<p><img src="https://static5.businessinsider.com/image/600f2abd80e4540019816a41-880/sd card lexar.jpg" border="0" alt="sd card lexar" data-mce-source="Rafi Letzter/Tech Insider"></p><p></p><bi-shortcode id="summary-shortcode" data-type="summary-shortcode" class="mceNonEditable" contenteditable="false">Summary List Placement</bi-shortcode><p>An <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/sd-card" target="_blank" rel="noopener">SD card</a> is just like a small hard driveit's a device that can store and transport large amounts of data.</p><p>If you've been using an SD card for a long time, you might need to clear it out. Obviously, you could just remove every file individuallybut that can take a long time, and might also leave you with hidden trash files.</p><p><strong>The best way to clear an SD card is to format it</strong>. Formatting an SD card is like hitting a factory reset button; it'll erase every file, leaving just an empty card.</p><p>Here's how to format your SD cards using Windows or MacOS, and what to do if formatting doesn't work.</p><h2><strong>How to clear an SD card in Windows</strong></h2><p><strong>1. </strong>Insert the SD card into your computer's SD card slot. If your PC doesn't have an SD card slot, you'll need to use a USB adapter or card reader that has an SD card slot. </p><p><img src="https://static1.businessinsider.com/image/600f1f414827e700188a1394-2000/How to clear an SD card-1.jpg" border="0" alt="SD Card reader" data-mce-source="Dave Johnson/Business Insider" data-mce-caption="Many computers don't have an SD card slot, so you'll need to use a media card reader."></p><p><strong>2. </strong>Open a File Explorer folderyou can do this by opening any folderand find the SD card in the navigation pane on the left. It'll probably be low on the list, under your built-in hard drive.</p><p><strong>3. </strong>Right-click the drive and choose "Format" from the drop-down menu. </p><p><img src="https://static6.businessinsider.com/image/600f1fae4827e700188a1396-1668/How to clear an SD card-2.png" border="0" alt="How to clear an SD card 2" data-mce-source="Dave Johnson/Business Insider" data-mce-caption="How to clear an SD card-2 You can format the card using the right-click menu."></p><p><strong>4. </strong>You can change the file system or name of the drive if you want to, but most of the time you'll want to leave those defaults alone. Click "Start."</p><p><img src="https://static3.businessinsider.com/image/600f1fd14827e700188a1397-800/How to clear an SD card-3.png" border="0" alt="How to clear an SD card 3" data-mce-source="Dave Johnson/Business Insider" data-mce-caption="To format the card with default settings, click &quotStart.&quot"></p><p><strong>5. </strong>You'll see a warning that all the files on this disk are about to be erased. If you're sure you chose the correct drive, click "OK."</p><p>Depending on how many files you have on the SD card, this might take a few minutes. But once it's done, your card will be empty and ready to use again.</p><h2><strong>How to clear an SD card on a Mac</strong></h2><p><strong>1. </strong>Insert the SD card into your computer's SD card slot. If your Mac doesn't have an SD card slot, you'll need to use a USB adapter or card reader that has an SD card slot. </p><p><strong>2. </strong>Start the Finderyou can do this by opening any folderand then click "Applications" in the list on the left.</p><p><strong>3. </strong>Find and open the Disk Utility app.</p><p><img src="https://static1.businessinsider.com/image/600f200d4827e700188a1399-961/How to clear an SD card-4.png" border="0" alt="How to clear an SD card 4" data-mce-source="Dave Johnson/Business Insider" data-mce-caption="You can also find the Disk Utilities app by searching in Spotlight."></p><p><strong>4. </strong>Find the SD card in the navigation pane on the left and click it. </p><p><strong>5. </strong>At the top of the window, click "Erase."</p><p><img src="https://static6.businessinsider.com/image/600f202acf23090019e97294-1016/How to clear an SD card-5.png" border="0" alt="How to clear an SD card 5" data-mce-source="Dave Johnson/Business Insider" data-mce-caption="You can format an SD card from the Disk Utility app on your Mac."></p><p><strong>6. </strong>In the pop-up window, you can change the file system and the name of the drive if you want to, but you can also simply leave the default settings. When you're ready, click "Erase."</p><p>Depending on how many files you had on the card, it might take a few minutes to clear. Once it's done, your card will be empty and ready to use.</p><h2><strong>What to do if your SD card is write-protected</strong></h2><p>Most SD cards have a little switch on the card that activates "write-protected" mode. This makes it so nothing can edit what's on the card, and is there to protect the card from being corrupted by a glitchy computer.</p><p>If you see an error message saying that the SD card is write-protected, or that its contents can't be changed, it means this switch is in the "locked" position. </p><p>Eject and remove the card, then slide the switch forward, towards the end that's inserted into the computer or card reader. Once you've done this, insert the card again.</p><p><img src="https://static3.businessinsider.com/image/600f209f67a6bc0019d9ae12-1996/How to clear an SD card-6.png" border="0" alt="How to clear an SD card 6" data-mce-source="Dave Johnson/Business Insider" data-mce-caption="The write-protect tab is very small, but you can slide it to prevent files from being erased."></p><bi-shortcode id="commerce-link" class="mceNonEditable" data-cardtype="small" data-pid="5d94dcaa4175320cd27b0d20" data-purchase-option="">Product Card (small)</bi-shortcode><h2><strong>Related coverage from <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tech-reference" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-analytics-post-depth="100" data-uri="4c86c1c3a45644bf07d168dc4c802e5e">Tech Reference</a>:</strong></h2><ul><li><h3><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-insert-sd-card-in-nintendo-switch" data-analytics-position="2" data-analytics-module="">How to insert an SD card into a Nintendo Switch to save game data and screenshots, or remove a card that's already in</a></h3></li><li><h3><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-transfer-photos-from-iphone-to-iphone" target="_blank" rel="noopener">How to transfer photos from your old iPhone to a new one without using a computer</a></h3></li><li><h3><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-recover-deleted-photos-from-iphone" data-analytics-post-depth="100" data-uri="4118c6ac337037bd52c3562be26b78dc">How to recover deleted photos from your iPhone, through the Photos app, cloud storage services, and more</a></h3></li><li><h3><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-backup-iphone-icloud-computer-hard-drive" data-analytics-post-depth="100" data-uri="4118c6ac337037bd52c3562be26b78dc">How to backup an iPhone to iCloud, to a computer through iTunes, or to an external hard drive</a></h3></li><li><h3><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-back-up-photos-on-galaxy-s10" target="_blank" rel="noopener">How to back up the photos on your Galaxy S10 automatically by using Google Photos, or manually through Samsung's Smart Switch app</a></h3></li></ul><p><strong>SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/best-all-in-one-pc'tht" >The best all-in-one PCs you can buy</a></strong></p><p><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-clear-an-sd-card#comments">Join the conversation about this story »</a></p> <p>NOW WATCH: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/economist-weighted-voting-could-help-save-us-democracy-2018-5">A top economist explains how weighted voting could change democracy</a></p>
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