How to Format an SD Card to FAT32

SD cards are formatted to FAT or FAT32 so they can be used on various devices.

SD cards are external storage cards that are used to transfer information from one device to another, or they can be used for archive purposes. When you purchase an SD card, it already is formatted to FAT or FAT32. However, some devices require that cards be formatted to FAT32. Learning this skill will quickly allow you to change formats and use your cards in any device you wish.

Instructions

1. Insert the card into your USB card reader and plug the reader into your computer. If you have an internal card reader, insert the card into the reader port.

2. Right-click on the "Start" button and select "Open "Windows Explorer."

3. Right-click the SD card in the navigation pane on the left and choose "Format."

4. Make sure that the drive size option is set to the size of your card in the formatting window.

5. Click on the "File System" drop-down menu and change it to "FAT32."

6. Click on "Format" at the bottom of the window and allow the process a few minutes to complete.

Tips & Warnings

• If you just purchased the card, or recently formatted it, you can choose the "Quick Format" option to quickly complete the formatting process. This kind of format is not as complete as a full format, and should only be used just after a full format has been completed.

• All files and information on the SD card will be erased when the card is formatted. Be sure that you back up all the data on the card if you wish to keep it.

References

• Microsoft: Create and Format a Hard Disk Partition

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• Read this Article in Spanish