How to Format SD Card on Windows 11? Here Are 4 Methods for You in 2024

Updated by

Linda 

Written by

Tracy King 

Updated on April 22, 2024

SD cards are essential storage devices that allow you to store files and information externally in a convenient and easily manageable format. They are also useful for transferring data across different platforms. SD cards are affordable, portable, and compatible with a wide range of devices, including smartphones, digital cameras, gaming consoles, and PC/Laptops.

There are several reasons why individuals might want to format their SD cards, but the main one is that different SD card formats are compatible with distinct devices, such as NTFS, exFAT, and FAT32 file systems. Consequently, a previously used SD card might not work correctly on a new device due to incompatible formatting, necessitating the need to format the SD card for it to function properly.

The ability to format an SD card in Windows 11 enables you to convert a card from one file system to another, allowing you to use the SD card with devices that require specific formats. This article outlines the various methods you can employ to successfully format SD cards in the Windows 11 operating system.

How to Format an SD Card on Windows 11: 4 Methods

Formatting an SD card in Windows 11 can be necessary for various reasons, such as erasing data from the card or when it appears corrupted or damaged. However, be aware that formatting will result in the loss of information. To protect your data, it's essential to back up important files before proceeding with the formatting process.

There are several methods to format an SD card on Windows 11, and in this guide, we'll outline four approaches to accomplish this task. The four fundamental ways to format an SD card in Windows 11 are:

These are the translations into English:
• Using SD Card Formatter – Partition Master Tool
• Using File Explorer
• Using Disk Management
• Using Command Prompt (CMD)

We've used each tool to format a specific SD card to FAT32, for instance, to format a 128 GB SD card to FAT32, and they have proven effective by delivering the desired outcome within a reasonable time frame. We'll guide you through the process of using each tool, and we encourage you to try the one that suits your needs.

Further Reading: Boot Windows from SD Card

Format SD Card Using tools Partition Master Connect the SD Card to Your Computer First, ensure that you have a reliable SD card reader. Insert the SD card into the reader, and then connect the reader to your computer via USB. Launch tools Partition Master After connecting the SD card, launch tools Partition Master, a powerful disk management tool. If you don't have it installed, download and install it from the official website. Identify the SD Card In the Partition Master interface, locate the SD card from the list of available drives. It's usually labeled as "Removable Disk" or something similar. Format the SD Card 1. Right-click on the SD card partition and select "Format." 2. A dialog box will appear. Choose the file system you want to format the SD card with (e.g., FAT32, NTFS, or exFAT). Consider the compatibility and storage needs for your device. 3. Set the allocation unit size (usually, the default is fine). 4. Check the "Quick Format" option if the card doesn't contain important data. This will speed up the formatting process. 5. Click "OK" to proceed with the formatting. Confirm Formatting A warning message will appear, asking you to confirm the action. Make sure you've selected the correct drive and click "Yes" to start formatting. The process should be quick, and once completed, the SD card will be ready for use. Remember to back up any important data before formatting, as this action will erase all content on the card.

Format Tool: Partition Master

Duration of Formatting SD Card: The Partition Master tool can format an SD card within minutes, depending on its capacity.

Supported File System: It supports NFTS, FAT, exFAT, FAT32, etc.

What Else Can It Do for SD Card? The tool can be used to resize, move, copy partitions, change labels, convert to local, and defragment your SD card.

How to Use:

The tools Partition Master is a third-party memory card formatting software that offers an easy and more secure method to format an SD card. It assists in formatting corrupted or damaged memory cards and organizing and optimizing drives in Windows 11 with its free partition management features.

Here's how to use the Partition Master tool to format your SD Card:

Step 1. Find your SD card and right-click the partition you wish to format, then select "Format".

Step 2. Assign a new partition label, file system (NTFS/FAT32/EXT2/EXT3/EXT4/exFAT) and cluster size to the selected partition, then click “OK”.

Step 3. Click "Yes" on the pop-up window to continue.

Step 4. Click the "Execute 1 Task(s)" button on the toolbar, then click "Apply" to start formatting your SD card.

Format SD Card Using File Explorer

Format Tool: Windows File Explorer

Duration of Formatting SD Card: A quick format takes between 15 seconds and 2 minutes if the capacity isn't substantial, whereas the process can take up to 20 minutes for an 8 GB card if quick format is not chosen.

Supported File System: It supports NFTS, FAT32, exFAT, etc.

What Else Can It Do For SD Card? File Explorer can also be used to transfer files, applications, and images from your PC to the SD card.

