Installing a memory card in a cell phone is a relatively easy task whether you have done it before or not. Most cell phones are able to use a memory card for extra storage because phones are capable of taking high quality pictures, recording video, and storing music for the MP3 player part of the cell phone. Instead of creating large capacities of internal storage, which could drive the cost of the phone up, manufacturers utilize external storage slots for convenience and to keep the price of the phone down.
Types of Memory Cards for Cell Phones
Cell phones will usually take one of two types of memory cards. They are called Memory Stick Pro Duo and microSD. Both are small memory cards that come in sizes ranging from 1 GB to 16 GB. Bear in mind that there is a capacity limit on cell phones. Some can read can cards up to 4 GB and others can read any card in that range. Make sure you read the instructions to your phone to determine what your cell can read. Some other cell phones may use miniSD cards, SD cards, xD cards, or other formats.
You are able to install files without the use of your cell phone. Music is placed on the card this way. microSD cards should come with an SD adapter that you can slide into your computer or a card reader that plugs into a USB port. If you use an SD card (which older phones may use), most recent computers come with this slot pre-installed. Smartphones, however, can be plugged into the computer, which reads the phone as an external hard drive. At this point, you can drag files onto the card just like you would a flash drive or a hard drive.
Installing a Memory Card in a Cell Phone
If you need to save files (like music or documents if you have a word processing program on your smartphone), then do so before you insert the card into the comptuer. Follow the instructions below to help you with installing a memory card in a cell phone:
- Determine where the memory card goes. The card will go either into a slot located on the perimeter of the phone or into a slot located behind the battery. If it is the latter, remove the battery cover and turn off the phone first.
- If the card goes into a slot on the side of the phone, insert the card into the hole. Push the card in until you hear a subtle click. This is a spring that will lock into place. When you remove the card, the spring will force the card out a little. Go to the last step.
- For cards that go in the battery portion, you should see a small square pocket, probably near the bottom part of the phone in the compartment. If not, remove the battery and it should be there, designated by an SD or some other memory card icon.
- Slide the memory card in that slot. It should click, meaning it's secure.
- Replace the battery and the cover.
- Turn the phone on and find the option where you can read files on the memory card. Most likely this option is in the settings menu. Once you find it, the phone may require you to format the memory card so that it can be read by your particular phone. Most smartphones are simply plug-and-play and all you need to do is to start saving to the memory card. Whichever is the case, make sure you tell the phone that you want to save to the memory card from now on. In the memory card menu, you should find this preference.
Advanced Cell Phones
Phones have become advanced all-in-one systems: you can listen to music, take pictures, and record video, as well as edit and view all kinds of documents. As technology finds better ways to improve the quality of each function on a cell phone, users will demand better and higher capabilities in storage mediums and installing a memory card in a cell phone will be more critical than ever before.
