Why does the cluster size wrong please format error appear on your camera or dash cam? Read this post to learn how to format the SD card with the wrong cluster size.
The “Cluster size wrong. Please format” error typically indicates that the file system structure of a storage device (such as a USB flash drive, SD card, or external hard drive) is corrupted or incompatible with the operating system. This error prevents the system from accessing the data correctly and suggests formatting as the only immediate solution — but there are underlying causes for this issue.
1. File system corruption: When the file system (like FAT32, NTFS, or exFAT) gets corrupted due to improper ejection, sudden power loss, or a virus attack, the cluster size value may become unreadable or mismatched, prompting this error.
2. Incompatible or unsupported file system: If the drive was formatted using a non-standard or OS-specific file system (e.g., formatted on macOS with HFS+ or Linux with ext4), Windows might not recognize the cluster size properly and throw this error.
3. Bad sectors or physical drive damage: When parts of the storage medium become physically damaged or have bad sectors, the system may fail to read vital partition data — including the cluster size — and report it as wrong.
4. Improper formatting or low-level format issues: Using third-party tools or incorrect settings to format the drive can sometimes assign an invalid or incompatible cluster size, which confuses the operating system.
5. Malware or virus infection: Malware targeting storage devices can manipulate file system structures, corrupt partition tables, or change cluster size values to hide data or cause system instability.
6. Partition table or volume boot record (VBR) corruption: If the partition table or boot sector that stores critical info about the file system is damaged or mismatched, the system may misread cluster size information and throw errors.
The “Cluster size wrong. Please format” error often appears when a storage device’s file system becomes corrupted or incompatible. This can be due to improper removal, bad sectors, failed formatting, or sudden power loss. Here are several practical ways to resolve it:
Before formatting or making changes to the drive, it's wise to check for file system errors. CHKDSK is a built-in Windows utility that can automatically fix disk-related problems, including bad clusters or corrupted file structures that may be causing this error.
Step 1. Press Win + X and select Command Prompt (Admin) or Windows Terminal (Admin).
Step 2. Type the following command and hit Enter:
chkdsk F: /f /r /x (Replace "F" with the actual drive letter.)
Step 3. Wait for CHKDSK to scan and fix errors. It may take some time, depending on drive size.
Step 4. Restart your PC and check if the error is resolved.
If the drive still shows the same error after running CHKDSK, formatting is usually necessary. Formatting will reset the file system and cluster size, making the drive usable again. There are four ways to do this in Windows:
This method is quick and ideal for most users. It allows you to easily reformat the drive and choose an appropriate file system and allocation unit size.
Step 1. Open File Explorer by pressing Win + E.
Step 2. Right-click the affected drive and select Format.
Step 3. Choose a suitable file system (NTFS/FAT32/exFAT).
Step 4. Select "Default" for Allocation unit size.
Step 5. Uncheck "Quick Format" for a full format (optional).
Step 6. Click Start and wait for the process to complete.
Disk Management is a built-in utility that offers more control, especially if the drive isn’t showing properly in File Explorer.
Step 1. Right-click the Start button and choose Disk Management.
Step 2. Find the problematic drive in the list.
Step 3. Right-click its partition and select Format.
Step 4. Enter a volume label and select a file system and allocation size.
Step 5. Click OK to begin formatting. Wait until the process completes.
Using the diskpart utility is powerful and useful when the GUI methods fail or the drive is inaccessible.
Step 1. Open Command Prompt as administrator.
Step 2. Type the following commands one by one and press Enter after each:
diskpart
list disk
select disk 1 ← (Replace 1 with your drive number)
list partition
select partition 1 ← (Replace 1 with your partition number)
format fs=fat32 quick
Step 3. Wait for the process to finish. Exit the command window.
If the Windows tools don't work or show errors, AOMEI Partition Assistant is a reliable third-party solution that supports advanced formatting, including fixing cluster size errors.
AOMEI Partition Assistant is a powerful and easy-to-use disk management tool that can help you format the problematic drive with the correct cluster size and file system. With its Format Partition feature, you can choose from a variety of file systems (like FAT32, NTFS, exFAT) and set an appropriate cluster size to ensure full compatibility with your device.
Step1. Install and launch the software, and you can see the main interface of your disk(s). Select the partition you want to format, right-click on it, select "Format Partition" in the pop-up menu.
Step2. Here you can give a partition label and format the partition to what kind of file systems. Click OK.
Step3. Finally, click Apply at the toolbar to execute all operations.
In some cases, the partition table itself may be damaged, causing the system to misinterpret the drive’s structure and cluster size. Rebuilding the partition table can restore access without formatting—ideal if you’re trying to avoid data loss.
AOMEI Partition Assistant also has the ability to rebuild a damaged or missing partition table, which is essential for restoring access to lost partitions and data without formatting the entire disk.
Step 1. Right-click the disk which need to be repaired and select “Rebuild MBR” in the pop-up window.
Step 2. In the next window, set the type of MBR for the current OS. (Choose a proper MBR type according to your operating system.) Then, click “OK” to continue.
Step 3. After that, click “Apply” on the toolbar to commit Rebuild MBR operation.
The “Cluster size wrong. Please format” error usually indicates a corrupted file system or incorrect format settings. Reformatting the device with the right tools and cluster size typically resolves the issue. Remember to back up any recoverable data before performing a format, and use tools like AOMEI Partition Assistant for greater control and success rate.