How do I format my Sony PSP Memory Stick?

I got a Sony PSP two days ago and when I got it, it said I had 30 MB. Now it says that I only have 900 KB (and this is after I deleted everything, my games and songs, so it should have a clear memory)?

I then tried putting MP3s on it but it won't accept any of the songs I drag into my music folder. It always says that I don't have enough memory (this is also when I deleted everything so my PSP has a clear memory)

Help!

Dave's Answer:

I get a lot of questions from people who don't fully understand how to work with the PSP Memory Stick devices, and I believe that this is exacerbated by the fact that Windows really likes to hide files from regular users when browsing devices.

As a result, what you're seeing is that you have files that aren't being shown in a regular Windows (or Mac, for that matter) file view, but are clearly still on the Memory Stick.

Or, a simpler possibility: you're dragging things into the trash, but you aren't actually emptying the trash and deleting them from the device!

In any case, I recommend that every so often, and particularly when you first buy a memory stick, reformat it on the Sony PSP so that anything added by the memory stick manufacturer is removed, along with any hidden files you might have accidentally added.

You can format any size Memory Stick Duo in the Sony PSP by doing this:

Push the little HOME button on the bottom left of the face of the unit.
Use the arrow keys to move to the SETTINGS area, then move the up and down keys until you get to System Settings.
Once you are there, click on the "X" button and scroll up and down as needed to find Format Memory Stick. Click on "X" again to select that option.
The Sony PSP will now confirm that you want to reformat the memory stick (which removes every file and game save thereon, of course): choose yes and it'll format in just a few seconds.

Now you have a pristine new Memory Stick to work with and should have no problems with music, photos or other material you might seek to copy onto your PSP.

Reader Comments To Date: 322

jan said, on July 29, 2011 9:59 AM:

I have put a ISO/CSO game into my memory stick, ISO
but when i disconnect my psp of my pc and go to games, memory stick i do not see it.

But if i sit it in PSP/game it says corrupted data.

What must I do to play the ISO/CSO game on my psp

Ngoc said, on July 29, 2011 12:28 PM:

THANK YOU!!!! :)

Sam said, on August 7, 2011 12:42 PM:

hello Dave, i formatted my 8gb card but it still shows that it dosent have space when i try to copy a 4.6 gb game :( although when i check its space on my pc it shows 7.5gb free...help

aidan ramos said, on August 18, 2011 8:29 PM:

ive formated my 32 mb stick and it says it only 30. why????

Dave Taylor said, on August 21, 2011 3:30 PM:

Nothing's wrong, Alden: all memory devices allocate around 5% of their space to the file system and other infrastructure to keep track of what you're adding.

Sam, I would strongly recommend that you format the memory card *in the PSP* rather than on your PC. It's not quite the same...

Saima said, on September 17, 2011 2:56 AM:

Hi dave,
Long list of queires i say :)
so ill add one of my silly one as well
my 8gb card will not save any game more than 2gb in it as it keep irritatingly presisting that the file size is to huge although i have so much space what the hell is wrong here i did all i could format n re format and re format but no use...help

Sam said, on September 17, 2011 3:00 AM:

Dave,thank you for your reply but trust me i did it all in the psp on the pc by a third party guy and still its the same :( i soooo want to play resident evil 5 but i cant save ahhhhhhhhhh its depressing my only entertainment in life n im stuck....

ramzi said, on September 19, 2011 6:49 AM:

Hello everybody.please i have a problem with the number(80010011),in my psp 5.50 gen-d3;i can not neither save or download games,nor deleting them,and above all,formatting the memory stick is impossible because of this damned serial problem.so if there's and help i would be really thankful. if there is a help send me a message in my e-mail adress.Thank you.

ramzi said, on September 19, 2011 6:53 AM:

i forget my e-mail ^^ it's : fertile-imagination@hotmail.com

blackstar said, on November 8, 2011 4:58 AM:

when i format my memory stick it errors....plsss help....

