Editing Getting Started (section)

== SD Card Options ==

The RP2 comes with a 32 GB microSD card. Do NOT format or erase this card before backing up the files it comes with, as these are the files required for RetroidOS to work. If your card is erased, damaged, or accidentally formatted, you can find the necessary files (but without any games) [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Li1LR9Lc9-cMIFtM7UXWPB8oDDTPqtAi/view here]. If you want more than 32GB of storage in your RP2, you will need to replace the 32GB card with another card. If you want to use RetroidOS with a new card, you will also need to copy the critical files over to the new card, in exactly the same directory structure. For advice on which microSD card to buy, see [[Accessories]].

Whichever micro SD card you use in your RP2, it can be set up either as internal storage or external storage. Depending on your needs, you may wish to have both an external and internal card, or just one or the other. To swap between cards, make sure to turn off your device before removing one card and inserting the other. If you have an internal card and an external card, you will need to boot up the RP2 in one mode or the other with the incorrect card inserted. In this case it is probably best to swap cards while switched off in RetroidOS mode, as this likely offers less chance for damage to critical files.

=== Linking your internal apps to External SD card ===

There is another option to use your external card as storage for your apps. Advantages to using external card as internal storage is, you can still use your external sd card at card readers; you can move your apps back to internal storage if you want to replace the card; if you don't link system apps from internal storage to external card; you will be safe even if the external card gets corrupted. Also you can continue using RetroidOS with this option if you choose to. Lastly, you won't have any trouble with OTA updates.

To be able to do this first you need ROOT. Refer to the rooting section under Firmwares on this wiki. Afterwards, you will need a program as Apps2SD. Download it from Google Playstore. Open it, you will need to use "Partition Tool" from the first main menu. WARNING: This will delete your whole card and you should do a backup before doing that. You will have 3 options at Partition Tool, first one is for Rom storage; make it as FAT32 format, second one is for moving the apps; make it an "ext4" and the third one is for "swap" that is supposed to add more RAM for the system to use. Resize the partitions to your liking and hit "yes".

Device will reboot at that point. Open Apps2SD,  click "Link Apps to SD card"; it will ask you to create mount script. Choose ext4 and from below, tick the box to the left of "Advanced". It will say "Success!" on this point and apps will show up. Just choose the app you want to carry to external sd card and click Link from bottom right and it is done.

=== Using Your SD Card as External Storage ===

If you would prefer to use your micro SD card in card readers and other devices, and don't want to install many Android apps to your RP2, you will probably want to keep the card as external storage. Additionally, if you want to use RetroidOS, you cannot use a card formatted as internal storage; while your RP2 will still appear to boot normally into RetroidOS, you will not be able to access or install any games.

To use RetroidOS with a new micro SD card, you will need to copy the files from your original 32GB card over to the new card. These files include encryption keys and support files that will allow RetroidOS to read stored games, to install new games from local files, and to access the Retroid "online store".

Some guides recommend using partition management software (e.g. MiniTool, Disk Genius) to make a complete backup of the partition on the included 32GB micro SD card, and then write this backup to your new micro SD card. If you are comfortable working with partitions and drive images, this can work very well. However, it doesn't appear to offer any advantages over simply formatting your new micro SD card to "exFAT" and then copying all the files over normally. Furthermore, if you make a mistake during the partition copying process, it is possible to introduce errors into your micro SD cards which would require more work to repair.