How to Format a Memory Card in a Cell Phone

Older cell phones use larger-sized cards, though new phones use MicroSD, which have more space while being much smaller in physical size.

Almost all smart phones--and most cell phones at large--allow for users to expand the device's on-board memory via a memory card (usually a MicroSD card). Formatting a memory card for your cell phone is a simple process, though it can take a couple of minutes to do, depending on the size of the card.

Things You'll Need

• Memory Card (e.g. MicroSD)

Instructions

1. Insert your memory card into your cell phone. Most cell phones have the card reader under the phone battery, though some models also have a side port.

2. Power your phone on and let it read your memory card.

3. Enter your phone's settings menu and select the "Memory" or "Storage" sub-menu.

4. Scroll through the options until you find "Format Memory Card." Select it. If prompted, confirm that you want to format the memory card. This will start the formatting of the memory card, which can take several minutes depending on the size.

5. Reset your phone to complete the format.

Tips & Warnings

• If you have anything saved on your card, make sure to back it up before formatting. Formatting any memory device, including any memory cards, will erase all data on the card.

References

• SD Association: SD 2.0 Formatting
• Know-How Workstation: How to Format a Memory Card for Cell Phone