How to Format SD Card for Raspberry Pi

In this post, I’ll teach you how to format SD cardwith a capacity larger than 32GB into the FAT32 format that is appropriate for use in your Raspberry Pi. If you'd want to know the SD card limit for the raspberry Pi, check this. 

DISKPART was most people’s option before we graduated to the SD formatter tools. You’ll need Raspberry Pi SD formatting when (a) Remove the corrupt files and software. (b) Following a pre-partition to expand storage space. (c) Change the OS from the preload one. 

                                        Format your SD Card for Raspberry Pi 

First: 

Backup the files and data held in the devices recommended in this post (Safetomatic). You can store the data and files in an external hard drive on your computer. 

Windows 10: FAT32 formatting for the Micro SD card 

You regular format utility feature on Windows will only help format SD cards that are 32GB or lower capacity. 

But how do you know such details on your SD CARD? 

Go to the SD card file-system format on windows and right click. You’ll see options such as NTFS and exFAT for the format utility. Note that there is no FAT32 formatting option. 

Further, if you are fun of command line in formatting your SD card to the FAT32 format. However, the command line technique won’t be effective with SD card with a capacity bigger than 32Gb. 

Then, an SD formatting tool will be your best bet. 

1. Acquire a Pi 3 matching Micro SD card 

My recommendation include Raspberry Pi Official SD card, SanDisk Extreme-PRO and Samsung Evo Plus. 

However, the PI starter Kit would also be a great alternative if you starting off without many of the required components. 

2. FAT32 formatting

In this process download and install the fat32format or the EaseUS Partition programs. 

• Download and run a fat32format program. Interestingly, there is no need to install the program on the computer.
• You’ll need to delete the pervious SD card partitions. Therefore, while downloading the formatting tool, make sure that the “format size tuning” is set to “on”.
• Select the drive you’ll need to format. In our case, the SD card will show on the computer.
• Now run the FAT32 Format guiformat.exe tool. Set all options to default before beginning the formatting process.
• For disk integrity check, run the “chkdsk /R x:”where x will be the letter of your SD card drive on the computer.
• Finally, now install your raspberry Pi OS. 

Fat32 SD card formatting on your on mac

There is formatting tools built into the Mac OS X and thus you will directly format your MicroSD card to the FAT32 format. 

Here’s how you’ll format the SD card. 

• On the Mac, connect your designated Raspberry SD card.
• Open Mac’s Disk Utility.
• Go to Micro SD card which will be located at the left section.
• Change the options to an “erase tab.”
• Click Volume Format and then an  “erase” selection
• Finally, hit Erase 

                                                                   Conclusion 
You are now done with formatting your Pi Micro SD card. Its time to check your those amazing Pi projects you can start working on right away.