SD card is not recognized - what to do?
Related Videos: SD Card,micro SD card Not detected .Quick tip Part 1 (May 2024).
If the SD card is not recognized in your smartphone, this does not necessarily mean that the card or slot is defective. We'll show you a few tricks you can use to get the SD card working again.
1. Is the SD card compatible with your cell phone?
Mobile phones and smartphones often only support SD cards up to a certain size. For older cell phones, this limit is usually 16 or 32 gigabytes, while newer models support SD cards up to 128 gigabytes. It is best to ask the manufacturer which memory card size is supported for your cell phone. This information can often also be found in the manual. We will show you the best SD cards in the test.
2. Restart smartphone
A simple restart will help in many cases. Switch your smartphone off and on again and check whether the SD card is recognized.
3. Is the SD card properly connected to your cell phone?
If the SD card is not connected correctly, it has no contact and can therefore not be recognized. Check whether it is properly engaged by pushing the SD card in again - but not too hard, otherwise you could damage the contacts. Also make sure that the card is inserted the right way round. There is usually a small symbol on the slot that shows how the card is inserted correctly.
4. Clean dirty contacts
Sometimes dirty contacts on the SD card or the SD card slot can cause problems. Therefore, check the contacts for dirt and, if necessary, clean them with a cotton swab and alcohol. Depending on how long you have been using your smartphone, it is worth cleaning the device completely.
5. Remove the SD card and reconnect it to the cell phone
A simple trick that can often work wonders: remove the SD card and connect it to your cell phone again. Then check that the card is recognized.
6. For new SD cards that can no longer be saved: Is the card formatted?
New SD cards must always be formatted before they can be used properly. Even if nothing else helps, you have to go this route. However, please note that all files will be deleted. Proceed as follows:
- Connect the SD card to your computer using a card reader.
- Open My Computer and right click on the SD card. Select "Format ...".
- Select FAT32 as the file system. Uncheck "Quick Format" and click on "Start". Wait for the process to finish before removing the card from the reader.
- If you have problems with formatting the SD card, we will help you in another article.
7. Data recovery
If none of the steps provided a solution, or you have lost files, you can try to restore them using a data recovery tool. One such program is "Recuva", which you can download for free. An alternative to this is the free tool "PC Inspector File Recovery".
In an emergency: replace SD card cheaply
If our PC or mobile phone does not recognize the SD card despite our tips, it is most likely defective. You can get a good replacement for just a few euros. But not every SD card is really recommended. That is why we present the fastest and longest-lasting SD cards in more detail in our always current leaderboard.
