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Aug 28, 2020 • Filed to: Solve Mac Problems • Proven solutions

Sound familiar to you? Well, there is no denying that if you want to extend the storage space of your devices than SD cards are of great help. But certain issues sometimes call for SD card formatting. Even if you have bought a new card, it is recommended to format it before using it. Read on to understand how to format memory card on Mac and recover the formatted data from it.

Part 1- Situations When Formatting Memory Card on Mac

Formatting an SD card on Mac is easy. All thanks to the in-built Disk Utility application. It leads to the deletion of all the saved content on the memory card, including the protected files, and more. Once Mac completes the formatting, new directories, and file systems are created and the performance of SD cards like its functioning and speed also improves with it.

Various reasons are there for which a user wants to format a memory card on mac:

• For quickly removing all information
• To reuse memory card
• Permanently deleting data before selling or disposing of it
• Format it to a new file system
• For solving errors, crash, virus issues, or other troublesome issues

After formatting, none of the files are left on the SD card. So it is recommended to take back up before initiating the formatting of memory card. This helps in restoring essential files to the SD card.

Part 2- How to Format Memory Card on Mac Safely

Some of the Mac systems have an in-built SD card slot; here you can directly insert an SD card to access it from Mac. If the SD card slot is missing in your Mac, then you can also use a USB card reader. For micro SD cards use SD adapter cartridge to put the card into the slot of Mac. Once you are ready with your SD card for formatting, follow these easy steps to format and make it reusable.

Step 1- Connect SD card with Mac

Insert the card into the SD card slot or connect it with a USB card reader.

Step 2- Open Disk Utility

Disk utility is in-built in Mac. Use the spotlight or follow the following path to reach “Disk Utility” Applications > Utilities > Disk Utility

Step 3- Locate SD Card

Find your SD card from the left sidebar of Disk Utility. It shows the Mac’s internal as well as external drives. You can see your SD card in the external section. If your card is never formatted before it shows up as “Untitled” or “No Name.”

While selecting the memory card, double-check it that you are choosing the right Drive from the list. Click on it to view the storage space and ensure that your inserted SD card’s memory matches the one that is showing up. If you see some mismatch then probably you have selected the wrong drive. Carefully make the selection again in this case.

Step 4- Click on Erase Tab

Select the “Erase” label located at the top in the menu bar of Disk Utility. When you click on it a pop-up will appear to warn you that you are going to delete all the files saved on your card.

Step 5- Write SD Card Name

Name the SD card as shown in the image below and select the format of the file system. The ExFat format is generally compatible with SD cards.

It’s not mandatory to name the SD card here; you can leave it as “No Name” or “Untitled.” Naming it will only act as a convenience to you at a later stage when you view it in “Finder” or while importing things.

The file system here is dependent on the size of the card. Like if its storage capacity is 64GB or more than that, select ExFat and if it’s 32 GB or lesser than select FAT32.

Step 6- Click Erase

After naming and selecting the format of the SD card, click on the button displaying “Erase.”

Step 7: Click Done When “Erase” Completes

When the formatting completes a message saying the process is complete, display on the screen.

Once the format completes, the SD card is visible in the Disk Utility drive list and also in the Finder menu. Eject the SD card and use it in your device.

Video Tutorial on How to Format a USB Flash Drive on Mac

Part 3- How to Recover Formatted Memory Card on Mac

The formatting memory card will erase all data. But, don’t worry as it is recoverable even after formatting. If you want to recover formatted data, use Recoverit Mac Data Recovery – the best data recovery software.

Step 1 - Select Location

Download Recoverit by confirming the computer version. Install it on Mac and launch it. Select the disk drive from where data is lost and click on “Start” to begin the scan.

Step 2 - Scan Location

It starts on Mac with an all-around scan. You can preview files when the scan completes. While the scanning is in progress, you can make selections and filters. You can search lost files from file type or file path. If you find your lost data in between the scanning, you can even pause or stop the scan.

Step 3 - Recover files

Recoverit also provides the facility of previewing files before recovery step proceeds. Go through all the files that recovery software has found while scanning. Select the files for which you have run the scanning. Click on “recover,” once you are done with the selection of the files that you were looking for.

You are done with the recovery of the files when the above step completes.

Here one thing needs to be discussed. When you are saving the files in your Mac after recovering, don’t save them on the previous path. The selected drive should vary from the one from where you lost your vital data.

Follow the above steps carefully. With this, your system is up with all the data that you have lost during the formatting of the SD card.

Part 4- Tips for Formatting and Format Recovery on Mac

When you think of formatting the SD card on Mac, you need to recheck certain things to avoid any data loss.

