Don't fret if your phone continually alerts you with "SD card unexpectedly removed." This page provides three reliable solutions to address the issue of how to fix an unexpectedly removed SD card. Review and implement these steps to get your SD card functioning properly:

Workable Solutions Step-by-step Troubleshooting
Fix 1. Remount SD Card On Android phone, go to Settings > Storage > Unmount SD card > Remove SD card and reinsert it...Full steps
Fix 2. Reformat SD Card Unplug and insert SD card to PC > Scan and restore all SD card data first > Format it to FAT32...Full steps
Fix 3. Factory Reset Android Backup Android data to PC first > Go to settings > Backup & reset > Factory data reset...Full steps

"My Samsung S7 Edge continually displays the message SD card unexpectedly removed. This issue arises whenever I attempt to open an application. Despite attempting to restart the phone numerous times, the problem persists. Why does the SD card keep getting disconnected? Could the card be corrupted, or is there an issue with the phone itself?"

Android devices permit users to employ an external SD memory card (also known as a TF card) to augment the phone's storage capacity. Hence, you might have added a substantial SD card to your device. However, as you use your phone for a longer duration, the likelihood of encountering issues increases. One common problem that Android phones face is the "SD card unexpectedly removed" issue. If you are currently experiencing this dilemma, this article is prepared to assist you.

sd card unexpectedly removed

Why Does My SD Card Keep Getting Ejected?

Here, we have enlisted several possible reasons for the SD card being unexpectedly removed.

    Your phone or SD card is damaged and causing a loose connection
  • Try reinserting the card multiple times and restarting your phone.
  • Alternatively, remove the card and insert it into another family member's or friend's phone to check if the memory card is functioning properly.
  • SD card becomes corrupted

通常,它会在其上发展坏扇区,需要 修复损坏的SD卡

  • The SD card is incompatible with your phone

A Class 10 SD card won't be compatible with a phone that can only support Class 2 or 4 cards.

    The SD card is just irreparably broken

放弃这张卡,买一张新的。

How to Solve the "SD Card Unexpectedly Removed" Error [3 Solutions]

Here are three methods to resolve the issue of an SD card repeatedly disconnecting on your Android device. Select the troubleshooting approach that best fits your situation.

Solution 1: Safely Eject and Re-mount the SD Card

Sometimes, it's a hardware malfunction in the mobile phone or digital camera that causes SD cards to become unreadable, displaying an "unexpected removal" error. For Android phone users, you can unmount the SD card on your device, restart your smartphone, and then remount the SD card to see if the issue is resolved.

Step 1: Go to Settings > Storage > scroll down and select "Unmount SD card".

mount and unmount sd card

Step 2: Once you've unmounted your SD card, remove it from the device.

Step 3: Turn off your smartphone and wait for a few seconds.

Step 4: Insert the SD card and then power the device back on.

Step 5: Go to Settings > Storage again, and this time select "mount SD card".

Upon completing these steps, you can verify if the "SD card unexpectedly removed" error still persists.

Fix 2: Reformat SD Card

If your SD card is unformatted, the "not formatted" error will prevent your phone from reading the card, resulting in the message "SD card unexpectedly removed." In such a scenario, reformatting the SD card can eliminate the persistent error message.

Formatting an SD card will erase all existing data on it. Hence, do not proceed with formatting the SD card immediately; instead, recover the data on it first. We recommend using a third-party data recovery tool, such as tools Data Recovery Wizard, to accomplish this task.

What tools Data Recovery Wizard can do:

    • Recover deleted files from Recycle Bin along with formatted and RAW files in just three simple steps.
    • Covers a wide range of data loss situations, such as virus attacks, power outages, system crashes, etc.
    • Allows you to preview recoverable files before initiating the recovery process.
    • 100% safe and compatible with both Windows and Mac computers.

Download the tool Data Recovery Wizard and follow the steps below to recover your SD card data first.

Step 1. Choose the SD card to scan

    1. Download and install the Data Recovery Wizard tool on your Windows PC. 2. Connect your SanDisk/Lexar/Transcend SD card to the computer correctly. 3. Launch the SD card recovery software and select "SD Card Recovery" from the left panel. All connected drives will be displayed here. Choose your SD card and click "Scan".
Select the SD card and click Scan

Step 2. Check for scan results This step involves examining the output or outcomes of a scan that has been conducted. It could refer to various types of scans, such as a security scan on a computer system, a medical scan on a patient, or even a document scan for text recognition. The main objective is to review the information gathered during the scanning process to understand the findings, identify any issues or abnormalities, and take appropriate actions based on the results.

    1. Wait for the scanning process to finish.
    2. Select one or several file types to display, such as Pictures or Videos.
    3. Click "Preview" to verify if they are the desired files.
filter the lost photos

Step 3. Recover Data from SD Card

  • Preview the recovered files and click "Recover".
  • Select a different location to save the recovered files, rather than the original SD card.
Recover lost photos

Now you can format the SD card using Windows File Explorer, Disk Management, Command Prompt, or a free disk formatting utility. All these options are available for free. Let's take Windows File Explorer as an example.

Step 1: Connect the SD card to your PC using a card reader.

Step 2: In the Windows File Explorer, right-click the removable disk that represents your card, and select "Format."

Step 3: In the popup window, select "FAT" under "File System" and "Default Allocation Size" under "Allocation Size." Leave the other options unchanged.

Step 4: Click "Start" to format the disk. Safely eject the SD card and re-insert it into the phone. There should be no more error messages, and you can now reuse the card.

Format SD Card in Windows File Explorer

If Windows is unable to complete the format, you can only use the Command Prompt or a third-party free partition manager, such as tools Partition Master Free, to format the problematic SD card.

Fix 3: Perform a Factory Reset on Android

The last resort to rectify the "SD card removed unexpectedly" error is to perform a factory reset on the Android phone. This is a risky procedure, but in most cases, it resolves the issue.

Important
Backup Android to your PC before performing a factory reset, as this will delete all data on the device.

Step 1: Go to Settings > Backup & reset > Factory data reset.

factory reset android

Step 2: Tap Erase all data (factory reset) and then Reset phone or Reset tablet. If necessary, enter your PIN, pattern, or password.

Step 3: To wipe all data from your device's internal storage, tap Erase everything.

Step 4: When your device has finished erasing, choose the option to restart.

Step 5: Set up your device and restore your backed-up data.

If all attempts fail eventually, contact the manufacturer and request a new phone or SD card if it's under warranty.