Home > Questions

Why can't format SD card on Mac and see the Couldn't modify partition map error?

Trouble formatting a small 128MB SD card in macOS Big Sur. The card's lock switch is not engaged, and yet I can't format it. I also can't delete the single file that is on this card. When I right click, there is no option to send to trash or delete. When I try to format it with the MS-DOS (FAT) option, I get the following error: Couldn't modify partition map. (~69874) I have tried this same process on two other small SD cards (all under 1GB in size), with no success.

Best Answered by

iBoysoft author Amanda Wong

Amanda Wong

Answered on Wednesday, May 31, 2023

The reasons behind the Could't modify partition map error could be corrupted, unknown, or missing partition map of the disk, write protection on the SD card, corrupted files or disk errors on the drive, etc. Possible solutions include unlocking the SD card, repairing the disk, and erasing the SD card again.

Even if the card's lock switch is not engaged as you said, the SD card could be also write-protected, you can remove write protection from the SD card by cleaning the SD card's metal connectors, clearing read-only attributes on the SD card, and editing Windows Registry.

Besides, the couldn't modify partition map error may also relate to SD card corruption, therefore you can't format the SD card and see the error message. You should repair the SD card with Disk Utility and then try to reformat it again.

  1. Open Disk Utility from Finder > Applications > Utilities.
  2. Connect the SD card to your Mac.
  3. Click View > Show All Devices in Disk Utility.
  4. Select the SD card from the left device list and click First Aid.
  5. Choose Run to start checking and repairing the SD card.
  6. When the process completes, click Format again.

If you fail to format the SD card in Disk Utility again, try formatting it with Terminal using the command diskutil eraseDisk File_System Disk_Name /dev/diskN.

People Also Ask

Read More Questions

Read More Advice From iBoysoft's Computer Experts

Corrigir o disco que você conectou não pôde ser lido por este computador no Monterey Mac

Consertar O Disco Que Você Anexou Não Podia Ser Lido Por Este Computador

8 soluções para consertar O disco que você inseriu não pôde ser lido por este computador no Ventura/Monterey/Big Sur/Catalina/Mojave/High Sierra.

recuperacion de datos mac

com.apple.DiskManagement disenter error

Quickly Fix 'com.apple.DiskManagement.disenter error 0' on Mac

Guide to fix 'com.apple.DiskManagement.disenter error' via proven ways. Also, help you find out the causes of this error and avoid data loss.

Mac Data Recovery Tips

未来の偶発調査を防止するためのボリュームデータの消去に失敗したことを示すエラー

[修正済み]将来的な誤操作の防止のためのボリュームデータの消去

消去またはパーティション処理がエラー「将来的な誤操作の防止のためにボリュームデータを消去するのに失敗しました(69825)」が発生した場合、この記事に解決策を見つけてください。