How to Use:

You can use this tool to format a memory card in Windows 11 by following the steps below.

Insert your SD card into your PC and, on the column located on the left-hand side of your computer, click on This PC.

Click on "This PC".

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• Select the SD card in the device list.
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• Click on the Manage tab located at the top of the file explorer window and select Format. A pop-up window will be displayed.
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• Locate File System, and from its drop-down menu, select the format process you need from the provided options.

Select the desired file system to format the SD card.

Note: If you plan on only using the memory card with Windows systems, choose NTFS, but if you'll be using it with multiple types of devices, select FAT32. Also, if you're formatting the SD card for the first time, make sure the checkbox next to Quick Format is not checked. However, if you've formatted the SD card before, you can leave the Quick Format box checked.

Finally, click Start and then OK from the pop-up windows to proceed.

When the process is complete, eject the SD card and remove it from your computer.

# Format SD Card Using Disk Management When you need to format an SD card on your Windows computer, one method is to use the built-in Disk Management utility. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to do it: 1. **Connect the SD Card**: Insert the SD card into your computer's SD card reader, or use an external card reader if your computer doesn't have a built-in slot. 2. **Open Disk Management**: Right-click on the Windows Start button and select "Disk Management" from the context menu. Alternatively, you can search for "Create and format hard disk partitions" in the Start menu search bar and open the resulting app. 3. **Identify the SD Card**: In the Disk Management window, locate the SD card among the listed drives. It will likely be labeled as "Unknown" or show no drive letter assigned. 4. **Assign a Drive Letter (if needed)**: If the SD card doesn't have a drive letter, right-click on the "SD Card" entry and choose "Change Drive Letter and Paths". Click "Add", then assign a new drive letter and click "OK". 5. **Format the SD Card**: Right-click on the SD card's partition (usually the only one) and select "Format". A dialog box will appear. 6. **Format Settings**: In the Format dialog box: - File system: Choose the file system you want (FAT32, NTFS, exFAT). NTFS is suitable for large storage and better security, while FAT32 is compatible with more devices. - Allocation unit size: Leave the default setting unless you have specific requirements. - Volume label: Optionally, give a label to identify the SD card. - Quick Format: Check this box to perform a quick format, which is usually sufficient. 7. **Start Formatting**: Click "OK" to begin the formatting process. A warning message will appear, reminding you that formatting will erase all data. Click "OK" again to confirm. 8. **Wait for Completion**: The formatting process will take a few moments. Do not remove the SD card during this time. 9. **Verify and Use the SD Card**: Once the format is complete, the SD card should now be ready to use. Check if it's properly recognized by opening File Explorer and navigating to the assigned drive letter. Remember, formatting will delete all data on the SD card, so make sure to back up any important files beforehand.

Format Tool: Windows Disk Management

Time to Format SD Card: It takes about 30 minutes for a 64 GB SD card, depending on its capacity.

Supported File System: It supports exFAT, NTFS, FAT 32, etc.

What Else Can It Do for SD Card? Disk management is also used to partition SD cards.

How to Use:

Disk management allows you to format an SD card effortlessly without worrying about complications. Here's how to utilize the tool:

1. Open Windows Explorer, right-click on **This PC**, and select **Manage**. In the **Storage** section, click on **Disk Management**. 2. Right-click on the **SD card** partition and choose **Format** from the context menu.

Make sure the Perform a quick format box is checked. Select a file system and allocation unit size, then click OK. The formatting process will start right away.

Format SD Card Using Command Prompt

Format Tool: Diskpart CMD

Duration of Formatting SD Card: The time it takes to format an SD card using Diskpart varies based on its capacity. It can range anywhere from 20 minutes to 60 minutes.

Supported File System: It supports NFTS, FAT, exFAT, FAT32, etc.

What Else Can It Do for SD Card? Diskpart can also be used to manage and recover data in an SD card.

