How to Fix SD Card Showing Wrong Size?

Eleanor Reed

Sep 09, 2025 • Filed to: SD Card Solutions • Proven solutions

SD or micro SD card if shows a wrong size i.e. it shows larger data saving capacity than it actually can, it will surely show an error. If you see an error like a micro SD card showing the wrong size, then you are using the expansion card. There are other reasons too due to which the SD card shows the wrong size. Those reasons along with the appropriate solutions are mentioned below in the article. Check for the reason that is causing an error on your device and choose a viable solution from the ones listed below.

Part 1. Why does the SD card show the wrong size?

Before targeting the right solution for the SD card showing the wrong size, you should know about the actual reason behind the problem. Here are some of the possible reasons mentioned that shows up the error.

• Using an expansion card: An expansion card is a type of SD card that that shows larger storage capacity than it actually can. It may be dying to some illegal software running for the SD card. To avoid these expansion cards, it's viable to use the copyrighted one.
• Virus or malware detection: Using a single SD card for multiple devices or inserting the card to any device affected with the virus, the SD will be affected and start showing up the wrong storage size. Only a strong anti-virus can then resolve the problem and rehabilitate the normal functioning of the SD card.
• Hosts and readers compatibility: Compatibility is the next factor that counts. In case of incompatibility of any reader or host device, it would be difficult to read the larger SDHC and SDXC cards. To cope up with this challenge, the device will repartition the SD card to a size that is compatible for reading easily. Hence leading to error i.e. micro SD card showing the wrong size. Moreover, the invisible shadow files and improper formatting can also lead to this wrong size issue.

Part 2. First Step: Recover Lost Data from SD Card Showing Wrong Dize

To avoid data loss during the repair process, it's recommended to recover the data stored on the SD card in advance. When it is about data recovery, only a single solution is all that you need. It is Recoverit data recovery. This third party application software is apt to provide you with a complete recovery of lost or deleted data from your SD card. Here is the stepwise process:

1. Launch the software i.e. download and install on your device and see if the SD card is connected to the PC.
2. Select the micro SD card from the menu outlook. Once selected, press start to continue.

   

3. The recovery software will run a scan on the memory card for recovering the data i.e. the deleted data (media)

   

4. Once the process of scanning is completed, a preview of recovered data will appear on the screen. Now select the data you need to recover and press recover.

   

5. The last step is to save the recovered data. Select the location and save the recovered file.

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Part 3. How to Solve the SD Card Showing Wrong Size Issue?

Check for the reasons mentioned above and look for the one causing a micro SD card showing the wrong size error on your device. Once you get to know about the reason, the next step is to approach the solution to fix it. The following are some of the solutions that can help rule out the error i.e. micro SD card showing the wrong size.

Method 1: Format SD Card Via Disk Management

The first and foremost solution is to format the SD card. This will rehabilitate the card to its normal size as any new partitioning will be deleted. Before running a format, do back up the data on some other location. The following are the steps to carry out the format process.

1. Start with clicking on My Computer in the main menu and then select the option of Manage.
2. In the Manage menu, select Disk Management popping under the option of Device Manager.
3. Click on the SD card and select the option of Format in the drop menu.

   

4. Once formatted, rename the card and reset it to either NTFS or Fat32 versions. Your SD card will be restored to the original size.

Method 2: Use Disk Part to Format SD Card

If formatting alone has not served the purpose to resolve the error i.e. SD card showing the wrong size, then using the Disk part to format the SD is the next reliable option. Here are the steps to follow the procedure.

1. In the search bar, type cmd, right-click on Command Prompt, and select "Run as administrator."
2. In the command window, type 'diskpart' and press Enter.
3. Type 'list disk' and press Enter to view all connected storage drives.
4. Find the correct disk number for your SD card (verify its size carefully). Type 'select disk #' (replace # with the disk number) and press Enter.
5. Type 'clean' and press Enter to wipe the card's partitions.
6. Type 'create partition primary' and press Enter to create a new partition.
7. Type 'format fs=exfat' (or 'format fs=ntfs') and press Enter to format the partition.
8. Type 'assign' and press Enter to assign a new drive letter and complete the process.

Method 3: Format SD Card in Windows Disk Manager

If the two of the above methods do not work for you, then here is another formatting option via windows disk management. The Windows disk management is a build-in tool that mages the disk on the computer. It can also be used for formatting the storage devices. Here are the steps to format the SD card with the windows disk manager.

1. Start the process by clicking on My Computer and next select Management in options.
2. In the management option menu, click on Disk Management.
3. In the disk management menu, the SD card will appear. Click on the SD card and select the option of Format.

   

4. In format, option choose the Perform a Quick Format and select the appropriate allocation unit size.

   

Once the targeted format action is completed, the SD card will restore to its original normal size.