How to Format SD Card on Galaxy S7/S5 - Step-by-Step Guide for 2024

Updated By

Linda 

Authored By

Tracy King 

Last Updated on April 22, 2024

Do you own a Galaxy S7 or S5 or are you planning to get one? These smartphones offer a number of advantages over its competitors. If you are planning to use an existing SD card with your Galaxy, you may need to format it so that you can use it for personal purposes.

Please note that formatting will delete all data, so back up your content to avoid accidental deletion.

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This article will explain how to format your Galaxy S7 or S5's SD card so you can do it quickly and easily.

Why Format SD Card for Galaxy S7/S5?

You might need to format the SD card on your Galaxy S7 or Galaxy S5 for any of the following reasons:

If you need to set your SD card as internal storage

• If you need to format the SD card as a portable storage device

• You want your Galaxy S7/S5 to read and write to the SD card

Need to quickly clean up the SD card

You want to sell your Galaxy smartphone and need to format the SD card to prevent others from accessing your data.

You need extra storage space so you can store more files.

What format should my SD card be for my Galaxy S7/S5?

To use the SD card on Samsung Galaxy S7/S5, it should be formatted to exFAT. FAT32 is also a good file system as it can be read and written on all platforms. But you cannot save files larger than 4 GB. exFAT, designed for USB flash drives and phones, has no such limitation and should be compatible with your phone.

Also, Android doesn't support NTFS, so you can't format your SD card to NTFS on Android. Others like ext4 or the likes may or may not work depending on the ROM. This clearly indicates that exFAT is the most compatible format.

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Once it's formatted correctly, you can save files, apps, and other data to the SD card, and access them easily from your phone.

How to format SD card on Galaxy S7/S5?

Here, we list all the ways to format Galaxy S7/S5 SD card:

• #1. Format SD Card with SD Card Formatter
• #2. Format SD Card on Windows with File Explorer
• #3. Format SD Card on Samsung Galaxy S7 or Galaxy S5

Also, if you have any valuable content on the device that you wouldn't want to accidentally delete, make sure to back up your SD card.

Read on to learn how you can successfully format your Galaxy S7 or S5's SD card.

# 1. Format SD Card for Galaxy S7/S5 with SD Card Formatter Formatting an SD card is the most common solution to fix various issues, such as “SD card not formatted”, “SD card needs to be formatted”, “SD card corrupted”, etc. Here we'll show you how to format SD card on Samsung Galaxy S7 or S5 with the official SD Card Formatter. ## Step 1: Download and Install SD Card Formatter Go to [SD Association](https://www.sdcard.org/downloads/formatter/), download and install the latest version of SD Card Formatter for your computer (Windows or Mac). ## Step 2: Connect SD Card to Computer Insert your SD card into an SD card reader, then connect it to your computer. ## Step 3: Format SD Card Launch SD Card Formatter, select the SD card from the "Drive" list, choose the format option (exFAT or FAT32) based on your need, then click "Format" button. Wait until the formatting process completes. Once done, safely remove the SD card from the card reader and reconnect it to your Galaxy S7/S5.

For beginners, the most convenient way to format an SD card is by using a reliable third-party solution that automates the process without requiring manual intervention. We have an excellent software designed for this purpose: Partition Master Free.

This marvelous SD Card Formatter features:

• This is an all-in-one software specifically designed for individual users.
• It can efficiently format a disk or wipe a partition.
• It has an undo button in case of accidental deletion.
• It can easily format large capacity SD cards to FAT32, like formatting a 128GB SD card to FAT32.
• It supports various storage devices and operating systems.

Therefore, download the Partition Master Free tool and format your SD card with just a few clicks!

Step 1: Right-click on the partition of the SD card that you wish to format and select “Format…”

Step 2: Set a new label, file system (NTFS/FAT32/EXT2/EXT3/EXT4/exFAT) and cluster size for the selected partition, and click "OK".

Step 3: Click "OK" in the dialog box to proceed.

4. Click the “Run 1 Task” button on the toolbar, and then click “Apply” to begin formatting the SD card.

#2. Format Galaxy S7/S5 SD Card using File Manager

To format SD card on Galaxy S7/S5 via File Manager, you should follow these steps:

Step 1. Connect your SD card to your computer. Open File Explorer, and click on "This PC" on the left-hand side.

Step 2: You should see your SD card listed as a device.

Step 3: Right-click it, and choose "Format."

Step 4: In the new window, choose the file system you want (for a 32 GB SD card, either NTFS or FAT32; for a 64 GB card, exFAT).

Step 5: Tap “Start” to begin the formatting process. After a few seconds, your SD card will be formatted.

#3. Format SD Card on Samsung Galaxy S7/S5

This method will explain how to format the Samsung Galaxy S7/S5 SD card without a computer. So, whether you want to format the SD card as internal or portable storage, follow the respective guide:

< b >Guide 1: Format SD Card as Internal Storage on Galaxy S7/S5< /b >

As the name implies, internal storage is the storage space within a smartphone's system. Manufacturers install the smartphone's operating system and various preloaded apps and their data here.

One feature that Android phones have had for a while is the ability to use an SD card to increase a phone's internal storage.

Be aware, however, that this method works at least on Android "Marshmallow" (6.0). On newer versions of Android, like Android 10, the option to format the SD card as internal storage may not be available.

So, to format your SD card as internal storage, follow these steps:

Step 1. Go to your device's Settings and choose Storage.

Step 2: Select your SD card.

Select your microSD card, then tap Format > OK.

Step 3: Then choose "Format as internal storage."

Step 4: Tap “Erase & format.” Your SD card will now be formatted as internal storage.

For successful results, restart your Samsung device.

Tutorial 2: Format SD Card as Portable Storage on Galaxy S7/S5

There are several benefits to formatting your SD card as portable storage. You can use it to transfer data between devices, and it's great for storing media files like photos, videos, and music.

Here are the steps to format your SD card as portable storage:

Step 1: Go to the storage settings on your Samsung phone. Select the SD card, then choose "Format as portable storage."

Step 2: Tap Done.

Final Award

In this article, we have explained various methods so that you can easily format SD card on Galaxy S7/S5. Note that formatting will delete the existing content on the card. Hence, if you have valuable files saved on the SD card, remember to backup SD card before formatting.

For the easiest formatting solution, we recommend downloading the Partition Master tool. The software supports formatting large SD cards to FAT32 and even allows you to switch between NTFS and FAT32 without formatting the SD card. Give it a try!

Common Issues on Formatting SD Card on Galaxy S7/S5

If you're still looking for more information about formatting an SD card or have any questions, we've listed some frequently asked questions with their answers. So, let's take a look!

1. Why can't I format my SD card on Samsung device?

Here are some reasons why you might be unable to format an SD card on your Samsung device:

- Physical damage to the SD card - It's being used by another program - The card is infected with viruses - Bad sectors exist on the Samsung SD card - The SD card is write-protected - The Samsung SD card has turned into a RAW file system

< b > Any tips for using an SD card safely on Galaxy S7/S5?

Here are some safety tips to keep in mind when using an SD card on your Galaxy S7 or S5:

• Avoid moving frequently used apps to the SD card, since it may be slightly slower than the built-in storage on your Android device, causing the app to open less quickly. • Do not abruptly remove the Samsung SD card when it's in use. • Backup your files to Google Drive or Microsoft OneDrive before formatting the SD card.

3. What type of SD card does a Samsung phone support?

The FAT32 file system is the most compatible format for Samsung devices. This is because not all Android devices can recognize SD cards formatted with exFAT or NTFS.