone, let us describe them in a few points:

  • First of all, your mobile storage will be freed up a bit which was stored with WhatsApp data or files.
  • You can also install other apps that can use the SD card as your default storage.
  • Your phone will run faster than before as you have just freed up space on your phone storage or expanded it.

NOTE : Before starting the process, make sure you have backed up your WhatsApp data files to your Google Drive account so you can restore the files if you need to delete or reinstall them during this process.

Save WhatsApp files to SD as default storage

You can move old files to external SD card and also change default storage to SD card for WhatsApp media.

But, to make the SD card the default storage for WhatsApp media , you need to use the third-party application on your rooted phone.

On lower versions of Android, below 4.4, this is possible without any root process.

In your WhatsApp app, go to Settings and select [ Storage & Data ].

The top three apps are suitable for this process. The list is below:

  • 1. XInternalSD
  • 2. Photo & File Redirect (without Root)
  • 3. FolderMount

Method 1: Save WhatsApp files to external SD

When you don't have root access on your phone, you can follow this method to transfer WhatsApp media to SD card and make it the default storage location.

To proceed, you need to connect the device with the USB cable. Make sure that it is compatible and works together with the mobile phone. After that, you need to start the process.

  1. Step 1:: Connect a compatible and working cable to your Android phone to the PC. The PC should detect the USB cable, so connect a good quality one.
  2. Step 2:: After connecting your Android phone to PC via USB cable, the PC will detect the phone. Then, go to the location where the device folder is located. Then, select the folder.
  3. Step 3:: Find the WhatsApp folder in the list and select it.

In your WhatsApp app, go to Settings and select [ Storage & Data ].

  1. Step 4:: After this step, select the folder and carefully copy it to the other folder, the SD memory card folder.

Now, this is one of the methods you can use to make your SD card folder on your phone the default folder to store your WhatsApp media.

Method 2: Change WhatsApp Default Media Storage to External SD [Root]

Using third-party tools like XInternalSD or FolderMount , you can make your external SD card the default storage for WhatsApp. You just need to root your Android device.

These apps can help you select other apps and games to store on your SD card by default.

Here is the step-by-step guide for the XInternalSD application below:

  1. Step 1:: You can also make the SD card folder the default folder to save your WhatsApp media. First,  download XInternalSD.
  2. Step 2:: After downloading the app, you need to open the XInternalSD app user interface.
  3. Step 3:: Then change the internal SD card to an external SD card. Tap on 'Route to…' of the list.
Click on 'Route to...'
Click on 'Route to…'
  1. Step 4:: Now, select the WhatsApp option to enable the applications.
Select the WhatsApp option
Select the WhatsApp option
  1. Step 5:: Copy the WhatsApp folder to the external SD card folder. After this, make sure to delete or remove the WhatsApp folder from the internal SD card folder.

Select the WhatsApp option

  1. Step 6:: Once this is done, you can see that your WhatsApp media is being saved in the external SD card folder that you have made with the help of the app.

Other methods to save WhatsApp files to SD

The application itself takes up only 50 MB. But service packages and materials that the subscriber exchanges with interlocutors can collectively weigh more than 1 GB. By default, the internal memory of the smartphone is used for data storage, so users are interested in how to save WhatsApp files to external SD. In this part we will look at other methods for achieving this transition.

Image: Transfer Vatsap to a memory card.

Can you move WhatsApp to an SD card?

Due to lack of space in the internal storage, the WhatsApp messaging app starts generating errors and performs its functions incorrectly.

  These phones will stop working with WhatsApp starting in April 2025.

There are 2 ways to clear memory:

  1. Delete received photos and videos, documents and chats
  2. Transfer “WhatsApp” to SD card

You can only move the application using third-party software.

Method 1: Setting to save WhatsApp files to smartphone SD

To save WhatsApp files to your SD card instead of internal storage, you need to change your settings. The steps for Android and iOS smartphones are different.

On Android

To save media files to a memory card, you need to do the following:

  1. Step 1:: open the smartphone settings
  2. Step 2:: Look for the section «Storage","Conference proceedings»Or«Content Settings«
  3. Step 3:: Choose "Default storage location«
  4. Step 4:: check the box next to «SD card«

The operation will allow you to save only new files on a USB flash drive. Photos and videos that were previously received must be transferred manually.

