Manufacturers today are releasing more and more advanced smartphones. However, regardless of the model or brand of the phone, as well as the duration of its operation, it happens that the phone no longer sees the connected memory card. There may be several reasons for this situation. This can happen due to a faulty flash drive or problematic flash reader. Without verification and analysis, it is difficult to take corrective action.

The essence of the problem is that at one point the smartphone stops reading the media; the information saved to the device is loaded directly into the built-in memory, which is often not much. This situation causes inconvenience and the problem urgently needs to be resolved.

So, before taking the gadget to a service center, you need to carry out home diagnostics; in most cases, the problem is easily solved.

The main reasons why the phone no longer sees the memory card

The most common reasons include the following:

• The card reader is faulty.
• The flash drive has burned out (in this case, manipulations to restore it are futile).
• The file system is disrupted; in this case, formatting may be a solution to the problem.
• The contacts do not fit tightly, you need to insert the media more tightly and reboot the device.

Before drawing conclusions, you should conduct an analysis and determine what exactly is wrong with micro sd. The first step is to try rebooting the device. No matter how simple it may sound, very often this is what solves the problem.

If this doesn't help, then it's time to check other options.

Invalid file system format

If the file system fails, the media may not be displayed. There are several reasons why the drive is not visible due to a failure of this system:

• The file table has been corrupted.
• The card was formatted by the user and the phone stopped recognizing it.
• There is an unknown system.

If the storage capacity is more than 32 GB, then most likely the card is formatted as exFAT. This system is not supported by all versions of Android OS. To quickly bring the flash drive back to life, you need to reboot the device via recovery and select the Wipe cache partition section in the service menu. With this operation, all the contents of the flash drive will be cleared, and the flash drive itself will be formatted in the supported FAT32 format, which is optimal for storing data on a smartphone.

Important! This method is suitable only for experienced users, because in case of an error, there is a risk of losing all data on the phone, including those saved on the internal memory.

You can also try formatting the flash drive using a computer and special programs, for example, SD Formatter.

Memory card is faulty

This can happen with absolutely any flash drive, no matter what brand or cost it is, the equipment sometimes malfunctions. If the phone does not see the flash drive due to a malfunction, it may have been damaged mechanically or as a result of thermal effects. Accordingly, it will be unreadable on all other devices.

Memory card doesn't work

This is exactly the case when nothing can be done. The only thing left is to purchase a new flash drive for the gadget. The unpleasant thing is that the data on it cannot be restored or transferred to another device, since a failed card will not be detected either on other phones or by connecting to a personal computer.

Incompatibility with phone

This doesn't happen often, but it does happen. The situation can be detected when trying to connect a new card to the device. The phone may not support a flash drive due to generation differences. Another reason is an attempt to connect a larger capacity to the smartphone than allowed; for example, not all gadgets support cards with a capacity of 256 GB.

Types of media

To solve the problem, simply insert a card that the device supports. All necessary information and the maximum amount for memory expansion are indicated in the technical specifications for the device.

Memory card contacts are coming off

After reconnection or displacement, the drive cannot be read by the phone.

To solve the problem, you will need to remove the flash drive from the slot. After this, you should carefully connect the card so that all contacts are tightly connected to the socket. Also, if you have sufficient knowledge in this industry, you can replace the contacts yourself. If you do not have such experience, then it is better not to undertake this procedure.

If the contacts are worn out directly in the phone, then purchasing a new device or having it repaired at a service center will help.

Software glitch

If the program installed on Android does not read the card, and the others, in turn, see the storage medium, then the reason lies in a software glitch.

The phone does not see the memory card

Perhaps the operating system does not see the card due to the application settings, namely due to the choice of the main source for saving the internal memory of the device. To change the path for saving, you should go to the application settings and change saving from internal memory to external memory - a flash drive.

How to understand that the problem is in the card?

A very simple method is used to check. You should remove the memory card from the slot of the gadget you are using and connect it to a personal computer via a card reader, or, if there is none, connect it to any other portable gadget.

Memory card installed in the phone

If another device reads the flash drive without difficulty, then the problem lies in the gadget, and if no device is able to recognize the card, then the problem is in the media and all the above options can help solve the problem. Another reliable way is to format the SD card.

