Where apps live and why you might move them
Most apps run from your device's main storage — the built-in space on your phone or computer. When that storage fills up, or when you want to free up speed on your main drive, you can move some apps to external storage like a USB drive, memory card, or external hard drive. The process differs sharply between phones and computers, and what you can move depends on your operating system.
Moving apps is not the same as moving files. Apps contain executable code that your operating system needs to find quickly, so you cannot straightforward drag them to a folder and expect them to work. Your device has specific tools for moving apps safely, and using them prevents the app from breaking or becoming inaccessible.
Key Takeaways
- On Windows, you can move most apps to an external drive through Settings, but some system apps and programs installed before Windows 10 may not move.
- On Mac, moving apps is manual — you drag them to external storage, but they may not run unless the drive stays connected.
- On iPhone and iPad, you cannot move apps to external storage; you can only delete them or use iCloud to store app data.
- On Android, moving apps to an SD card is possible on some phones through Settings, but depends on your phone model and Android version.
- External drives must stay connected and powered for moved apps to run, which makes them impractical for apps you use daily.
Moving apps on Windows to an external drive
Windows 10 and later let you move most apps to external storage through the Settings menu. Plug in your external drive first, then open Settings, go to Apps, and select Apps and Features. Find the app you want to move, click it, and look for a Move button. If the button appears, click it and choose your external drive as the destination. Windows will copy the app and update its location in your system.
Not every app can move this way. System apps that came with Windows — like Mail, Calculator, or Settings — cannot move. Apps you installed before upgrading to Windows 10 may also refuse to move. If no Move button appears, the app is locked in place. In that case, your only option is to uninstall it and reinstall it on the external drive, though this works only if the installer lets you choose the destination.
Keep the external drive connected whenever you want to use a moved app. If you unplug it, Windows will not find the app and it will not launch. This makes external storage practical only for apps you use occasionally, not daily tools.
Moving apps on Mac to external storage
Mac does not have a built-in tool to move apps. Instead, you manually drag the app from Applications to your external drive. Open Finder, click Applications in the sidebar, find the app, and drag it to your external drive's folder. The app will copy over, and you can delete the original from Applications if you want to free up space.
The catch is that many Mac apps store supporting files — preferences, caches, libraries — in hidden folders in your user Library. When you move just the app itself, these files stay behind, and the app may not run correctly from external storage. Professional apps like Adobe Creative Suite or Final Cut Pro are especially prone to this problem. For those, moving the app alone often breaks it.
If you move an app and it will not launch, move it back to Applications. For apps you want to keep on external storage long-term, check the developer's website for instructions on moving the entire app bundle and its support files together.
Why iPhone and iPad cannot move apps to external storage
iPhones and iPads do not support moving apps to external storage at all. Apple's operating system, iOS, does not allow apps to run from anything other than the device's internal storage. You cannot use a USB drive, memory card, or external hard drive to store apps on these devices.
If your iPhone or iPad is running out of space, your options are to delete apps you do not use regularly, or to use iCloud to store app data and documents in the cloud instead of on the device. Some apps let you offload them — a feature that removes the app but keeps its data, so you can reinstall it later without losing your progress. Go to Settings, General, iPhone Storage, find the app, and tap Offload App.
Moving apps on Android to an SD card
Android phones with an SD card slot can move some apps to the card, but the process and what you can move depend on your phone model and Android version. On newer Android versions (9 and later), the option to move apps to SD card has become less common as phones rely more on internal storage.
If your phone supports it, go to Settings, Apps, and find the app you want to move. Tap Storage or Storage and Cache, and look for a Move to SD Card button. If it appears, tap it. If it does not appear, that app cannot move — this is common for system apps and apps that need fast access to run smoothly.
Check your phone's manual or settings to confirm whether your model has an SD card slot and whether your Android version still supports moving apps. Many newer phones have removed the SD card slot entirely, making this option unavailable.
What happens when you move an app and then disconnect the drive
When you move an app to external storage and then unplug the drive, your device cannot find the app's files. On Windows, the app will not launch and may show an error. On Mac, the app icon may remain in Applications, but clicking it will do nothing. On Android, the app may crash or behave unpredictably.
Reconnect the external drive and the app will work again. This is why moving apps to external storage works best for programs you use infrequently — things like backup tools, seasonal software, or games you play occasionally. For apps you need every day, keep them on your device's main storage.
Deciding which apps to move and which to keep
Before moving an app, ask whether you actually need the space. Moving an app to external storage slows it down slightly because the device has to read from a slower drive. If your main storage is only half full, the speed loss is not worth the small space gain.
Move apps when your main storage is genuinely full — when your device is running slowly or warning you about low space. Prioritize moving large apps you rarely use: games, video editors, or specialized software. Keep everyday apps like email, messaging, web browsers, and productivity tools on your main drive.
If you move an app and find you use it more than expected, move it back. The process is reversible, and your device will run faster with frequently used apps on main storage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I move an app to a USB drive and use it on a different computer?
Not reliably. Apps are built for specific operating systems and often depend on system files and settings on the computer they were installed on. Moving an app to a USB drive and plugging it into a different computer usually does not work. The app may not launch, or it may launch but malfunction. Use the installer to install the app on each computer instead.
What if I move an app and it stops working?
Move it back to your device's main storage. On Windows, go to Settings, Apps, Apps and Features, find the app, and click Move, then choose your main drive. On Mac, drag the app back to Applications. On Android, go to Settings, Apps, find the app, and tap Move to Internal Storage. The app should work again once it is back on main storage.
Does moving an app delete my saved data or settings?
No. Moving an app moves the program itself, but your saved games, preferences, and account information stay on your device. When you move the app back or reinstall it, your data is still there. The only exception is if you uninstall an app entirely — that may delete its data depending on the app and your device settings.
Can I move system apps like Settings or Mail?
No. Windows, Mac, and Android all lock system apps in place because the operating system needs them to run. You cannot move them to external storage. If a system app is taking up space, you cannot remove it, but you can often disable it or prevent it from running in the background through Settings.
Is it safe to move apps to external storage?
Yes, as long as you use your device's built-in move tool rather than manually dragging files. The move tool updates your operating system's records so it knows where the app is. If you manually move app files without using the proper tool, your device will not find them and they will not work.