Reasons why SD Card is not showing up
Contents
- Reasons why SD Card is not showing up
- Repair Micro SD Not Detected on Windows or Android
- 1 Method. Try connecting memory card to a different computer
- 2 Method. Check if the memory card and reader are clean
- 3 Method. Insert card in the original device again
- 4 Method. Run CHKDSK command to make the memory card detectable
- 5 Method. Turn Write Protection Lock OFF
- 6 Method. Use Windows Troubleshooter to fix SD Card not detected issue
- 7 Method. Change the Drive Letter for the Unrecognized SD card
- 8 Method. Check if SD card drivers are up-to-date
- 9 Method. Format SD Card (erases all data)
SD Card Not Detected is a problem that often bothers Windows 10/8/7/Vista/XP or Android users. The issue arises after plugging in your memory card into your computer or mobile phone, and discovering that your device doesn’t recognize it. In other words, the AutoPlay window suggesting to open and view files on the card won’t show up. There are several reasons why your computer or mobile phone isn’t reading data stored on your card. We’ll cover and suggest fixes for this problem below.
SD card (Secure Digital) is a proprietary non-volatile memory card type, which is one of the most popular external memory devices nowadays. It is used in cameras, mobile phones (typically Micro SD cards), devices like Nintendo Switch and others. However, users of SanDisk, Lexar or Transcend often run into certain card reading problems, including such:
- Your SD Card is not recognized;
- The SD Card not detected by Windows, Android phone, camera or Switch;
- Computer or phone is not reading SD card;
- SD card won’t show up.
If you have encountered one of the listed problems, it is likely that one of the listed reasons below is causing it.
Possible reasons why your Android or PC can’t read SD card
- The card reader is faulty;
- The USB port used for the card reader is faulty.
- Outdated drivers.
- The memory card has Write Protection Lock on.
- Your Micro SD card is corrupted and needs to be formatted back to its original state.
- You have removed Micro SD from another device wrongly and now it can’t be read correctly.
- The contact between the card and PC/mobile is poor.
- The driver letter for your memory card is missing.
- The card might be infected with a virus.
These are the possible causes for the card now showing up. It is more than easy to apply methods provided below and fix Sandisk Micro SD not detected error. Please try one method after another until you find the one that works for you. Remember that none of them will erase the data from the card, except the formatting. Use it as a last resort only.
Most of the methods explain how to fix your card using PC so that it could work on your Windows PC or Android phone again. So, no matter whether you’re looking how to repair memory card not detected in mobile or Windows, continue reading below.
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1 Method. Try connecting memory card to a different computer
One of the suggested methods to fix SD card not showing is to connect it to a different PC/card reader. This can help you to figure out whether the issue lies on the card itself, or the reader or PC that you’re using.
If your SD card is detected on a different computer, then it means there is a problem with your computer’s USB port or card reader. Another cause might be outdated drivers. If so, use the methods listed below.
2 Method. Check if the memory card and reader are clean
One of the most common reasons why your SD card is not reading is because its contacts are not clean (for example, covered with tiny dust build-up). We suggest trying to blow away or wipe any dirt from your card contacts, as well as from the reader. Try inserting your card into the reader again and see if this fixed the issue.
3 Method. Insert card in the original device again
If your PC won’t read your SD card after inserting it, it is possible that you have removed it from the original device incorrectly. For example, if you have removed it from your camera while it was on or during a playback, it is possible that it won’t be read by the computer correctly. We have encountered such situation and the following steps fixed the issue and made the card readable again.
- Remove SD card from your computer or phone and insert it back into the original device, for example, camera.
- Turn the device on and check if the data stored on the device is accessible. F.e., check if you can access photo/video playback. If you can, remove the SD card correctly this time by doing so:
- Exit the playback and turn off the device.
- Remove the SD card and insert it into the card reader of your computer/mobile phone.
- Check if the memory card is showing up.
4 Method. Run CHKDSK command to make the memory card detectable
CHKDSK is a Windows command that allows checking the integrity of hard disk and fix a wide range of file system errors. You must know your card’s usual drive letter to apply this fix.
