Samsung Galaxy Note 4: Manage the SD Card / External Storage (Full Guide)

Inserting the SD Card:

1. Turn off your smartphone


2. Remove the back cover


3. Carefully slide the SD card in its slot with the gold contacts facing down. The card should click into place


4. Replace the back cover and reboot your Note 4

Removing the SD Card:

1. Tap "Apps" while viewing the home screen


2. Tap "Settings" and go to "Storage"


3. Tap "Unmount SD card"


4. Turn off your smartphone and remove the back cover


5. Slide the card out and replace the back cover, then reboot your smartphone

Check the Free SD Card Space:

1. Tap "Apps" while viewing a home screen


2. Tap "Settings" and go to "Storage"


3. The "Total space" and "Available space" values are displayed under "Device memory"

Formatting the SD Card:



WARNING! Formatting the SD card will result in the deletion of all data stored on it. Before proceeding, consider creating backups, if necessary. To format the external storage:

1. From the home screen, tap "Apps"


2. Tap "Settings" and go to "Storage"


3. Tap "Format SD card" and follow the on-screen prompts to complete the process

Open or Delete Files Stored on the SD Card



Deleting Files Using Your Smartphone:

1. Tap "Apps" while on a home screen


2. Launch "My Files"


3. Scroll to "Local Storage" and tap "SD card"


4. Tap "SD memory card"


5. Press the "Menu" icon located in the upper-right corner


6. Tap "Select" and mark the check boxes associated with the items you wish to remove


7. Touch "Done" and tap "OK" to confirm

Opening or Deleting Files via a Windows PC:

1. Connect the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 to your computer via USB


2. Swipe the "Status" bar down and open the "Notification" screen


3. Tap "USB connected" > "Connect USB storage"


4. On the computer, click "Open folder to view files" in the AutoPlay window


5. Access the "Removable Disk" directory (the SD card)


6. Double-click folders or files to open them


7. To delete files, select them, right-click and select "Delete"


8. When ready, safely disconnect your smartphone from the PC

Opening or Deleting Files Using a Mac Computer:



NOTE: Skip the first three steps if you have already installed Samsung Kies on your Mac

1. Navigate to Kies


2. Click "Download for Mac OS"


3. Follow the on-screen prompts to download and install Kies on your Mac


4. Connect the Galaxy Note 4 to your computer via USB


5. On the home screen, swipe the "Status" bar down


6. Tap "Connected as a media device" and mark the "Media device" check box


7. Launch Kies on the Mac and wait for the Note 4 to appear under "Connected devices"


8. In Kies, navigate to the desired files. NOTE: you can navigate the files by clicking the "Folder" icon associated with "External memory"


9. Double-click an item to open it


10. To delete an item, mark its check box and click the "Trash can" icon, then click "OK"


11. Once done, eject the Note 4's virtual storage and safely disconnect your smartphone

Transferring Files



Transferring Files Between the SD Card and Computer:

1. Use the USB cable to connect the Galaxy Note 4 to your computer


2. Swipe the "Status" bar down and tap "USB connected"


3. Tap "Connect USB storage"


4. On the computer, click "Open folder to view files" > "OK"


5. Access the "Removable Disk" directory


6. Locate the desired files stored on the SD card. Copy them and transfer them to your computer. (NOTE: at this point you can also transfer files from the computer to the SD card)


7. When finished, safely disconnect your smartphone

Transfer Files from a Mac to the Note 4's SD card:

1. Assuming that you have already installed Kies on your Mac, connect the Note 4 to the computer via USB


2. Swipe the "Status" bar down and tap "Connected as a media device" > "media device"


3. Launch Kies on the Mac


4. In Kies, click the "Folder" icon associated with "External memory"


5. Use the file explorer on your Mac to locate the files you wish to transfer


6. Drag the files and drop them in Kies


7. Once the transfer is done, safely disconnect your smartphone

Transfer Files from the Internal Storage to the SD Card:

1. Open the apps drawer and launch "My Files"


2. Scroll to "Local Storage" and tap "Device storage"


3. Navigate to the desired files stored on the internal memory


4. Mark the check boxes associated with the items you wish to move


5. Tap the "Menu" icon and select "Move" (alternatively tap "Copy" if you wish to create duplicates)


6. Tap "SD memory card" and navigate to the desired location


7. Tap "Move here" (or "Paste here")

Transfer Files from the SD Card to the Internal Storage:

1. Launch the "My Files" app


2. Swipe to "Local Storage" and tap "SD Card"


3. Tap "SD memory card" to access the external storage


4. Navigate to the files you wish to move to the internal memory


5. Mark the check boxes associated with the desired items


6. Tap the "Menu" icon and select "Move" or "Copy"


7. Tap "Device storage" and navigate to the desired location


8. Touch "Move here" or "Paste here"