Insert the SD card adaptor into your computer.Insert your Micro SD card into an SD card adaptor.The instructions below will ensure your SD card is FAT32 formatted. Using a format not supported by your Dash Cam will cause functional problems and will not work in your Dash Cam ** APPLE/MAC INSTRUCTIONS ** The required format for most Dash Cams is FAT32. In this case, your SD card will then need to be formatted on your computer via the instructions below – either Apple or Windows. If your camera has frozen or won’t start up, then obviously you can’t access the menu to format the card.
**Formatting within the Dash Cam itself will ensure the correct format is set (which is FAT32). Formatting the card in the Dash Cam should take around 10 seconds. Most Dash Cams have an inbuilt format function which can be run via the camera menu. The easiest, fastest and RECOMMENDED method is in the Dash Cam itself. It is also important to format your Micro SD card at first use via the camera menu. Regular formatting can extend its life.įor optimal performance of your Dash Cam and the SD card, it is recommended to format your SD Card monthly. The lifespan of an SD card depends on the card brand, age, amount of recording it does and environmental conditions. They have a certain number of re-write cycles they can perform. In Dash Cams, all Micro SD cards are consumable products which do eventually degrade and fail. Don’t buy your SD card off eBay – it is flooded with fake/rebranded/refurbished SD cards that cause both functional and physical Dash Cam issues. We recommend Samsung EVO cards purchased from us or other reputable Australian Retailers. The SD cards in Dash Cams are exposed to varying temperatures and humidity, vibrations, interruptions when turning the Dash Cam on and off and hours of continuous writing and re-writing.Įnsure your Micro SD Card is Class 10 Write Speed rated and is not SanDisk branded. SD Cards in Dash Cams are under intense stress and wear and tear because they are constantly recording and looping while driving. All files are deleted off the card and it is reset back to the default, factory format. What is formatting and why do you need to do it?įormatting an SD card clears any file corruption and essentially resets the SD Card. If not, you could be due for a new SD card or try a different brand. 9 out of 10 times a simple format of the SD card will rectify these issues. Most problems encountered with Dash Cams are SD card related and not the Dash Cam itself.Ĭommon signs and symptoms of problematic SD cards are freezing, restarting, not recording, or gaps in recordings. The only regular maintenance required on a Dash Cam is formatting the Micro SD Card. Most Dash Cams are very low maintenance and once initially set up, you pretty much don’t need to touch them unless you want to review the footage.