Fixed: Issue with SD card not showing up on Macs with Sonoma/Ventura/Monterey

"Help! My Mac doesn't respond when I insert the SD card."

Does your SD card not show up on Mac? Can't find the SD card in Disk Utility or Finder? This page covers everything you need to know about this issue. Follow the guides to fix the SD card not showing problem and recover all files from the SD card right away.

Error: SD Card Not Showing Up on Mac

"Mac not detecting SD card" refers to an error where your Mac fails to recognize an SD card when connected via an SD card reader.

This error is usually accompanied by the following symptoms:

• Your Mac doesn't respond when you insert the SD card.
• The SD card doesn't appear on your Mac's desktop or isn't showing up.
• Your Mac is unable to read or recognize the SD card.
• You can't open the SD card, or the files are inaccessible.

So, if you are going to fix the problem and recover all SD card files, what should you do? Firstly, know the reasons, then check your SD card status. And then continue to solve this issue.

Why Does My SD Card Not Show Up on Mac?

When your SD card is not reading on Mac or is undetected on your Mac computer, any of the reasons enlisted below could be accountable for the SD card not being readable or recognized:

• ❌ Damaged SD card, SD card reader, or SD card slot.
• ?️ The file system of the SD card is not supported on a Mac, such as ext2/3/4, NTFS, and others.
• ? The SD card is not mounted properly or has been unmounted.
• ?️ The firmware or components of the SD card are damaged or corrupted.
• ? The SD card is infected with viruses or malware.

3. 5 Quick Fixes – Check if SD Card is Not Showing Up and Get It Recognized by Mac

Here are five quick fixes to try, in order, to check the status of your SD card. See if any of them allow your Mac to recognize it:

#1. Open and inspect the SD card

#2. Check if the physical lock switch on the SD card is in the locked position.

If the SD card has a physical switch, slide it to the unlocked position.

#3. Check if the SD card reader is damaged or not inserted correctly into your Mac

Verify that the SD card is properly inserted into the reader. If not, reinsert the SD card. Check if the reader is functioning correctly by testing it with a new SD card. If it doesn't work, replace the SD card with a new one.

#4. Check if the SD card shows up in Disk Utility

The following tutorial will guide you through checking if your SD card shows up in Disk Utility on a Mac. Follow these steps:

Step 1. Press Command + Spacebar to launch the Spotlight search (Mac Spotlight shortcut), type Disk Utility in the menu, and hit “Enter” to search.

Step 2: Check the left-hand menu to see if you can find your SD card.

Step 3. If not, enable it in Preferences: Open Finder > Preferences > General, and check External disks.

You can also open Disk Utility in other ways. Read on for more information:

Of course, please provide the English content you would like translated, and I will do my best to translate it into Chinese for you.

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#5. Restart your Mac

When you restart your MacBook Pro or Air, some people see the SD card on their computer, and you can mount the card to access any saved files.

However, if your SD card is not physically damaged and still doesn't show up on Mac after trying the quick fixes above, it's likely that the card is corrupted. Read on for more solutions. If you've managed to fix the SD card not showing up issue with the quick fixes, please don't hesitate to share this article with more users!

4. The Complete Guide to Fix SD Card Not Showing Up on Mac

Here, we've gathered 4 methods to help you fix the issue of Mac not detecting SD card and make it show up again. Let's get started.

Fix 1: Install the SD Card to Make it Accessible

Sometimes, your Mac might not detect an SD card simply because it isn't mounted. You can refer to this tutorial to mount an SD card on a Mac:

Step 1: Connect the SD card to your Mac, and press “Command” and the space bar.

Step 2: Type “Disk Utility” in the Spotlight search and press Return.

Step 3: In the left pane, select the SD card and click Mount.

Fix 2: Run First Aid to repair the SD card

If the SD card is damaged or encounters some disk errors, it may not show up on your Mac. How to fix disk errors on Mac? You can try to use Disk Utility to repair the SD card.

Step 1. Launch Disk Utility as described above.

Step 2: Select the SD card and tap “First Aid.” Tap “Run” to confirm and fix the SD card.

Step 3: Click “Finish” to end the repair process.

Step 4. Close Disk Utility, and then restart your Mac. Once it's up and running, re-connect the SD card to your Mac and check if you can see all your files. Don't forget to share this article on social media to help others fix their SD card not showing up on Mac issue!

Fix 3: Format SD card with Disk Utility

Formatting the SD card on your Mac will erase all files saved on the SD card. As such, make sure to scan and recover any important files from the SD card after it mounts on your Mac by following this guide.

With data recovery software, you don't need to worry about the files you deleted due to formatting the SD card on your Mac or losing files after macOS update. Here, we've prepared a video tutorial on recommended 5 SD card recovery tools.