How to Use:

Diskpart is a built-in Windows application that manages your hard drives and can be used to format corrupted or damaged SD cards. This method is somewhat advanced, and you must exercise caution when using it. Here are the guiding steps on how to format an SD card using the Command Prompt (CMD): 1. Connect the SD card to your computer using an SD card reader. 2. Press the "Windows key + X" on your keyboard and select "Command Prompt (Admin)" or "Windows PowerShell (Admin)" to open an elevated command prompt. 3. In the command prompt, type `diskpart` and press Enter. This will launch the Diskpart utility. 4. Now, type `list disk` and press Enter. This will display a list of all connected storage devices, including your SD card. 5. Identify your SD card from the list by its size or other attributes. Note the disk number (e.g., Disk 1). 6. Type `select disk [number]`, replacing [number] with the disk number of your SD card, and press Enter. For example, if it's Disk 1, you would type `select disk 1`. 7. Type `clean` and press Enter. This command will erase all data on the SD card and prepare it for formatting. 8. To create a new partition on the SD card, type `create partition primary` and press Enter. 9. Format the partition by typing `format fs=[file system] quick label=[volume label]`, replacing `[file system]` with the desired file system (e.g., `FAT32`, `NTFS`, or `exFAT`) and `[volume label]` with a label for your SD card (optional). For example, `format fs=NTFS quick label=MySDCard`. Then press Enter. 10. Wait for the formatting process to complete. Once done, type `exit` twice to close the Diskpart utility and the Command Prompt. Your SD card should now be formatted and ready for use. Remember that formatting will erase all data, so ensure you have backed up any important files before proceeding.

Here's the translation into English: 1. In the search box of Windows 11, type cmd. 2. Right-click on Command Prompt and select Run as administrator. 3. Type diskpart and press Enter. 4. Then type list disk and press Enter. The list disk command will display the available drives on the computer. 5. Next, type select disk + disk number, for example, if your SD card is number 2 on the list, type select disk 2 and press Enter. 6. After that, type list volume and press Enter. 7. Then type select volume + volume number, for instance, if your volume is 10, type select volume 10 and press Enter. 8. Depending on the file system you want, type format fs=ntfs or format fs=exfat and press Enter to format the SD card with NTFS or exFAT, respectively.

Diskpart will display "diskpart successfully formatted the volume". You can then continue typing "exit" to close the program.

Conclusion

We've outlined four reliable methods to format your SD card on Windows 11, allowing you to use your SD card across various device formats. You can choose any method that appears suitable and user-friendly for you. However, if you're new to Windows operations, I recommend using a tool like Partition Master to carry out the formatting process.

Frequently Asked Questions About Formatting SD Card on Windows 11

If you have more questions regarding formatting an SD card in Windows 11, refer to the queries listed here and consult the answers provided below:

**1. How do I format an SD card to FAT32 in Windows 11?** To format an SD card to FAT32 in Windows 11, follow these steps: 1. **Insert the SD card**: Put the SD card into your computer's SD card reader. 2. **Open File Explorer**: Click on the folder icon in the taskbar or press `Win + E` to launch File Explorer. 3. **Locate the SD card**: In the left pane, under "This PC" or "Devices with Removable Storage," you should see the SD card listed, usually with a drive letter like "D:" or "E:." 4. **Right-click and format**: Right-click on the SD card's drive letter and select "Format" from the context menu. 5. **Choose file system**: In the Format window that appears, ensure that the "File system" dropdown is set to "FAT32." If not, change it. 6. **Check options**: Uncheck "Quick Format" if you want a thorough format (this may take longer). Quick Format is usually fine for most purposes. 7. **Format the card**: Click on the "Start" button to begin the formatting process. A warning will appear, reminding you that all data will be erased. Click "OK" to proceed. 8. **Wait for completion**: The formatting process will start, and it might take a few moments to complete. Once done, click "Close." Now your SD card should be formatted to FAT32 in Windows 11.

If the SD card is smaller than 32GB, here's how to format it to FAT32:

1. Connect the SD card to a Windows 11 computer and open File Explorer. 2. Right-click on the SD card's volume and choose "Format." 3. Check the box for "Perform a quick format" and set the new file system as FAT32, then click "OK."

If the SD card is larger than 32GB, such as 128GB or even 256GB, use tools like Partition Master to format it to FAT32:

1. Connect the SD card to your PC and launch the tool Partition Master. 2. Right-click on the SD card and select "Format." 3. Set the file system format as FAT32, check "Perform a quick format," and click "OK." 4. Click "Execute Task" to format the SD card to FAT32.

2. How do I format an SD card on Windows?

• Connect the SD card to your Windows computer.
• Open Disk Management, and right-click on the SD card, select "Format...".
• Select FAT32 or exFAT as the file system, check "Perform a quick format".
• Click "OK".

3. How do I delete files from an SD card on Windows 11?

1. Connect the SD card to your Windows 11 device.
2. Open File Explorer, and double-click to open the SD card.
3. Locate the files you want to delete, right-click on them, and choose "Delete".

To permanently delete those files, open the Recycle Bin, right-click on the deleted files, select "Delete," and then click "Yes" to confirm the permanent removal.