For many mobile users, SD cards are a practical solution to expand the storage capacity of their devices. However, sometimes they refuse to recognize or detect these SD cards, which can be extremely inconvenient.
Wipe SD card
When an SD card is not detected, one of the possible causes may be the accumulated dirt on the card or SD card port of the device. Although it may seem surprising, dust, debris or even a small amount of dirt can interfere with the electrical contacts, preventing the card from being recognized correctly.
When an SD card is inserted into a phone, the metal contacts on the card make direct contact with the SD card port pins on the device. If there is dirt or debris on any of these surfaces, a poor connection or even null between the SD card and the phone. Consequently, the phone cannot detect the presence of the card and does not display it as a storage option.
To solve this problem, it is recommended turn off the phone and carefully remove the card. Next, both the card and the port should be inspected for any signs of dirt or debris. If dirt is observed, the SD card can be gently cleaned with a soft, dry cloth or cotton swab slightly moistened with isopropyl alcohol. Additionally, compressed air can be used to remove any debris in the phone port.
Incompatibility
Another possible reason why your mobile may not recognize an SD is the incompatibility between the card and the device. Although SD cards are widely used and compatible with most modern devices, in some cases, there may be technical discrepancies that prevent the phone from recognizing the card.
There are different types and capacities of SD cards and different speed classes. Each device has its own specifications and limitations on the types and capacities of SD cards it can support. If the SD card you are using it is not compatible with the specifications of the phone, it may not be detected. To verify compatibility, it is recommended that you consult your phone’s user manual or look at the manufacturer’s website for compatible card requirements.
In addition to technical compatibility, there may also be problems with SD card format. If the card is formatted in a file system not supported by the phone (such as NTFS instead of FAT32), it may not be recognized. In this case, formatting the SD card to the correct format supported by the phone may fix the problem.
Damaged card
It may also be that the card itself is damaged or corrupt. SD cards are subject to various factors that can affect their functionality, such as drops, exposure to moisture, power failure, or even errors during the data reading or writing process.
When an SD card is damaged or corrupted, it may present reading and writing problems, which makes it difficult for the phone to recognize it. In some cases, the mobile may show an error message that the SD card is damaged or cannot be read.
If you suspect this, there are a few things you can do to try to fix the problem. First you can try insert the SD card into another device such as a computer or a camera, to check if it is recognized correctly. If it is not detected on other devices either, it is more likely that the card is damaged.
In the event that the card is damaged, unfortunately, it can be difficult to recover the data stored on it. However, you can try using software from data recovery specialist who can try to recover the information from the SD card. This type of software is commercially available and can help you restore some or all of your files, depending on the level of damage.
In situations where the card is corrupted but not physically damaged, you can try to format it. However, you should keep in mind that this process will erase all the data on the card, so it is important that you have previously backed up your important files.