SD card not being recognized in Windows 10/11 [Easy Guide]

Publish date: 2024-07-14

If the SD card is not detected in Windows 10, this is probably caused by a problematic driver.
When you come across this problem, you might have a malfunctioning card reader on your hands.
A solution for this issue is to use a dedicated software to update your drivers automatically.
You also need to make sure that the device is not locked because that might be the problem.

Fix SD card not being recognized in Windows 10

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More and more postings suggest that a lot of Windows 10 users are being affected by SD card not recognized problems.

If you also are experiencing problems with your SD Card or SD Card reader not being recognized in Windows 10, below are the steps that you need to follow.

If you can’t read the SD card in Windows 10 can be a big problem, and in this article, we’ll show you how to fix the following issues:

SD card not showing up Windows 10 – According to users, it seems that their SD card isn’t showing up in Windows 10 at all. This can be an annoying problem, but you should be able to fix it using the solutions from this article.
Micro SD card not reading – Several users reported that Micro SD card is not reading their files. This can be a big problem and completely prevent you from accessing your files.
External SD card not recognized – Sometimes you might have difficulties with your SD card. According to users, external SD card wasn’t recognized on their PC. This is a relatively common problem, and you should be able to fix it using one of our solutions.
SD card not recognized after format, partition – Several users reported that their SD card wasn’t recognized after formatting. This can occur if you select incompatible file system.
SD card not detected in any device – If your SD card isn’t detected in any device, your card might be faulty or locked. This issue can also occur if you select an unsupported file system.
Kingston, Kodak, Verbatim SD card not recognized – This problem can occur with various SD cards, and many Kingston, Kodak and Verbatim users reported this problem.
SD card not showing up, detected, working, writable, erasing, ejecting, reading, transferring, connecting, holding data – There are various problems that can occur with your SD card. Fortunately most of these problems can be easily solved by using one of our solutions.
SD card is write protected – If you’re getting this error message on your PC, the problem is most likely a locked SD card. However, you can fix this issue simply by pressing the lock switch on your SD card.

How can I fix SD card problems in Windows 10?

1. Run the hardware troubleshooter

Press Windows key + I to open the Settings app.

Navigate to the Update & security section.

From the menu on the left select Troubleshoot. Now select Hardware and devices and click on Run the troubleshooter button.

Sometimes, you can fix this problem simply by running the hardware troubleshooter. This is relatively simple and you can do it by following the steps above.

After the troubleshooter is finished, the issues with your SD card should be resolved completely.

If you’re having trouble opening the Setting app, take a look at this dedicated article to solve the issue.

2. Make sure that your drivers are up to date

Download the Windows 10 drivers from the manufacturer’s website and install them in compatibility mode.

Right-click on the driver setup file and select Properties.

Select Compatibility tab.

Check Run this program in Compatibility mode and select the previous version of Windows supported by the software, from the drop-down list. Then click on Apply and OK to save the changes.

Now run the setup file and install the driver.

Then restart your computer and check how it works.

Update drivers automatically

Updating drivers manually can be a little tricky sometimes, so we strongly suggest using a third-party tool to do it automatically. Thus, you will prevent file loss and even permanent damage to your computer.

The tool recommended below will do a complete scan of your system automatically and with a single click you will be able to repair and update all the necessary drivers in a single shot.

Most of the time, the generic drivers for your PC’s hardware and peripherals are not properly updated by the system.There are key differences between a generic driver and a manufacturer’s driver.Searching for the right driver version for each of your hardware components can become tedious. That’s why an automated assistant can help you find and update your system with the correct drivers every time, and we strongly recommend DriverFix. Here’s how to do it:

Download and install DriverFix.

Launch the software.

Wait for the detection of all your faulty drivers.

DriverFix will now show you all the drivers that have issues, and you just need to select the ones you’d liked fixed.

Wait for the app to download and install the newest drivers.

Restart your PC for the changes to take effect.

DriverFix

Keep your PC components drivers working perfectly without putting your PC at risk.

Disclaimer: this program needs to be upgraded from the free version in order to perform some specific actions.

3. Change the drive letter

Press Windows Key + X and choose Disk Management.

Locate your SD card and right-click it. From the pop-up menu choose Change Drive Letter and Paths or Add Drive Letter.

