Sd card not responding. MicroSD is not detected. Why the phone does not detect or read memory cards and flash drives

What kind of breakdowns can cause the Android device to stop detecting the microSD card, and what should I do in this case?

Most modern smartphones are equipped with a microSD slot. Thus, manufacturers provide the gadget with a standard amount of internal memory and provide users with a choice: you need additional storage space for some money or not. Such a solution is convenient for both parties and helps to reduce the cost of the device - otherwise, the use of a flash module with a large volume leads to an increase in the price of the device.

If you nevertheless decide to expand the capabilities of the gadget by purchasing a flash drive, you may find yourself in a situation where the phone does not see the microSD memory card. There can be several reasons and solutions to this problem.

If you haven't bought an additional drive yet, but are planning to do so, be sure to check out ours, which contains valuable and useful information.

Checking the memory card

System failure

Sometimes the system has minor glitches. As a rule, a simple restart of your smartphone or tablet helps to fix such problems. As a last resort, you can try to do a factory reset, but all data from the device will be deleted.

Incompatibility

Each device supports a specific type of memory card, depending on the manufacturer and model. Users, in pursuit of large volumes, ignore the capabilities of the gadget itself, which then causes problems, and the phone does not read or does not see the USB flash drive.

Before buying a microSD, carefully read the technical requirements of the gadget. If the instructions say that it supports work with memory cards up to 32 GB, you should not try to use a 64 GB or 128 GB flash drive.

No contact

Another reason that Android does not recognize the memory card can be problems with contacts - they can move away or get clogged. In this case, take out the USB flash drive, wipe the contacts and insert it back into the device.

Damaged sectors

Problems may be due to bad sectors or improper formatting. In this case, you need to format the microSD card.

1. Insert it into your computer or laptop. If the PC sees the content, copy it to the PC and only then start formatting - this way you can save all important files and data.
2. Right-click on the name of the drive, select "Format". In the formatting settings in the "File system" line, FAT32 should be selected, since Android may not read other formats.
3. Click "Get Started".
4. Additional formatting may be required on the device itself. You can perform this operation in the "Settings", in the "Memory" section, the item "Format SD card".

Internal memory problems

There are times when a microSD card cannot be read by a smartphone. The reason may be a crash in the system when deleting or changing system files, sometimes this happens when rooting a device.

In this case, you should try to fix it in. On the switched off device, we hold down the key combination to go to a special menu. Different smartphones use different combinations:

• Volume up + power button.
• Volume down + power button.
• Home key + Power button.
• Home key + Power button + Volume up.

When you open the recovery menu, you will see something like this:

In the list, click on the Wipe cache partition item and restart the gadget.

Serious damage

If none of the above methods helped, the problem may be in the hardware or drive malfunction. In this case, you need to contact a specialist or buy a new card.

How to recover an SD card or USB flash drive if the computer does not see them, does not read or write data? Problems with flash drives are rarely caused by normal wear and tear. Most often, the reasons for problems with them are users ignoring the rules for safely removing the device, experimenting with various software in which these flash drives participate, as well as their initially lousy quality. Below we will consider a list of possible actions carried out in the Windows environment that can solve the problem, unless, of course, the reason lies in mechanical failure. And we, friends, will go from simple to complex.

Recovering SD cards and USB sticks in Windows environment

• Note: below we will only talk about restoring the performance of flash drives, but not about saving the data stored on them. This is a separate topic, and in this regard there is on the site, you can still use this program for. Most of the following methods for recovering SD cards and flash drives will lead to the loss of their data.

1. Hardware lock

SD cards, microSD adapters and flash drives can be hardware protected from writing data or even blocked for reading. On such devices there is a lock switch, which must accordingly be set to the "Unlocked" position.

2. Problems not related to the drives themselves

Problems with SD cards and flash drives can be caused by the Windows security policy. You need to find out if access to removable drives (completely or in part of writing data to them) is blocked by the computer administrator. You also need to check the card reader or USB ports on your computer. If everything is in order with the latter, the card reader reads other SD-cards, but problems still arise with the flash drive, no matter how you connect it to other USB ports, let's move on.