Formatting will completely reset all data that was previously saved on external memory. Therefore, if there are doubts about the cause of the problem, it is better to initially check and analyze why the phone does not see the inserted flash drive, and only then take radical measures.

To perform formatting, you will need a personal computer. The whole procedure is simple and even a beginner can handle it easily.

Formatting using a personal computer

Procedure:

• The first step is to remove the card from the slot in the phone, as well as connect it to the card reader, which is then inserted into the dedicated connector of the system unit or laptop.
• After a couple of minutes (after searching and installing drivers for correct operation), the computer will display a memory card launch window. If nothing has changed, then it should be opened manually. To do this, you need to go to the “My Computer” section, where the new connected device will be displayed.
• You need to select this device and right-click on the mouse and select the “Format” column.

Formatting a memory card on a computer

• The next step is to select a file system. There are two options: “FAT” or “NTFS”. Most cards have a default format - “FAT”, however, if formatting according to this type does not eliminate the error, then you should try choosing a different type - “NTFS”. This is what it should look like:

Selecting a formatting type

• After this, you need to click “Start” and wait until the procedure is completed.

When formatting is complete, it’s time to check the flash drive in the gadget. It happens that even after these steps it still does not appear, then you should try another option.

Formatting using a smartphone or tablet

If the smartphone detects the presence of a flash drive, but cannot open it, then you can format it directly in this gadget. What should be done:

• Insert the flash drive into a special slot in the device. Make sure that all necessary contacts are saved on internal media. After this, you can safely go directly to the settings.
• All gadgets on the Android operating system have similar controls; the attached screenshots may differ slightly, however, the general picture of the actions has the same sequence. You need to go to the “Memory Settings” section, which is located in the memory parameters.
• In the settings, select the “Disconnect or eject” option. It looks like this:

Remove the drive

• After this, you need to select the “Clear” section. The procedure is quite quick and will take no more than a couple of minutes (depending on the occupied memory capacity of the drive).
• The final step is to connect the formatted flash drive to the system. To do this, in the open menu you need to click the “Connect” option.

At this point, the formatting process is considered complete, and the media should work like new.

If none of the listed and tried actions brought the flash drive back to life and the phone still does not recognize it or cannot save information to it, then the only correct solution would be to take it to a service center or purchase a new one if the cause of the malfunction is in the media . This option is simpler, you don’t have to wait, and the result will definitely be positive - after all, the new flash drive will definitely be perceived correctly by the device.

If the situation (the phone still does not see the memory card) has not changed, then you will definitely need a card reader. So, you can insert a microSD or miniSD card into the card reader, and it into the USB port of the computer. After this, you need to find “My Computer” on the desktop; if a line with the name of the memory card appears there, then right-click its context menu and select the “Properties” line.

In the window that appears, go to the “Service” tab, and there we look for the “Check disk for errors” item and click the “Run scan” button (here in the settings you should set the “Scan and repair damaged sectors” option). After completing the check, you need to return the memory card to the phone and make sure that everything is in order.

If restoring damaged sectors did not help, and the phone does not read the memory card, then you can turn to drastic methods and format it. In this case, all the data contained on the flash drive will be lost (if the microSD was opened on the computer, then you should transfer the information to the hard drive). Just use the card reader again and select the “Format” line in the context menu of the flash drive.

The main reasons why the phone does not see the memory card

Alas, if you have done all this, but the media still does not become visible, your path will have to go to a certified service center. Only a master will be able to determine what exactly happened, as well as what to do in a particular case.

Most often this happens precisely because the media and device are not fully compatible. Each manufacturer has its own standards for internal phone card readers and memory card contacts. Therefore, for example, Nokia phones do not work very well with Apacer carriers. Therefore, when purchasing, we repeat, be sure to check whether they will be compatible.

Micro-SD cards have long become an integral part of every modern smartphone. Buying a device with a large amount of built-in memory can be expensive, but buying a flash drive once and using it in each new gadget is much more rational. And the convenience of being able to transfer data on an extremely compact medium should not be underestimated.

However, SD cards do not last forever and they can often fail ahead of time. So the question of why the phone does not see the microSD flash drive is more than relevant. And this article will give a comprehensive answer to it.

Why doesn't my phone see the flash drive?

This paragraph will discuss the most common reasons why a micro SD flash drive is not detected by a mobile phone. We will also try to give some advice on what to do in each situation.

