There are a few reasons why you may need to force format an SD card on an Android device. The most common reasons are:
- The SD card is corrupted or has errors
- You want to wipe all data off the SD card before selling or giving away your device
- You need to change the file system on the SD card (e.g. from FAT32 to exFAT or ext4)
Formatting an SD card will erase all data on it, so make sure to back up anything important first.
Fortunately, forcing an SD card format on Android is easy to do. In this article, I’ll walk you through the step-by-step process.
When Do You Need to Force Format an SD Card?
Here are some of the main situations when you may need to force format an SD card on Android:
SD Card Errors or Corruption
If your SD card starts showing read/write errors or refuses to mount on your Android device, it likely has some corruption. This can be caused by improper removal of the card, interruptions when writing data, physical damage, or normal wear after prolonged use.
Formatting the card will wipe the corrupted data and filesystem and create a new blank slate. This has a good chance of fixing any software-level errors so the card can be reused.
Preparing Card for Sale/Transfer
If you are selling or giving away your Android device, you’ll probably want to wipe the external SD card completely before transferring ownership.
Formatting the card helps ensure no personal data or apps are left behind for the next user. It’s an important security and privacy measure.
Change File System
You may need to format the SD card to change the filesystem it uses. For example, you may want to change from the default FAT32 to ext4 or exFAT for better performance or improved compatibility.
Reformatting the card will allow you to reformat to the desired filesystem.
Reset After SD Card Upgrade
If you’ve upgraded the SD card in your device to a larger capacity one, you’ll get the best performance by doing a fresh format on the new card.
This avoids any issues due to mismatches between the old card’s formatting and allocation and the larger capacity new card.
Back Up Important Data First
Before formatting an SD card, it’s vital to properly back up any files, apps, photos, or other data you want to keep. The formatting process will wipe everything on the card.
To back up your SD card files:
- Copy files directly to a computer – Use a card reader to access the SD card as external storage on a PC or Mac and copy the files to your computer’s hard drive.
- Back up to cloud storage – Upload files such as photos and videos to cloud storage services like Google Photos or Dropbox.
- Use file manager apps – Use Android file manager apps to copy files and folders to internal device storage or connected cloud storage.
Once your files are backed up, you’re ready to format the SD card.
Pre-Format Checks
Before starting the formatting process, it’s good to do a few quick checks:
- Verify the amount of free space on internal storage is adequate if you’ll be temporarily moving apps over.
- Check that you have no apps currently set to write data only to the SD card (may need to relocate after formatting).
- Confirm you have disconnected any USB cables or devices attached to your Android device.
- Make sure your device battery is charged at least 25% to avoid power loss during formatting.
These checks help avoid any potential issues during the SD card formatting process.
How to Force Format an SD Card on Android
Now we’re ready to go through the steps to format the SD card on an Android device:
1. Insert the SD Card
Physically insert the SD card into your Android device if it isn’t already inserted. Make sure it clicks firmly into place.
2. Open Device Storage Settings
Next, open your device’s Storage settings:
- Open the Settings app
- Scroll down and tap Storage (or Storage & USB on some devices)
You’ll see storage information for your device’s Internal Storage and any External SD card.
3. Tap the SD Card
In the Storage settings, locate and tap on your External SD Card.
This will open a menu with options for the SD card.
4. Tap Format
In the SD card’s menu, tap on the Format option.
On some devices this may also be called Format as internal or Erase & Format.
5. Confirm the Formatting
A pop-up will appear asking you to confirm that you want to format the SD card.
Tap Format SD Card to confirm and begin the process.
6. Wait for Formatting to Finish
Formatting the card can take several minutes depending on the size of your SD card and speed of your device.
The card will be unavailable during this process. Don’t remove the card until formatting is 100% complete.
Once done, the card will be empty and ready to use as new storage.
Other Formatting Options
The above steps will perform a standard formatting of your SD card. However, Android also has a couple advanced formatting options:
Format as Internal Storage
This option will format and set up your SD card to be adopted as internal storage for your Android device.
Doing this encrypts and formats the card to function like the device’s internal storage.
Format as Portable Storage
Alternatively, you can format the card as traditional portable storage.
This preserves the card as removable storage used for files, photos, videos, etc.
Post-Format Steps
After successfully formatting your SD card on Android, there are a few steps you should take:
- Reconfigure any apps that were set to use the SD card’s old location.
- Copy back any files/data you backed up before formatting.
- Run a quick file manager check to confirm the card is empty.
- Test saving new photos, downloads, etc. to confirm the card works.
Following these steps helps ensure a smooth experience with your newly formatted SD card.
Troubleshooting Format Issues
Hopefully the formatting process goes smoothly. But if you run into any issues, here is some troubleshooting advice:
Can’t Access Format Option
If the Format option is greyed out or inaccessible on your device, the card may contain corrupted files or errors. Try removing and reinserting the card. If issues persist, you may need to format the card using a computer instead.
Card Not Recognized
If your device shows no SD card inserted even when one is, the contacts on the card/device may be dirty – try cleaning with isopropyl alcohol. Otherwise, your card or SD slot hardware may be faulty and need replacing.
Errors During Formatting
If you receive read/write errors or “can’t format” messages, there is likely physical damage or internal faults on the card. You will probably need to replace it with a new SD card.
SD Card Unmounting
It’s normal for the SD card to unmount a few times during formatting. Don’t remove the card physically during this process. The card should remount itself automatically in most cases. If it fails to remount, reboot your device and try formatting again.
Conclusion
While formatting an SD card may sound intimidating, it’s actually a straightforward process on Android. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you should be able to successfully force format your SD card when necessary. Just remember to back up your files first!
Formatting the card can help fix a variety of issues and also prepares it for sale or transfer to another device. With the formatting options built into Android, there’s no need for any special software tools.
So if your SD card starts acting up, try giving it a fresh format. Just a few taps in your Settings app is all it takes to wipe and restore your external storage on an Android device.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my SD card suddenly read-only on Android?
If your Android device suddenly mounts the SD card as read-only, it’s likely due to corruption or errors on the card. Trying to format the card can often resolve this by wiping the corrupted data. The card may also be damaged physically and need replacement.
Do I lose everything when formatting the SD card?
Yes, formatting will erase all data on the SD card. Be sure to back up any files, photos, apps, or other data you want to keep before formatting. The card will be like new after formatting.
Can I recover formatted SD card data?
Unfortunately, once an SD card is formatted, the original data is lost for good. This is why a backup is essential beforehand. However, there are recovery apps that can sometimes salvage remnants of old formatted data – but this is not guaranteed.
Will adopting SD as internal storage improve performance?
In most cases, yes. Adopting your SD card as internal storage encrypts and formats it to the faster ext4 filesystem. This provides improved read/write speeds compared to portable FAT32 storage. Apps can also be installed directly to adopted storage.
What happens if I format the wrong drive?
Formatting the wrong drive can lead to permanent data loss. If you accidentally start formatting your device’s internal storage or other attached storage instead of the SD card, power off the device immediately. This may interrupt the formatting and save your data. However, any partial formatting can still cause major file system damage.
Summary
– Formatting an SD card wipes all data, so back up first
– Corrupted cards may need to be formatted to fix issues
– Can format to change file system or prepare card for sale
– Use device Settings to access SD card formatting options
– Process deletes all files and resets card to factory state
– Advanced options include internal or portable formatting
– Follow up with post-format checks to confirm card works properly
