A memory card is a widely used storage medium in devices such as digital cameras, smartphones, and computers. There are several different types of memory cards, including standard SD cards, mini-SD cards, microSD cards, and so on.
Some Dell laptops and desktops come with an integrated memory card reader that supports specific memory card formats.
If you are experiencing any one or more of the following symptoms, follow the instructions in this article to troubleshoot and fix memory card-related issues.
Safely Remove Hardware.
There can be various reasons for an SD card not getting recognized or read by your system such as:
There are various types of memory cards such as micro SD cards, SD cards, SDHC cards, SDXC cards, and so on. Not all of them are supported by the card reader on your computer. If you force or incorrectly insert a memory card, they might damage the memory card and/or the card reader.
If the memory card or card reader still does not work, go to the next step.
Ensure that the card reader is not damaged or clogged with dust or debris. A dirty or dusty memory card or card reader causes poor contact between the card and the card reader.
If the memory card or card reader still does not work, go to the next step.
Ensure that the card reader is enabled in the BIOS or UEFI settings of your computer. It is possible that your card reader is turned off in the BIOS or UEFI.
Secure Digital (SD) card,
Card Reader, or
SD Reader.
If the memory card or card reader still does not work, go to the next step.
Windows has an integrated hardware and devices troubleshooting feature that helps fix issues related to hardware and external devices.
To run the Windows troubleshooter in Windows 11 version 22H2 and older, or Windows 10, follow these steps.
msdt.exe -id Device Diagnostic
and then select OK.If the memory card or card reader still does not work, go to the next step.
If the memory card does not show in Windows File Explorer, assign a new drive letter to it manually. Windows may fail to assign a drive letter to the connected removable media or memory card that is already in use by another removable drive in Windows.
Follow these steps to manually assign a new drive letter to your SD card in Windows 11 or Windows 10.
If the memory card or card reader still does not work, go to the next step.
CHKDSK is a useful Windows utility that helps automatically repair file system errors to make a corrupted SD card usable again.
Follow these steps to repair a corrupt file system in Windows 11 or Windows 10.
chkdsk D: /R /F /X
and press Enter. Make sure to replace D with the letter assigned to your SD card.The /F parameter fixes any structural issues with the file system and directory, correcting inconsistencies between the two. The /R parameter tells CHKDSK to check the entire SD card for bad sectors and repair them if possible. The /X parameter dismounts the drive so that it can be checked and fixed.
If the memory card or card reader still does not work, go to the next step.
One of the most common causes of an unrecognized SD card is an incorrect or outdated card reader driver. Ensure that the drivers are updated.
Dell Technologies recommends updating the device drivers and BIOS as part of your scheduled update cycle. Device drivers and BIOS updates may contain feature enhancements or changes that help keep your system software current and compatible with other system modules (hardware and software) and can increase stability.
If the memory card or card reader still does not work after the drivers are updated, go to the next step.
Many SD cards have a feature called write-protection, toggle switch on the left side of the card. With write-protection enabled, files cannot be modified on the SD card. If the write-protection is enabled, the card is not readable.
Before using the memory card, make sure to set this switch to the unlocked position.
If the memory card or card reader still does not work, go to the next step.
Some devices may format the SD card in a way that makes it only readable by that device and nothing else, including a computer. This will not only fix the SD card cannot read
error but also make the storage media reusable.
To format the SD card in Windows 11 or Windows 10, follow these steps:
Malware or virus infection may also cause the SD card not to show up in Windows.
Some malware or viruses may also encrypt or hide the files on an SD card. Learn how to show or recover hidden files on an SD card.
If the scan does not find any issues, but you are still concerned, you may want to check your device more thoroughly.
If the files are seen on your device such as a camera, but not seen on your computer,
attrib -h -r -s /s /d X:*.*
and press Enter. Make sure to replace X with the letter assigned to your SD card.Here are some recommended articles related to this topic that might be of interest to you.
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