If your Steam Deck fails to recognize the SD card, what can you do?

The Steam Deck is a $400 handheld gaming device that looks like a cross between a Nintendo Switch and a gaming PC. It appears to be a marvel: a portable device with the computing power of a supercomputer and a touchscreen. Despite its many virtues, some users are reporting that their devices' SD cards are not showing up. Here is a real user story from Reddit:

The good news is that the fix for this issue has been found. So, if your SD card is not working or showing up on your Steam Deck, make sure to read on to find out the reason and how to fix it. First, we need to figure out why your SD card is not showing up or working on your Steam Deck.

Why isn't my SD card showing up on my Steam Deck? If your Steam Deck fails to detect your SD card, here are some possible reasons and solutions: 1. **Improper insertion:** Make sure the SD card is fully inserted into the Steam Deck's SD card slot. Try reinserting it securely. 2. **Compatibility issues:** The Steam Deck supports SDXC cards up to 1TB and recommends Class 10 or faster cards. Check if your SD card meets these requirements. 3. **Formatting problem:** The SD card might need to be formatted with the FAT32 or exFAT file system. If it uses a different file system, the Steam Deck may not recognize it. Format the SD card on another device to resolve this. 4. **Driver or firmware updates:** Ensure your Steam Deck is running the latest system software. Updates can sometimes fix hardware recognition issues. 5. **Defective SD card:** If none of the above helps, the SD card could be physically damaged or corrupted. Test it on another device to confirm its functionality. 6. **Reboot the device:** Sometimes, simply restarting the Steam Deck can resolve temporary system issues. 7. **Contact support:** If all else fails, reach out to Valve customer support for further assistance. By going through these troubleshooting steps, you should be able to identify the issue and resolve the problem of your SD card not appearing on your Steam Deck.

Many issues can cause the Steam Deck to fail to display or use an SD card properly, such as an insufficiently charged Steam Deck, a damaged or incompatible SD card format, or application conflicts on the Steam Deck. You can refer to the following list for more information:

• Random errors or glitches: Some random errors or malfunctions on the Steam Deck can cause the SD card to become invisible on the device.
• Battery below 20%: These issues might occur when your device's battery level is below 20%.
• Damaged SD card: Your SD card might be damaged or incorrectly formatted, preventing recognition by the Steam Deck.
• Incompatible SD card: The Steam Deck requires an SD card formatted in EXT4. Other file systems are not recognized by the Steam Deck.

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Here are some topics related to Steam Deck storage that you might want to look into for more information:

How to Fix an Undetected SD Card on a Steam Deck

There are several ways to fix the issue of an "SD card not showing up on Steam Deck." Here are four quick solutions you can try: 1. **Reinsert the SD Card**: Gently remove the SD card and insert it back into the Steam Deck's SD card slot. Make sure it's seated properly. 2. **Power Cycle the Device**: Turn off your Steam Deck, unplug any connected accessories, and remove the SD card. Press and hold the power button for at least 30 seconds to drain any residual power. Then, reinsert the SD card and turn the device back on. 3. **Check File System Compatibility**: Ensure that the SD card uses a file system compatible with Steam Deck, which is typically either FAT32, exFAT, or NTFS. You may need to format the SD card using a computer to change its file system. 4. **Update Firmware and Software**: Connect your Steam Deck to a Wi-Fi network and check for any available system updates. Sometimes, firmware updates can resolve compatibility issues with SD cards. If none of these methods work, consider reaching out to Steam support for further assistance.

Solution 1: Restart the Steam Deck

If certain random errors or glitches occur, the Steam Deck might not recognize your SD card. Usually, restarting the device is the quickest way to resolve the issue.

Solution 2: Eject and reinsert the SD card

If the issue persists after restarting, power off the Steam Deck and remove the microSD card. Power back on, and re-insert the microSD card.

Read More: How to Fix Nintendo Switch Keeps Asking to Format SD Card Issue

Question 3: Check the power source

When the Steam Deck's battery is below 20%, it might not recognize your SD card. To prevent this, make sure your Steam Deck has at least a 20% charge before connecting the SD card.

