Good day everyone!
Today, the popularity of SD flash drives, I think, is not inferior to USB flash drives. Judge for yourself: phones, tablets, cameras, cameras - SD flash drives (sometimes called SD cards) are used everywhere!
In general, I must admit that SD cards are quite "capricious" devices, and it is not uncommon that the computer does not recognize or see it. In these cases, usually, we immediately remember that there are important photos, files, data on the flash drive - which simply need to be 100% returned and restored!
In this article, I will give the most common reasons for the invisibility of an SD card by a computer (laptop), as well as recommendations for their elimination. I hope my humble advice will be useful to someone. So...
Many users confuse one point (although it is not a key one, it will help in solving the problem). I will show it on the example of one user question.
I took the card from my phone (microSD) and inserted it into my new device, but he offered to format it. Then I returned it back to the old phone, but he also wanted to format it. My laptop also does not see this card and offers to format it. What to do? Help to recover data from a flash drive.
Illustrative case. The laptop sees your flash drive, and even offers to format it - i.e. he does not understand that there is data on it, cannot recognize your flash drive, cannot read the file system (in this case, the file system is marked as RAW).
This often happens due to:
- file system failure on a flash drive;
- Windows cannot read a file system that is unfamiliar to it (for example, it often happens with disks connected to a TV - it can reformat them into its own file system, and then Windows does not see it).
By the way, many people make one mistake when connecting the microSD to the computer: when inserting the card into the adapter, they do not push it all the way (see photo-1 below). As a result, the PC simply does not see anything when the SD adapter is connected.
Checking a flash drive: fixing file system errors
In this case, you can try to restore the performance of the flash drive and all the files on it using the chkdsk utility for checking and fixing errors (built into Windows).
To do this, do not agree with the Windows suggestion to format the media (screenshot above), but just run command line (The easiest way is to press Win+R, then type CMD and press Enter, see screenshot below).
Check disk / flash drive
An example of recovery is shown in the screenshot above. After such a simple procedure, the flash drive returned to its working state and functions normally to this day.
When the check succeeds, the command line will usually report something like: "Windows has checked the file system and found no problems. No further action is required".
As a rule, if there was a small file system failure, then chkdsk it will be eliminated and the flash drive will become readable (after this procedure, both the phone and the laptop will be able to read it).
Now what if chkdsk did not help, but you need to restore the files from the USB flash drive ...
Restoring files from a flash drive
If, after trying to fix errors, Windows still intends to format it (that is, the OS sees it, but does not recognize it), then first of all, I will recommend that you restore files from it (unless, of course, you need them).
After you format the USB flash drive, it will be more difficult to recover data from it (and if you write new files, it will be impossible at all!).
There are special programs for data recovery. Some free and popular ones, I will give in the table below.
Instruction! How to recover photos from MicroSD memory card or USB flash drive -
3 Free Data Recovery Software
| Recuva
One of the best programs for low-level formatting of various drives: hard drives, flash cards, etc. Key features:
How to format SD card in HDD Low Level Format Tool:  Letter conflict: drive letter changeIn general, when you connect a drive (including a flash drive), Windows assigns a letter to this drive (for example, F:). But there is such a "glitch" that the letter is assigned incorrectly: for example, the one that is already in the system - as a result: a conflict occurs and your flash drive is invisible! Therefore, in case of invisibility of the flash drive, the first thing I recommend to do is go to "Disk Management": look at the drive letter, change it (it is possible to format the media). 1) To do this, first press the buttons Win+R, to a line "Open" enter the command diskmgmt.msc and press Enter.
2) Next, find in the list the disk (microSD card) that is not displayed (not visible) for you. Click on it with the right mouse button (sign-1 on the screen below) and in the context menu select "Change Drive Letter or Drive Path" . If the required flash drive is not in the list in Disk Management, go to the next subsection of this article. If the file system is marked as RAW, the flash drive must be formatted (more on this at the beginning of this article).
Change drive letter 3) In the next step, press the button "Change"(number-1 on the screen below), then set the slider to "Assign a drive letter (A-Z)" and choose some unique letter (one that is not in the system). Agree with the changes made. Sometimes, you may need to restart your computer (laptop).
