How I moved my "Downloads" folder to the external sd card

[Vincent Cheng Hoi Chuen]

In trying to move screenshots to the external sd card, I came to the
realization that there wasn't a single Android screenshot program out
there that stored the screenshots where you wanted them stored.

So, I explored file "relocation" tools, and I found three that will
relocate one file or directory for free.

URSafe Media Redirector by Venator Software Media & Video
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?
id=com.venator.app.mediaredirector

Photo & File Redirect by Nicola Rosada (freeware allows 1 folder redirect)
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?
id=rosadanicolasoft.fotoandfileredirect&hl=en

Automatic File Mover FREE by CM Apps
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=filemover.tst

So, here is how I relocated my Android "Downloads" directory to be on my
external sd card. Any improvement advice is welcome, and if you try this
yourself, please let me know how I can improve the directions.

Change the Android "Downloads" directory:
FROM: /device/storage/sdcard0/Download
TO: /device/storage/exSdCard/download (or to ask where to put it)

Photo & File Redirect by Nicola Rosada (freeware allows 1 folder redirect)
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?
id=rosadanicolasoft.fotoandfileredirect&hl=en
FROM: /storage/emulated/0/Download/
TO: /storage/exSdCard/download/
a. Download any image from images.google.com using any browser as a test
case.
b. Confirm with ES File Explorer the image is in /device/storage/sdcard0/
Download
c. With ES File Explorer create a folder /device/storage/exSdCard/download
d. Start Photo & File Redirect (free is limited to 1 redirection)
e. Click "Manager" on the bottom.
f. Click "New" on the bottom
g. In the "From" field, click "Browse" to /device/storage/sdcard0/Download
h. In the "To" field, click "Browse" to /device/storage/exSdCard/download
i. Click "Apply" on the bottom
j. Test by noticing that all the Downloads were moved to the sdcard1
k. Test by downloading a new file and noticing it also goes to the sdcard1

Note that Firefox will automatically use the new Downloads directory
but you can also set the Downloads directory inside of Firefox:

NOTE: This failed for me; but maybe because I also redirected above?
https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1028808
a. Download any image from images.google.com using Firefox as a test case.
b. Confirm with ES File Explorer the image is in /device/storage/sdcard0/
Download/
c. With ES File Explorer create a folder /device/storage/exSdCard/
download/firefox
d. Start Firefox & type "about:config" in the URL bar.
e. In the search bar, type ".download." & search for
browser.download.folderList
f. Change browser.download.folderList=1 to browser.download.folderList=2
1 = always use the android default "Downloads" folder
2 = last used folder
g. Tap the large "+" button to the left of the search box to add a new
setting
Name = browser.download.dir (this stores the last used directory)
Type = String
Value = /storage/exSdCard/download/firefox
http://i.imgur.com/ZDLfWCd.gif
h. Click "Create".
i. Test by downloading a new file and noticing it goes to that new
location.
NOTE: This failed for me; but maybe becuase I also redirected above?

[Cy Burnot]

What version of Android do you have?????

[Vincent Cheng Hoi Chuen]

Cy Burnot <cybu...@notgmail.com> wrote in n18nku$p4p$4...@speranza.aioe.org:

> What version of Android do you have?????

Jellybean.

[Big Al]

Vincent Cheng Hoi Chuen wrote on 11/2/2015 3:52 PM:

I'm on kitkat and my phone just moved everything to the SD card itself. That's stuff like downloads, contacts, photos,
music, ringtones etc. Not the apps. I can move about 5-8 apps but others won't. Mostly the non-google apps.

I've read others having issues with kitkat, so this might be a feature with my brand of phone. BLU Life Play II

[tlvp]

On Mon, 2 Nov 2015 20:52:37 +0000 (UTC), Vincent Cheng Hoi Chuen wrote:

> ... I explored file "relocation" tools, and I found three that will

> relocate one file or directory for free.
>

> ... [description of "how I relocated my Android "Downloads" directory to be on my
> external sd card" suppressed] ....
>

Relocating that Downloads directory to your external microSD card is
fantastic ... until the day comes when your external microSD card is not in
its slot. Then you're storing those downloaded items on DevNul :-{ .

