SD Card Not Working On Mac? Here’s How to Fix It
Is your SD card not working on Mac? Are you facing issues like your Mac not reading SD card or not showing the files? This can be a frustrating situation, especially when you need to access important data stored on your SD card. Fortunately, there are several solutions you can try to make your Mac recognize the SD card again. In this article, we will explore the reasons why your SD card not working on your Mac and provide some solutions to help you fix the problem.
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1. Restart your Mac
If your SD card is showing a problem on your Mac, a foremost yet effective measure is to restart your computer. This action can sometimes resolve concerns with SD card not showing files on Mac or struggling to identify external disks. To initiate a restart, click on the Apple menu located at the upper-left corner of your screen, then choose “Restart.” After the restart, check if your Mac can read the SD card.
2. Check the Finder Preferences
Another potential solution to the issue of an SD card not working on your Mac or SD card not showing files on Mac involves checking your Finder preferences. Sometimes, certain settings can affect how external devices like SD cards are displayed and accessed. Here’s how to do it:
- Click on the Finder icon in your Dock to open a Finder window. Then, click on “Finder” in the top menu bar and select “Preferences.”
- In the Preferences window, click on the “Sidebar” tab.
- Make sure the box next to “External disks” is checked.
- While you’re in the Preferences window, you can also navigate to the “General” tab and make sure that “External disks” is checked under “Show these items on the desktop.”
- After making these changes, eject your SD card from your Mac and then reinsert it. The changes you’ve made in Finder preferences should now take effect.
3. Check the Card Lock Switch
If your SD card is not working on your Mac and you’re facing issues like your Mac not reading the SD card or not showing the files, one simple but often overlooked solution is to check whether the card is locked. Many SD cards have a physical lock switch that, when engaged, prevents any data from being written to or erased from the card. This can also prevent the card from being recognized by your Mac.
4. Format the SD Card
If your SD card is not showing files on your Mac but works on other devices, it might have a file system that macOS doesn’t recognize. Be cautious as reformatting will erase all data on the card. Use Disk Utility to reformat the SD card to a compatible file system like exFAT or FAT32. To format the SD card, follow these steps:
- Access Disk Utility via “Applications” > “Utilities” > “Disk Utility.”
- Locate your SD card in the left sidebar, often labelled as “Untitled” or with a custom name.
- Click the “Erase” button in the toolbar.
- Opt for a file system format compatible with your Mac, such as exFAT or FAT32.
- Assign a name to the SD card and click “Erase.”
- Once formatting is complete, eject and reinsert the SD card to check if Mac recognition is restored.
5. Try a Different SD Card Reader
If your SD card continues to show issues on your Mac, or if macOS is unable to read the SD card, it’s possible that the card reader itself is at fault. To troubleshoot this, consider employing an alternate SD card reader or an external USB adapter to assess whether the card becomes recognized. This assessment will unveil whether the issue originates from the SD card itself or the Mac’s card reader.
6. Try the SD Card on Another Device
To ensure that the problem is not with the SD card itself, try using it on another device, such as a camera or another computer. If the card works fine on other devices, the issue might be related to your Mac’s card reader, software, or settings. On the other hand, if the card doesn’t work on any device, it’s likely that the card itself has issues that need to be addressed.
7. Check for Software Updates
An outdated operating system could potentially cause compatibility issues with SD cards. To prevent problems like macOS may not recognize an SD card or macOS not reading SD card ensure that your Mac is running the latest macOS version and that all available software updates have been installed. To do so, go to the Apple menu, select “About This Mac,” and then click on “Software Update” to check for any available updates.
8. Check Disk Utility
Disk Utility is a built-in tool that can help you manage and troubleshoot storage devices. To access it, go to Applications > Utilities > Disk Utility. Select your SD card from the list and click on “First Aid” to check and repair any file system issues.
9. Try using Terminal
If Disk Utility doesn’t solve the issue, you can use Terminal commands to attempt to manually mount the SD card. Search for “Terminal” using Spotlight, and then enter the command: diskutil list.
Locate your SD card’s identifier (it will look something like /dev/disk2), and then use the command: sudo mount -t msdos /dev/disk2 /Volumes/SDCard (replace /dev/disk2 with your SD card’s identifier). This might help if the SD card’s file system is not being recognized.
In conclusion, if you’re facing the issue of an SD card not working on Mac or your Mac not reading an SD card, there are various steps you can take to resolve it.
From basic checks to more advanced solutions, one of these methods is likely to make your Mac help on how to make SD card recognize SD card. However, if none of these fixes work, there could be a more serious hardware issue, and you might need to consult a professional or visit an Apple Store for assistance.
In conclusion, if you’re facing the issue of an SD card not working on Mac or your Mac not reading an SD card, there are various steps you can take to resolve it.
From basic checks to more advanced solutions, one of these methods is likely to make your Mac help on how to make SD card recognize SD card. However, if none of these fixes work, there could be a more serious hardware issue, and you might need to consult a professional or visit an Apple Store for assistance.