Salai said, on November 13, 2011 8:58 AM:

I have a 6.35 pro-B custom firmware on my PSP. Bought it new and used it for a year without a problem, recently gave it to a friend to play with it for some time and when I got it back IT STARTED GIVING ME AN ERROR CODE 8001001C,Can you pls help what should I do to get back my firmware working and not giving me the error code????

jerico lopez said, on November 18, 2011 4:38 PM:

hi dave

my psp cant read my memory stick
what should i do?

my nephew take the battery while my psp is still on.. then when i opened it again, i cant see all the files in my memo stick, and it always ask to insert the memo stick

insha said, on December 26, 2011 11:53 AM:

HI DAVE
I HAVE A SONY PSP BUT IT ALWAYS ASK ME THAT "DO YOU WANT TO FORMAT THE MEMORY STICK"
AND
"ALL DATA ON THE MEMORY STICK WILL BE DELETED ARE U SURE YOU WANT TO CONTINUE"
PLEASE TELL ME SHOULD I PRESS YES OR NO
BYE

Christian said, on January 19, 2012 7:26 PM:

Many thanks, Dave. Now i can happily share my pictures and music with friends on my PSP when my iPhone runs out of batteries. You made my day. Thanks.

-Christian

Khan said, on February 27, 2012 12:27 PM:

Hi Dave,
I have a problem when I get a new connection at the end it show personal information it say internet, do not start and when I try another connection it still dosen't work Please help

Sammy James said, on May 2, 2012 11:21 AM:

Hi Dave
Can you help me? I have A huge problem on my cousin's psp here is the details.
Details:
4gb memory - new
psp slim - been using since 2 years
Problem:
when I use the USB cable on it's psp to read the memory it only shows pbp and x video instead of showing ISO files and etc. even I change the settings of the psp to flash01, 02, 03, UMD, Memory I can't find the ISO files and etc, but it's memory still 4gb, but when i turned on the psp the games is still there, it has two games, Monster Hunter 2 and tekken 6 that consume the memory of 2gb. So I tried to remove the memory card and placed to another psp but it still read a pbp and x video the ISO files are still missing so I tried my own 16gb memory card to his psp but it shows all the files on my memory card but my cousin is still pbp and x. How can I get it back to normal if there is I just want to copy the saved files and format it. Please help me!! actually help my cousin please!! I beg you!! Have mercy on my cpusin's psp!! hehe just kidding
Please help..

WTH said, on May 13, 2012 12:22 AM:

Hi Dave,
Well my psp is a 1004 version... firmware 3.70... i wanted to put in games i have recently downloaded but the comp says i've got to format my memory stick when i connect to it wid the usb... on the comp the formatting is unsuccessful... using psp the formatting is successful and my memory stick works fine with storing the saved game and stuff... but again when i connect the psp to d pc the same problem... it says i have to format the memory stick n the comp cant... can u plz suggest something??? and there is another small problem... i have a belkin router... the ssid is recognized n signal strength 100% yet when i test the connection it does not work!!!

Wth!!! its driving me crazy!!! i can do nothn on my psp... its just sumthn dumped in ma closet cuz of these problems... plzzz help!!! ;(

WTH said, on May 13, 2012 12:27 AM:

Oh n ya... plzz give some solution... i've realized u dint reply to even one of the comments in 2k12!

Dave Taylor said, on May 13, 2012 7:41 AM:

I haven't responded, WTH, because as far as I know, the information I give in the article on top is still accurate. :-)

fe said, on August 8, 2012 12:08 AM:

what can i do if my games getting slow..pls help me

james said, on April 30, 2013 5:03 AM:

hye dave...i'd format my psp as u said..but i have a problem now..where my fast recovery also gone..and my psp version also had chnge from ver 6.60 pro b10 to 6.60 only..can you tell me what should i do right now???because i can't play any games which i have downloaded since i dont have fast recovery..tq..

psp player said, on May 4, 2013 8:42 AM:

it says that i have not inserted my memory card

I do have a lot to say, and questions of my own for that matter, but first I'd like to say thank you, Dave, for all your helpful information by buying you a cup of coffee!

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How do I format my Sony PSP Memory Stick?

Reader Comments To Date: 322

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