3. Windows Explorer

Standard formatting using Windows Explorer can help in simple cases such as unsuccessful writing data to a USB flash drive. Or when a smartphone, tablet, camera or other device cannot cope with this operation for SD cards for some reason. In any of the current versions of Windows, in the explorer window on the drive, call the context menu, click "Format".

We leave the original file system and try to do a quick format first.

If it fails, we repeat the operation, but with full formatting (uncheck the fast one).

4. Windows Disk Management

The formatting procedure can be attempted in Disk Management. To run this tool in the system search field, enter:

diskmgmt.msc

In the disk management window, focusing on the size of the drive, we are looking for it among the drives connected to the computer. And in the context menu called on it, start formatting.

Full formatting can be selected immediately.

If the flash drive has a partition structure like a hard drive, you must delete each of these partitions. This is done using the option in the context menu "Delete volume".

And then, in place of the resulting unallocated space, you need to create a single section. To do this, in the context menu on this very unallocated space, start the operation "Create a new volume" and follow the instructions of the step-by-step wizard.

5. Programs for low-level formatting

Standard formatting tools may not help in difficult cases, for example, when flash drives appear (in the same Explorer or Disk Management) as unrecognized devices with the RAW file system. The latter means that either the Windows environment does not understand the file system of the drive, or the file system does not exist as such in principle. Actually, this is what causes problems with a flash drive or SD card when it works on other devices, with other operating systems. In such cases, third-party Windows programs designed for the so-called low-level formatting will help you restore the USB flash drive.

In fact, low-level formatting is a procedure that is carried out either in the production environment of manufacturers of flash devices, or in serious narrow-profile services. All sorts of Windows software claiming this kind of operation actually does the usual full formatting, but with different mechanisms than the operating system uses. Such programs do a good job of dealing with flash drive problems if these problems occur at the file system level. Consider two of these programs.

HDD Low Level Format Tool

http://hddguru.com/software/HDD-LLF-Low-Level-Format-Tool/

Shareware portable program HDD Low Level Format Tool can format various types of storage media, in particular, SD-cards and USB-flash drives. After unpacking the archive with the program, launch it, agree to the license terms.

We choose free use.

Directly in the program window, indicate the problem drive and click "Continue".

We confirm the decision.

We are waiting for the completion of the operation and check the operation of the media.

SDFormatter

http://flashboot.ru/files/file/355

Completely free small program SDFormatter is another tool for the so-called low-level formatting. Works with both SD cards and USB sticks. Install SDFormatter into the system, run it, and indicate the problematic flash drive in the "Drive" column. Click "Format".

The program wants to be convinced of the seriousness of our intentions, we press “Ok.

Asks not to touch the drive while the operation is in progress.

Upon completion, we test the USB flash drive or SD card. If it doesn’t help, we repeat the operation with the full sector rewriting settings (nothing more than full formatting). Click "Option", choose "Full (OverWrite)". And also click "Format" at the bottom.

If using the above methods failed to reanimate the flash drive, and it is still under warranty, you must stop at this stage. And do not take any more action, except to contact the seller with a request to replace the device. All the actions that are described below should be resorted to only when, in fact, there is nothing to lose. The instructions below apply to USB sticks, SD cards, and MicroSD cards. However, in the case of the latter, the probability of recovery is extremely small.

6. D-Soft Flash Doctor

D-Soft Flash Doctor carries out the so-called low-level formatting, and along the way also detects damaged sectors (cells). Well, and, accordingly, knows how to block them and replace them with backup ones. The program can help when flash drives or SD cards have difficulty reading individual files that have fallen on bad sectors. The program is free, portable. I didn’t find the official site, but it can be downloaded for free on the Internet.

In the D-Soft Flash Doctor window, the first step is to run an error scan.

In my case, there were no damaged (broken) sectors.

But if in your case, friends, the scan results are different, and bad sectors are found, we start the recovery process.

In the window for carrying out this operation, it is promised that the process will not last longer than 10 minutes, but in fact, reassigning bad sectors on a drive with a volume of more than 4 GB can take quite a long time. So it is better to start the recovery operation at night.

