Nowadays, we don’t see people ranting or crying because their storage capacity is getting less and less! Now, there is an option for internal and external storage on the devices. While internal storage is set by default through the manufacturer, external storage can be expanded through purchase.
When it comes to memory cards, there are plenty of options to choose from on the market. Memory cards come in different sizes, which vary according to the needs of different devices, such as mobile phones.
Lately, there has been confusion about whether TF card and Micro SD card are the same or related. Well say less because we’ve got you covered!
If you are not familiar with the term TF card or TransFlash and heard it for the first time in your life, we will explain it all to you. We will also talk about the difference between TF cards and Micro SD cards and how we can format both.
I know it’s a lot to take in at once, but bear with us!
What is a TF card?
TF card, also known as T-Flash, stands for TransFlash card. In 2004, SanDisk produced these microsecure digital SD cards, just like the SIM card, but only in appearance. TF card was said to be the smallest memory card that can store data in digital format. It was the TF card that led to the Micro SD card we use today. The main difference between the two is improvement, which often occurs in technology.
TF Card and Micro SD Card: Similarities and Differences
Although Micro SD and TF cards are popular memory cards used in different devices to store data, you might get confused which one you should choose.
And if you are here to clear the doubt, then keep reading. For that, you will first have to know what is the problem with these two.
Let’s start with the TransFlash card, which was considered a digital storage device, but only as part of the third category of digital storage devices. Mini SD and SD memory cards are the other two.
SanDisk then changed its name to Micro SD card and began producing the products that are now used as standard memory storage chips in most mobile phones.
Now, let’s move on to the Micro SD card, which refers to the Secure Digital card. It is the mainstream for mobile phones which was developed as TransFlash at first by SanDisk. Since it was introduced as the world’s smallest external storage, after its success, it was taken over by the SD Card Association of Today’s Digital Storage Organization.
Regardless of being designed based on the original TransFlash card, there are some differences between Micro SD card and TransFlash card. However, they also share some similarities.
| similarities | differences |
| Both are memory cards without a doubt. | Micro SD cards can perform other functions that are not related to memory, such as Bluetooth. |
| No technical or physical differences in their specifications. | The SD card is designed with a switch built into the device itself to protect the device, unlike the TF card. |
| Both have the same storage capacity. | The maximum available capacity of TF is 128GB, while it is 2TB for an SD card. |
| Both cards are fully compatible. | The capacity of the SD card is larger than that of the TF card. The TF card has a volume of 15mm x 11mm x 1mm, and the standard size of the SD card is 24mm x 32mm x 2.1mm. |
Now that you know what a TF and Micro card are, and what their differences are, we will move on to understanding how to format them.
Why you may want to format your TF card?
There may be n number of reasons for someone to format your TF card. We have listed some of them below:
- To get rid of the data you stored on your TF card to get more space.
- Your TF card is damaged or has a virus that needs to be fixed.
- You may want to change your TF card format as exFAT or FAT.
- Your TF card is damaged.
- Not only that, but you may want to use your TF card on another device and therefore need to format it for that.
Note: TF cards are generally not inserted into PCs in their exact form due to their compact size. So you may need to insert them into an SD card sleeve first so your Mac or Windows PC can easily detect them.
How to format TF card/Micro SD card?
If you want to learn techniques on how to format TF or Micro SD card on Windows and Mac in a jiffy, then follow the given methods.
It is quite easy to format a TF card by following the steps we provided using Disk Utility. ?
- Please insert your TF card into the SD card cover and wait for Mac to connect it after detection.
- Launch Disk Utility by going to Finder > Applications > Utility and search for it in Spotlight search.
- In the menu on the left, select your SD card, and at the top of the screen, tap Erase.
- Now, a new dialog will appear to change the name of your card. Once you’re done, press Erase and your TF card will be formatted successfully.
Here are two methods to format your TF or Micro SD card on your Windows:
Formatting via Windows Explorer is a common technique for formatting cards in Windows. To format the card to a preferred file system, here are some steps:
- Insert your TF card into an SD card slot and connect it to your Windows computer.
- Then right click on the TF icon and choose to format TF card.
- After the format window appears, select a preferred file system or partition style.
- Click the “Start” button and wait for a while as it will erase your SD card.
If you couldn’t understand the process of formatting your TF card through Windows Explorer, don’t worry! We have another way to do it through Disk Management in Windows.
- Insert your SD card and make sure it is connected to your computer.
- Then go to the Start menu and open the Run prompt. Then load ‘diskmgmt.msc’ and press OK.
- After it opens, your TF card name will be visible under External Devices. Then right click on it and tap on Format as shown in the image below.
- Now, you can change the name of your card and also choose the partition style for it. Then choose a quick format and press OK.
- After that, a warning dialog will appear. Press OK and wait while your card is formatted.
By following the steps above, your TF and SD card should be formatted safely and successfully.
Tips to manage your TF card
- Check the health of your TF card
- Please format your TF card every 6 to 12 months
- Insert and remove your TF cards safely
- Keep enough free storage space available
Answer No, a TF card is a memory card that provides additional storage for any device, while a SIM card provides a network connection to phones with limited storage.
Answer Yes, a TF card can store all kinds of data such as photos, videos, documents, music, etc.
Categories: Technology
Source: SCHOOL TRANG DAI
