How to Format a MicroSD Card Using Mac

For optimal performance with Amcrest devices, a microSD card must class 10 or above and be properly formatted to FAT32. FAT32 (File Allocation Table) is a derivative of the file allocation table (FAT) file system. FAT32 supports smaller cluster sizes than FAT, thus providing more efficient space allocation and is ideal for larger disk sizes.

It is recommended to format a microSD to FAT32 manually before use as most formatting systems will not format this allocation automatically. For more information on how to externally format a microSD card using MacOS please refer to the information below. 

Step 1: Insert your microSD card into a microSD card adapter and insert it into your computer. 

Step 2: Navigate to the "Spotlight Tool" (the magnifying glass) on your computer and locate the "Disk Utility" tool. This will be the tool used to format your microSD card. Double click on "Disk Utility". 

Step 3: In the Disk Utility tool, locate the inserted microSD card and click on it. You will notice information related to the microSD card in the utility. Click on Erase.

Step 4: In the Erase menu, click on the "Format" menu and select "MS-DOS (FAT)". This option will properly format your microSD card to FAT32. 

Note: In this example, we will leave the name of the drive as "UNTITLED" however, you can name your device if you wish.

Step 5: Click on "Erase" 

The disk utility will automatically begin formatting your microSD card. Once complete 

Verify the MicroSD Card is Properly Formatted

To verify you the microSD card has been properly formatted, closeout of the disk utility and click on the "Finder" app. 

Under Devices or "Locations" locate your device. Right-click on your device and click on Get Info.

A list of information will be displayed for your device. In the format section, it should read "MS-DOS FAT32". This indicates your microSD card has been properly formatted. 

You may now eject or remove the device from your computer and use it with your Amcrest device. If you are also looking for more information on how to properly format a microSD card using a Windows operating system, click here.