7. Re-flashing the memory controller

Programs for the so-called low-level formatting or their analogues, which in any other form declare the function of resuscitation of all types of SD-cards and / or USB-flash drives, are powerless in the event of a software failure of the controller, when it needs to be flashed. This problem can have different symptoms, but more often it is either the computer does not see the drive completely, or it sees, it can even read the data, but cannot format it by any means. In particular, due to write protection, despite the fact that the hard drive is not locked.

Now I will tell you about the reasons why the Android phone does not see the micro SD memory card and what to do in such a situation. Let's also see why the phone stopped seeing your memory card, although there were no problems with this before.

This article is suitable for all brands that produce phones on Android 10/9/8/7: Samsung, HTC, Lenovo, LG, Sony, ZTE, Huawei, Meizu, Fly, Alcatel, Xiaomi, Nokia and others. We are not responsible for your actions.

Attention! You can ask your question to a specialist at the end of the article.

Let's talk about everything in order.

Memory card problems

If Android does not see the memory card, then the cause of the problem may be on the side of the device itself or in the operation of the flash drive. Diagnostics should start with an external drive. Common causes of a malfunction include:

• Inappropriate file system (for example, NTFS or ExFat instead of Fat32). Read
• Formatting errors, file system crashes.
• Incompatibility between the card and the phone, unsupported volume (the device cannot work with cards larger than 16 GB, and you put a 32 GB, 64 GB or 128 GB flash drive).
• Hardware malfunctions of the memory card, physical damage to the contacts.

If the card from the camera or from the DVR cannot be read when installed in the phone, then the first step is to make sure that the phone supports this format and volume.

The incompatibility problem can only be corrected by replacing the drive with a suitable one. It is much easier to deal with errors in the file system (or incorrectly selected file system). After formatting, the card will be detected without rebooting and other unnecessary actions:

Increase

Formatting will erase all data on the memory card. If this is critical, save them to your computer before cleaning the drive, and after changing the file system, put them back on the card.

Phone problems

If the memory card is compatible with the phone, the file system is in a format that is suitable for Android, there is no hardware damage, then the reasons should be looked for in the operation of the smartphone. If the smartphone does not see the USB flash drive installed from another smartphone, but the computer sees, then the following factors can influence this:

• Incorrect drive installation.
• Damaged / dirty memory card slot.
• Software glitch in Android.

Try to pull out the memory card and reinstall it, making sure that the slot is working properly. If you see that the contacts are dirty, clean them with a regular eraser or a damp cloth. If cleaning doesn't work, chances are that the contacts are loose or damaged. It is problematic to repair them yourself, usually a component replacement is required.

If the device in Recovery sees a USB flash drive, while Android does not see the SD card in applications, although it shows that the space is occupied, then the cause of the problem should be looked for in the system. If the error occurred due to a system failure, restarting the device will help fix it.

Increase

Another solution is to reinstall the problematic app or transfer from internal memory to microSD. What to do for this:

1. Open the settings.
2. Go to the "Applications" section.
3. Select the application you are having problems with.
4. Click Move to SD Card.

Increase

If difficulties with identifying the external storage arose after flashing the device, you should reflash it using the official Android assembly from the manufacturer. You can get by with a less radical method and just reset the settings through the Android interface or the Recovery Menu.

To enter the Recovery Menu, turn off the phone, and then hold down the volume up key and the power button (there may be other combinations, look for a specific smartphone model). Only physical keys work in the recovery menu. Use the volume rocker to navigate to "wipe cache partition" and press the power button to select an option.

The reset will only be completed after a reboot. Make sure the battery has enough charge and do not take any action to damage the system files.

The phone stopped seeing the memory card over time

If you made sure that the memory card works correctly on another phone or in a computer, then the most common reasons for the lack of visibility are:

• The memory card does not fit snugly with the contact block. Correct it in the slot.
• Phone software problems. Try restarting or resetting to factory settings.
• Problems directly with the memory chip on your microSD. Most often it happens with little-known manufacturers.
• The phone was recently damaged (moisture got, there was a blow, etc.).
• One of the modules (most often screen) was replaced in the phone.
• Other reasons. Try to contact a specialized smartphone repair workshop in your city.

