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 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.
- Connect the card to the computer using an adapter.
- Right-click on the device icon in Computer.
- 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.
- Go to the device memory settings.
- Find the setting that allows you to remove the memory card (for example, "Eject" or "Disable").
- Next, you need to press the card clear button (For example, “Clear memory card”).
Also you can use special programs for formatting 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 installation difficulties SD cards. 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.
In some cases, the phone does not see microSD, but not all users know why this happens and how to fix the problem
Moreover, this problem is serious, since it does not allow access to all the information stored on the flash drive.
For users whose phone is a player, a device for Internet surfing, this problem may present serious problem.
The essence of the problem
How does it manifest itself? this problem? How to understand that the phone really does not see the device? This is quite simple and becomes clear immediately after installing the memory card.
The device does not reflect that it was installed. At the same time, there is no memory card icon on the panel on the working screen, nor is removable storage displayed in the Memory section in Settings.
Accordingly, in all phone directories (for example, Music, Gallery) there are no corresponding files, previously .
Sometimes after installing external media into the phone, the device does not immediately display a message about its installation, as it usually does.
Sometimes while working with microSD it may suddenly turn off and a message like "Memory card is disabled".
In the most rare cases, the device reports that the memory card is damaged.
The problem can occur on both a new device and an old one. And also how old map memory, and with a new, empty medium. Regardless of this, the reasons are often the same in all cases.
Possible reasons
There are several reasons for this phenomenon. Conventionally, they can be divided into two large groups: problems with the phone and problems with the drive itself. The first group includes:
- Direct damage to the memory card slot;
- Other hardware problems in the device;
- Problems with the functioning of the software, due to which the device cannot be seen.
The memory card itself may have the following problems:
- Failure of the device (especially when a previously working card suddenly ceases to be recognized or the device reports its malfunction, which is typical for old memory cards with a lot of wear);
- Physical damage to the contacts on the card or other problems;
- File system mismatch (some new file systems do not “see” old phones, then it is shown that the drive is missing).
Depending on the cause of the malfunction, one or another method of eliminating it can be chosen.
<Рис. 2 Слот>
Elimination
There are several ways to deal with such problems. They are selected depending on the reason that caused the malfunction.
If this reason is not clear, then you will have to try several methods.
Working with hardware
<Рис. 3 Контакты карты памяти>
First of all, you need to check what exactly the problem is. Insert another memory card into the device, and if it is detected, then the problem is in the drive itself.
If not, then the problem is most likely in the phone.
What can the user do in this case? It is recommended to clean the card slot from dust, and also wipe the contacts on the media itself. This can be done with a cotton swab.
Most likely this will not solve the problem, but sometimes it helps. However, if it turns out that the card slot is broken, then the only way there will be a replacement.
Recovery
<Рис. 4 Восстановление>
Each one has a Recovery mode. Running it will allow you to “roll back” all dubious settings to factory settings.
Thus, if the device previously saw cards, but now does not see them, then this method can help.
- First, perform a normal reboot of the device (not turning it off and on, but rebooting);
- If this does not help, proceed to recovery;
- Press and hold the power and volume down buttons at the same time for up to 10 seconds (most often, this is how access to the recovery function opens);
- As soon as the device restarts, a special start menu will open in Windows;
- Go to the Wipe cache partition item (you need to do this using buttons or by clicking on the screen, depending on the device);
- Reboot your device (rebooting may take much longer than usual).
The map should now be detected. If this does not happen, then you will have to work with it on a computer.
Formatting
<Рис. 5 Форматирование>
Install the memory card into your computer using an adapter. Open it through the “My Computer” section to make sure the device is working.
If the computer does not see the drive, then the memory card is faulty.
- Press Win + R and wait for the Run window to open;
- Enter the command diskmgmt.msc in it;
- Now a window should open in which all memory devices will be displayed - external, internal, formatted, unformatted;
- If the letter designating the card matches the letter, for example, of the optical drive, etc., then you need to rename the card;
- In rare cases, renaming may solve the problem;
- If the problem is not solved in this way, then you need to completely format the card and create a new file system (of course, it is worth remembering that the data from the media must be copied before this);
- You can format the device from Explorer;
- Right-click on the memory card;
- A menu will open in which you need to select the line Format;
- A window will open in which you need to remove the marker from the window next to the inscription "Quick Format";
- Below, indicate that you need to create a format file system (most often this parameter is set by default);
- Click OK;
- Wait for the process to complete.
After that, install the memory card in your phone. It should be successfully recognized. If this still does not happen, then it is possible that there is still a specific hardware problem.
Restoring work
<Рис. 6 Восстановление через ПК>
Restoring the operation of a MicroSD card is a specific case when a medium that was successfully recognized before suddenly ceases to be detected by the same device.