If the problem was related to an incorrectly specified drive letter, the flash drive will become visible and will work in normal mode... Classes and formats of SD cardsSD-card SD-card is different - they differ not only in volume and manufacturer, but also in size, class (speed), generation. All this, of course, can affect the visibility of the SD-stick in the card reader... SD card sizes There are three form factors of SD cards: SD, miniSD, MicroSD (differ in size). Cards are used in a variety of portable devices: phones, cameras, camcorders, tablets, etc. The most widely used are microSD cards (due to their compact size, they can even be inserted into a miniature phone or MP3 player).
To connect a microSD card to a laptop or computer, it always comes with a small adapter (see photo below).
Typical information on the SD card
Manufacturer : no comments here. The only point is when you buy an SD card for yourself, I recommend choosing well-known manufacturers: SanDisk, Transcend, Sony, etc. SD card type
Important! Compatibility table for card readers and SD card types In principle, each card reader (on the package with it) indicates which cards it supports. Naturally, if you insert a newer card, he simply will not see it and you will not be able to read it. The table below will show you the compatibility of card readers and SD card types.
Card class (speed) Usually, SD cards do not indicate the speed of work (in MB / s, although sometimes they indicate it), but the class of the card. Using the tables below, you can find out what speed your card will support. Important: the higher the speed, the more expensive the card. Some devices require a specific card class (for example, a camera, otherwise the video recording will be slow or not at all) - so be careful with this moment! Speed class UHS speed class
Capacity, card size The bigger, the better. True, try to proceed from real needs: if you need to store a dozen or two photos, then maybe it makes no sense to overpay and take a high-capacity card? Lack of driversIt is possible that your flash drive is not displayed due to the fact that the drivers for the card reader are not installed. In this case, the card reader itself does not work, which means that it will not read the SD card either. In this case, usually, the flash drive is not visible in "Disk Management" , and in device manager - a question mark will be lit in front of the device (it means that there are no drivers).
There is no driver (that's why the flash drive is not displayed ...) - device manager How to enter device manager
In the device manager, look at the "USB Controllers" tab, it should just be something like "Realtek USb 2.0 Card Reader" (see screenshot below). Opposite the device, no question marks or red icons should be lit.
If you do not have a device (card reader) in the lists, and there are unknown devices with question marks (example - ) - most likely you simply do not have a driver. There are several exits: PS A few more tips:  I am finishing the article on this. For additions on the topic - a separate merci in advance. All the best! |
Having problems on an android phone or any other with a memory card? Can't read data from it or your android phone/tablet doesn't detect it?
You can repair a damaged micro sd card if it is damaged using a computer, check it for errors, or completely reformat it.
In general, the fact that the SD card is not read is not unusual. If you have a lot of data stored on it and use it extensively on your phone, there is always a chance that you might have a problem reading the content.
But this does not mean that the card should be discarded immediately. There is always a chance to restore the work of the SD card.
If you fail to fix the memory card, then you can restore the files located on the damaged memory card -
Sometimes the solution may be to check the file system for errors in saved files, repair bad sectors, format the card, or completely delete the partition (card structure) and re-create it. Let's take a look at each of these solutions below.
How can I restore the performance of an external sd card
To fix a damaged sd card you will need:
- PC or laptop running Windows;
- any way to connect an SD card directly to a computer.
You can connect it to your computer with an adapter - if not, you can buy a USB card reader.
Method One - Repairing a Corrupted CHKDSK File System
If your device says sd card is damaged, here's what you can do. The first and easiest way is to use the Windows system disk repair tool, i.e. CHDSK.
This tool is from Microsoft and is only available on Windows computers. CHKDSK does this without deleting any files, so you won't lose card data.
First, connect the SD card directly to your computer or laptop and launch My Computer or This PC (Windows 8 and later).
In the drive list, find the included SD card and remember which drive letter it was assigned to. For the purposes of this guide, let's assume that the card has been assigned the letter "D".
Press the key combination Windows + R to bring up the Windows start window. In the run window, enter the following command to enable the command line: cmd.
A new command line window will appear. Now you must enter the appropriate command, which will scan the memory card and fix errors on it. The command looks like this:
Chkdsk D: /f
Of course, instead of "D:", write your drive letter (don't forget the colon). Press the "Enter" button to start scanning.
After the scan, you can test your memory drive and see if everything works.
Method two - formatting a damaged sd card
The second way to fix a damaged SD card is to format it and delete all data. This option can help if CHKDSK was unable to verify and there are still problems (for example, errors reading individual files).
Of course, you will lose all data, but chances are that formatting will fix the card.
