How to Insert and Remove microSD Card from Samsung Galaxy Tab S8

Unfortunately, there aren’t very many mainstream devices available that still use the microSD card slot. This used to be a foregone conclusion, but phone and tablet makers have simply moved away from including support for expandable storage. That’s why Samsung’s decision to include the microSD card slot with the Galaxy Tab S8 was so surprising.

Out of the box, the Galaxy Tab S8 and Galaxy Tab S8 Plus can be configured with up to 256GB of storage. The Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra takes it up a notch, adding a 512GB configuration. But the really wonderful thing about these tablets is that you can make use of up to a 1TB microSD card. This provides more than enough room to store your favorite movies, ROMs, TV shows, pictures, music, and pretty much anything else you could think of.

Insert microSD Card to Samsung Galaxy Tab S8

Before you can actually start using the microSD card, you’ll need to know where the card goes. No matter which version of the Galaxy Tab S8 you are using, the expandable storage tray is found on the top frame of the tablet if you are using it in landscape mode. And if you are using it in portrait mode, then you’ll find it on the right side of the device.

From there, you’ll need to make note of the different cutouts that may be available. For instance, on the Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra, there are two pin-holes that are located on the same side. One of these is a microphone, while the other is the release for the microSD card slot. But if you look carefully, you’ll be able to discern which is which.

From there, just take the included SIM card tray removal tool, enter it into the pin-hole, and then use your fingers to pull the tray from the frame of the tablet once it’s been pushed far enough out. Then, place the microSD card into the tray with the gold contact pins facing down. Once installed correctly, place the tray back into the cutout, and gently push until the edge of the tray is flush with the frame of your tablet.

Remove microSD Card from Samsung Galaxy Tab S8

You can always just “rip” the microSD card out of the Galaxy Tab S8. But if there is any sensitive data on the card, there’s a good chance that you will lose that data forever. Here’s how you can safely unmount the microSD card from the Galaxy Tab S8 before you remove it.

1. Make sure that the microSD card is inserted in the Galaxy Tab S8.
2. Unlock your tablet and open the Settings app.
3. Scroll down and select Battery and device care.
4. Tap Storage.
5. Swipe to the left to reveal the microSD card.
6. Tap the More icon with three vertical dots.
7. Tap Unmount.

With the microSD card unmounted from the Galaxy Tab S8, now you can safely remove it without causing any damage. In order to do so, look on the top (or right-side) of the tablet for the microSD card tray slot. Using the provided tool, insert the removal tool into the pinhole and remove the tray. Then, take the microSD card out of the tray, and gently put the tray back into your Galaxy Tab S8.

Format microSD Card

Whether you found an old microSD card laying around, or you just bought a new one from Amazon, the first step that you’ll want to take is to format the card. This ensures that you are starting with a clean slate, and removing any potential corruptions before you begin using the Galaxy Tab S8’s expandable storage capabilities. Here’s how you can format the microSD card on the Galaxy Tab S8:

1. Make sure that the microSD card is inserted in the Galaxy Tab S8.
2. Unlock your tablet and open the Settings app.
3. Scroll down and select Battery and device care.
4. Tap Storage.
5. Swipe to the left to reveal the microSD card.
6. Tap the More icon with three vertical dots.
7. Tap Format.
8. Select Format again to confirm.

The process of formatting the microSD card will take a few moments. Once completed, you’ll see a little pop-up message that says that the microSD card has been formatted successfully. Now, you can start using the microSD card for storage without worrying about whether it will work properly on your tablet.

Best microSD Cards For Galaxy Tab S8

Considering that finding a flagship Android phone with a microSD card slot is pretty rate, chances are that you might be wondering what the best microSD card is for the Galaxy Tab S8. There are quite a few different options out there, but here are a few of our favorites.

• SanDisk Extreme 1TB microSDXC: Up to 160MB/s read speeds to save time transferring high res images and 4K UHD videos. Rated A2 for faster loading and in-app performance. Built for and tested in harsh conditions: Temperature Proof, Water Proof, shockproof and X-Ray proof.
• PNY Premier-X 256GB microSDXC: A1 App Performance enables apps to run directly from the microSD card, delivering faster app launch and performance. A1 provides minimally 1500 IOPS (Read) and 500 IOPS (Write).
• Lexar Professional 1000x: Lexar 256GB Micro SD Card supports up to 150MB/s read speed and up to 90MB/s write speed for data transfer. Supports up to 12 hours of 4K videos, or up to 39 hours of 1080P video, 75,200 photos, or 39,400 songs.

No matter what you decide on, being able to expand your storage beyond what the manufacturer includes is always a win-win situation. Just make sure you get a big enough microSD card to store everything you’ll want.