If you don’t have a card slot, you’ll need to connect an external device with read and write ability like the SD card reader on our list of portable tech gadgets. For a microSD card, be sure to use a microSD-to-SD card adapter. Step 1: Insert the SD card and back up the dataįor a Mac with an SD card slot, simply insert the card with the metal connector contacts facing down, sliding that side into the slot. Here, we’ll walk through the steps and show you how to format an SD card on Mac.

Step 3: Optionally adjust the Security Options.

Step 2: Open Disk Utility and select the card.

Step 1: Insert the SD card and back up the data.

WARNING: Formatting the drive will erase all data on the drive, so you should copy any data you want off the drive prior to formatting. If APFS is not available then the drive is in MBR and not GUID Partition Map. NOTE: Make sure that Scheme is set to GUID Partition Map and not Master Boot Record (MBR). Check step 2 to confirm Disk Utility is Showing All Devices NOTE: If you don’t see Scheme, then make sure that all devices are showing and the non-indented entry is selected.

Select the non-indented entry, you will see Media in the nameĬlick the button labelled Erase in the menu which will bring up this window.

Click View in the upper left and select Show All Devices.

To open Disk Utility - Open Finder > Applications > Utilities > Disk Utility IMPORTANT: Reformatting the drive will erase all data on the drive, so you should copy any data you want off the drive prior to formatting.

Click here to see other formatting options for your operating system.

Looking for a different formatting option? If you need to go between macOS and Windows then format your drive ExFAT

APFS does not natively work with Windows.

Starting with Big Sur, APFS is now the default for Time Machine.

APFS is only available when Scheme is set to ‘GUID Partition Map’, APFS will not be shown when Scheme is set to Master Boot Record – See Step 6.

APFS is not officially supported for macOS versions prior to 10.13 (High Sierra), and will not mount on 10.12 and earlier.It is important to keep the following in mind when formatting to APFS: Not seeing your version of macOS? Click here to see other versions of macOS and different formatting options.Not sure which version you are using? Click here to determine your version of macOS.IMPORTANT: This article applies to the following macOS version:

Which disk format for mac