7 Fixes For SD Card Not Recognized Or Detected By Android

Most smartphone users use SD cards to expand their phone storage capacity. However, sometimes, SD card not recognized or detected by Android phones, which can be frustrating.

So, today in this article we are going to discuss the reasons why the SD card is not detected by your phone and how to fix it.

Why Is My Android Phone Not Detecting or Reading SD Card?

Well, this can happen for a number of reasons. Below are the listed common reasons responsible for such a problem.

• Compatibility issues
• Connection problem
• SD card errors
• Corrupt or damaged SD card
• Software bugs

Before proceeding further, let’s take a look at one of the real user’s examples.

Practical Scenario:

My micro sd card (sandisk 128 gb) isn’t recognized by my phone anymore, it started yesterday, I wanted to take it out off the phone, but I just forgot how to take it off, so I scratched it a little, then I figured out how to take it, I just had to push it a little then it comes out, so I took it off then put it back in the phone, although now the phone can’t recognize it at all, it says “no sd card inserted”, I tried to put it on other devices but the same thing happened, no device was able to recognize it, so does that mean I can no longer use it? it had valuable data, photos, videos, a lot of things important to me, so if it won’t work any more, can I at least get my data back? I really don’t want to lose it, please help me.

.

– Original Post from: Android Central Forums

Fix Android Can’t Read Card or SD Card Not Recognized Android [Video Tutorial]

Solve SD Card Not Recognized Or Detected By Android

To resolve the SD card not showing up Android problem, reboot your phone, re-insert the SD card, and check the SD card for error.

Solution 1: Restart Your Android Phone

Restarting your Android phone is the simplest and the most effective solution to resolve external SD card not working Android. This can often fix temporary issues on your device and its components.

To restart your device, you need to:

• Long press the Power button until the power menu appears.
• Next, click on Restart.

• Wait for the phone to restart.
• Once restarted, check if it’s recognizing the SD card.

If rebooting your device doesn’t work, proceed to the next solution.

Solution 2: Re-insert SD Card

Sometimes, an SD card not being recognized on Android problem occurs due to improper or loose connection. So, to check if this is the case, try reinserting the SD card into your phone. Here’s how:

• Switch off your phone and take out the SD card.
• Check the SD card and slot for any damage. Clean both the SD card and slot with a soft cloth or brush.

• Reinsert the SD card properly into the slot.

• Now, switch on your Android phone and check if the SD card is now being recognized or not.

Note: [If your SD card is damaged or broken, you need to replace it with a new or another SD card.]

Also Read: Fix “SD Card Unexpectedly Removed” On Android Phone

Solution 3: Check SD Card Compatibility

Another common reason for an SD card not detected Android is compatibility issues. So, to ensure your SD card compatibility, check for below specifications:

• Ensure the SD card you are using has the capacity within the range supported by your phone. Many Android phones have limitations on the SD card’s maximum capacity they recognize.
• Make sure the SD card’s speed meets the minimum speed requirement specified by your phone.
• There are several types of SD cards available such as SD, SDXC, and SDHC. So, make sure your phone supports the SD card type that you’re using.
• The SD card you are using must be formatted in a file system compatible with your phone. FAT32 or exFAT file systems are the most supportable formats on Android devices.

If your SD card is not compatible with your phone, you need to use a different or new SD card that meets the required specifications.

Solution 4: Unmount the SD Card

Unmounting and remounting an SD card is a simple solution that can fix SD card not recognized or detected by Android issue.

Here’s how to do so:

• Go to your Android phone’s Settings.
• Click on the Storage or Memory.

• Under the SD Card section, click on the Unmount SD card. This will safely remove your SD card from the device.

• Now, wait for 2-3 seconds, and reinsert the SD card.
• Again, head to the Settings app and check if SD card is recognizable.

Solution 5: Use PC to Check for SD Card Errors

Checking for errors can help you identify and fix the SD card’s file system issues, which may be causing the card not to be recognized.

Follow the steps to check the SD card for errors:

• Insert the SD card into your PC using a card reader.
• Now, on your PC, head to This PC or My Computer.
• Search your SD card under the Devices and drives section.
• Then, right-click on the SD card and choose Properties.

• Click on the Tools tab.
• Next, tap on the Check button under Error checking.

• Wait for the checking process to complete.
• If any errors are found, follow the on-screen instructions to fix them.
• Now, take out the SD card from your PC and insert it into the Android phone.
• Check if the phone is recognizing the SD card.

Also Read: Common Micro SD Card Errors/Issues On Android And Their Fixes 

Solution 6: Update Your Android Software

It’s possible that your Android software version is not supporting the SD card that you are using and which is why the SD is not recognized. So, here you need to update your Android version.

Software updates often contain bug fixes that can help you solve compatibility issues between SD card & Android phone.

Follow the below instructions to update your Android device software:

• On your Android phone, open the Settings app.
• Next, go to the System or Software update section.

• Here, check for the available software update.
• If any are available, click on the Download & install button.

• Wait for the software to get updated.
• Once done, insert the SD card into your Android phone and see if it’s being recognized.

Solution 7: Format the SD Card

If the SD card is still not detected, try formatting it. Remember, formatting the SD card will clear all your data. So, make sure to back up your SD card data using the Backup & Restore tool before proceeding with this solution.

Now, follow the steps to format the SD card:

• Insert an SD card into your PC using a card reader.
• on your PC, go to This PC or My Computer.
• Under the Devices and drives section, locate the SD card.
• On the SD card, make right-click and choose the Format option.

• Next, select the compatible file system with your Android phone. (Either FAT32 or exFAT).
• Make sure the Quick format option is marked, and tap on Start.

• Wait for the process to complete.
• Then, carefully take out the SD card from your PC and insert it into your Android phone.
• Now, check if the SD card is recognized by the device or not.

btn_imgbtn_img

Recover Data from Unrecognized SD Card

If the SD card is unrecognizable on your device or you have lost any of its data during the process, use Android Data Recovery software.

This software is perfectly designed to restore Android external SD card data. You can recover contacts, photos, videos, documents, audio, notes, and many more from an SD card using this software.

Also, the tool doesn’t require any technical understanding for use and can easily be operated with a few simple clicks. Download the software and follow its user manual instructions.

btn_imgbtn_img

Frequently Asked Questions [FAQ]

Conclusion

The above-listed solutions can help you fix SD card not recognized or detected by Android problem. So, follow the solutions one by one and get your SD card detected on an Android phone.

If you find any queries related to the solutions or any suggestions for more solutions, feel free to contact us on Twitter or Facebook.

Henry Morgan

Henry Morgan is a professional blogger who loves to write blogs about Android & iOS related topics. He lives in Northern California and has almost 15 years of experience in the field of technology, tackling all kind of issues, errors or other problems. Currently he is a great contributor on Android Data Recovery Blogs and his blogs are loved by people where he guides to solve several Android related issues or any other problems. During his busy schedule, Henri finds some moments to spend time with his family and loves to play cricket.