Consumers

Tools and Resources

Find the right SD memory card for your device
Use our guide to find out what type of SD memory card you need for your SD enabled digital camera, MP3 player, cell phone, and more!

How much can an SD memory card hold?
Use our handy charts to determine how many photos, music, and videos you can store on a given SD memory card.
Home » Consumers » SD Formatter

SD Formatter

This software formats all SD memory cards and SDHC memory cards using a formatting program that complies with official SD memory card requirements. SD formatting provides quick and easy access to your SD memory card. This program may only be used on Windows® 2000, Windows® XP and Windows® Vista®.

SD or SDHC memory card file systems formatted with generic operating system formatting software do not comply with official SD memory card requirements and optimum performance may not be experienced.

CE Environment

Environment OS: Windows® 2000 (Professional), Windows® XP (Home Edition/Professional), Windows Vista®

* This software does not perform copyright protection. If you use a memory card for some equipment requiring copyright protection, such as SD Audio Player, all formatting must be done by using the formatting software provided by your device manufacturer. Please see your device owner manual for further information or contact your device manufacturer.

Interface Environment

To perform formatting, you may need a USB or PC card adapter that can provide access to your SD or SDHC memory card through your computer.

Procedure to Download

Download the SD memory card formatting software from the button below.

Procedure to Install

  1. Install the software after finishing the download
  2. Close all running programs on your computer
  3. Run or Execute the installer file
  4. Follow the instructions in the installation window

Note: If you have already installed this software, it will be uninstalled once automatically while you execute operation (2). In this case, install again from the operation (2) after completing the uninstall procedure (see below).

If “User Account Control” window is displayed on the screen, please click on [Arrow].

Uninstalling SD Formatting Software

[Windows Vista®]

  1. Click on [Start]
  2. Click on [Control Panel]
  3. Click on [Uninstall a Program]
  4. Double click on [SDFormatter]
  5. If “User Account Control” window is displayed on the screen, please click on [Continue]
  6. Complete the uninstall of the SD memory card formatting software by following the instructions presented in the uninstall window

[Windows® XP]

  1. Click on [Start]
  2. Click on [Settings]
  3. Click on [Control Panel]

    Note: If you cannot find [Settings] and/or [Control Panel] from [Start] menu, click on [Start], and then click on [My Computer]
     
  4. Click on [Change a setting] or [Control Panel] found on the left side of your “My Computer” window
  5. Click on [Add or Remove Programs]
  6. Double click on [SDFormatter]
  7. Click on [Change/Remove]
  8. Complete the uninstall of the SD memory card formatting software by following the instructions presented in the uninstall window

[Windows® 2000]

  1. Click on [Start]
  2. Click on [Settings]
  3. Click on [Control Panel]
  4. Click on [Add/Remove Programs]
  5. Double click on [SDFormatter]
  6. Click on [Change/Remove]
  7. Complete the uninstall of the SD memory card formatting software by following the instructions presented in the uninstall window

[Windows® 98]

  1. Click on [Start]
  2. Click on [Settings]
  3. Click on [Control Panel]
  4. Click on [Add/Remove Programs]
  5. Double click on [SDFormatter]
  6. Click on [Change/Remove]
  7. Complete the uninstall of the SD memory card formatting software by following the instructions presented in the uninstall window

Notes

Do not format recordable media other than SD or SDHC memory cards with this software. If you have mistakenly formatted a recordable media other, reformat the media using the appropriate formatting software that came with the media.

  • The software cannot be used on a Macintosh system
  • Once formatting has started, all previously recorded data will be erased
  • Do not remove the SD/SDHC memory card while formatting
  • Do not format the SD/SDHC memory card while the write protection switch is enabled
  • If the SD formatting software does not recognize the SD/SDHC memory card, re-insert the card and click on "Refresh"
  • SD formatting is not possible on unrecognizable "removable drives"
  • In some cases SD/SDHC memory cards may not be recognized by the SD Formatting Software immediately after installation of SD/SDHC memory card compatible reader/writer driver software. If this occurs, re-start your computer and try again
  • If you are using a USB drive adapter and the SD formatting software does not recognize the SD/SDHC memory card after re-inserting it, remove the USB cable while the SD/SDHC memory card is still in the drive. After about 10 seconds reconnect the USB cable and click on the "Refresh" button
  • Some reader/writers cannot use "erase operation"

Download the SD Formatter