To do this, connect the drive to your computer, and then call "My Computer" or "This Computer". Find the connected SD card in the disk list and right-click it.
Select Format from the context menu. A new format window will appear for the specified drive (in this case, the SD card).
Click the "Default Allocation Size" button and make sure "FAT32" is selected as the file system.
You can format with the "Quick Format" option selected, only for more accurate results I recommend that you uncheck this box - the formatting will be much longer, but done more carefully, which can help solve problems with the card.
After formatting, reinsert the card into your smartphone, tablet, digital camera, or other device you are using and check that the card is working properly.
Method three - completely delete all partitions and re-create again
An SD card is no different from a regular disk - it can have one or more partitions. By default, there is always only one section.
You can format the card in such a way as to completely remove the partition and leave it unallocated.
This is called low-level formatting. Note that this will also permanently delete all data on the memory card.
After formatting, you can create a new partition. This often helps when the memory card appears as "RAW" after plugging in and doesn't show partitions that can be accessed.
For this formatting, you can use a program called "HDD Low Level Format Tool". You can download below.
Connect the drive to your computer, and then run the HDD Low Level Detection Tool.
See a list of all your drives on your computer, including the connected external drive. Find your SD card in the list and select it.
Make sure you choose the right one. Once selected, click Continue and go to the Format this device tab.
The card will be completely formatted and all partitions will be deleted. This will now be a clean, unallocated surface.
That's not all - the card is in such a state that it will be useless. Now go to the Start menu and find the Windows Administrative Tools folder, and in it select Computer Management.
A new window will appear. In it, select "Disk Management". A new window will appear displaying all drives - both internal and external connected via USB.
Find your drive, the surface of which is displayed in black. Right-click on the black unallocated area and select New Simple Volume.
You will see a wizard that will guide you step by step through the partition creation process. You don't need to change anything, just click next. Pay attention to the "File system" field and make sure that FAT32 is selected instead of NTFS.
Confirm the creation of a new partition. Your micro sd card will now appear in the My Computer window with a drive letter automatically assigned. You can disconnect it from your computer and connect it to your phone or tablet. Good luck.
Developer:
http://hddguru.com/
operating system:
windows
Interface:
English
Despite the wide range of smartphones with a large amount of internal memory, phone options that support the installation of memory cards do not lose popularity. On such removable media, you can store various information: video, photos, text files and other types. Active users of such media often have a question why the flash drive is not visible on the phone.
What should be done first of all if the phone has stopped seeing MicroSD?
There are several main reasons why a flash card is not being read by a device. Before looking for an answer to the question why the phone does not see the SD card, you need to try to restore the media yourself. To do this, follow the instructions:
- Restart your device. To do this, hold down the power button for a few seconds, and then select "Restart" from the menu that appears.
- Many devices that support a memory card have a removable battery. If you have such a model, remove the battery for a few seconds, and then replace it.
- After the next test of the card's performance, which was unsuccessful, conduct another test - pull out the microSD and clean its contacts with a soft cloth. Also check the quality of the contacts in the slot (they should not be deformed or oxidized).
If the preliminary measures did not work, then you can look for the reason why the phone does not see the memory card. The reason may be in the carrier itself or in the device. If the serviceability is hidden in the flash drive, then it will have to be replaced - the cards are not suitable for repair. As for the smartphones themselves, in case of a malfunction, you can try to fix them yourself or at a service center.
We fix the wrong format of the drive (memory card)
The most common reason why the phone does not see the SD memory card is the wrong file system format or the presence of bad sectors. Usually, when connected to a computer, such cards are not read, give errors, ask. The reasons for such a malfunction of the flash drive can be:
- the Android operating system does not understand the markup or file system with which the drive works;
- memory layout failure;
- The user has formatted with incorrect settings.
Usually the reason is banal - manufacturers prepare modern flash drives to work with the exFAT file system, which is not perceived by all devices. This problem is fixed by formatting the media. It can be produced in several ways:
- You can format in using the mode. This method is laborious and not very convenient, since you have to go to the system menu and look for the desired item. We will not present it, as there are better methods for solving the problem.
- Utility for PC. In this case, you will need to install a free program on your computer and insert a USB flash drive into it using a card reader. If you have a laptop, then most likely you have an SD bay. Along with microSD cards, adapters are sold that are just designed for this slot. Managing the program is simple - you need to select your card from the list of hard drives, and then stop at the "Format" item in the menu. Before starting the process, you need to select the file system that you want to use on the media in the future.