The size of the available memory in modern Android smartphones allows you to store a huge amount of data.

But when the initial volume for everyday needs is not enough, microSD cards come to the rescue. Unfortunately, embedded hardware does not always work as it should for various reasons. Let's try to figure out why the memory card refuses to work on the phone and how it can be fixed.

Contact problem

If the removable storage has been working properly recently, the first step is to check that it is correctly connected to the smartphone. Even a slight misalignment of the SD card can lead to a data read error. In addition, mobile device contacts can become clogged during operation, which becomes a common cause of failures and errors.

To solve this problem, you need to remove the memory card from the device and carefully clean the slot tracks to remove any dust that has got inside. When reconnecting the microSD to your phone, make sure that the memory card is inserted the right way round and is securely seated.

Device incompatibility

Before purchasing a new memory card, you need to check its compatibility with your mobile phone. Modern smartphones use the microSD media type. This format, in turn, has four generations (SD 1.0, SD 1.1, SDHC and SDXC), the main difference between which is the amount of available memory and the speed of data reading. For example, SD 1.0 can hold anywhere from 8MB to 2GB, while SDXC can hold up to 2TB.

When it comes to mobile support, it is backward compatible. Smartphones with a specific microSD format will work with older versions as well.

Smartphone malfunction

In some cases, errors with displaying SD card data may be caused by Android system. Incorrect operation of applications and the action of virus files can block reading information from external media. This may make the memory card appear defective.

The simplest and most obvious way out of this situation is to remove the malware and then reboot the device. To do this, you need to download a good antivirus program. If the SD card is in working order, but the smartphone refuses to recognize it, you can try doing a factory reset. You need to understand that all data from the phone will be deleted.

Incorrect formatting

Software glitches during the microSD wipe procedure may cause it to malfunction. In this case, you will need to do the formatting again via the computer.

First, you need to insert the removable media into the card reader and wait until the system recognizes it automatically. After that, you need to right-click on the microSD in Explorer and select "Format". In the "File system" section, be sure to specify "FAT32", since Android does not support other formats.

Broken memory card

When none of the above methods work, there may be an internal malfunction of the memory card. This happens when, with prolonged use, the contacts wear out and the signal does not go to the board. Sometimes damage occurs due to mechanical damage to the SD card or a factory defect.

You can check the performance of the media using another smartphone or computer. If none of the devices can see it, you just need to buy a new memory card. If the data stored on it is important, you can contact the service center for help. There is a chance that the data can be recovered.

We talked about the main types of SD card malfunctions and how to fix them. Most of the problems can be solved on your own, but if the equipment fails, you will have to replace it.

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If you use an android phone samsung, bq, sony, lg, xiaomi, zte, lenovo, fly, nokia, asus, alkatel, xiaomi and so on, you can find that the system storage is full.

This slows down the speed of work, and to free up space, usually insert an external microsd memory card.

At the same time, some users complain that their android 7 (7.0), android 6 (6.0), android 4.4.2 and others, including the latest version of android 8, does not see the SD memory card, including even a new one.

It happens that the device does not see files on the card - music, applications, photo streams, or does not see formatted files.

How to make the phone see the memory card? Are there programs for android to see it? There are no such programs, and there is more than one reason.

If the smartphone suddenly stops seeing the data on the memory card, then first of all you need to check it itself, but let's look at the solutions in order

The first reason why the android phone does not see the SD memory card is dirt

Most users do not pay much attention to the behavior of their external storage, as a result of which they suffer from dust, dirt, etc. Dirt on the card can make it difficult to detect.

What to do: Check the area around the metal part (contacts) and, if necessary, clean it with water or alcohol. Then dry it before putting it back into your phone.

The second reason why the android smartphone does not see the microsd memory card - compressed slot

The smartphone is getting thinner and thinner all the time, and the design is becoming more inventive. This is where the paradox arises - the phone is thin, therefore, a thick battery cannot be inserted there and the result is sad.