On iOS

iOS devices do not support removable media, so you can save additional data only to the cloud service. To do this, you need to perform the following steps:

  1. Step 1:: Go to the app and click on 3 vertical dots on the top right corner.
  2. Step 2:: In the list that appears, go to «Configuration«.
  3. Step 3:: In the window that opens, click on «Cat» and then select the item «Backup messages«.
  4. Step 4:: Confirm the operation. The program will inform about the end of the information storage.

Method 2: How to transfer data to a memory card

It is recommended to make a backup before moving information. To transfer data to removable media for devices with Android operating system, you must perform a series of actions such as the following:

  1. Step 1:: Enter the phone settings. Most of the time, the icon is shown as a gear.
  2. Step 2:: Look for the section «Applications«.
  3. Step 3:: In the list that opens, click on WhatsApp.
  4. Step 4:: Scroll down the page and select «Transfer to SD card«.

You can also use the built-in browser features:

  1. Step 1:: open the file manager application
  2. Step 2:: enter the tab «Internal device memory«
  3. Step 3:: find the WhatsApp folder
  4. Step 4:: Call the context menu and move this folder to the flash card

The operation will allow you to move only multimedia. System files will remain in the internal storage. For devices running iOS, data transfer is not possible. But you can try to save photos, videos and correspondence backups to cloud services.

Method 3: Using third-party apps to save WhatsApp files to SD

Developers have created many programs that help to bypass the settings and transfer applications to the USB flash drive. They have an intuitive interface.

lucky patcher

Information can be transferred to the memory card using the utility as follows:

  1. Step 1:: Download and install Lucky Patcher application. It is distributed for free.
  2. Step 2:: Start and scan the device.
  3. Step 3:: Find in the WhatsApp list.
  4. Step 4:: In the window that opens, select «Transfer to memory card«.
  5. Step 5:: Wait for the procedure to finish and close the program.
Lucky Patcher App.
Lucky Patcher App.

ES File Explorer

After installing the application using Play Market, you need to:

  1. Step 1:: Start the File Manager from ES File Explorer.
  2. Step 2:: Swipe left and go to the internal folder of the device.
  3. Step 3:: Find WhatsApp in the list, press and hold for a few seconds.
  4. Step 4:: In the window that appears, select «MOVER»And then select«Memory card«.

At the end of the procedure, it is best to delete the WhatsApp folder from the phone storage.

Android FolderMount

For the utility to work properly, enable root rights on the device and then perform the following steps:

  1. Step 1:: Open the program and click on the icon "+".
  2. Step 2:: Enter any name in the Name string.
  3. Step 3:: Open the local folder of the smartphone and assign the WhatsApp folder to the section Delete.
  4. Step 4:: Go to Destination o SD card and activate the desired folder.
  5. Step 5:: In the list that appears, select Exclude from analysis de media presence. This operation will help to avoid duplicate media files.
  6. Step 6:: In the next window, confirm the action.

Method 4: How to Delete Unwanted WhatsApp Files

Before deleting files, it is recommended to back up the information to a computer or cloud service. You can delete correspondence as follows:

  1. Step 1:: Open the WhatsApp App.
  2. Step 2:: Then, you need to go to settings.
  3. Step 3:: Click on the “ tabCat«, scroll down and select «Delete all chats«.
  4. Step 4:: In the window that opens, enter the phone number associated with the application.
  5. Step 5:: Click on «Delete all chats" again.

To delete media files you must:

  1. Step 1:: Go to the application settings, to the section Use of data and storage, and then to Storage usage
  2. Step 2:: choose to match with one of the users
  3. Step 3:: click on the menu «Manage«
  4. Step 4:: Put a check mark in front of the desired media file and click Delete
  5. Step 5:: repeat the procedure with each chat.

After uninstallation, it is recommended to restart the application.

You might also be interested in reading about: How to Download WhatsApp Plus Themes for Android

Conclusion

Saving WhatsApp files to your SD card is advantageous when you want to free up your device's internal storage for other types of data. There are effective methods for making your SD card the default storage location for WhatsApp data. These are apps you can use if your phone is rooted. Additionally, apps like Photo & File Redirect can easily configure or change the default storage location without requiring root access. We hope this information has been helpful.