Solution 4: Try another device

You can also try inserting it into another device—a Linux computer, for example—to see if the problem is with the microSD card itself. If Linux doesn't recognize it either, you might need to buy a new microSD card.

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[[3]] Format the SD card as a potential solution to the issue of Steam Deck not displaying correctly on the device.

You can reformat the SD card at any time to resolve file system issues. An incompatible SD card will not be recognized by the Steam Deck. Formatting the SD card to EXT4 may also help resolve this issue.

Here, we'll provide you with two methods to format your Steam Deck SD card. You can format the SD card directly on the Steam Deck, but this process might be a bit complicated for beginners. Therefore, if you're not very experienced with computers, you might want to choose the option of formatting using the Partition Master tool on a Windows PC.

Guideline 1: Utilize the Tool - Partition Master

When using Windows, you cannot properly format the SD card in the required EXT4 format for Steam Deck. You need a third-party tool to help you format the SD card with EXT4 on Windows. We recommend using the tools Partition Master Free to format your SD card. Its user-friendly interface and step-by-step guidance make the formatting process quick and secure. Download it now to get started.

Step 1. Launch Partition Master, right click the partition you want to format and choose “Format”.

Step 2: In the new window, type in a partition label, choose the FAT32/EXT2/EXT3/EXT4 file system, set the cluster size as you need, and click “OK”.

Step 3: You'll then see a warning prompt; click “Yes” to proceed.

Step 4: Click on the “Execute 1 Task” button in the top-left corner to preview the changes, and then click “Apply” to start formatting the partition to FAT32/EXT2/EXT3/EXT4.

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If your SD card is formatted with NTFS, you can easily convert NTFS to EXT4 with Partition Master.

Guideline 2: Using the Steam Deck

Valve allows you to format your SD card as EXT4 directly on the Steam Deck. The process is straightforward, and you can follow these steps:

Step 1: Insert your microSD card into the Steam Deck. Press the “Steam” button located below the left touchpad to open the Steam menu on the Steam Deck.

Step 2: From the Steam menu, choose “Settings” and press A to select it. In the next menu, find the “System” option and press A to open it.

Step 3: You should see the option to “Format SD Card.” Press A to select it, and then confirm that you want to begin the formatting process.

The formatting process may take a few minutes, depending on the size of the SD card and the data on it. After formatting, you can use the SD card to download and play games on your Steam Deck. In some cases, you might find that your Steam Deck is unable to format the SD card; you can click the link below for a fix to this issue.

How to Fix the Steam Deck Unable to Format SD Card Issue

The Steam Deck operates on a LINUX environment and uses ext4 as its partition standard. The ext4 file system is suitable for LINUX because it supports UNIX file and folder permissions.

Conclusion

Many Steam Deck users rely on SD cards to add extra storage space to their devices. However, the Steam Deck might fail to recognize an SD card or function improperly with it due to random errors or incompatibility issues with the card's format. This article presents five methods to help you resolve this problem. We also recommend an excellent SD card formatting tool that can format your card to the EXT4 file system, making it visible and functional on your Steam Deck.

"Frequently Asked Questions: 'SD Card Not Showing Up on Steam Deck'"

Due to various reasons, your Steam Deck might not recognize your SD card. Here, I've listed some other issues that can help you gather more details about this error.

**1. Why can't I see my SD card on the Steam Deck?**

Due to various reasons such as random errors or installation issues, the Steam Deck might not recognize the SD card. Usually, you can resolve this error by restarting your Steam Deck or reinserting the SD card.

What should I do if my SD card isn't showing up on my Steam Deck?

If there are any random errors or glitches, your Steam Deck might not recognize the SD card. Usually, restarting your Steam Deck is the best way to resolve these issues. If the problem persists after a restart, power off your Steam Deck and remove the SD card. Finally, power it back on and reinsert the SD card.

3. How do I get Steam Deck to recognize my SD card?

To get the Steam Deck to recognize an SD card, try restarting the Steam Deck, reinserting the SD card, or formatting the SD card. If the card itself isn't the issue, you'll need to consider formatting compatibility. The Steam Deck only supports the EXT4 format.