A memory card, also known as a flash storage card, is a small storage device that uses non-volatile flash memory to store data like photos, videos, documents, and other files (https://www.techtarget.com/searchstorage/definition/memory-card). Memory cards allow you to expand the storage capacity of electronic devices like cameras, phones, and laptops. They provide removable and reusable data storage.
One issue that can occur with memory cards is that they have limited capacity. As you save more files to a memory card over time, it will eventually reach maximum capacity and run out of open storage space. When this happens, the card becomes full and you’re no longer able to save new files without deleting old ones first. This article explores what happens when a memory card reaches full capacity.
Memory Card Capacity
Memory cards typically come in capacities ranging from 4GB to 1TB. The higher the capacity, the more data that can be stored on the card 1.
The most common capacities are:
- 4GB
- 8GB
- 16GB
- 32GB
- 64GB
- 128GB
- 256GB
- 512GB
- 1TB
Higher capacity cards allow you to store more photos, videos, audio files, documents, and other data. For example, a 32GB card can hold around 7,500 photos or over 10 hours of HD video while a 1TB card can store over 250,000 photos and over 375 hours of HD video2.
Exceeding a card’s storage capacity will prevent you from saving new files. Understanding the capacity allows you to choose the right size card for your needs and avoid running out of space prematurely.
File Size Impact
The file size of media like photos and videos is a major factor in how quickly they consume storage space on a memory card. Professional cameras with high megapixel counts can produce image files ranging from 20-30MB or more at full resolution. Even smartphone cameras today capture photos that are commonly 5-10MB each. A few minutes of high definition video can generate gigabytes of data.
For example, a 16GB memory card that’s empty could potentially hold around 1,600 images from a 20MP DSLR camera if they were around 10MB each. But fill that same card up with a few 4K videos that are 1-2GB apiece, and the available space gets eaten up much faster. The file types being saved and their size is crucial when determining how much will fit within a memory card’s finite capacity.
Running Out of Space
As a memory card reaches its maximum storage capacity, the performance and speed of the card can start to slow down. This is because the card has less free space available to efficiently store and access data. The technical reasons behind this slowdown include:
Fragmentation – As files get deleted and rewritten over time, the remaining free space can become fragmented. This means data gets stored in smaller scattered pieces rather than contiguous blocks. Reading and writing fragmented data takes longer.
File overhead – Almost full cards require more memory for file indexing and management overhead. This leaves less actual free space for data storage.
Wear leveling – To extend card lifespan, controllers spread writes across all memory cells. Near full cards have less flexibility for wear leveling, resulting in slower write speeds.
With limited free space, write speeds may drop significantly as there is not enough room to efficiently store data. According to tests, write speeds can decrease by over 10% at 70% capacity compared to an empty card.
In addition to slower performance, a full memory card also risks data loss and corruption. New data may not save properly without sufficient free space. Using antivirus scans or defragmentation tools can also be problematic on a nearly full card.
Reaching Full Capacity
When a memory card reaches its full storage capacity, it will prevent the user from saving any new files, photos, videos, apps, or other data. Many devices like cameras, phones, and computers will display error messages alerting the user that the card is full.
Common error messages include “Memory card error”, “Memory full”, or “Not enough storage space”. The exact phrasing varies across devices. On Windows computers, users may see a pop-up notification that reads “You need to make more space available on your device.” Android phones typically advise users to “Delete data to make room”.
If the user tries to take a picture or video when the card is completely full, the camera will be unable to save the file. It may freeze, display an error, or completely shut down. Phones and computers will similarly be unable to download, install, or update apps and files without clearing storage first.
When space is critically low, device performance may also be impacted. Reading and writing data on a nearly full memory card is slower than on one with ample free space. The device may lag, stall, or become unresponsive if system resources are tied up managing the full storage.
To continue using the device normally, users need to delete files or move them to alternative storage. Otherwise, the memory card’s maximum capacity severely limits functionality. Some error messages provide an option to review files and free up space immediately.
Data Loss Risks
If a memory card becomes completely full while new data is still trying to be saved to it, the user risks corruption or loss of not just the new data, but also other files already on the card. This can occur because once a card is at capacity, the file system has nowhere to store the new data physically. So critical file management structures and existing data can start becoming overwritten in unpredictable ways as the card firmware continues attempting to write the new files (see sources 1).
In particular, key information like directory tables mapping where files are located can get corrupted or lost when a full card is written to. This makes existing files impossible to locate, even though they still physically reside on the card in many cases. The result is a card that appears empty or only shows some files, even though many more are still present but inaccessible (sources 2). Users would have to attempt recovery methods to rescue their files.
Therefore, letting a card fill up completely is one of the quickest ways to catastrophically damage and lose the data stored on it. Monitoring available space and upgrading cards before they max out is important to avoid the risks.
Clearing Space
When your memory card starts to get full, one option is to clear space by removing content that is no longer needed. Here are some tips for freeing up capacity on a full memory card:
Transfer photos/videos off the card onto another device like a computer or external hard drive. Once the files are backed up, you can delete them from the card to free up space. See this guide for transferring files from an SD card.
Delete photos and videos you no longer want. Be selective and only remove unwanted content. Many cameras and phones have a “delete” option to remove files directly on the device.
Uninstall apps and games you no longer use if your memory card stores mobile apps. This can quickly free up a lot of storage space.
Use the phone/camera’s storage settings to identify and remove cached or temporary files that can be deleted to free up capacity.
Move files like music, ebooks, or documents off the card if possible. These types of media files tend to take up a lot of space.
Consider cloud storage services if you want to create additional capacity without permanently deleting files. You can upload content online and then remove it from the memory card.
Upgrading Cards
Once available storage on your memory card starts to run low, it may be time to consider upgrading to a higher capacity card. According to Kingston, upgrading to a higher capacity memory card is recommended when you find yourself frequently needing to delete files to free up space or you run out of storage space and miss capturing important moments.
Higher capacity memory cards are now available at relatively affordable prices. For example, microSD cards are available in capacities up to 512GB. Upgrading to the next level of capacity can provide ample storage space so you don’t have to worry about running out again soon. It allows you to continue capturing high-resolution photos, videos, and other files without having to micromanage storage.
The optimal time to upgrade your memory card is when you find your current one is full or nearly full, and deleting files to make space has become a regular nuisance. Doubling the capacity when you upgrade provides a nice buffer so you likely won’t have to upgrade again for some time.
Alternative Storage
If you find memory cards are constantly reaching full capacity, you may want to consider alternative storage options like cloud storage services. Popular cloud storage providers like Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, Amazon Drive, and iCloud offer abundant online storage and can automatically sync files between devices. With free tiers starting at 5-15 GB and paid plans with terabytes of storage, cloud services provide ample capacity compared to SD cards.
The main benefit of cloud storage is accessibility – you can access synced files from any internet-connected device. Cloud storage also offers more protection against data loss since files exist in multiple locations. While SD cards could get damaged, lost or stolen, files in the cloud remain available. Cloud storage provides collaboration features as well, allowing easy file sharing. The main downside is internet dependency – you need an internet connection to access cloud files. Still, for those struggling with limited SD card space, cloud storage presents a convenient alternative.
Conclusion
Having a full memory card can have significant consequences, from running out of space to take more photos or videos to data corruption or loss if the card becomes too full. To avoid issues, closely monitor your remaining storage space and clear cards regularly by deleting unwanted files or backing them up to another device or the cloud. Consider getting higher capacity cards or using multiple cards if you take a lot of high resolution media. Always format your card in the camera before a big shoot. With some care and planning, you can prevent problems and ensure you have ample space to store your important memories and creative work.
