On the Sony a6500 and its siblings (the a6400, a6300, a6100, and a6600, which all share the same menu system), formatting the memory card is at:
MENU → the Setup tab (the toolbox icon) → Format → Enter to confirm There are some slight variations in the page listings for these models, but it’s found in roughly the same place on each. On the a6500, the Format item is at the top of Setup page 6. On the a6000, it’s page 5. In the a6100/a6300/a6400/a6600, it’s in the same Setup tab — page through until you see Format.
Formatting erases everything on the card, so back up first — and if you’re not sure which card to use in the first place, see my Sony a6400 SD card recommendations.
The newer-menu bodies are different, and I’ve posted separate guides for the a6700 and the a7R IV.
Where to find Format on each Sony a6000-series body
| Camera | Menu path | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| a6500 | MENU → Setup (toolbox) → page 6 → Format | The screenshots below are from this camera |
| a6400, a6100, a6600 | MENU → Setup (toolbox) → Format | Same menu family as the a6500; the page number shifts by a page or so between models — scroll the Setup pages |
| a6300 | MENU → Setup (toolbox) → Format | As above |
| a6000 | MENU → Setup (toolbox) → page 5 → Format | Separate guide with its own screenshots |
| a6700 (new menu) | MENU → Shooting → Media → Format | Separate guide |
Formatting a memory card to delete the existing files and prepare the card for the camera to use isn’t hard in the Sony a6500, but the option is rather buried in the menu system. So here’s a quick guide in the hope that it saves someone some time digging for it.
On the camera’s main menu, you can find it under the settings tab (the toolbox icon), and then it’s at the top of page 6.
You then get the obligatory warning that you’re about to delete everything from the file.
Technically speaking, even if you confirm this accidentally, it’s likely possible to recover your photos and videos from the memory card (here’s how), but it’s a pain. So it’s best to work on the basis that you’re not going to want to recover the files — if your goal is actually to make sure the data is unrecoverable, a quick in-camera format won’t do that; see how to securely wipe a card on Mac.
It will then give you a progress indicator. Once it’s done, it’ll return back to the Setup6 page.
Related options & settings
While you’re at it, you have some control over the ways in which data is organized on the memory card. For instance, you can specify whether the folders use the usual sequential naming system or are organized by time and date, change the three-letter prefix for the filenames, and reset the series counting for filenames. You could also do these kinds of things as part of the ingest process to a computer, but there are times when it can come in handy to set them in the camera.
Set the file name
You can change the first three characters of the filenames. This can be useful if you’re shooting with multiple cameras so that you can separate out the shots from one camera from another, for instance.
The conventions are the same as many other cameras have been using for a long time now. If you’re using the sRGB colorspace, the filename begins immediately with the three letters. If you’re using the AdobeRGB colorspace, it automatically adds an underscore to the beginning (and there’s no way to remove or change that).
Change folder name format
You have the choice of the Standard Form or the Date Form.
The Standard Form creates folder names along the lines of 102MSDCF, for example. The Date Form creates folder names with numerical sequences representing the date.
Common questions
Is formatting the same as deleting all the photos?
Formatting deletes everything and also rebuilds the card’s file system the way the camera expects, which is why it’s the safer routine. Deleting photos one by one (or “Delete All”) leaves the structure as is.
I formatted by mistake — can I get the photos back?
Often, yes, if you stop using the card immediately: the format clears the index but not the data. See my guide to recovering deleted photos from a memory card.
Should I format in the camera or on a computer?
In the camera, every time — it sets up the folder structure the camera wants. If you must use a computer, the SD Association’s free SD Card Formatter picks the right file system automatically.
Why can’t I find Format in the menu?
On these bodies, it’s under the Setup (toolbox) tab, not the camera-icon shooting tabs, and it’s several pages in. If the item is grayed out, the card is write-protected (check the little lock switch) or not recognized — reseat it and try again.