• Think multiple times before formatting the SD card as everything that is saved on the card is ultimately going to delete. Always ensure to take back up of the SD card before formatting it. Backup assures that you can regain access to the important files that are getting deleted during the process of formatting.
• Ensure the SD card is in the “unlock” state before you begin with the formatting or reformatting of the SD card. If the card is in the “lock” state, Mac can’t proceed with formatting.
• Keep your SD cards healthy to avoid formatting. To maintain them, start using the SD card after formatting it once and never let them completely filled. Prefer using only branded cards and don’t turn off the device while it is writing data; this can damage the card.
• Go for reformatting the card over deleting the content from the card. If you go with reformatting, it keeps SD card in good working conditions for extended times. It is advisable to erase or format unwanted files by using Mac.
• Don’t interrupt the process, when formatting is in progress. As interrupting it in between can compromise SD card. So proceed with the process carefully because if damage occurs, the repair is difficult.
• Use Recoverit to ensure you get back your formatted or lost data. The data recovery software with the highest recovery rate lets you recover files hassle-free with its easy steps.

Part 5- How to Fix Memory Card Format Errors

Sometimes when you connect SD card with Mac, it shows up certain error messages like - SD is not formatted or not accessible. During such conditions, if you continue with the formatting, you are going to lose your important data saved on the SD card.

Abrupt shut down while reading and writing on the card, removing cards wrongly from the device, using the card in more than one system are some of the possible reasons that lead to memory card format errors. Don’t tamper the card when it shows such errors; it can lead to loss of data permanently. Fix the formatted errors with these solutions:

1. Check connection

Firstly you need to ensure that the SD card is properly inserted. Test it on a different USB port or with a card reader. If the problem persists, follow the below solution as the card is damaged.

2. Set SD Card To Be Visible On Desktop

The possibility is there that memory card shows up in “Disk Utility” if it is not showing up in “Finder.”

Step 1- Check “External Disks” Option Is Enabled

Follow the path: Finder -> Preferences - > General

Check here whether “External disks” is ticked. If not enable it so that the SD card can show up on the desktop.

Step 2- Check “External Disks” Is Enabled In Locations

Click at the sidebar from the top and ensure it is checked under “Locations” also.

3. Check Mount status in Disk Utility

If SD card doesn’t show up even after setting preferences, then go with the following steps:

Step 1- Check whether SD card is listed in “Disk Utility”

Step 2- Select the mount option, if the card is visible but is in the unmounted state.

Now it is mounted in Finder and on desktop also.

4. Repair SD card with First Aid

Step 1- Go to “Disk Utilities”

Read with this path: Applications -> Utilities -> Disk Utilities

Step 2- Click First-Aid

Select the unmountable card and click on First Aid. Wait until repair finishes.

Unfortunately, if the problem is still not fixed, reformat it and restore your files with Recoverit.

Closing Words

Memory Card is the best medium for extending the storage space of your device. But these cards are prone to damages. A virus, improper handling, abrupt removal, and various other factors can corrupt it. To fix the issue, formatting is the best solution. If you also come across such a situation, follow the complete procedure step by step for formatting the memory card as discussed in the article. You can also recover your lost and formatted data with Recoverit.

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What is SD?

SD describes devices that conform to SD standards for non-volatile memory cards. See the SD Association website for details.

Are there size limitations for the cards that can be inserted into the SD slot?

Yes. The SD card specification for a memory card is 32mm by 24mm by 2.1mm. You can also use thinner cards, such as MultiMediaCards (MMC). Avoid using cards that have a thickness greater than 2.1mm, as they might damage the SD card slot if you try to insert them.

Which SD card formats work in the SD card slot?

Cards that conform to the SD 1.x, 2.x, and 3.x standards should work. The SD card slot can use:

• Standard SD, 4MB to 2GB
• SDHC (Secure Digital High Capacity), 4GB to 32GB
• SDXC, 4GB to 2TB
• MMC (MultiMediaCards)
• UHS‑II, up to 2TB (iMac Pro only)

You can use a passive adapter like the one shown here to make MiniSD, MicroSD, and higher density formats like MiniSDHC and MicroSDHC conform to the width and thickness specifications listed above:

How fast can my Mac read or write to an SD card in the SD card slot?

Mac notebooks use the USB bus to communicate with the SD card slot. They have a maximum speed of up to 480Mbit/s. Mac desktops use the PCIe bus to communicate with the SD card slot. Desktops can transfer data at a faster rate.

Check the packaging that came with your SD media to determine the maximum transfer rate that your specific card uses.

To determine the maximum transfer speed of your Mac, you can use System Information. Choose Apple () menu > About This Mac and then click System Report.

