SD cards have become a popular way to expand the storage capacity on Android devices. However, SD cards can sometimes experience formatting issues that require reformatting the card before it can be used again. There are several potential causes for an SD card to suddenly need reformatting on Android.
Some common formatting issues that can occur with SD cards on Android include:
– Corrupted data due to improper removal of the card or file system errors
– Incompatible file systems between the SD card and Android device
– General errors with the SD card that prevent reading or writing data
– Insufficient space on the card to save new data
– Upgrading to a new version of Android that requires reformatting
– Performing a factory reset on the Android device
– Malware on the device causing problems with saving to the SD card
– Performance issues or lag when trying to access data on the card
In many cases, the only solution is to reformat the SD card so it can work properly again with the Android device. This overview provides background on some common reasons an SD card may suddenly need formatting on Android.
Corrupted Data
One of the most common reasons an Android phone may prompt you to format an SD card is due to corrupted data on the card. There are several potential causes of SD card data corruption:
Improperly ejecting or removing the SD card without properly unmounting it first can lead to file system corruption (Source1). This interruption when writing data can cause parts of files to be missing or damaged.
Malware infections like viruses, spyware or ransomware could also corrupt data on the SD card, rendering files unreadable (Source2).
Bad sectors or hardware defects within the physical SD card can also corrupt data over time as the card deteriorates with use (Source3). The accumulation of bad sectors will eventually make the file system unreadable.
Corrupted data exhibits various symptoms – your phone may take longer than usual to read files, you may receive read/write errors, or the phone simply won’t recognize the SD card at all. This kind of file system corruption often requires formatting the SD card before it can be used again.
Incompatible File System
One common reason an Android device may suddenly prompt you to format your SD card is if the card is formatted with an incompatible file system. Android devices require the SD card to be formatted as either FAT32 or exFAT in order to be properly read by the device’s operating system.
Many SD cards come pre-formatted with the NTFS file system by default, which is incompatible with Android. If you insert an NTFS formatted SD card into your Android device, you may get an error saying the SD card needs to be formatted before it can be used.
Likewise, other lesser-used file systems like HFS+ or exFAT are also incompatible and can lead to the SD card not being recognized. To avoid issues, always make sure your SD card is formatted as FAT32 or exFAT before using it in your Android device. You can reformat the card on your computer to change the file system [1].
Attempting to use an SD card formatted with NTFS or another incompatible file system is the most common reason an Android device will prompt you to format the card before it can be used. Simply reformatting it to FAT32 or exFAT should resolve the issue.
Card Errors
Damaged card readers or SD cards can sometimes cause errors that lead to the formatting prompt. For example, you may see errors like “SD card blank or has unsupported filesystem”. This can happen if the SD card’s file table gets corrupted, or there are bad sectors on the card [1]. Physically damaged SD cards are prone to these kinds of issues.
Before formatting the card, try using the CHKDSK utility to check for errors and attempt to repair them [2]. On Windows, go to Command Prompt and type “chkdsk g: /f” (replace g: with your SD card drive letter). This scans and fixes file system errors. Restarting your Android device may also resolve the issue if it’s a temporary glitch.
As a last resort before formatting, you can try reformatting the SD card using your computer rather than the Android device. This may restructure the file system without fully erasing data. But if the card reader or SD card itself is faulty, errors will persist until it’s replaced.
Insufficient Space
One of the most common reasons an Android device may prompt you to format your SD card is if there is insufficient storage space available on the card. When your SD card starts to run out of free space, you may get errors when trying to save files, install apps, or take photos/videos (1).
For example, if you attempt to save a very large video or photo file onto your SD card when it has little free space left, Android may show an “Insufficient storage available” or “Not enough space on device” error. Since it can’t fully save the file due to lack of space, it prompts you to format the SD card to free up storage (2).
Formatting completely erases all data on the card and allows Android to reformat it with a fresh blank file system, gaining you all the free space back. So insufficient available space is a key reason Android may ask you to format an SD card.
