NOTE: All SanDisk memory cards and flash drives come pre-formatted and do not need to be formatted out of the box. Memory cards are formatted with the following standards:
| SD/microSD | 2GB or lower | FAT16 |
| SDHC/microSDHC | 4GB to 32GB | FAT32 |
| SDXC/microSDXC | 64GB or higher | exFAT |
| CompactFlash | up to 128GB | FAT32 |
| CompactFlash | 256GB | exFAT |
Reformatting may clear file system corruption and quickly erase everything on the device. If re-formatting is needed, follow the steps below.
WARNING: Backup all your data before formatting. Formatting will erase all data on the memory device.
Formatting your memory device:
1. Double-click My Computer, or Computer (for Vista and Win7)
2. Right-click the drive letter associated with your memory device, then select Format
(in the sample image below, we right-clicked on H:).
WARNING: Make sure you select the correct drive letter.
3. Select a File system type.
- FAT
- FAT32
- exFAT
4. Ensure "Quick Format" is checked
5. Click Start.
NOTE: exFAT is supported natively in WIN7 and WIN8. You will need to download a patch for Windows XP or VISTA to format a 64GB or larger device.
Reference: Operating Systems that Support the exFAT File System
If you have a problem formatting, you can try to Format using Disk Management.
NOTE: If the above steps do NOT resolve the problem or if the lock switch is missing or broken, please back up your data and request a replacement using our online web form.
