How to Solve the 'Raw SD Card Won't Format' Error [3 Effective Solutions]

I've discovered that many users are frustrated and unsure how to proceed when they encounter a situation where their Raw SD card won't format. Honestly, resolving this issue is quite straightforward, but I understand that those who have never encountered it before or are unfamiliar with the problem might feel overwhelmed.

But we're here to ease your frustration and share the solutions to fix this problem. Keep reading to learn more!

Utilize Partition Master Tools to Resolve "Raw SD Card Won't Format" Error - Simplified

If your SD card appears as RAW and you attempt to convert it to NTFS, FAT32, exFAT, or any other supported file system, but the Raw SD card fails to format, don't worry.

tools Partition Master is a tool designed to configure and modify HDDs, SSDs, and SD cards. If your Raw SD card refuses to format, download tools Partition Master and utilize the "Format Raw Drive" feature to resolve the issue with just a few clicks.

Actually, it just takes a few seconds to format the drive from Raw to your desired file system.

Step 1. Launch tools Partition Master, right-click the partition on your external hard drive/USB/SD card that you want to format and choose the "Format" option.

Step 2. Assign a new partition label, file system (NTFS/FAT32/EXT2/EXT3/EXT4/exFAT), and cluster size to the selected partition, then click "OK".

Step 3. In the Warning window, click "Yes" to continue.

Step 4. Click the "Execute 1 Task(s)" button in the top-left corner to review the changes, and then click "Apply" to begin formatting your external hard drive, USB, or SD card.

You can also utilize it to configure or alter the partitions on your internal/external drive, as well as create, delete, merge, expand, or erase partitions.

Here are some key features of the Partition Master tool:

• Convert file systems
• Convert MBR to GPT
• Set a partition as active
• Check for partition errors
• Copy the OS to another HDD, SSD, or USB drive
• Convert logical partition to primary and vice versa

Don't hesitate! Download Partition Master right away to resolve any issues you have with disk partition.

Utilize Disk Management to Resolve "Raw SD Card Won't Format" Error - Medium

Unlike tools like Partition Master, using Windows Disk Management to fix the "Raw SD Card Won't Format" error involves many steps.

Allow me to guide you through the process step by step:

Step 1. Click on the "Start" button and search for "Disk Management."

Step 2. Open "Disk Management" from the search results.

Step 3. Select the SD card and then right-click on it.

Step 4. Click on "Format."

Step 5. In the "Volume Label," give the SD card a name.

Step 6. In the "File System" dropdown, click on it and then choose the file system you wish to set for your SD card.

Step 7. Choose "Perform a quick format" and click on "OK."

Step 8. A confirmation box will appear; click on "OK."

你现在应该能够将你的磁盘格式化为所选的文件系统了。

Use CMD to Fix "Raw SD Card Won't Format" Error - Challenging

Alternatively, you can convert the SD card from Raw to a usable format using Command Prompt. However, unlike tools like Partition Master and Disk Management, this process is a bit more complex, so make sure to follow the steps carefully.

Here's how you can resolve the "Raw SD Card Won't Format" error using the command prompt: 1. Connect your SD card to your computer using a card reader or directly if it's built into your device. 2. Open the Command Prompt with administrative privileges. To do this, right-click on the Start button, and select "Command Prompt (Admin)" or "Windows PowerShell (Admin)" in Windows 10 or later. 3. In the Command Prompt window, type the following command to list all the drives connected to your computer: ``` diskpart ``` 4. Press Enter. This will open the DiskPart utility. 5. Type the following command to display all the disks connected to your system: ``` list disk ``` 6. Identify your SD card from the list by its size or drive number. Usually, it will be the smallest one. 7. Type the following command, replacing "X" with the disk number of your SD card (e.g., 0, 1, 2): ``` select disk X ``` 8. Confirm the selection by pressing Enter. 9. Now, type the following command to clean the SD card's data: ``` clean ``` 10. Press Enter to execute the command. This will erase all data from the SD card. 11. Next, create a new partition on the SD card by typing: ``` create partition primary ``` 12. Press Enter. 13. Format the partition with the following command: ``` format fs=fat32 quick ``` If you want to format the card as exFAT for larger volumes, use: ``` format fs=exfat quick ``` 14. Press Enter to start the formatting process. It may take a few moments. 15. Once the formatting is complete, type: ``` exit ``` 16. Press Enter again to close the DiskPart utility and return to the Command Prompt. 17. Close the Command Prompt window. Your SD card should now be formatted and ready to use. If the issue persists, there might be hardware problems with the card, and you might consider replacing it.