SD card and device incompatibility

Older devices may have problems reading cards of 32 gigabytes or more, since most of these models use the microSD XC format, while smaller flash drives are most often manufactured in the microSD HC format. The first one boasts a faster recording speed compared to the second one.

The problem can only be solved by replacing the flash drive with a new one. It's also worth noting that incompatibility may not be an actual problem if everything worked fine initially.

Card memory errors

An error can make it difficult to read information from a flash drive, as well as interfere with the normal interaction of the device with it. Windows provides a standard tool for identifying and eliminating errors.

1. Connect the card to the computer using an adapter.
2. Right-click on the device icon in Computer.
3. Go to “Properties” - “Tools” - “Check” in the “Check the disk for file system errors” item.

You can also use special utilities - HDD Scan and others. The verification time depends on the size of the card, as well as the number of errors in it.

File system crash

The computer works without problems with all popular file systems, however, for correct operation on Android devices, you should use FAT32. To transfer a flash drive to this file system, you need to format it with the appropriate parameters.

If the smartphone sees the flash drive, but still cannot work with it correctly, then you should also format the card directly in the device.

1. Go to the device memory settings.
2. Find the setting that allows you to remove the memory card (for example, "Eject" or "Disable").
3. Next, you need to press the card clear button (For example, “Clear memory card”).

You can also use special programs to format SD cards. For example, SD formater, JetFlash Recovery Tool, FlashBoot and others.

Connector dirty

Using the device in the summer - during windy times, for example, there is a high chance of simply clogging the connector. Dust falling on the contacts becomes a barrier between the flash drive and the device, physically preventing the mobile phone from detecting the memory card.

This problem can be solved by removing dirt from the connector, shaking out the dust or using a jet of air. It is important to understand that blowing dust out with your mouth, as well as removing it with toothpicks and other dense objects, is not recommended. The first can lead to saliva particles getting onto the contacts, and the second can damage the contacts. Try using soft bristled brushes or wiping the contacts with a cotton swab soaked in alcohol.

Physical damage to the connector

If the phone stops seeing the flash drive, but other devices continue to detect it, then the contacts on the connector may be damaged. Often accompanied by difficulties when installing an SD card. This problem can be caused by careless operation - abruptly removing the media from the connector, for example.

Situations where the memory card is detected only on some devices may relate to damaged contacts not on the card itself, but in the device. If the problem continues to manifest itself, then the device can be taken to service - to replace the connector or eliminate damage on the board that leads to problems.

The card is burned

If the card is not detected on any device, then most likely it is burned out. It is impossible to restore a burned card (and files from it). But you should understand that a burnt card can easily be confused with one that simply has dirt on the contact surface. Examine the map carefully. Perhaps somewhere dirt or corrosion is preventing normal contact.

First aid

In “camping” conditions, you can try to reboot the device several times, remove the card and insert it again, and do the same with the battery. Sometimes this helps, but you should understand that such cases may indicate problems with the hardware or system. For example, a contact that is not quite working may lie correctly after the user removes and inserts the card several times. The likelihood of the problem returning is extremely high in this case. In addition, it is very unsafe and can cause a fire.

Using Recovery

If the origin of the error is not found, and the SD card continues to appear on all devices except one or two, then you can use Recovery - a special recovery mode provided in the Android system that allows you to “Roll Back” system settings to factory settings.

Also, in some cases, reflashing helps, but this is too radical a measure. It is recommended to install another firmware only if the system has other serious problems, or if the current firmware simply does not suit you in general.

Conclusion

There are a huge number of reasons why a smartphone may not read a memory card, but you don’t need to do anything supernatural to solve each of them. It is enough to perform a sequence of simple operations. Better yet, take care of the safety of the device and SD card in advance. It is important to handle the card and phone connector carefully, do not open the device cover (or the slot on the side, depending on the model) in dusty places, and if the connector and contacts are dirty, clean them in a timely manner.

To do this, you need to remove the drive from the connector and insert it into another phone or laptop using a special adapter. If the computer was unable to open the contents of the flash drive automatically, then you need to search for it manually in Explorer in the “Removable media” section. Even the phone does not see the map, then do not despair, since this may be a consequence of the lack of drivers or incorrect formatting. It is necessary to repeat the operation several times; if it is not detected by any device, then we can conclude that it is inoperable.