If you use a Mac notebook:

1. Select Hardware, then select USB.
2. Select Internal Memory Card Reader and look for the Speed entry.

If you use a Mac desktop computer:

1. Select Hardware, then select Card Reader.
2. Look for the Link Speed entry. Computers that use the PCIe bus express their speed as GT/s.

Does the SD slot work with cards that exceed 32GB?

Yes. However, most media manufacturers preformat the media using common block-and-cluster sizes that don’t approach the theoretical limits of a given file system.

Most SD cards use the FAT32 file format, and preformatted FAT32 SD media is commonly available up to a capacity of 32GB. Media that exceeds 32GB usually uses the exFAT file system, while some smaller capacity cards use the FAT16 file format. Preformatted FAT16 media is generally available up to a capacity of 2GB.

If you use OS X Snow Leopard 10.6.5 or later, you can find out which file system you’re using:

1. Insert the media into the SD card slot.
2. Choose Apple menu > About This Mac.
3. Click System Report.
4. In the Hardware section, click Card Reader, and find the File System field.

Will the SD card slot work with SD cards that use the exFAT file system?

Yes. Any Mac that has an SD card slot and is running OS X 10.6.5 or later can use the exFAT file system.

exFAT is also supported in Boot Camp with Windows 7, 8.1, or 10 on any Mac made in 2011 or later with an SD card slot.

How do I insert media into the SD card slot?

When you insert the card, make sure that the metal contacts face down and point toward the computer. Don’t force media into the SD card slot, as this might cause damage.

How does my Mac use the media inserted into the SD card slot?

Your computer recognizes a card inserted into the SD card slot as a USB storage device. You can mount, read from, and write to the SD card just like you can with any other USB storage device.

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I put the card in the slot, but it didn’t mount. What should I do?

Remove the card and insert it again. Sometimes the SD card won’t mount properly if you put it into the slot too slowly.

When I try to write content to the card, I get a 'cannot be modified' message. How can I fix this?

You see this message when you try to edit data on an SD card that’s locked. You need to use the lock slider to unlock the card before you can edit the data.

To eject the card, drag the icon that represents the card to the Trash. After the icon disappears from the desktop, you can remove the card from the computer. Adjust the lock slider tab to unlock the card, then reinsert the card into the slot. See the manufacturer’s instructions for the location of the slider tab.

Can I use Disk Utility to reformat an SD card?

You can use Disk Utility to partition and format an SD device as FAT32 (using the MS-DOS FAT setting) or Mac OS Extended. The Mac OS Extended format can be used only on Macintosh systems. Non-Apple systems won’t recognize cards formatted to Mac OS Extended.

You might have to format a card that’s larger than 32GB with exFAT if you want to use it with a digital camera, GPS, or another device. When in doubt, format the card in the device that you intend to use it with.

Can I install macOS on an SD storage device and use it as a startup volume?

Use Disk Utility to change the default partition table to GUID. Then format the card to use the Mac OS Extended file format.

How do I remove a card from the SD card slot?

Before you remove the card, allow any data transfer to SD media to complete. To eject the card, drag the icon that represents the card to the Trash. After the icon disappears from your desktop, you can remove the card from the slot.

Don't remove a card while your Mac is sleeping, as this could lead to data loss. Always wake your computer and eject the SD card before removing it from your Mac.

Can I use Secure Digital Input Output (SDIO) cards?

Can I use macOS to see the specifications for the interface hardware and media inserted in the SD card slot?

You can get information about the interface hardware and the media that you inserted in the slot from the System Information:

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1. Choose Apple menu > About This Mac.
2. Click System Report.
3. In the Hardware section of System Information, select USB.
4. In the list of USB devices, select Internal Memory Card Reader to access information about the interface hardware and the media inserted into the SD card slot.

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Can I use the SD card slot while running Windows using Boot Camp?

The SD card slot works with Boot Camp in all supported versions of Windows. You’ll need to download and install the Windows Support Software to use the SD card slot with Windows.

Learn more about using Windows on a Mac.

Can I use an SDXC card on my Mac with Windows?

You can use an SDXC card in Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10 with these Mac computers:

• MacBook Pro (Early 2011 and later)
  MacBook Pro models from 2016 and later don't have a built-in SD card slot. You can use a USB-C card reader, or a combination of a USB-C to USB Adapter and a USB card reader.
  
• MacBook Air (Mid 2011 and later)
• Mac mini (Mid 2011 and later)
  Mac mini (Mid 2010) doesn't support SDXC cards.
• iMac (Mid 2011 and later)
  iMac (Mid 2010) doesn't support SDXC cards.

Can I use an SD, SDHC, or SDXC card to install Windows on my Mac?

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No. You can’t use SD, SDHC, or SDXC cards with Boot Camp to install Windows software on Mac computers.