# Format the SD card

Before you can use your SD card for recording video with a Pearl Mini, you must format the SD card for the Linux operating system. Simply insert the SD card into the Pearl device and format it via the touch screen or Admin panel. We recommend using a minimum class 10 SD card that is EXT4 formatted. The SD card should have at least 64 GB capacity and should not exceed 512 GB.

If you're only using the Pearl Mini for switching video or live streaming, you don't need to install an SD card.

If you're using a Pearl Mini with a Content Management System (CMS), we recommend using large capacity SD cards such as 256 GB or more.

 After an SD card is formatted using a Pearl Mini, do not manually change the default file folder structure on the SD card.

Any content that's contained on the SD card is lost when the SD card is formatted. The Linux formatted SD card cannot be used to transfer files to Mac or Windows systems. Use a USB memory device to transfer files instead or set up Automatic File Upload (AFU) to USB or a network location.

Ejecting the SD card while recording is in progress may corrupt the SD card and cause loss of data.

If you install a SATA M.2 2280 SSD in the Pearl Mini, the device no longer detects the SD card.

If you want to format the SD card using the Admin panel, you need the IP address of your Pearl Mini and an admin computer connected to the same network. Otherwise, you can use Local Console or REST API (advanced).

**Format the SD card using the Admin panel**

- Insert the SD card into the SD card slot on the front panel.
- Log in to the Admin panel as admin.
- From the Configuration menu, select **SD Card**. The SD Card configuration page opens.
- Select either quick disk format or the full disk format, then click **Format card**. A full disk format checks for bad blocks on the SD card and marks any that are found on the EXT4 partition.
- You must wait for the formatting to finish before removing or recording to the SD card. The amount of time it takes to format depends on the capacity of the SD card and if you select quick disk format or the full disk format.
- You can check if the SD card is formatting using Pearl Mini's touch screen when you select the Settings gear icon and tap **System Status**.
- Do not remove the SD card while it is being formatted. Very large SD cards can take a while to format. Please be patient and wait for the formatting message to disappear.

**Format the SD card using the touch screen**

- From Pearl Mini's touch screen, tap the **gear** icon to open the System settings screen. If the control icons aren't showing, tap anywhere on the touch screen.

-  Tap the arrow icon in the lower-right corner of the screen several times to go to the third Settings page, and then tap **SD card**.

- Select either quick disk format or the full disk format, then tap **Format Card**. Do not eject the SD card while it is formatting.

> product: pearl-mini · topic: other · source: pearl-mini-userguide.md · updated: Oct 6, 2026