3 Simple Ways to Format a Bootable SD Card (With Practical Tips)

An SD card is used in everything from digital cameras to laptops, and even some phones. If you use a laptop, it's possible that it doesn't have an optical DVD drive built-in. This can cause problems if you want to install or reformat your Windows system. That's where bootable SD cards (or bootable USB drives) come in handy – you can use them to < a href="/partition-manager-software/boot-windows-from-sd-card.html" >boot Windows from an SD card.

A bootable SD card is a special device that contains a bootable operating system. It allows you to start your computer when you encounter boot issues or system crashes. But why do you need to format a bootable SD card? The main reason is compatibility. You see, different devices support various file systems. To accommodate a specific device, you must format the bootable SD card to the NTFS, FAT32, or exFAT file system.

This article explains how to format a bootable SD card using Windows File Explorer, Disk Management, and the Partition Master tool. The instructions in this guide apply to Windows 11, 10, 8, and 7.

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Method 1: Format the Bootable SD Card Using File Explorer

The most straightforward way is to use the File Explorer to format your bootable SD card. This way, you can format the bootable SD card with just a few clicks.

Step 1 Connect the SD card to your computer using a card reader.

Step 2. Open File Explorer in This PC, right-click on your SD card, and select “Format.”

Step 3: Choose the file system, and give your SD card a new label. Click “Start,” then “OK” to confirm the format.

Method 2: Format the Bootable SD Card using Disk Management

Another way to format a bootable SD card is through Disk Management. This is a good option when File Explorer isn't working correctly. Format your bootable SD card by following these steps.

Step 1: Connect the SD card to your computer using a card reader.

Step 2. Right-click "This PC" and select "Manage" to open "Disk Management."

Step 3. Right-click on your SD card and select "Format."

Step 4. Click “Yes” to proceed, and then give your card a new label and choose a file system—exFAT, FAT32, or NTFS. Click “OK” to format your SD card.

Method 3: Format the Bootable SD Card with Partition Master Tool

It is recommended to use a disk management tool - like Partition Master to format the bootable SD card. With this partition manager, you can format the bootable SD card to NTFS, FAT32, or Ext2/3/4 file system in Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7/XP/Vista.

In addition, this formatting tool also enables users to format a bootable USB drive or external hard drive. It has a user-friendly interface and is easy to operate. Follow the detailed steps below to format your bootable SD card.

Step 1: Right-click on the SD card's partition that you want to format and select “Format…”

Step 2. Specify a new partition label, file system (NTFS/FAT32/EXT2/EXT3/EXT4/exFAT) and cluster size for the selected partition, and click “OK”.

Step 3: Click “Yes” in the dialog box to continue.

Step 4. Click “Run 1 Task” from the toolbar and then click “Apply” to begin formatting the SD card.

Extra Hint: How to Create a Bootable SD Card

You can create a bootable SD card or USB with just a few simple steps. Here's an example using Rufus to create a bootable SD card:

Step 1: Download Rufus from here: https://rufus.ie/en/.

Step 2. Launch Rufus. Right-click the downloaded file and select “Run as administrator.”

Step 3: Select your SD card from the Device dropdown. The File system should be set to Fat32.

Step 4. Check the boxes for “Quick format” and “Create bootable disc.” Select the Windows 10 ISO file for the bootable disk.

Step 5: Click the “Start” button and wait for it to finish.

Conclusions

The above three solutions can help you format a bootable SD card with ease. It's recommended to use the Partition Master tool as it offers more advanced options to users. Besides, you can learn how to make an SD card bootable with detailed steps. This article will be of great help.