- Press Windows key + R at the same time. This launches Run prompt.
- Here, type cmd and press Enter. You can also find CMD by using Windows Search.
- In Command Prompt, type: chkdsk D: /f (you can replace the D letter with the actual drive letter). Press Enter to run the command.
- You can also try running chkdsk D: /f /offlinescanandfix.
Check if your SD card is detectable now. If not, proceed to the next method.
5 Method. Turn Write Protection Lock OFF
SD cards (including Micro SD) have a little switch on their side. It is meant to control Write Protection on your card. Before inserting your card into your Windows computer or Android phone, assure that the switch is slided to Unlock position.
6 Method. Use Windows Troubleshooter to fix SD Card not detected issue
Windows Troubleshooter is one of the easiest tools that can help you fix SD card not showing or reading issue. To access it, follow the given steps.
- Press Windows key + I to launch Windows Settings. Here, go to Update & Security.
- On the left, find and open Troubleshoot.
- Scroll down to find Find and fix other problems section. Here, select Hardware and Devices, then click Run the troubleshooter.
- Follow directions on your screen to find issues and apply suggested fixes.
7 Method. Change the Drive Letter for the Unrecognized SD card
In case you cannot see your card in My PC, you should check whether the card drive letter is present. In case it is missing or simply disappeared, you can fix it using these simple steps. All that you’ll need to do to fix SD card not reading is to assign a new drive letter to it.
- Launch Run prompt by pressing Windows key + R simultaneously.
- Type diskmngmt.msc and press OK.
- Find your memory card here (you can use drive’s full capacity tab as a guide which drive is which). Right-click on the drive and select Change Drive Letter and Path… option.
- Click Add to assign a new letter to the memory card. Then click OK to save.
- Check if the issue persists.
If your card is not showing in Disk Management, it means your PC can’t recognize it at all.
8 Method. Check if SD card drivers are up-to-date
This method is intended to check whether your memory technology devices’ drivers are up-to-date. If they’re outdated, then they’re causing the SD card not detected Windows 10 issue for you. To check whether this is the cause of your problem, do the following:
- First, connect your memory card to the computer.
- Now press Windows key+R at the same time. In the Run prompt, type devmgmt.msc and press Enter.
- Here, expand the Memory Technology Devices section and check if there’s an issue sign next to your card reader. Right-click on the card reader and choose Update Driver.
- Click Search automatically for updated driver software. Wait until drivers are found, and install suggested ones. If you get a message that best drivers are already installed, skip to the next method.
- If you have installed new drivers, restart your computer and check if memory card is reading now.
9 Method. Format SD Card (erases all data)
This is the last method that can make SD card detectable and readable again, unfortunately, formatting means erasing all the data on it and resetting it to factory settings.
- Connect your damaged SD card to computer.
- Open Device Management via Run prompt (press Win key + R, type devmgmt.msc and press Enter).
- Locate your card. Right-click on it and choose Format.
- Choose Perform a quick format and click OK.
Now your SD card should be detectable and readable, but it won’t have any data it previously contained. From now on, you’ll be able to use the card again. To avoid memory card corruption in the future, please remember to always remove devices from your computer safely.
If you have another tip how to fix SD card not detected/recognized/working, please share it with us below.
Norbert Webb is the head of Geek’s Advice team. He is the chief editor of the website who controls the quality of content published. The man also loves reading cybersecurity news, testing new software and sharing his insights on them. Norbert says that following his passion for information technology was one of the best decisions he has ever made. “I don’t feel like working while I’m doing something I love.” However, the geek has other interests, such as snowboarding and traveling.
Zuberi says
Phone can’t detect SD card
Jason William says
Useful information for me. It help me to fix sd card not detect issue on my windows 10. Because when I put the sd card through card reader on my windows laptop not detected and I looking the way to fix this issue. I also check the sd card on another system but the problem is same I also read many post on search then found your manual suggestion. I also lost some data from my Sd card and I try some useful software Stellar Photo Recovery, Recuva to recover my lost data from SD card.Thanks