A thin battery does not hold a charge for a long time, so some people use non-original batteries, which are cheaper, last longer and, accordingly, are slightly larger than the original ones.

Using these batteries may constrict the card slot and render them unreadable.

What to do: Remove the battery from the phone and put in the original working battery (at least to make sure that the reason is not in it).

The third reason why the android phone does not see the microsd memory card

Many smartphones support connectors that allow you to insert or remove an external storage device while it is running.

Only if you often insert and remove it, it can lead to various kinds of damage to the metal contacts.

What to do: You can correct the contacts a little and, if necessary, clean them.

In extreme cases (I hope it did not come to this), you will have to replace the slot - for this you need to go to the repair point.

The fourth reason why the android smartphone does not see the micro sd memory card - viruses

Android users can download and install applications on a SD memory card.

Some applications contain virus files that can interfere with the functionality of the external storage device.

What to do: Place it in the reader and connect it to your computer or laptop.

Then remove the malware using antivirus software or format it (android viruses are not scary to the computer).

The fifth reason why the android phone does not see the micro sd memory card - damage

To check if the drive is damaged, install it in a memory card reader and connect it to your computer.

If you can open it on your computer, then it is fine. Otherwise it may be physically damaged.

The sixth reason why the android does not see the microsd memory card - the phone is damaged

If you have already checked the SD card according to the above situation and found it in good condition, you may need to send your phone for service.

There might be something wrong with the device that the external drive cannot read.

In order for the USB stick to be readable on Android devices, you must carefully save it.

What was described above, for those who are in a hurry, and who have time, may stay - let's take a deeper look at the problem.

Other ways when the android does not see the memory card

Today we store a lot of data on a removable memory card - photos, videos, documents and applications.

If the android phone does not see the microsd, then there are many reasons. Do not panic - this does not mean that your data files will be lost - the problem is usually easily solved by the owner of the smartphone.

The smartphone may not see the memory card due to incompatibility - the card is not suitable for your smartphone.

Therefore, it is worth making sure that the card model is compatible with your phone. In the characteristics of the device, you can see if it supports this model.

Also see what size it supports - maybe the most popular one with 32 GB does not support it.

If you did this, and the smartphone continues to not see the external storage, go to the methods described below.

Smartphone does not see microsd - restart and reinstall the card

If the storage device responds to the device, but the smartphone still does not detect it, the first thing to do is to restart the phone.

If the problem was caused by a software error, the system will quickly detect the removable storage after a restart.

Insert the memory card into the slot without pressure until it clicks. If the problems persist, try the next method to reset the device to its original state (reset).

After the reset, the system files are restored, and the smartphone will automatically return to the factory state.

Be careful - this procedure will delete personal user data and do not forget to charge your phone at least 50%.

Android does not see the SD memory card - check the SD memory card for errors

For this method, follow a few simple steps:

• connect the drive to your computer or laptop;
• in the "My Computer" section, find it and right-click it;
• select "Properties" and go to "Tools";
• select "Check disk for errors" and click "Run check";
• on the "Parameters" tab, check the box next to "Automatically fix ..." and "Check and repair ...", and then run the test.
• after scanning, insert the drive into your phone.

If checking for errors does not help, you will have to apply more advanced measures. Try to format it.

It happens that there are mistakes, but nothing can be done. There are times when the SD card doesn't want to be formatted. In this case, use the next step.

If, after formatting, the phone sees a memory card, but cannot open it, then format it again, but on the smartphone.

Of course, it happens that even the computer does not see the memory card. What to do? Then, most likely, there is only one way out - to determine the manufacturer and try to find a program on his website that corrects his product.

If all the methods described above do not solve the problem, contact the nearest repair point, where you will reinstall the Android system or restore your memory card.

Why android stopped seeing microsd memory card after formatting

This is the last section in our story. If you formatted an external drive on a computer or laptop, then the android phone may not see it.

Why? Because he "does not understand" all the formats that computers and laptops work with.

A computer or laptop could format in ntfs format, and android needs exFAT or FAT32.

What to do? The solution suggests itself, of course. Paste it back into the PC and below the "File system" line, select the correct format and format it again. Good luck.