Cheers, -- tlvp
--
Avant de repondre, jeter la poubelle, SVP.

[The Real Bev]

On 11/10/2015 11:17 PM, tlvp wrote:
> On Mon, 2 Nov 2015 20:52:37 +0000 (UTC), Vincent Cheng Hoi Chuen wrote:
>
>> ... I explored file "relocation" tools, and I found three that will
>> relocate one file or directory for free.
>>
>> ... [description of "how I relocated my Android "Downloads" directory to be on my
>> external sd card" suppressed] ....
>>
>
> Relocating that Downloads directory to your external microSD card is
> fantastic ... until the day comes when your external microSD card is not in
> its slot. Then you're storing those downloaded items on DevNul :-{ .

I moved all possible apps, except the ones I want to run faster (just a
guess, no idea if there is or isn't a speed difference), to the external
card.

You have to take the back off to remove the card from the Moto G, and I
have no idea how many cycles those cheesy plastic tabs are good for.
I've used 19 of the 32 GB on my card and am wondering if I should
perhaps swap it for a 64 GB card. Take it out, copy it to the computer,
copy it back to the new card, put the new card in the phone. Maybe
there will be cheap ones in the Black Friday ad for Best Buy...

--
Cheers, Bev
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
"Tip: Place your houseplants in front of the television during
the next presidential debate and watch how leafy they get."
-- Scott Adams

[tlvp]

On Wed, 11 Nov 2015 00:18:02 -0800, The Real Bev wrote:

> ... Maybe
> there will be cheap ones (SD cards) in the Black Friday ad for Best Buy...

And maybe Best Buy will waive their restocking fee if those "cheap ones"
are too cheap to function correctly, hence need to be returned for refund.

:-) . Cheers, -- tlvp

[The Real Bev]

On 11/11/2015 10:59 PM, tlvp wrote:
> On Wed, 11 Nov 2015 00:18:02 -0800, The Real Bev wrote:
>
>> ... Maybe
>> there will be cheap ones (SD cards) in the Black Friday ad for Best Buy...
>
> And maybe Best Buy will waive their restocking fee if those "cheap ones"
> are too cheap to function correctly, hence need to be returned for refund.

There are advantages to having a BB across the street. I've never had a
problem with buying counterfeit/damaged stuff (unlike Fry's) there, and
returns have been trivial (aside from the wait in line if I go at a bad
time). Their credit card gives me 5% (sometimes 6%) on stuff I buy
there and 2% on stuff I buy anywhere else. You can use the credit only
at BB, but that's no problem. Their sale prices (unlike regular prices)
are very good.

I like getting 2% back on utility and insurance bills. Too bad we can't
pay income tax that way :-(

--
Cheers, Bev
*******************************************
"I've learned that you can keep puking long
after you think you're finished." -- SL

[tlvp]

On Thu, 12 Nov 2015 09:13:46 -0800, The Real Bev wrote:

> ... I like getting 2% back on utility and insurance bills. Too bad we can't
> pay income tax that way :-( ...

Where I live we *used* to be able to use credit cards to pay local property
taxes. It was indeed sweet to get a "rebate" that way. But then the tax
collector's office got into bed with some of the credit card collection
firms who charge you 3% to pay your bills for you when you use your credit
card, and now instead of gaining a percent or two for paying your property
taxes, you lose 3%. That's a massive deal for me, at least, because our
confiscatory local property taxes come to at least double my income tax.

[Steen]

On my Huawei P8 Lite, I can go into specific apps, and choose if I want
to change the location to the external SD card.
My card might be to cheap, because I have a bit of trouble with images
from the camera automatic placed on the SD card.
--
Steen