5 Ways to Format SD Card on Windows 11

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Method 1: Format SD Card Using File Explorer

The primary method for formatting your SD card is using File Explorer in Windows. File Explorer lets you manage the data of both internal and external storage drives, including your SD card. Here’s how to use it to format your SD card.

Step 1:Connect your SD card reader to your Windows PC and pressWin + Eto open the File Explorer.

Step 2:ClickThis PCfrom the left menu in the File Explorer window.

Step 3:Right-click on yourSD card drive iconand selectFormatfrom the list of options.

Step 4:SelectFile Format, Volume Label,andFormat Optionsin the new Format window.

Step 4:ClickStart>OKto confirm, and Windows will format your SD card. Once done, the SD card will be ready to use.

If theFile Explorer is not working on your Windows PC, follow this guide.

Method 2: Use the Settings App

The Settings app on your Windows PC lets you manage disk partitions and external storage devices. It also includes the option to format your SD card.

Step 1:Connect your SD card reader and openWindows SettingsusingWin + I.

Step 2:Go toStorage>Advanced storage settings>Disks & volumes.

Step 3:Locate the SD Card, expand the section, and click thePropertiesbutton.

Step 4:In the SD card details window, click onFormatto open theFormat volumewindow.

Step 5:SelectLabel, File System, and Allocation Sizeand click onFormat. Once the process is completed, the drive will be ready to use.

Method 4: Disk Management Utility

The following method for formatting your SD card is to use the Disk Management Utility on your Windows PC. The Disk Management Utility is a built-in program for creating and modifying disk partitions.

Step 1:Typediskmgmt.mscin theRun prompt (Win + R), and press theEnterkey to open the Disk Management Utility.

Step 2:Select theSD Card Volume nameyou want to format andright-clickon it.

Step 3:SelectFormatfrom the list of options. You will instantly get a warning. Click onYesto confirm, and it will open the format window.

Step 4:SelectFile Systemand clickOKto format your SD card. Unchecking the box forPerform a quick formatwill take a while.

Method 5: Use SD Card Formatter

The SD Card Formatter is free software for quickly formatting SD cards on Windows 11. You can download and install it from the official SD Card Association website. While downloading it, you must accept the End User License Agreement like any other software. Once installed, here’s how to use it.

Step 1:Download and install theSD Card Formatter, then open it.

Step 2:The SD Card Formatter will automatically detect your SD card and show its storage details on your screen.

Step 3:Click onFormatto start the process.

Method 6: Diskpart Utility

The last method we suggest is using Command Prompt or Windows Terminal. Here’s how to instruct it to format your SD card.

Step 1:OpenWindows Terminalwith admin permission (Win + X, then press A)

Step 2:Type the following commands and pressEnterto show all the disk partitions.

Step 3:Check the disk number of your SD card. Then, type the following command and pressEnter.

N is the disk number of your SD card.

Step 4:Run the following commands individually to format your SD card.format FS=Ex-FAT

You can choose from formats like Ex-FAT, FAT32, or NTFS.

Step 5:Assign the letter to your SD card drive by typing the following command.

You can choose any letter except those that have already been assigned. After that, Windows will format your SD card.

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Last updated on 04 June, 2024

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