We all know that SD cards are a great way to add extra storage to our phones. But, sometimes, they can be quite frustrating. If your SD card isn’t working properly, you may see one of the following errors: “memory card not detected,” “sd card not recognized,” or “sd card error.” This article will show you how to fix SD card errors on Android devices. We’ll walk you through some common solutions for fixing these errors, so you can get back to using your SD card as normal.
Top Summary: SD card errors on Android phones are often caused by physical or electromagnetic damage, poor SD card usage, or malicious software. Some memory card errors in Android phones are:
- SD card not recognized
- SD card not working
- Incompatible SD card
- Corrupted SD card
Incorrect usage of the SD card. SD cards are electronic storage devices and need to be handled with care. If you remove an SD card from your Android phone without safely ejecting the card it can result in SD card corruption and cause various errors.
Physical damage to SD card. SD cards are very delicate and can get damaged if not handled properly. If your SD card is dropped or banged hard, it can cause physical damage to the card and lead to errors.
Malware or virus infection. Viruses and other malicious software can also infect SD cards. This can cause SD card corruption and lead to various errors.
SD card is not compatible with your device. Memory cards come in different sizes and types. Using an SD card that is not compatible with your phone can result in SD card errors.
Corrupted SD card. SD cards can become corrupted due to various reasons like incorrect usage, physical damage, malware infection, etc. A corrupted SD card can lead to various errors.
There are a few things you can try when your Android phone does not detect the SD card so you can fix the issue on your own.
Most of the following solutions don’t require a computer to fix, allowing you to use your Android phone to fix your SD card.
If the SD card is not inserted correctly, it will not be detected by your phone. Remove the SD card from your phone and reinsert it. SIM cards and micro SD cards have similar sizes and close slots. Therefore, make sure that it is inserted in the correct slot.
Remember to enable your SSD card so it can read and write data on your phone.
Some memory cards have a lock switch on their side. Verify its position to make sure it’s allowing you to read and write the card.
SD cards have different sizes and types. A non-compatible memory card can’t be detected by your Android phone. Therefore, make sure you are using an SD card that is compatible with your phone.
Check the card format as well to guarantee compatibility.
Your Android phone can’t detect a corrupted memory card.
To check if the SD card is corrupted, go to
Settings > Storage > SD card status
A corrupted SD card can show a message saying “SD card is damaged.”
You can remove the corrupted card from your phone and insert it into a computer to fix it.
If your Android phone still can’t find the memory card you can restart the phone. Sometimes restarting the device can fix the problem.
For most brands and models to restart an Android phone, you have to press and hold the power button on the side. When the option to restart shows, touch it and wait for the process to end.
If you are using an older version of Android, your phone may not be able to detect SD cards. Make sure you are using the latest version of Android.
To check for updates, go to
Settings > About phone > System updates.
If none of the above steps work, you may need to factory reset your phone.
This will erase all of the data on your phone, so ensure you have backed up any important files before proceeding.
To factory reset your phone, go to
Settings > Backup & reset > Factory reset.
If your phone still does not detect the SD card, you may need to format it.
Formatting will erase all of the data on the SD card, so make sure you have backed up any important files before you proceed.
To format your SD card, go to
Settings > Storage > Format SD card.
If you have important data on your SD card that you need to recover, there are a few things you can try.
There are many data recovery software tools available that can help you recover data from a damaged SD card. Some of these programs are free, while others require a paid subscription.
You can find programs to use on your computer or even Android Apps in Google Play.
Before installing a recovery tool, look at its reviews and comments, as well as the security certificates.
Protect your data using software that can guarantee not only your data back, but also keep it safe.
If you have enabled automatic backup of your SD card into your cloud account, you’ll be able to find your files on your latest backup. Restore your files from your cloud storage account and continue using your memory card as soon as you fix it.
If you make regular backups on an external drive, you can use it as well to restore your Android SD card files.
If you cannot recover the data yourself, you can send the SD card to a professional data recovery service. This will usually cost money, but it is sometimes the only way to recover data from a damaged SD card.
SalvageData experts are experienced in recovering data from Android SD cards.
Contact us 24/7 for a free in-lab evaluation and guarantee the best recovery service available.
TL; DR: If your SD card is not being detected by your phone, there are a few things you can try to fix the problem. You can restart your phone, update your phone’s software, or factory reset your phone. If none of these steps work, you may need to format your SD card. If you have important data on your SD card that you need to recover, you can use a data recovery program, connect the SD card to a computer, or send the SD card to a professional data recovery service.
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