When the flash drive is found, you should try to open and run some files. If they are displayed correctly, then the problem is not in the card, otherwise difficulties with finding may be the result of errors in the file system or a separate file.

The following sequence of actions must be followed:

1. 1. Copy the entire contents of the SD card to a separate folder on your computer.
   2. Right-click on the flash drive shortcut and select “Format” from the menu.
   3. Confirm the operation with the “Start” button; you do not need to make any changes to the standard parameters.

Hardware faults

If the memory card is working, you should reinsert it into the slot; sometimes it happens that it does not fit tightly, causing contact to be lost. If this does not help, then you need to try inserting another flash drive. When the phone does not see the memory card in this case, the problem lies precisely in the connector; perhaps debris has gotten into it or the contacts are clogged; you should carefully wipe them with an eraser. Another reason may be the characteristics of the slot itself - connectors on old or very cheap smartphones cannot work with large SD cards (32 GB and above). Unfortunately, this cannot be corrected.

If the above methods did not help solve the problem when Android does not see the memory card, you should contact the service center for help.

Do not rush to panic and call all service centers, but try to identify the cause of the problem: you can get rid of most problems associated with microSD yourself with the help of our article, in which we will describe how best to do this.

If your phone doesn’t see the memory card, don’t rush to throw it away

So let's get started.

This problem is one of the most common: it can come to visit the owner of both a newfangled smartphone and the owner of an old device. We suggest that you consider the causes of this problem and how to resolve them.

Causes:

• The flash drive may not adhere to the contacts, and because of this, the device does not read it.

This problem is easy to solve: you just need to remove the battery and check the location of the card.

• Malfunctions of the flash drive itself.

Solution: check it using a card reader, placing a microSD in it and connecting it to the computer. Or insert the information drive into another device. If the second device sees the card, it means that the problem is hidden in your smartphone, which is why it does not read it.

What to do if, even after checking the above situations, the phone does not see the memory card? Let's dig deeper: the next block of reasons is technical. It has to do with formatting, location of the flash drive, and compatibility with your phone. We invite you to consider these problems in more detail:

More often than not, when you buy a drive or decide to clean out an old one, you are confident that you can connect it yourself. And due to lack of time or excessive confidence that if you do everything yourself step by step and according to the instructions, the formatting will be done correctly, everything turns out completely the opposite. When faced with such a task, take the time to test your skills as a qualified mobile phone repair technician. This may cause your device to experience new problems, including the inability to see the memory card.

What to do in this case?

The first method is to restart your phone. Most often, the fact that the phone does not see microSD can be caused by a normal malfunction of the mobile phone. But in other situations, it may force you to completely delete all information on the card.

The second method, which is the safest and more common, is the stripping method using a computer, which we will tell you about in detail below:

1. First, insert the flash drive into the card reader and connect it to the computer.
2. Wait for it to start, which should happen automatically. Otherwise, go to “My Computer”, where you will see your card in the “New Devices” section, but only if it is not burned out.
3. Right-click on the icon and click on the “Format” function in the context menu.
4. Click the "Start" button and wait for the process to complete.

If the problem was in formatting, then this method should have fixed it.

• The memory card has failed.

The causes of this incident may be mechanical damage or thermal damage (from the heat, the microSD can melt and, accordingly, freeze at very low temperatures).

What to do? Unfortunately, all you can do in this situation is to throw away the old card, complain a little for the sake of decency, and buy another one.

• Incompatibility of the drive with the mobile device.

Your old device may simply not be adapted to the new technologies that were used to create the memory card. In this case, your phone will also not read the microSD flash drive.

• Erased tracks in the nest are natural wear and tear of the equipment.

Buying a new mobile device will help solve this problem, since all equipment sooner or later deteriorates, even though it is made with high quality and is designed for long-term use.

We advise you to carefully check your mobile device and the card you purchased for each item. If, after identifying all the possible reasons why the phone does not see the microSD flash drive, you did not find a match with any of the above points or could not fix the problem yourself, you should contact professionals who have been working in this field for a long time. They will conduct a high-quality and thorough inspection of your phone and inform you about the cause of the problem.

Take care of your devices and do not delay identifying possible faults indefinitely! Then your accessory will work for a long time and without interruption.