Assign it a drive letter or change the drive letter.

If your SD card still isn’t recognized in Windows 10, you might be able to fix it simply by changing its letter. This is rather simple and you can do it by following the steps above.

After doing that, your SD card should be recognized and always ready to use so make sure you try it.

4. Make sure that your SD card isn’t locked

If Windows 10 can’t recognize your SD card, the problem might be that the card is locked. Many SD cards have a tiny lock switch on their side that will prevent you from using the card.

If Windows can’t recognize your SD card, be sure to move this switch and check if that helps. This is a relatively common problem, so be sure to check if your SD card is locked.

5. Try to access your reader before you insert the card

If your Windows 10 can’t recognize an SD card, you might want to try this simple workaround. According to users, you just have to access your card reader before you insert your card.

Your PC will inform you that the drive is empty and ask you to insert your card.

After inserting the card you’ll be asked to format it. Click on OK and the card should be now recognized and ready to use. Keep in mind that formatting the card will remove all files from it, so be sure to back them up beforehand.

6. Use Disk Management to format your card

Right-click the Start button to open the Win + X menu. Now select Disk Management from the list.

Now you should see the SD card available. Right-click it and choose Format.

A warning message will appear telling you that formatting will delete all files from your card. Click on Yes to proceed.

Set File system to FAT32 and click on OK.

If Windows 10 doesn’t recognize your SD card, you might be able to fix the problem simply by formatting it. You can do that from Disk Management by following the steps above.

After formatting the card, the issue should be completely resolved, and your SD card will become recognized.

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Keep in mind that FAT32 file system has its limitations, and if you want to save files larger than 4GB, you might want to use NTFS instead.

You can’t open Disk Management on Windows 10? Check out this article to solve the problem.

7. Make sure that you’re using an SDHC reader

Sometimes your PC can’t recognize SD card because of your card reader. Many high-capacity SD cards aren’t compatible with card readers that use older standards.

For example, if you’re using SDHC or SDXC card, you’ll need to use a reader that supports these types of cards.

If you’re looking for a new card reader, we’ve got a list of the best card readers, so be sure to check it out.

8. Use Command Prompt

Type cmd in Windows search and click on Run as administrator to start Command Prompt with full privileges. If Command Prompt isn’t available, you can use Powershell (Admin) instead.

Once the Command Prompt opens, you need to enter the following command and press Enter (Be sure to replace X with the letter that matches your SD card): attrib -h -r -s /s /d X:*.*

According to users, you can sometimes fix this problem simply by using Command Prompt.

Malware can sometimes change the security permissions on your SD card causing it to become unreadable. However, you can fix this problem by performing the steps above.

After running this command your security permissions for your SD card will change and the card should become recognized again.

PowerShell stops working on your Windows 10 PC? Solve the issue with a few simple steps from this complete guide.

If you’re having trouble accessing Command Prompt as an admin, then you better take a closer look at this comprehensive guide to fix the problem.

9. Disable your card reader

Open Device Manager. You can do that quickly by pressing Windows Key + X and choosing Device Manager from the list.

Once the Device Manager opens, you need to locate your SD card reader. Right click it and choose Disable device from the menu.

Now wait for a few seconds, right click the disabled device and choose Enable device from the menu.

If your PC can’t recognize your SD card, you might have to disable your card reader temporarily. Many users reported that this solution worked for them, so we encourage you to try it out.

After doing that, your SD card will be recognized again. Keep in mind that this is just a workaround, so you might have to repeat it if the issue reappears.

10. Check your BIOS

If your PC has a built-in card reader, the issue might be related to your BIOS. According to users, if the SD card in not showing up, be sure to check your BIOS configuration.

Sometimes your card reader might be disabled in BIOS, so you’ll need to enable it.

To see how to access BIOS and how to change your SD configuration, we highly recommend you to check your motherboard manual for detailed instructions.

In several instances if Windows 10 can’t read the SD card ,resetting the BIOS to default fixed the problem, so you might want to try that as well.

If accessing BIOS seems too big of a task, let us make things easier for you with the help of this amazing guide!

Now, let us know in the comments section below what worked for you and what didn’t. If you have any other questions or suggestions, leave them there, as well.

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