If you use the SD card of your gadget to store pictures, music, videos, documents and even emails, there is a chance that your SD card contains some hidden files. If you want to fully format your SD card and get rid of both visible and hidden data, you should format it without the quick format option. Let’s look at how to format an SD card in different ways.
Backup Your SD Card
Before formatting your SD card, it is necessary to back up important folders and documents on your PC or store them on cloud storage to prevent data loss. Make sure you back up both visible and hidden files/folders.
How to Format SD Card: Windows 7
Windows 7 has two programs to format your SD card: Windows Explorer and Disk Management. Disk Management can be started by entering “Disk Management” in the search field of the Start menu and pressing the “Enter” key. The formatting function can be accessed by right-clicking on the SD card and selecting “Format” to start the formatting function. Both functions allow you to change the file format and name of the card. If you deselect “Quick Format”, all information will be overwritten during the reformatting process, but it will take a little longer.
How to Repair SD Card: Windows 8
Step 1
Access the Settings menu of the phone.
Step 2
In the Settings menu, scroll down to the Phone Storage utility, and select it to proceed.
Step 3
At this point, a screen will appear showing a graph representing the levels of storage space left on both external and internal storage. In order to format the troubling SD card, tap on the SD card menu.
Step 4
On the following screen, select the Format SD Card option to start the formatting process.
Step 5
Before the device begins the formatting process, it will ask you for a confirmation. Simply tap on Yes to start.
Step 6
Sit back until the formatting process is complete. Once the process is complete, the unit will automatically detect the SD card and prompt you to reconfigure it.
How to Repair SD Card: Mac
Apple’s built-in Disk Utility lets you erase your SD card to use either the Mac Extended Journal or FAT file systems.
Step 1
Insert the SD card into the SD card reader of your Mac system. If your Mac doesn’t have a built-in SD card reader, you can purchase an external card reader that plugs into your Mac’s FireWire or USB port.
Step 2
Click the Go option in the Mac menu and then select Applications.
Step 3
Double-click on the Utilities folder inside Applications. Double-click again on the Disk Utility app icon to start the application.
Step 4
Select your SD card on the left part of the Disk Utility function. Then, click the Erase button.
Step 5
Select the drop-down box close to Volume Format and choose the sort of formatting for the SD card. Choose FAT if you want to access the SD card on both Windows and Mac-based systems. If you just wish to use the SD card in your Mac, choose Mac OS Extended.
Step 6
Provide a name for the SD card near the Name box. Select the Erase button to start the SD card formatting process. Sit back until the Format Complete box appears before removing the SD card from your computer.
How to Repair SD Card: Android
At some point, the SD card in your Android gadget could become damaged. This can lead to various problems, usually resulting in PC synchronization not running properly or not starting at all. Follow the steps below to format your SD card.
Step 1
Right-click on your problematic SD card drive on Computer or My Computer and select Format.
Step 2
Forget all default settings and click Start.
Step 3
Once formatting is complete, copy all your files and folders (that were previously backed up) back to the SD card.
Do a chkdsk
- Connect your Android gadget to your PC and start it as hard disk (i.e. in mass storage mode).
- Open My Computer on your system and note the drive letter assigned to the SD card of your Android gadget.
- On your system, go back to the Start menu, type “cmd” in the execution field and press Enter.
- Now type the following command: chkdsk [sd card drive letter]:/r
