How to Format SD Card Using Windows, Mac, Android, and Camera?

It’s a good idea to format your SD card if you suspect bugs are building up to corrupt the file data. Clearing and deleting may refresh the micro SD, but formatting is the best way to reduce the risk of data corruption. 

In this blog, we have explained how to format SD cards on multiple devices and the important points to consider. Read all the steps carefully to follow through. 

Let’s dive right in! 

How to Format an SD Card Using Windows?

Before formatting your SD Card, you must save all the data in the SD card, as you can’t get them back after formatting with a Windows PC. Here are the steps for how you format a micro SD card using Windows devices: 

1. First, insert the SD card into the PC using a card reader. 
2. Go to the File Explorer app. 

   

3. Now, tap on This PC tab and you’ll be redirected to a new page.

   

4. Tap on the Memory card tab and it will open a new page. 
5. Next, you need to select the Manage tab.
6. Tap on the Format button displayed on the top-middle of the page. 
7. You will get a pop-up. Here, select the file system from the options: NTFS, FAT32, and exFAT (Recommended).        
8. After selecting the format, tick off the Quick Format checkbox.  
9. Lastly, tap on the Start button to initiate the process.   

   

So this is how you can format a micro SD card using Windows. We have discussed three other ways to carry out the formatting process. Follow through the coming sections. 

How Do You Format A Micro SD Card Using a Mac? 

If you own a MacBook, follow through the steps we have written below to clear the SD card. Just make sure that your SD card is compatible with your Mac. 

1. First, insert the SD Card in the given slot of your MacBook. In case your device does not have the port, get an SD-to-USB adapter to connect your card. 
2. Locate and open Finder from the dock area. 
3. Tap on Go and select Utilities from the drop-down menu. 

   

4. Here, select Disk Utility and tap on the Memory card tab from the left section of the screen. 
5. On this page, you need to click on the Erase button and you’ll see a popup.
6. Choose the format here. You can select from: Mac OS Extended (Journaled), Mac OS Extended (Journaled, Encrypted), Mac OS Extended (Case-sensitive, Journaled), Mac OS Extended (Case-sensitive, Journaled, Encrypted), MS-DOS (FAT), ExFAT (Recommended).  
7. After selecting your preferred format, click on the Erase button to clear the data. 

   

So this is how you can format a micro SD card using your MacBook device. 

How to Format an SD Card Using Your Android Device?

Erasing data from your SD card is possible with all the Android models. Whether you have Android 11, 10, or even earlier versions, follow through the steps given below: 

1. Insert the SD Card in the port using the SIM tray. 
2. Give a few seconds for the device to read your card, then go to the Settings app. 

   

3. Locate the Battery and Device Care section and open it. 
4. Tap on Storage and select the three vertical dots for the More menu. 

   

5. Next, scroll to the SD card and click on the format button to initiate the erasing process. 

Moving ahead, let’s understand the way to clear an SD card using the camera in the next section. 

How to Clear an SD Card On A Digital Camera? 

Clearing your micro SD using the camera is quite simple. Just consider two things: backup the data in Google Photos or iCloud if you want to keep them and charge your camera’s battery to the full. After doing so, you can follow the steps listed below to format an SD card using a camera: 

1. First, insert the SD card in the slot and turn on the camera. 
2. Navigate to the Set Up section and scroll down to locate the menu tab.
3. Choose Format/Format Memory Card (depending on your camera model and company). 

   

4. Then, tap on the OK button to initiate the formatting process. 

Wait for a few minutes for the process to be completed. After that, power off your camera again and remove the SD card if you want. 

So this was all about how to format SD cards using Windows, Mac, Android, and Camera. We hope the steps in this blog will help you to erase the data and protect your SD card from corruption. Share the info with your friends and family to make them aware as well.