How do I create a second partition for Link2SD?
For "Link2SD" you have to create a second partition on the SD card. If you have this, you can use the Android app to move and link the Dalvik cache and installed apps to the external memory card - even with smartphones like the Galaxy S3 or the Samsung Galaxy Note II, on which "App2SD" does not work. We show you how to create the necessary partition for the root tool in three steps.
Preparation: What you need for the Link2SD partition
Before you begin partitioning your memory card, you need to know the following:
- In order to use "Link2SD", you must have root rights on your smartphone. A custom ROM is not required.
- You need an external memory card that is compatible with your Android phone. The best microSDHC cards can be found in our CHIP leaderboard.
- To partition the SD card, you need a PC / laptop with an SD card slot or an external SD card reader.
- When you partition your SD card, all data stored on it will be lost! Therefore, make sure to backup your data. To do this, you must have enough free space on your PC.
Step 1: SD card backup and deletion of the partition
To start partitioning your memory card for use with "Link2SD", you must insert it into the card reader slot of your PC or laptop.
- Copy all files on the SD card to your PC. You can use any directory for this.
- Download the free "MiniTool Partition Wizard". If you are using a Mac or Linux, you can use "GParted Live" as a partitioning tool, for example. With this tool, the procedure can vary slightly - In this guide, we show you how to use the Windows program.
- Once you have downloaded the program, open the installation file and follow the instructions. When the installation is finished, the "Partition Wizard" opens automatically.
- In the list you can now see all connected data carriers, including the hard drive (s) of your computer. Make sure that you select the inserted SD card (see screenshot)! Right click on the memory card partition and select "Delete" as shown in the picture.
Step 2: create the two partitions for Link2SD
Now the memory card must be partitioned into two parts:
- Right-click the SD card in the partitioning tool and select "Create".
- In the newly opened window, enter a freely selectable "Partition Label", ie a name for the partition. Since we first create the partition for any data, "SD memory" is selected in the example. After "Create As" choose "Primary". We recommend "FAT32" as the file system. Below you determine the size you want to use for this partition. Choose a range so large that the remaining space is sufficient for the Link2SD partition. For the SD card with 64 GB of storage space used in the test, we select 57 GB for this partition. On the screenshot you can see all selected settings. Then click "OK".
- Now we create the second partition for "Link2SD": In the overview, click on the unused storage space on the SD card. "Unallocated" is specified here under "File system". Select "Create" again, the pop-up warning must be confirmed with "Yes". It is important that you select "Primary" again under "Create As". You can use either "Ext2", "Ext3" or "Ext4" as the file system. It depends on your installed ROM: Use the stock ROM, select Ext2. With the Omega ROM of the test device, we can select "Ext4". Then confirm the settings again with "OK".
Step 3: the partitioned SD card - this is how it should look
If you have followed the first two steps, the SD card in the "Partition Wizard" overview should look like the screenshot:
- Both partitions are set as "primary".
- The larger of the two partitions uses the "FAT32" file system, the Link2SD partition "EXT *".
If this is the case, you can now confirm the partitioning of the SD card:
- In the "Partition Wizard" main window, click on "Apply" in the top left corner. Warning: Make sure that you have saved the files on your SD card. Now the memory card is formatted and then partitioned to prepare it for use with "Link2SD".
- Wait for the partitioning process to finish. During this time, do not remove the SD card from the card reader!
- When the process is complete, the memory card is ready for use with "Link2SD". You can now copy the previously backed up files to the SD card.
Everything done: Confirmation of the second partition with Link2SD
If you have followed the three steps for partitioning your SD card, you can now use the Android app "Link2SD":
- Download and install "Link2SD" on your smartphone if you have not already done so.
- Insert the partitioned memory card into your smartphone. You may have to restart your phone.
- Open "Link2SD". Confirm the request for root rights. The Android app now asks for the file system of the second partition on your SD card, the partition for the apps. Since we selected "Ext4" in the example, we also enter "Ext4" here. Then you have to restart your cell phone.
- If the question about the file system no longer arises when you next start the app, the process was successful. You have created the second partition for "Link2SD" and can now move and link apps to the external memory card of your Android smartphone.
A laptop with Windows 7 Ultimate 64 bit and a Samsung Galaxy S3 with Omega v40 (XXEMA2, Android 4.1.2) were used for these instructions.
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