"Steam Deck SD Card Formatting Greyed Out? Solution"

The Steam Deck is a fully operational and portable gaming device. Crafted from black plastic, this compact powerhouse packs supercomputer-like processing capabilities along with a touchscreen. While it boasts numerous favorable attributes, there have been reports of difficulties encountered when formatting SD cards on certain Steam Decks. Here's a genuine scenario:

Fortunately, there are numerous solutions to address this issue, and you can attempt them. If your Steam Deck-formatted SD card appears grayed out, you can implement the remedies outlined in this article to rectify the error. However, it's essential to understand why the "Format SD card" option in your Steam Deck system settings is disabled. This issue can stem from various causes, such as improper installation, random errors on the Steam Deck, inadequate power supply, a damaged SD card, or bad sectors on the SD card.

Translation: "Format SD card option grayed out on Steam Deck"

To rectify this issue for you, we have compiled the following solutions to assist you in resolving the "SD card format option grayed out on Steam Deck" problem.

Resolve Steam Deck SD Card Formatting Issue with tools Partition Master Tool

When the Steam Deck fails to format the SD card, you can opt to use third-party software to format the SD card to EXT4 on a Windows computer. tools Partition Master Free is an excellent choice for this purpose. It enables you to format a Steam Deck SD card to EXT4 with just one click, and the process won't take much time. If you're new to computers, it serves as a more reliable assistant. Its user-friendly and intuitive interface simplifies the entire formatting process, making it quick and effortless. Download the tool, ensure your SD card is connected to the PC, and follow the tutorial below.

Step 1. Launch AOMEI Partition Assistant, right-click the partition you plan to format and choose "Format".

Step 2. In the new window, enter the Partition label, select the FAT32/EXT2/EXT3/EXT4 file system, and set the cluster size as needed, then click "OK".

Step 3. A warning window will then appear; click "Yes" to proceed.

Step 4. Click the "Execute 1 Task(s)" button in the top-left corner to review the changes, and then click "Apply" to start formatting the partition to FAT32/EXT2/EXT3/EXT4.

Windows includes some formatting utilities, such as CMD and Disk Management. However, these tools do not support EXT4, the sole and recommended best format for Steam Deck SD cards. With Partition Master, you can overcome these limitations. Furthermore, to address the "Steam Deck format SD card" greyed out issue, Partition Master can also perform the following actions:

5 Other Fixes for the Steam Deck SD Card Format Option Being Grayed Out

If the SD card appears gray on your Steam Deck and you encounter a Steam Deck format SD card error, try these solutions:

• Solution 1: Restart Your Steam Deck and Check It
• Solution 2: Reinsert and Check the SD Card
• Solution 3: Verify the Battery Charge
• Solution 4: Verify and Repair Damaged Sectors on the SD Card
• Solution 5: Contact Support

We will provide detailed, step-by-step guidance on how to utilize the aforementioned methods to resolve the "Steam Deck unable to format SD card" error or the issue of the "format SD card" option being greyed out.

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Fix 1: Restart Steam Deck and Inspect It

Your Steam Deck might be unable to read the SD card due to an occasional software glitch. Restarting the device is often the simplest solution to rectify such random issues. Hence, try restarting your Steam Deck and observe if that resolves the problem. Furthermore, it's crucial to inspect the Steam Deck carefully for any signs of environmental damage that could be impacting its functionality.

Further Reading: Install Windows on Steam Deck

Fix 2: Reinsert and Check the SD Card Step 1: Gently remove the SD card from your device. Step 2: Inspect the card for any physical damage, such as bent pins or dirt. If you find any issues, try cleaning it with a soft cloth. Step 3: Ensure that the card is properly ejected before reinserting it. This is important to avoid potential file system corruption. Step 4: Carefully insert the SD card back into your device, making sure it clicks into place. Step 5: Check if the device recognizes the SD card and if the issue has been resolved. If not, proceed to the next fix.

