5 Helpful Tips to Resolve Mac Not Reading SD Card

Part 1. Why Is My Mac Not Reading My SD Card

Whether you are using the built-in SD card slot of your Mac or an external reader, this Mac not reading SD card issue can be triggered by different factors, including hardware glitches, software conflicts, and formatting errors. This part discusses common reasons why an SD card does not show up on your Mac.

In many cases, the Mac not reading SD card issue is due to its write-protection lock. Most standard SD cards are designed with a physical lock to prevent accidental data loss or modification. If you mistakenly slid the lock switch to a read-only position, you cannot edit or copy any files on the SD card.

A faulty SD card reader or adapter will lead to this SD card does not show up on Mac problem. Moreover, physical damages corrupt your card and make it can’t be recognized by your Mac normally. Sometimes, your Mac is not reading an SD card due to an unsupported file system. If your SD card is formatted as NTFS, your Mac can’t write to it. Outdated macOS, system conflicts, and other reasons will also cause your SD card to be unreadable.

Part 2. Learn to Resolve SD Card Does Not Show Up on Mac

Once you have learned the possible reasons why your Mac might not read an SD card, follow the five troubleshooting steps to fix the SD card detection issue.

Check the Basics and Reconnect Your SD Card

When your SD card does not show up on your Mac, you can try inserting it into another device to check if it can be detected. Also, you can use a different USB-C adapter or SD card reader to make the connection. If your Mac can recognize the SD card but can’t read any data, check the physical lock switch on your card’s side and ensure it isn’t locked.

Check the File System Compatibility

Disk Utility lets you view and manage storage devices, including your connected SD card. Insert the SD card or an external card reader into your Mac’s SD card slot. Find the Disk Utility app using Spotlight and open it. Look for your memory card under the External section in the Disk Utility sidebar. Click it to check related information. You can click Info to check the details.

Diagnose and Repair Issue Using Disk Utility

If your SD card is detected by your Mac, access it in Disk Utility. If it is visible but not mounted, click Mount in the upper-right corner of the Window, next to Info. If the card is grayed out or shows errors, click First Aid and use it to attempt repairs.

Reset NVRAM/PRAM to Fix Mac Not Reading the SD Card

Resetting your Mac’s non-volatile memory can help to resolve hardware detection issues. To do that, you can power off your Mac, turn it on, and then immediately press Option + Command + P + R for 20 seconds.

Format Your SD Card When It Is Unreadable

Click your SD card in Disk Utility to choose it. Click Erase to format it and select a compatible format. As mentioned above, NTFS is a read-only file system for macOS. If your SD card is formatted as NTFS, you need to reformat your SD card to a Mac-supported file system like exFAT, FAT32, HFS+, or APFS.

Part 3. Files Are Missing After Fixing Mac Not Reading SD Card

If files are missing after fixing your SD card not reading on Mac, it’s possible that the data was accidentally deleted or corrupted or the SD card was reformatted during the troubleshooting process. To recover your lost files, you can use the reliable Aiseesoft Data Recovery.

Download, install, and launch this SD card data recovery software on your Mac. Connect your card and scan it for erased data. Preview the recoverable files when the scan is complete. Tick the files you want to recover and click Recover.

Part 4. FAQs of Mac Not Recognizing SD Card