Sources:
(1) https://www.minitool.com/android-recovery/insufficient-storage-available.html
(2) https://www.wikihow.com/Fix-Insufficient-Storage-Available-Error-in-Android
Upgrading Android OS
One common reason an SD card may suddenly need reformatting on Android is after upgrading to a new version of the Android operating system (OS). Major Android OS upgrades like going from Android 9 to Android 10 can sometimes require reformatting your external SD card [1].
This is especially true when upgrading from an older version like Android 8 or 9 to a newer version like Android 10 or 11. The new Android OS may use a different default file system that is incompatible with the SD card’s existing format. So when you insert your previously formatted SD card after the OS update, Android will prompt you to reformat it before it can be used again.
Reformatting the SD card to be compatible with the new Android OS version ensures proper performance and prevents unexpected errors. While inconvenient, it’s generally quick and straightforward to reformat within your device’s Settings app. So if your SD card suddenly needs reformatting after an OS upgrade, that is expected behavior and reformatting will allow continued usage.
Factory Reset
Doing a complete factory reset on your Android device can result in your SD card data being wiped. This is because a factory reset essentially reverts the device back to its original out-of-the-box state, which does not have any of your personal data or downloaded apps.
After the factory reset is complete, you will need to reformat your SD card before you can use it again. The formatting process allows the SD card to be recognized again by your device’s operating system. To format the SD card, go to Settings > Storage and tap on your SD card. Then select “Format” and confirm to erase all data. Choose FAT32 or exFAT file system when prompted.
So in summary, performing a factory reset can indirectly require SD card formatting to get it working properly again on your Android device. Be sure to backup any important SD card data beforehand.
Removing Malware
Malware infection can cause an SD card to suddenly need formatting on Android devices. Malicious apps and files may corrupt data or change settings in a way that makes the SD card unreadable by your device [1]. To fully remove malware, it is often necessary to do a complete format of the SD card [2]. This wipes all data and eliminates any hidden malicious files that could cause reinfection if the card is reused.
Before formatting, try using a malware scanning app like Malwarebytes to scan your SD card and remove detected threats [1]. However, this may not fix all damage caused by the infection. Formatting the SD card removes all files, both malicious and benign, providing a clean slate [3]. Be sure to back up any important files first.
A full format, rather than a quick format, is required to overwrite all sectors and erase any residual malicious data. This prevents the reemergence of malware if infected files were simply hidden and not deleted. After formatting, be cautious about what files you transfer back to the SD card to avoid reinfection.
Fixing Performance Issues
Formatting your SD card can help improve performance issues like slow speeds, app crashes, and system hangs. This is because formatting clears out fragmented data and organizes the storage space to optimize read/write speeds. According to this Android forums thread, using a UHS Speed Class 3 or faster SD card is recommended when formatting as internal storage, as slower cards can still cause performance issues.
Fragmented data accumulates through normal usage over time and can slow down how quickly an SD card can save and retrieve information. Formatting defragments this data by erasing files and realigning storage allocation. This helps eliminate lags when loading apps, slow file transfers, and system crashes related to a cluttered SD card. Just be sure to backup your SD card before formatting, as the process erases all data.
When to Format SD Card
There are a few instances when you may need to format your Android SD card:
When inserting a brand new SD card – New SD cards need to be formatted to work properly with Android.
To resolve corrupted data or errors – If your SD card data becomes corrupted or you get frequent errors, formatting can wipe the card clean.
To change the file system – You may want to reformat from FAT32 to exFAT for example.
After upgrading your Android OS – An OS upgrade may require reformatting the SD card to work properly.
To gain storage space – Formatting removes all data, freeing up space.
To remove malware – Formatting wipes any malware that may have infected the card.
To restore device performance – If your phone is sluggish, formatting can give it a fresh start.
To avoid data loss when formatting, be sure to back up your SD card files and photos to another storage device or cloud storage. Only format when necessary and use caution to avoid accidentally erasing important data.