- Using the standard Windows tool. The difference between this option and using a special utility is only that the formatting option is called up by right-clicking on the media name. You can connect a flash drive using an adapter. There is another option - to use a standard cable and use it to connect a phone with a media installed in the slot. The second method of detecting media by a computer should be used only in extreme cases.
- The Android operating system has another built-in method to help you solve the formatting problem. In the memory management menu there is a "Format SD" function, you can use it. This feature should be used only in cases where the smartphone detects the card, but cannot use it due to an error.
In most cases, simple formatting will solve the problem. If this option does not suit you, continue looking for the reason why the phone does not see the USB flash drive.
microSD is out of order
The second common cause may be the complete failure of the memory card. In this case, it will not be detected by either the smartphone or the computer. The reasons for the breakdown can be:
- frequent reinstallation of the media without using the pre-stop mode;
- overheat;
- mechanical damage;
- oxidation of contacts due to moisture ingress.
In this case, even recovering files from a memory card will be difficult. You should replace the media with a new one.
Memory card incompatibility
When buying a new memory card for your smartphone, you need to pay attention to the manufacturer's recommendations. One of the common reasons why a Samsung phone does not see a memory card is the wrong choice of its size.
For example, the J120 model only supports media with a memory capacity of up to 64 GB, while users, wanting to "pump" the device to the maximum, install cards with 128 GB into it. The smartphone will not accept such a flash drive, even after formatting it in the correct format.
Lack of contact in the smartphone slot
You can find this reason even at the preliminary preparation stage. Often, users damage the contacts in the memory card slot by inserting it the wrong way. In this case, the reading arcs can be bent or even broken off.
Also, oxide or plaque may appear on the tracks. In the latter case, it is worth gently rubbing them with a piece of eraser or a napkin barely moistened with alcohol. Then try to insert the drive again, if this attempt is unsuccessful, then contact the service center. There you will be able to replace damaged contacts and restore the slot.
Software failure
If you did not find any obvious reasons why the phone does not see the micro SD flash drive, then you need to check the software. First, reset the settings to default, and then in the "Storage" section, set the option to save files on removable media.
In the event of a software failure that could not be resolved by simply adjusting options or resetting settings, it may also be necessary to update the device firmware. This procedure will allow you to get rid of critical system errors and change the interface to a friendlier one. If you don’t know how to use smartphones on your own, then you should contact specialists for this.
From the article you will learn
Many new models of Android smartphones and tablets have a small amount of internal memory, and the main storage medium in them is an SD card. It is not uncommon for an Android device not to see a memory card. This can happen for various reasons. And in such a situation, the user is completely deprived of the opportunity to interact with the files. In this guide, we will explain why Android often does not see the card, and consider several ways to solve this problem.
Causes of the problem and their solution
The memory card may no longer be recognized in the device for one of several reasons.
System failure
The first step is to try a simple reboot of the device. It is possible that Android has crashed and the flash drive is not detected correctly.
In most cases, after performing a reboot, most of the minor glitches in the system are eliminated. In the event that the reboot did not help, then it is not a system error.
There may be a problem in the contacts of the memory card or slot. Often the contacts are clogged or moisture gets on them.
Try removing the memory card, wipe it from dust and insert it back. In the event that after these actions there are no changes in its operation, it is necessary to establish that the reason is in it, and not in the contacts of the device. To do this, you can insert a memory card into another device. If it is not detected on other devices, then the problem is definitely not in the contacts of the device, but in the card.
Format error
What to do if Android does not see the microsd memory card? It may be that the error is due to bad formatting. To fix the problem, the flash card must be reformatted on the computer.
For this you need:
Important! If the PC displays the contents of the drive, this does not yet give an absolute guarantee that there are no problems with it. Therefore, formatting must be done in any case, after making a copy of the files on a PC.
Breakage of device contacts
If, as a result of the check, it turned out that the matter was in the contacts of the device, you can try to gently clean them using a cotton swab dipped in alcohol. At the same time, it is strongly not recommended to use various solvents for this purpose, since their use can further aggravate the situation.
If cleaning does not help, it is likely that the contacts in the slot have come off. In this case, the help of specialists will be required.
Conclusion
Unfortunately, no one is immune from the breakdown of a memory card or the occurrence of malfunctions in the device. If the problem could not be solved on your own, you may have to take your device to a service center (if it turns out that the problem is in the device) or fork out to buy a new memory card.