Does your SD card function properly across multiple devices? I recommend attempting to insert the SD card into another device to check its functionality. If the card works well on other devices, there might be an issue with your Steam Deck, and it's advisable to contact a repair service.

Solution 3: Check the Battery Charge

You might encounter this error if your Steam Deck has less than 20% battery charge. Ensure that the Steam Deck is charged to at least 20% before attempting to connect to the SD card.

Solution 4: Verify and Repair Bad Sectors on the SD Card

If there are too many bad sectors on the SD card, it might not be recognized by SD Steam, and the "Format SD Card" option will appear grayed out. Hence, it's crucial to inspect and repair bad sectors on the Steam Deck SD card. Tools like Partition Master have a "disk surface test" function that can check and fix bad sectors on the target SD card.

Here's how it can be done:

Step 1. Launch AOMEI Partition Assistant. Right-click the disk that you wish to check and choose “Surface Test”.

Step 2. The operation will be performed immediately, and all bad sectors will be marked in red.

Solution 5: Contact the Help Desk

If you're still unsure why the Steam Deck formatting options are disabled, there are several approaches to resolve the issue. You can reach out to customer support; they should be able to assist you with the Steam Deck's SD card formatting options appearing grayed out.

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Conclusion

Above, we have outlined six methods to resolve the issue of a grayed-out formatted SD card on the Steam Deck. Users are likely to attempt reinstallation and trying the SD card on another device as自发性 fixes. However, to ensure successful formatting and compatibility with the Steam Deck, utilizing the tool Partition Master is the most efficient and straightforward approach.

"SD Card Formatting Grayed Out on Steam Deck: Frequently Asked Questions"

Before using an SD card on the Steam Deck, it should be formatted to EXT4. However, you might encounter an issue where the "Format SD Card" option on the Steam Deck is disabled or grayed out. To address this problem, review the following troubleshooting steps.

1. How do I resolve the issue of my SD card not formatting on the Steam Deck?

The first step to rectify this error is to remove the SD card from your Steam Deck and insert it into your computer. Next, format the SD card using your PC to check if it functions correctly with the in-built formatter. If the issue persists, you can utilize a tool like Partition Master to format the SD card specifically for the Steam Deck.

2. How do I force my SD card to format on the Steam Deck? To force format your SD card on the Steam Deck, follow these steps: 1. Ensure your Steam Deck is powered off. 2. Insert the SD card into the designated slot on the Steam Deck. 3. Power on the device by pressing and holding the power button until you see the boot screen. 4. When the Steam OS loading screen appears, quickly press and hold the `Escape` key (the leftmost key with the `>` symbol) to enter the boot menu. 5. In the boot menu, use the arrow keys to highlight `Boot from SD Card` and press `A` to select it. 6. If prompted with a warning, confirm that you want to boot from the SD card. 7. Once booted, the Steam Deck will attempt to detect and mount the SD card. If it fails, navigate to the Steam Deck's settings. 8. Go to `Settings` > `System` > `Storage`. 9. Locate your SD card in the list of storage devices. It should be labeled as `sdcard0` or something similar. 10. Press the `A` button on your SD card entry. 11. Select `Format` from the options. 12. A warning will appear. Read it, then confirm the format by selecting `Yes` or the equivalent option. 13. The formatting process will begin. Wait for it to complete, which may take a few minutes. 14. After formatting, your SD card is now ready to use with the Steam Deck. You can proceed to install games or other content. Remember that formatting will erase all data on the SD card, so ensure you have backed up any important files before proceeding.

To forcibly format your SD card on the Steam Deck, you'll need to access the Settings menu. From there, navigate to 'System,' then scroll down until you locate the 'Format SD Card' option. Press the button and wait for the process to complete, granting you a freshly formatted SD card.

3. What format do Steam Decks require for SD cards?

EXT4, an SD card must be formatted as EXT4 to function properly on the Steam Deck. If your SD card utilizes an incompatible file system such as FAT32 or NTFS, the Steam Deck will not be able to recognize it.