• 00:11 - What Can Cause Data Loss on an SD Card?
• 00:50 - Download the Mac Data Recovery Wizard Tool
• 00:58 - Select the SD Card and Scan It
• 01:12 - Filter the Results
• 01:20 - Preview the Data
• 01:27 - Introduction to Disk Drill
• 01:54 - Introduction to Data Rescue 6
• 02:12 - Introduction to PhotoRec
• 02:34 - Introduction to TestDisk

Cease using the SD card and opt for a reliable Mac file recovery software like Data Recovery Wizard for Mac to maximize the chances of retrieving files from it. The software creates an image of your SD card and recovers data from that.

Step 1: Choose your SD card

Connect the memory card to your Mac correctly. Launch the Disk Drill for Mac data recovery tool. Choose “SD Card Recovery,” find your Canon/Nikon/GoPro/DJI/Sony SD card, and click “Search for lost files.”

Note: Before you restore the data, it's better to create a backup of your SD card by clicking “Disk Backup” on the left sidebar to prevent further data loss. After backing up the SD card, the software can restore data from the SD card backup, and you can then remove the SD card and use it again.

Step 2: Filter out lost SD card data

When the scan is finished, all files will be displayed in the left pane of the scan results. Find the photos, videos, and other files you want.

Step 3: Preview and recover the data

Preview the SD card data, select the files you want, and hit the “Recover” button. Make sure not to save the recovered files to the SD card itself to prevent overwriting.

Now the SD card can be detected on Mac and you can save files to it again. If you find this Data Recovery Wizard for Mac useful, recommend it to more Mac users!

Now you can proceed to format your SD card as outlined in the following tutorial:

Step 1: Insert the SD card into your Mac.

Step 2. Launch Disk Utility using Spotlight.

Step 3: In the left sidebar, select the SD card and then click the Erase button in the top menu.

Step 4: Choose either “FAT32 (32 GB or smaller)” or “exFAT (64 GB or larger)” as the new format for your SD card.

5. Tap Erase to confirm.

When it's done, your SD card should reappear in your Mac, and be readable.

If you're having trouble with another storage device, like an external hard drive, check out these articles:

External Hard Drive Not Showing Up on Mac

External hard drive not showing up on Mac is one of the most common issues. Here, follow the guides on this page, and you'll be able to fix the problem and access all external disk files on your Mac.

Fix 4: Update the driver to resolve the issue

You can't update drivers on macOS separately, but you can update the drivers on your Mac by updating macOS through Software Update.

Step 1. Click the Apple menu and select "System Preferences" or "System Settings."

Click on System Preferences in macOS Monterey:

Step 2. Click on “Software Update.” If you're using macOS Ventura, go to System Preferences > General > Software Update.

Click “Software Update” to update the driver:

Step 3: You can view all available updates in this window and proceed to update your Mac at any time.

If you're wondering how to update to the latest macOS, Sonoma, you can read more in this article:

Please provide the English content you want to translate, and I will translate it into Chinese for you as soon as possible.

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5. Fix SD Card Not Showing Up or Detected on Mac

With these solutions, you should be able to successfully fix the issue of an SD card not detected or not showing up on your Mac. Here are some additional tips to help prevent SD card detection, recognition, or display issues on your Mac:

Let's see.

• Format the new SD card immediately on your Mac.
• Eject the SD card safely from your Mac.
• Leave some free space instead of filling up all the available space.
• Close or exit any devices before removing the SD card.
• Insert the SD card properly.
• Stop using the SD card immediately if an error occurs.
• Run antivirus software regularly.

The bottom line?

There are several effective ways to address the issue of a Mac not detecting an SD card.

Here's the correct sequence, as provided by a data-recovery expert:

1. First, check the connection issue with the SD card. 2. Next, repair the damaged SD card. 3. If the card still doesn't show up, erase and reformat it. 4. Lastly, if you lose any files during the formatting process, you can use file recovery software like Data Recovery Wizard for Mac to retrieve them.

FAQs: SD Card Not Showing Up on Mac

You can find more information about an SD card not showing up on a Mac below:

1. Why is my SD card not showing up on my MacBook?

Many users may encounter issues like “The disk you inserted was not readable by this computer”. There are many reasons why an SD card won't show up on MacBook:

• The SD card or card reader is physically damaged.
• Your MacBook doesn't support the file system.
• The SD card isn't mounted properly.
• The SD card's firmware or components are corrupted.
• A virus or malware attack has occurred.

2. Can I recover lost files from SD card on Mac?

Yes, you can download a professional SD card recovery tool to help. I recommend using the "Data Recovery Wizard," which has a straightforward interface on Mac. With just three steps, you can recover lost files from your SD card.

Why can't I see files on my SD card on my Mac?

This could be because macOS is unable to recognize your file format or file system, or the file is deeply hidden. If you can't find it anywhere, you may want to try using a data recovery software to retrieve deleted files.