Android 6.0.1 update unable to format SD card as internal memory can't move app to SD card

[UncleSammo]

I just updated to Android 6.0.1 last night and I realized many things has changed. I can't access my apps store on the SD card from Android 5.1.1. I was able to move the apps to the SD card on 5.1.1 to free up some internal memory. The Marshmallow update supposed to have a better feature. It can mount the SD as internal memory provided I have to formated as internal memory. I bee playing around with my phone all day and I realized on the Sony release, they do not have this feature. I been YouTubeing around and found that within 6.0.1 in the settings /storage/SD card sub-menu, there should be 3 options. Eject, Format, and Format to internal memory. That's what I'm missing. Also if u insert the SD card for the first time, it should pop up a notification asking you what to do with the SD card. It didn't ask me. This is a known feature with marshmallow. My phone only have 16g, it won't hold all my apps, that was the reason why I move some apps to SD on Android 5.1.1. So what's going on?

I also factory reset my phone and format my SD again on my computer, it still don't work. It only treats it as a portable storage.

[YoGem]

Let's see, where do I start.

I know this thread is marked as solved however is important to notice that sony actually did something reasonable by disabling that feature.

1st because you can still move your apps to SD card, secondly because using the adaptable storage functionality is a double edged sword, meaning that it can provoke many unwanted problems and issues. One for all is the lag and stutter in running an app, then high SD card failure rates, battery draining and huge frustration if you'll have to factory reset your phone.

Adaptable storage require a fast SD card, UHS1 for best results. If Sony one day will enable the feature, if you install a SD card that is not compliant with requirements will warn you and about speed issues.

SD cards are not meant for continued r/w operations. They have a very low lifetime considering that are meant only for storage purposes rather than active usage. Failure in a SD card mens real loss of data and automatic factory reset. Why? Because the SD is formatted as an extension of the internal storage, it's encrypted and if you remove the SD card or the SD breaks... The internal storage will appear a broken too. Solution to fix it? Factory reset.

Data loss: Your phone breaks and want to save content in your SD card? Forget about it. The only way to use again that SD card is to format it, aka data loss. Do you think you will be able to use undelete apps to recover data? Nope, you will be out of luck because the mbr will be in the phone/internal storage along with the fat(file allocation table)/index/DB and anyway content is encrypted and decryption keys are hard to decipher...

Slow apps: willing to wait minutes for your favorite apps to load? Be my guest, you'll become nervous and frustrated by trying to do so, oh and of course: Continued operation and transfer between SD and Device to load an app will consume even more battery because the data won't pass directly from internal storage to ram to cpu, but will do bus, SD, bus, internal storage, ram to cpu. It's a "small" but significant set of extra step that will affect also battery life.

I know that adaptive storage sounds appealing, it is for low end devices with 4/8gb of internal storage (Moto E with Marshmallow works with it but it's terrible) while with 16gb you have more chances to install all the apps you need and store medias in the SD card. Device will be faster, no battery drain and less frustrating migrating experiences between devices.

Sorry for the long post.

[ADR-007]

Someone tried to use CyanogenMod?

[UserZ2]

Hello,

I just wanted to say, that I'm really disappointed that one of the main features of new Android was disabled by Sony.

If as they say, they decided to disable it because of the performance loss, I'm disappointed that they made that decision for me and didn't give their users a choice of using it or not. In my opinion, they disabled this feature, to prevent possibility of upgrading old device, by extending it's capacity.

My Z2 although I have no games, I'm not photo taking maniac (I have maybe a few dozens of photos), have no music files and have only work related apps, is already full and I was really looking forward this functionality.

The other functionality I'm missing because of this is I can't use my own cloud backup on my home server as Android is not letting to sync files stored on external memory. I would be able to do it if this feature was not disabled.

[ADR-007]

I think that no one of us will buy Sony in the future.

[Jenny1983]

Good Afternoon, I have just done an update to version 6.0.1 on my Sony Xperia Z3 phone and have noticed that I am having problems with my SD card. It just says Explore or Eject.  

Could someone one please help me with what I need to do??

Kind regards,

Jenny Vidler 

[Goon]

I updated today and also experiencing this problem and the thread I'm with the majority of the responders who want this SD card use for app management. The phone itself lacks space and I need to constantly move and transfer photos to the SD card. Now I need to manage my apps further. 

Quite ridiculous.

Now I'm reading about the battery drainage in the latest update...

[AMcClean]

Recieved the update on my z3 compact this morning as I have been wanting to use more of my Sd card for apps. I can't beleive SONY have removed one of the main features of Marshmallow.

Very disapointed. I hope SONY realise the annoyance this removal brings. 

I beleive we should have been given the choice to use it or not use it. 

THis is my first SONY and I have been singing Sonys praises until now. 

Please provide an update which re-instates the full feature set. esp since this was a big feature of Marshmallow.

[eSbek]

Here is the solution:

http://forum.xda-developers.com/z5-compact/general/tuto-enable-adoptable-storage-mm-t3334153

more detailed here (For LG G4 but worked with my wife's Sony Experia Z3)
https://www.reddit.com/r/lgg4/comments/3z1bfi/enable_adoptable_storage_on_your_lg_g4_stock_no/

[UncleSammo]

Thanks eSbek

I'm not sure it actually work for me or not, the drive did change as I excuted the command line, but for some reason, the total storage seems to be a bit odd.

[eSbek]

I have the same issue with storage size but decided to live with that. So far, after I put back all my data from SD Card backup stored on my PC before SD Card format all works fine exept the size.
I found the incorrect size comes from SD Card "System Android".