SD Card Not Reading on Mac? 7 Fixes for macOS

Why Can't My Mac Read the SD Card?

An SD card can hold precious files, such as unforgettable photos and videos of loved ones. Given how widely they're used, it's essential for Mac users to know that older Mac computers have an SD card slot. The latest MacBooks, however, require an external reader. Either way, the SD card must be readable on your Mac.

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Have you encountered the "Mac can't read SD card" error? Unfortunately, this is one of the common issues MacBook users face! But before diving into the fixes, it's crucial to understand why your Mac might not be reading the SD card. Specifically, there are several reasons that could cause the "Mac can't read SD card" error. Here are the main culprits:

Download SD Card Recovery Software on Mac

Regardless of the reason behind the unreadable or inaccessible SD card, you can't afford to lose the precious files stored on it. If important videos and photos on the SD card are not readable on your Mac, you'll need to use a top-notch data recovery tool – the tools Data Recovery Wizard for Mac Pro.

The software is fully compatible with different versions of macOS, even the latest macOS Sonoma. With this top-notch data recovery tool, you can overcome various challenging data loss scenarios, and the best part is that it can help you recover deleted files on Mac without Time Machine.

You can use a tool to recover videos, photos, and audio files from various types of SD cards on your MacBook Pro or Air. Key features of such a data recovery tool include:

• Support for Mac SD Card Recovery, Time Machine backup recovery, HDD, USB drives, memory cards, and camera recovery.
• Tackle various challenging data loss scenarios, recovering deleted photos, music files, videos, emails, and documents on your Mac.
• Assist you in backing up your Mac and SD cards to prevent further data loss.

Here are the top SD card recovery software recommended in the video. Here's a summary:

• 00:30 Mac Data Recovery Wizard
• 01:29 Mac Disk Drill Data Recovery
• 01:52 Data Rescue 6

Download this professional data recovery wizard now and follow the tutorial below to retrieve your data from the SD card:

Step 1: Choose your SD card

Connect your memory card to the Mac correctly. Launch the Data Recovery Wizard for Mac tool. Select “SD Card Recovery”, find your Canon/Nikon/GoPro/DJI/Sony SD card, and click “Search for lost files”.

Note: Before you proceed with data recovery, it's recommended that you click “Disk Backup” on the left sidebar and create a backup of your SD card to prevent further data loss. After backing up your 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 data from the SD card

When the scan is finished, all the 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 your data

Preview the SD card data and select the files you need, then click the “Recover” button. To avoid data overwriting, do not save the recoverable files back to the SD card itself.

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How to Quickly Solve the Problem of an Unreadable SD Card on a Mac

Have you checked your SD card and made sure it's in good condition? But your MacBook Air or Pro still won't read it? Here are four methods to fix an unreadable SD card on your Mac.

1. Check the SD Card Connection First

An SD card interacts with compatible devices through a series of small metal contacts, each with its own function. Over time, these contacts can degrade quickly, leading to various connectivity issues. As such, it's important to inspect the card's connections.

Solution 2: Try a different SD card reader

SD card readers can be flaky; so, before proceeding with any repairs, make sure that the reader is working correctly. Try another SD card reader, if you have one available that's known to work with SD cards.

If you have one, you can simply connect it to your Mac and insert the SD card. If you don't, you might be able to borrow a friend's MacBook for a few minutes and use its built-in SD card reader.

Fix 3: Clean the SD card and card reader

The SD card slot can collect dust and grime, causing poor contact. If the connection seems loose, you should clean out the slot with a can of compressed air. For best results from the can, give short bursts of compressed air.

4. Restart your Mac

A restart can fix software and driver issues on a Mac, so try unplugging your SD card and restarting your MacBook Pro to resolve the error. When you restart your Mac, everything is forced to start up fresh, which can clear up most errors.

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More Solutions to Fix Unreadable SD Card on Mac

If your SD card is not readable on your Mac, you can try several solutions to fix this issue. More remedies to repair an unreliable SD card on a Mac include:

"Repairing an SD card that cannot be read in the disk utility tool"

Disk Utility is a built-in macOS utility that can check for common errors on a disk. If your Mac can't read the SD card or the card isn't mounting on your Mac, try these steps to use First Aid to fix an unreadable SD card.

