EOS R7 won't format SD cards

[acollins63]

I have a Canon EOS R7 and i have 2 SD cards that when I’m trying to format them it says “cannot format” and one that has a “write protected”. Any recommendations on a fix??

[p4pictures]

Are these full-size SD cards, or microSD cards in an adapter? Using microSD cards in an adapter is a well known way to get all sorts of troubles.

Can you format these cards by putting them in an SD card reader and using a computer? I would try that and then if it is successful then try formatting them in the camera again. 

If nothing works, then it's possible the cards have gone bad in some ways - I'd recommend replacing them with good quality UHS-II type SD cards from one of the major vendors such as Sandisk, ProGrade etc.

[acollins63]

They are full sized SD cards. I bought them all in November. How do you format them on a computer? I haven’t heard that being done before. 

Thanks for the tips!

[March411]

acollins63, have you checked to make sure they are not locked?

[acollins63]

I will check that!

[BookiiRivas]

It's quite common to format your SD card using computer. Follow these steps:

Step 1: Connect the SD card to your PC via a card reader. (Make sure he is recognized by the computer properly. Well, you can see it in File Explorer or Disk Management.)

Step 2: Press Win+E to open File Explorer. You will find the SD card under 'Devices and Drives'.

Step 3: Right-click on it and select 'Format.' Then, choose the file system (e.g., FAT32, exFAT, NTFS) that you need. For most SD cards, FAT32 or exFAT is recommended. Click 'Start' to begin the formatting process.

I think you should know that formatting the SD card will erase all the data on it, so back it up in advance before doing so. Now, you should be good to go.

Plus, if your SD card is write-protected, it means that you can't format it. Many SD cards have a physical switch on the side that can be toggled to enable or disable write protection. Doesn't work? no worries at all, as you can remove it via CMD or registry. For more detailed steps, please refer to this guide. I won't elaborate further here.

[dpsaiz]

You can format your card on your PC then insert it into the camera. My 1Ds Mk II has a limit on the size of the partition on the card. I use a 32GB card and the camera is limited to creating an 8GB partition  So I format the card on my PC so the partition is nearly the entire capacity of the card. The camera recognizes the larger partition size without issue. 

[kvbarkley]

Are these name brand cards from a reputable source?

They could be bad or counterfeit cards.

[normadel]

Of course you can certainly format SD cards on a computer, same way you format a flash drive, hard drive or any other media. Right-click on the SD card in your file system (Windows File Explorer, Mac or Linux desktop) and select "Format". But  the camera may not handle them well. Always format on the camera before shooting on a card.

[dpsaiz]

There's only one way to find out format the card on your PC and try it out by taking test photos around your home not just single images but burst of photos.