How to format damaged sd card​？

Formatting a damaged SD card can be a useful way to recover its functionality and fix various issues. 

Open Disk Management: Press the Windows key + R, type “diskmgmt.msc”, and press Enter. This will open the Disk Management utility.

Locate the SD Card: In the Disk Management window, identify your SD card. It will usually be listed with a drive letter and a label indicating its capacity.

Right-Click and Select Format: Right-click on the SD card partition and choose “Format” from the context menu.

Set Formatting Options: In the Format dialog box, you can choose the file system (such as FAT32. NTFS, or exFAT), allocate unit size, and enter a volume label. For most SD cards, FAT32 is a good choice as it is widely compatible.

Start Formatting: Click “OK” to start the formatting process. A warning message will appear, asking you to confirm that you want to format the drive. Click “OK” again, and the formatting will begin.

Using Command Prompt

Open Command Prompt as Administrator: Press the Windows key + X and select “Command Prompt (Admin)” from the menu.

List Disk Partitions: Type “diskpart” and press Enter to start the DiskPart utility. Then type “list disk” to display a list of all disks connected to your computer. Identify the SD card by its size and other characteristics.

Select the SD Card: Type “select disk [disk number]” where [disk number] is the number corresponding to your SD card.

Clean the SD Card: Type “clean” to erase all data and partition information on the SD card.

Create a New Partition: Type “create partition primary” to create a new primary partition on the SD card.

Select the New Partition: Type “select partition 1” to select the newly created partition.

Format the Partition: Type “format fs=[file system] label=[volume label]” where [file system] is the file system you want to use (e.g., FAT32. NTFS, exFAT) and [volume label] is the name you want to give to the SD card.

Formatting on macOS

Using Disk Utility

Open Disk Utility: You can find Disk Utility in the Applications > Utilities folder or by using Spotlight search.

Select the SD Card: In Disk Utility, locate your SD card in the list of drives on the left side.

Erase the SD Card: Click the “Erase” button. In the Erase dialog box, you can choose the format (such as Mac OS Extended (Journaled), MS-DOS (FAT), or ExFAT), name the volume, and select the scheme (usually “Master Boot Record” for SD cards).

Start Formatting: Click “Erase” to begin the formatting process. Disk Utility will format the SD card and display a progress bar.

Using Terminal

Open Terminal: You can find Terminal in the Applications > Utilities folder or by using Spotlight search.

List Disk Devices: In the Terminal, type “diskutil list” to display a list of all disk devices connected to your Mac. Identify the SD card by its size and other characteristics.

Unmount the SD Card: Type “diskutil unmountDisk /dev/disk[disk number]” where [disk number] is the number corresponding to your SD card.

Format the SD Card: Type “diskutil eraseDisk [file system] [volume label] /dev/disk[disk number]” where [file system] is the file system you want to use (e.g., FAT32. NTFS, exFAT), [volume label] is the name you want to give to the SD card, and [disk number] is the number of the SD card.

Formatting on Linux

Using GNOME Disks Utility

Open GNOME Disks: It can usually be found in the application menu under the name “Disks” or “Disk Utility”.

Select the SD Card: In the GNOME Disks window, select your SD card from the list of available drives.

Open the Partition Editor: Click the hamburger menu icon in the top right corner and select “Partition Editor”.

Delete Existing Partitions: In the Partition Editor, select each existing partition on the SD card and click the “Delete” button to remove them.

Create a New Partition: Click the “Add” button to create a new partition. You can set the partition type, size, and other options.

Format the Partition: After creating the partition, right-click on it and select “Format”. Choose the file system you want to use (such as FAT32. EXT4. etc.) and click “Start” to begin the formatting process.

Using the Command Line (fdisk or parted)

Open a Terminal: Press Ctrl + Alt + T to open a terminal window.

List Disk Devices: Type “lsblk” to display a list of all disk devices and their partitions. Identify the SD card by its size and other characteristics.

Use fdisk or parted: For example, if using fdisk, type “sudo fdisk /dev/sd[disk letter]” where [disk letter] is the letter corresponding to your SD card (e.g., /dev/sdb). In the fdisk prompt, you can use commands like “d” to delete existing partitions, “n” to create a new partition, and “w” to write the changes to the disk. Then, you can use the “mkfs” command to format the partition, e.g., “sudo mkfs -t [file system] /dev/sd[disk letter]1” where [file system] is the file system you want to use.

Precautions and Tips

Backup Data: Before formatting an SD card, make sure to backup any important data on it, as formatting will erase all data.

Check for Physical Damage: Inspect the SD card for any physical damage, such as cracks or bent pins. If the card is physically damaged, formatting may not be able to fix the problem.

Use Reliable Tools: When using third-party formatting tools, make sure to download them from reliable sources to avoid malware or other security issues.

Verify Compatibility: Consider the device that will use the SD card and choose a file system that is compatible with it. For example, some cameras and older devices may only support FAT32.

Be Careful with Commands: When using the command line to format the SD card, be very careful to select the correct disk and partition to avoid accidentally formatting the wrong drive and losing important data.