Step 1: Click on “Applications” > “Utilities” > “Disk Utility.”

Step 2: Select "SD card" from the left sidebar.

Step 3: Click the “First Aid” button.

You can see how to run First Aid from Recovery Mode in the following article:

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Run First Aid from Recovery Mode - Mac | 3 Basic Steps

macOS offers a built-in Recovery Mode that lets you fix disks and troubleshoot issues. We'll show you how to run First Aid from Recovery Mode. Read More >>

Fix 2: Format SD Card on Mac

It's time to format the SD card on Mac, but remember that this step will erase all data stored on the SD card. If you have important files on the card, you need to back up the SD card with top-tier software first. The tool Data Recovery Wizard for Mac Pro is an all-in-one solution to back up all your files before formatting.

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Backup Your Mac and Never Lose Data

Back up and restore your MacBook/iMac without Time Machine, iCloud, or an external hard drive.

Please format your SD card following these steps:

Step 1: Open Disk Utility

Step 2: Select “SD card” from the list.

Step 3: Tap “Erase.”

Step 4: Name your no-longer-needed SD card.

If the memory card is larger than 64 GB, choose exFAT as the file system format; otherwise, choose FAT32.

Select exFAT in the Disk Utility app

Step 6: Tap Clear.

When it's done, you'll have a formatted SD card with no data on it.

Fix 3: Update macOS to fix the issue

Mac updates often include firmware upgrades, improvements to pre-installed apps, and fixes for security vulnerabilities and SD card reading issues. Follow the steps in our how to update your Mac guide.

Step one: Click the Apple menu and choose System Preferences.

Step 2: Click on "Software Update" in the System Preferences window.

Step Three: If there are any available updates, click “Update Now” or “Restart Now” to update your Mac.

Click on the “Update Now” button

If you're running macOS High Sierra 10.13 or earlier, Software Update won't be in System Preferences. Instead, you'll need to update to the latest version of macOS from the Mac App Store. You can also check out this article for how to update your Mac when an update isn't showing.

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How to Update Mac When It Says No Update Available

What should I do when my Mac says no update is available? Actually, you can try multiple solutions! Read More >>

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How to Avoid SD Card Issues on Your Mac

Here, we will provide you with some tips to avoid SD card issues on your Mac.

Buy a high-quality SD card. If an SD card is cheap and made by an off-brand company, you may run into problems with it while using it.

❌ Do not write data directly to the SD card. Editing files on the SD card directly can lead to data corruption or loss, which is unsafe.

Warning: Don't remove the SD card directly from your Mac. Make sure to eject the SD card before physically removing it from your MacBook.

Run antivirus software regularly. Scan your SD card with an antivirus program once a week to prevent malware and computer viruses.

Back up your SD card to the cloud. It's a good idea to back up your SD card, so you can store important files in iCloud.

Ultimately

Images and other files can be safely stored on an SD card. Sometimes, you might find that your Mac is not recognizing the SD card. In such a case, simply follow the steps above to get your Mac to show the SD card. However, if your SD card is having issues, tools like the Mac Pro Data Recovery Wizard can help you recover data from a damaged SD card, ensuring your data remains protected and accessible no matter what.

Frequently Asked Questions About "Mac Cannot Read SD Card" Issues

If your SD card isn't readable on your Mac, see this article instead:

How do I fix an SD card that won't read on Windows?

One of the most common reasons why Windows fails to read an SD card is an outdated driver. You can fix an unreadable SD card on Windows by inserting it into your computer and navigating to Control Panel > System > Device Manager > Disk Drives.

Why does my Mac say the SD card is unreadable?

An incompatible file system is a common reason behind the 'Mac won't read SD card' error. The latest versions of macOS support numerous file systems, including HFS+, APFS, exFAT, and FAT32.

3. Why won't my Mac recognize my SD card?

Data corruption and physical damage are the causes of a Mac not reading an SD card error. While an SD card's standard size is 32.0 × 24.0 × 2.1 mm, the actual flash memory chips that store your data are smaller. As such, SD cards are vulnerable to mechanical damage that can render them unreadable.

4. How to recover data from an unreadable SD card on a Mac?

You would need to use the Data Recovery Wizard for Mac Pro tool to recover data from an SD card that is not readable on your Mac.