Step 1. Click on the "Windows" icon located in the taskbar.

Step 2. Type and search "command prompt."

Step 3. Click on "Run as administrator."

Step 4. Type "diskpart" and press Enter, then type and enter the following commands.

1. list disk
2. select disk 2 (replace 2 with the correct disk number)
3. list volume
4. select volume 10 (replace 10 with the correct volume number)
5. format fs=ntfs quick
6. exit

You can click on these links to learn more about Diskpart commands:

Conclusion

If your SD card is displaying as Raw and not reformating to a different file system, it might be because you employed the incorrect command during the initial formatting process. Alternatively, it could also be because the SD card was already assigned as Raw.

With the help of Partition Master, you can alter your SD card's file system with just a few clicks. Download and employ Partition Master now to modify your SD card's file system. Alternatively, you can utilize Disk Management or Command Prompt to convert the file system of your SD card; however, be cautious as these methods are more complex routes for changing the file system of your SD card.

FAQs: Unable to Format Raw SD Card

If you have more questions about why a raw SD card won't format, we've addressed some of them here. Take a look!

1. How do I force a raw SD card to format? To force a raw SD card to format, follow these steps: 1. **Connect the SD Card**: Insert the SD card into an SD card reader and connect it to your computer. 2. **Open File Explorer**: On Windows, press `Win + E` to open File Explorer. On macOS, open "Finder." 3. **Locate the SD Card**: In File Explorer or Finder, find the SD card, which is usually labeled as "UNTITLED" or "NO NAME" if it's raw. 4. **Format the SD Card**: - **Windows**: Right-click on the SD card, then choose "Format." Make sure "Quick Format" is unchecked, select "FAT32" (for compatibility) or "exFAT" (for larger files), and click "Start." - **macOS**: Right-click on the SD card, choose "Erase," name the volume (optional), select "MS-DOS (FAT)" for compatibility or "ExFAT" for larger files, and click "Erase." 5. **Wait for Formatting**: A warning will appear, informing you that all data will be erased. Click "OK" or "Continue" to proceed. Wait for the formatting process to complete. 6. **Verify Formatting**: After formatting, check if the SD card is recognized by your computer and appears with the correct file system. If the above steps don't work, you may need to use specialized software like tools Partition Master, Disk Utility (on macOS), or a third-party formatter. Be cautious, as these methods will also erase all data on the card.

Here's how to accomplish that:

1. Click the "Start" button, search for "Disk Management," and open it from the results. 2. Select the unallocated SD card and right-click on it, then choose "Format." 3. Select the file system you wish to format it to and click "OK."

2. How do I fix a corrupted raw SD card? To fix a corrupted raw SD card, follow these steps: 1. **Connect the SD Card**: Insert the corrupted SD card into your computer using a card reader or directly into a compatible device. 2. **Check Disk Management**: On Windows, open "Disk Management" by right-clicking on the Start button and selecting "Disk Management." On macOS, use "Disk Utility" which can be found in the Utilities folder within Applications. 3. **Format the Card**: In Disk Management (Windows) or Disk Utility (macOS), locate the SD card. It might show as "RAW" file system or not have any assigned drive letter. Right-click (Windows) or click the "Erase" button (macOS) and choose a file system (FAT32, NTFS for Windows, or exFAT for cross-platform compatibility). Make sure to select the appropriate format for your needs. 4. **Backup Data (if possible)**: If you have important data on the card, try using data recovery software like Recuva, tools Data Recovery Wizard, or Disk Drill to recover files before formatting. Note that this is not always guaranteed, especially if the corruption is severe. 5. **Format the Card (again)**: After backing up your data, proceed with formatting the SD card. In the respective utility, confirm the action when prompted. This will erase all data on the card. 6. **Scan for Errors**: After formatting, run a scan for errors. In Windows, right-click the SD card, choose "Properties," then click the "Tools" tab and "Check." For macOS, in Disk Utility, click "First Aid" and then "Run." 7. **Verify Functionality**: Once the scan completes, eject and reinsert the SD card to ensure it's recognized correctly. If it still doesn't work, try using it in another device to rule out hardware issues. Remember, always safely eject the SD card before removing it to prevent further corruption. If the issue persists, consider replacing the SD card.

You can fix a corrupted raw SD card by following the above-mentioned solutions, or you can use tools like Partition Master to fix a corrupted raw SD card with just a few clicks.

3. Why can't I format my SD card on my Android device?

Here are the reasons for that:

• The SD card is already formatted with an unknown file system.
• Alternatively, if the SD card is no longer capable of accepting new data, formatting may fail.