✅ Solutions for Kingston Micro SD Card Not Formatted Error

"My 4GB Kingston microSD card with holiday pictures now shows the error message: 'The drive is not formatted. Do you want to format it now?' whenever I insert it into my camera or computer card reader." - A user from a forum post.

📌 Overview

If your Kingston microSD card shows the "not formatted" error, it means the device cannot read the card's file system. This can happen due to corruption, improper ejection, virus infections, or hardware issues. Fortunately, in many cases, you can recover your files and repair the card without formatting it immediately.

In this guide, we’ll cover:

  • Reasons why your Kingston microSD card shows a "not formatted" error
  • Step-by-step recovery of lost or deleted files using iCare Recovery Free
  • Repairing the card using Windows CMD with chkdsk
  • Extra tips to prevent future SD card corruption
  • When to consider professional recovery or replacement

🔍 Why Does the "SD Card Not Formatted" Error Happen?

Kingston memory cards may report “not formatted” due to several reasons:

  • File system corruption (RAW, FAT32, or exFAT errors)
  • Improper removal from phone, camera, or PC
  • Virus or malware infection
  • Bad sectors or physical card damage
  • Unsupported file system by the device

📹 Video Guide: Fix Kingston SD Card Not Formatted

Watch this tutorial video to quickly fix common SD card issues:

🛠 Solution 1: Recover Files with iCare Recovery Free

recover Kingston microSD card not formatted

iCare Recovery Free is a professional recovery tool that helps restore data from unformatted, corrupted, or formatted Kingston microSD cards.

Steps to Recover Files:

  • Step 1: Insert the Kingston microSD card into your PC. downloadDownload and install iCare Recovery Free.
  • Step 2: Launch the program → select a recovery mode → choose the unformatted SD card.select recovery
  • Step 3: Let the software scan the card. Preview recoverable files after scanning.
  • Step 4: Select the files you want to recover and save them to a safe location (not on the same SD card).recover files

Important: Always recover your files first before attempting to format or repair the SD card.

🛠 Solution 2: Repair Kingston Micro SD Card Using CMD (chkdsk)

If your card is readable but shows errors, you can use the built-in Windows repair tool:

  • Insert the Kingston microSD card into your PC.
  • Open Command Prompt (CMD) as Administrator.
  • Type: chkdsk E: /f (replace E with your SD card’s drive letter).
  • Press Enter and wait for Windows to scan and repair the card.

If errors are repaired successfully, try accessing your files again. If not, you may need professional recovery software or replacement.

More details? To repair a Kingston microSD card using the chkdsk command in Command Prompt (CMD), you can follow these steps:

  • Insert the Kingston microSD card into your computer's card reader or use a USB card reader if your computer doesn't have a built-in card reader.
  • Open Command Prompt on your computer. You can do this by pressing the Windows key, typing "cmd," and selecting the "Command Prompt" app.
  • In the Command Prompt window, type the following command and press Enter:
    chkdsk [drive letter]: /f
    Replace "[drive letter]" with the actual drive letter assigned to your Kingston microSD card. For example, if the microSD card is assigned the drive letter "E," the command would be:
    chkdsk E: /f
    The chkdsk command will scan the microSD card for errors and attempt to fix them. It may take some time to complete the scan, depending on the size of the card and the number of errors encountered.

Once the scan is finished, Command Prompt will display a summary of the scan results. It will inform you if any errors were found and whether they were fixed.

If errors were found and fixed, you can try accessing the microSD card again to see if the issue has been resolved.

After the repair process, you can safely remove the microSD card from your computer.

Using the chkdsk command can help fix certain file system errors and restore functionality to the Kingston microSD card. However, please note that it may not be able to fix all types of physical damage or hardware issues. If the microSD card remains inaccessible or encounters recurring errors even after running chkdsk, it might be necessary to consider data recovery services or replace the card if it's under warranty.

Also read: 7 free memory card repair software

💡 Extra Tips for Fixing Kingston SD Card Errors

  • Always back up your SD card to avoid permanent data loss.
  • Use a reliable card reader – faulty adapters can cause read/write errors.
  • If the card is physically damaged, no software can fix it. Consider professional recovery services.
  • After recovering files, reformat the card in the device where you plan to use it (camera, phone, etc.).

📌 Final Recommendation

Kingston microSD cards (1GB to 128GB and beyond) are reliable, but like any storage device, they can fail. The best practice is:

  • Step 1: Recover your files using recovery software.
  • Step 2: Attempt repair using chkdsk or format after backup.
  • Step 3: Replace the card if errors persist or if it shows signs of physical damage.

If your Kingston microSD card still won’t format, read this guide: Windows was unable to format memory card.

Last updated on Aug 22, 2025

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