This wikiHow teaches you how to format an SD card, which is a removable storage medium for your camera, phone, or tablet. Formatting the drive in any form will delete all the files on it. So, first back up the files on the SD card (such as videos or photos) before you format.
Step
Method 1 of 3: On Android Device
Step 1. Make sure the SD card is installed properly
To install an SD card, you may need to remove the back cover of your Android device.
- Phones and tablets use a microSD card, which is the kind of SD card used in cameras and the like, but in a mini form.
- Sometimes the SD card slot in Android devices is covered by the battery so you have to remove the battery first.
Step 2. Open Settings
on your Android device.
This gear-shaped app is in the Android device's App Drawer.
Step 3. Scroll down and tap Storage
It's in the middle of the Settings page.
Tap Device maintenance if you are using a Samsung device.
Step 4. Tap on the name of the microSD card
The name of the card can be found under the " Portable storage " heading.
Step 5. Tap
It's in the upper-right corner.
Step 6. Tap on Storage settings
The button is at the bottom of the drop-down menu.
Step 7. Tap Format or Format as internal.
Tap Format as internal if you want to set the SD card as internal storage. Tap Format If you only want to delete the contents on the SD card.
If you are using a Samsung device, tap Storage which is at the bottom of the page first.
Step 8. Tap ERASE & FORMAT
It's at the bottom of the page. Your SD card for Android device will start formatting.
This process only takes a few seconds. When it's done, it means you've successfully reformatted the SD card
Method 2 of 3: On Windows Computer
Step 1. Plug the SD card into the computer
Usually the computer case has a small and wide slot as a place to insert an SD card.
- Insert the SD card on the beveled side first with the label facing up.
- If your computer doesn't have an SD card slot, buy an SD to USB adapter so you can connect the SD card to your computer via the USB port.
Step 2. Go to Start
You can do this by clicking on the Windows logo in the lower left corner.
You can also do this by pressing Win
Step 3. Click
located on the left side of the Start window.
File Explorer will be opened.
Step 4. Click My Computer
It's a monitor-shaped icon on the left side of the File Explorer window.
Step 5. Click the SD card name
Its name will appear under the " Devices and drives " heading in the middle of the This PC window. On the name of the SD card, it usually says "SDHC".
Step 6. Click the Manage tab
This is a menu item in the upper-left side of the This PC window.
Step 7. Click Format
This icon (located in the upper-left side of the window) is a flash drive with a red circular arrow above it. The Format window will open.
Step 8. Click the "File System" box
This box is below the " File System " heading at the top of the page. A drop-down menu will appear with the following options:
- NTFS - This is the default format for the Windows operating system. This format can only be used on Windows computers.
- FAT32 - This is the most compatible format. You can use it on both Mac and Windows computers, but it has a storage limit of 32 GB.
- exFAT (Recommended) - This format works on both Mac and Windows, and has no storage limit.
Step 9. Click the desired format
Your selection will serve as the type of format for your card.
If you have formatted the card before, also check the box Quick Format.
Step 10. Click Start → OK.
The SD card will start to be formatted by Windows.
While this process is running, your SD card photos will be deleted
Step 11. Click OK when prompted
This indicates that the SD card has been changed to support the format you selected.
Method 3 of 3: On Mac Komputer
Step 1. Plug the SD card into the computer
Usually the computer case has a small and wide slot as a place to insert an SD card.
- Insert the SD card on the beveled side first with the label facing up.
- Most newer Macs don't come with a slot for an SD card so you'll need to purchase an SD to USB adapter to connect the SD card.
Step 2. Launch Finder
The icon is a blue face in the Dock.
Step 3. Click the Go button
This menu item is on the left side of your Mac's menu bar, which is at the top of the screen.
Step 4. Click on Utilities located in the Go drop-down menu
Step 5. Double-click Disk Utility which is in the middle of the Utilities page
The utilities on this page are usually arranged alphabetically
Step 6. Click the SD card name
Its name will appear in the window on the left side of the Disk Utility page.
Step 7. Click Erase
This tab is located at the top of the Disk Utility window.
Step 8. Click the box under the "Format" heading
The box is in the middle of the page. A drop-down menu will appear with the following formatting options:
- Mac OS Extended (Journaled) - This is the default format for Mac, and can only be used on Mac computers.
- Mac OS Extended (Journaled, Encrypted) - Default format for Mac, but encrypted.
- Mac OS Extended (Case-sensitive, Journaled) - A default format for Mac that treats files differently when there are files with the same name, but using different upper and lower case letters (eg between "file.txt" and "File.txt").
- Mac OS Extended (Case-sensitive, Journaled, Encrypted)' - Format for Mac which is a combination of the 3 format options above.
- MS-DOS (FAT) - This format can be used on Mac and Windows computers, but the file size is limited to a maximum of 4 GB.
- ExFAT (Recommended) - It can be used on both Mac and Windows, without limiting the file size.
Step 9. Select the desired format
The format you choose will be set as the format type on the SD card.
Step 10. Click Erase, then click Erase when prompted.
Your Mac will start erasing and reformatting the SD card. When the process is complete, the SD card will support the format you have selected.