Bought a new memory card, but the phone does not see it? Or did the old one stop working? Why this happens and how to fix the situation will tell our article.
Navigation
Almost every modern gadget, and not just phones, has a special slot that allows you to insert a memory card. Additional free memory is very important for those who download a lot of information from the Internet. After all, you need a place to store it. If you are actively downloading files in large volumes, then you simply need a lot of free memory.
- Built-in memory for such purposes can also fit, but only if you have a lot of it. Therefore, if you do not have one, then you should purchase a flash card
- A memory card is a special device that can be inserted into a phone or any other device that has a connector, which will significantly increase the amount of free memory. It allows you to expand the capabilities of the gadget and differs from other media in that you can use it much longer.
- As a rule, it is not sold with a new phone, so all consumers have to buy it separately. This is where the first problems begin - without having studied in detail all the capabilities of their device, a person buys a flash drive that either has the wrong format or is not supported due to being too large
- And after buying an inappropriate memory carrier, a logical question immediately arises: “Why doesn’t the phone see it?”
- Even when using a suitable flash drive, you can still find yourself in a situation where it will not be detected. Most situations are completely solvable without the help of specialists.
The contact has gone
- If the device has stopped detecting the flash drive due to a loose contact, then you should not immediately send it to the trash can or run to the experts. First, take it out of the port and try to insert it back. If everything goes well, then you will save your time, money and nerves
Damaged sector
- If the solution to the first situation did not work, then this is also not a reason to panic. You can repair your flash drive yourself if your sector is damaged. To check that this is the problem, insert the card into the card reader. If he saw her, then you can safely try to fix it
- To do this, go to the "My Computer" section and select your card there. Right click on it and go to properties. Next, in the window that opens, find the tab called "Service" and select check the disk for errors
- After the check is completed, you need to remove the USB flash drive from the card reader and insert it into the phone to check if it will see it now. If this method did not correct the situation, then you can use an extreme measure and format the card. If the card reader recognizes it, then copy all important files from it to the computer, because everything will be deleted during formatting. You may even have to formulate the card again already on the phone
Memory card damaged
- If all these methods do not bring the desired results, then in this case it is better to seek professional help, as experts will be able to name the exact reason why the phone stopped seeing the flash card and help solve the problem
- If the flash drive itself is broken, then you will be asked to buy a new one, because repairing such devices is quite difficult and unprofitable for the owners, since the cost will be high
Incompatibility
- In some cases, device incompatibility may be the cause. In this case, your smartphone may not support the format or size of the memory card.
- If the format of a flash drive is a rare cause of problems, then it is very easy to make a mistake with the volume, because many people try to buy a large amount of memory so that there is a lot of space for storing information
- Unfortunately, most old phones, and even new ones, also do not support memory cards larger than 32-64 GB. Therefore, in the instructions, be sure to forgive what maximum amount of memory is supported by your gadget
Operating rules
So that in the future the problem does not recur and the flash drive works for a very long time, you should follow a few simple rules:
- Do not expose to various mechanical damage that can lead to bends and cracks: do not drop them, bend or put pressure on them. Such damage can lead to microcracks and disruption of contacts.
- Do not expose to electrostatic electricity. With an unstable power supply, as well as static discharges, the absence of protection against voltage surges, this can lead to malfunctions and, under certain unfavorable conditions, the card will fail. The computer where it is connected must also be grounded.
- Do not interrupt your work while transferring files, because information may be lost or it will severely damage the device. If you disabled the card during the copying process, then get ready for the fact that the card will have errors in the file system. You can fix the situation with formatting
- If the power to the card is suddenly cut off, it may cause logical malfunctions. This situation occurs when the operating system is not able to completely update the file system. Moreover, the media itself is quite serviceable, but the computer sees it as empty and requires formatting. As a rule, all data remains safe, so you can restore them using special programs.
- To avoid virus infection, before connecting the card to someone else's computer, write-protect it if possible
- Protect your device from moisture
- Do not keep in the sun or near heat sources
A memory card is an integral part of every modern smartphone. But even with it, sometimes an unforeseen situation may arise. It may break, not be readable, or the phone will simply stop seeing it.
Each situation has its own cause, but most of them can be fixed on your own without the help of professionals.
Video: What to do if Android (phone) does not see the memory card?
Problems
