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format sd card on chromebook

How to Format SD Card on Chromebook?

Do you want to increase the storage in your Chromebook? Learn the top ways on how to format SD card on Chromebook.
Eleanor Reed
Eleanor Reed Originally published Oct 18, 24, updated Dec 16, 24

Formatting SD card on a Chromebook may seem like a hassle, but it is actually very smooth and an easy-to-follow procedure. Most of the time you would need additional storage in your Chromebook, which is why you may prefer inserting the SD card. This acts as an external storage for future usage.

Sometimes, it may so happen that Chromebook will not be able to read the SD card. Therefore, the best thing to do in this situation would be to format the SD card. Chromebook offers the benefit to format the SD card directly. However, during some situations SD cards will not be formatted. Let's take a look at some of the ways through which you can format SD card on Chromebook without facing any major issues.

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In this article
    1. Method 1. Update Your Software
    2. Method 2. Hardware Reset
    3. Method 3. Try to Reformat the SD Card

Something Detailed You Should Know on Chrome OS Formatting

Chrome OS formatting refers to the process of resetting the Chromebook to the original factory settings. In some cases, it is also referred to as Powerwash as it helps to remove all the data. Powerwash of Chromebook helps in removing files, user settings and apps. A major reason Chrome OS formatting is done is to ensure that all the issues are fixed and the device is ready to be used by a new user. However, if there's any cloud-synced data, it will remain completely unaffected.

format sd card on chromebook

How to Format an SD Card on Chromebook?

If you're using Chromebook, you must know that there are different methods through which you can format the SD card. However, it is extremely important that you adopt the right methods through which you can format the SD card. If the data card is corrupted, it will not be readable by the device and Chromebook won’t format SD card. Therefore, one of the best things to do would be to format it.

Below are the steps through which you can format SD card on Chromebook:

Step 1: Connect the SD card to your device and open the Files menu.

Step 2: Browse through the Files menu and look for the SD card that needs to be formatted.

Step 3: Right-click on the SD card and click on Format Device option from the drop-down menu.

None

Format: completely format the sd card

Step 4: A Window pop-up will appear, click on the OK option. Confirm the process that you want to erase the data.

How to Fix Chromebook Not Read SD Card?

Sometimes, Chromebook will not be able to read the SD card. It is extremely important to go through all the data and then get a backup of it. Here are the steps that you can adopt to fix Chromebook not read SD card:

Method 1. Update Your Software

One of the main reasons why Chromebook is not able to read SD cards is when the device isn't able to read the data. The system will automatically check for all the data, and will update if there is no existing data.

It is advisable to consistently check for the updates in your device and then opt to fix the problem. You may follow the steps given below to update the software on your device to format SD card on Chromebook:

Step 1: Switch on your Chromebook and connect it to the respective internet connection.

Step 2: In the toolbar, look for the time icon available on the bottom right corner of the screen and then click ahead to proceed.

open time settings

Step 3: From the given Menu, click on the Settings option. On the bottom left, click on the About Chrome OS section.

Step 4: A Google Chrome OS pop-up will appear on the screen. It will display all the current versions of the OS that is functioning.

Step 5: Now, click on the ‘Check for Updates’ option and check if any updates are available. Once the notification is done, you will receive the Restart to Update notification. Click on the notification to initiate the downloading of the new version.

check for updates and complete update

Step 6: Insert the SD now after the update is done to check if Chromebook is now available to read the files.

Method 2. Hardware Reset

Hardware Reset is one of the most feasible options through which you can update Chromebook. Performing the hardware reset will help to prepare the Chromebook so that it can start working on the SD card.

You need to follow the steps given below to conduct hardware reset of your device for the SD card not working error to improve format SD card for Chromebook:

Step 1: Switch off your Chromebook. In order to conduct a hardware reset, it is important to power off the system completely. This will help in completing the shutdown process and improve the performance.

Step 2: Once the system is off, remove the SD card from the Chromebook.

Step 3: Switch on your Chromebook, by pressing the Power Key. Now, hold the Refresh Key for around 10 seconds so that you can continue the process.

press restart and power key

Step 4: After a few seconds leave the key and check if the restart process is normal.

Step 5: Put the SD card back in the system and check if it is readable.

Method 3. Try to Reformat the SD Card

If nothing works out, one of the best things to do would be to try reformatting the SD card. This will help in slightly fixing the issue. You need to follow the steps given below to learn how to format an sd card on chromebook:

Step 1: Connect SD card on the Chromebook and open Files app.

open files menu

Step 2: Check for the SD card that needs to be reformatted. Right-click on it and click on the Format Device option.

confirm the formatting of sd card

Step 3: You will receive a warning message pop-up stating that all the data will be erased. Click on OK and confirm the process.

Worried for Data from Formatted Memory Card: Use Wondershare Recoverit

Formatting your memory card can increase the risk of data loss. Therefore, it is extremely important that you get a backup of all the data. But, what if the memory card has already been formatted and the data is lost? This can seem like a deal breaker. But, worry not, because you can now rely on Wondershare Recoverit.

Wondershare Recoverit is one-of-a-kind software that allows you to recover data from a formatted memory card. Thus, you wouldn't have to worry about losing your data. It is a reliable SD card formatter Chromebook that you can use to improve the functioning. Wondershare Recoverit is available for download for macOS and Windows OS. This professional software is secure that allows you to recover the data without compromising on the quality.

Using Wondershare Recoverit, you can easily recover almost all types of data across 1000+ file formats such as FAT, HFTS, NFTS and more. Moreover, you don't need to be an expert to be using Wondershare Recoverit. If you're just a beginner, you can start using Wondershare Recoverit for formatting the data.

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Here are the steps that you need to follow to recover data from a formatted memory card using Wondershare Recoverit:

Step 1: Once Wondershare Recoverit is downloaded and installed in your system, launch it. Now, visit the SD card section on the software from the main screen. Select the memory card that you want to scan.

select sd card to format

Step 2: The scanning process is going to take a few minutes. An all-around scan will be conducted. You can check all the target files that are being scanned. You can click on the OK button to continue the scanning process, or hit the pause to stop it.

start the scanning process

Step 3: Now, you will be redirected to a new window to complete the scanning process. You can get a preview of the files and then recover them. Save them in the desired location of the preview seems to be fine.

select the path to save all the files

Conclusion

It is important to understand how to format SD card on Chromebook so that you can avoid potential problems. You may adopt any one of the methods above so as to format the SD card and eventually improve the performance of your device. Moreover, if the SD card is not being read, formatting can surely be of great help. This will play an important role in avoiding any confusion. So, adopt the procedure and improve the performance of your device.

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FAQs

  • 1. Why can't I format my SD card on my Chromebook?
    A major reason why you may not be able to format the SD card on Chromebook is because it wasn't read. Sometimes, Chromebook is unable to read corrupted and damaged SD cards which can't be read by the device.
  • 2. How do I format my SD card without losing data on my Chromebook?
    You may take a backup of the files on your SD card before formatting. Using a data recovery tool can be extremely useful in recovering the data when you're formatting the SD card on Chromebook.
  • 3. Does FAT32 work on Chromebook?
    Yes, FAT32 can easily work on Chromebook. It supports files across different formats. Furthermore, Chromebook OS is also capable of reading and editing NTFS files.
Eleanor Reed
Eleanor Reed Dec 16, 24
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