There was no damage to the media or phone, no changes in software phone number was not entered, etc.
This method can also help when the phone reports that "Memory card cannot be accessed", “The memory card is damaged, etc.”.
This method is quite effective, but only for old cards. And only on the condition that they worked properly before. There is no point in using this method for new cards.
- Connect the memory card to a PC or laptop to make sure it is working properly;
- Open Explorer and right-click on the map;
- Select Properties from the drop-down menu;
- Go to the Service tab;
- Run Disk Check, having previously specified the need to automatically correct detected errors and malfunctions;
- In the same section you can conduct Surface test with automatic recovery of bad sectors (although this is not necessary).
More difficult option– this is troubleshooting by working in the HKLM branch. This is done as follows:
- Find the SYSTEM directory in the folder tree;
- In it, open the StorageDevicePolicies section;
- The parameters that need to be changed will appear on the right side of the window;
- Assign a zero value to the defining parameter (write the number zero in parentheses in the combination 0x00000000(1)).
The card should now interact normally with the phone.
File system
<Рис. 7 Файловая система>
There are memory cards in microSD HC and microSD XC formats. The second option is typical for cards with a capacity of more than 32 GB.
They have a different file system, which has its own advantages (for example, recording speed and duration of recording segments), but is not recognized by all phones, tablets and other devices.
So, some phones are simply not designed to support cards larger than 32GB. In this case, it is almost impossible to change the file system without special skills.
However, it is worth remembering that the type (HC or XC) of the card is written directly on it, so it is important to choose the appropriate one.
WHAT TO DO IF ANDROID (PHONE) DOESN’T SEEN THE MEMORY CARD?
The phone does not see the MicroSD flash drive: what to do, how to fix it?
If you use an Android phone Samsung, bq, sony, lg, xiaomi, zte, lenovo, fly, nokia, asus, alcatel, xiaomi and so on, you will find that the system storage is completely full.
This slows down the work speed, and to free up space, you usually insert an external microSD memory card.
At the same time, some users complain that their Android 7 (7.0), Android 6 (6.0), Android 4.4.2 and others including latest version Android 8 does not see the SD memory card, including even the new one.
It happens that the device does not see files on the card - music, applications, photos, or does not see the formatted one.
How can I make my phone see the memory card? Are there programs for Android to see it? There are no such programs, and there is more than one reason.
If your smartphone suddenly stops seeing data on the memory card, then first of all you need to check it yourself, but let’s look at the solutions in order
The first reason why an Android phone does not see the SD memory card is dirt
Most of the users do not pay much attention to the behavior of their external drive and as a result they suffer from dust, dirt, etc. Dirt on the card can make it difficult to detect.
What to do: check the area around the metal part (contacts) and, if necessary, clean it with water or alcohol. Then dry it before putting it back into the phone.
The second reason why an Android smartphone does not see a microSD memory card is a compressed slot
The smartphone is becoming thinner and thinner, and the design is becoming more inventive. This is where a paradox arises - the phone is thin, therefore, a thick battery cannot be inserted there and the result is sad.
A thin battery does not hold a charge for a long time, so some people use non-original batteries, which are cheaper, last longer and, accordingly, are slightly larger than the original ones.
If these batteries are used, they may compress the card slot and make it unreadable.
What to do: remove the battery from the phone and install the original working battery (at least to make sure that it is not the cause).
The third reason why the Android phone does not see the microSD memory card
Many smartphones support slots that allow you to insert or remove external storage while it's running.
Only if you frequently insert and remove it, this can lead to various types of damage to the metal contacts.
What to do: you can adjust the contacts a little and, if necessary, clean them.
In extreme cases (I hope it doesn’t come to that), you will have to replace the slot - to do this you will need to go to a repair point.
The fourth reason why an Android smartphone does not see the micro SD memory card is viruses
Android users can download and install applications on the SD memory card.
Some applications contain virus files that can disrupt the operation of the external drive.
What to do: place it in the reader and connect it to your computer or laptop.
Then remove the malware using antivirus software or format it (Android viruses are not scary for your computer).
The fifth reason why an Android phone does not see the micro sd memory card is damage
To check if the drive is damaged, install it in a memory card reader and connect it to your computer.
If you can open it on your computer, then it's fine. Otherwise it may be physically damaged.
Reason six why Android does not see the microSD memory card - the phone is damaged
If you have already checked the SD card according to the above situation and found it in good condition, you may need to send your phone in for service.
There may be something wrong with the device that the external drive can't read.
To make the flash drive readable on Android devices, you must save it carefully.
What was described above is for those who are in a hurry, but for those who have time, it may remain - let’s look at the problem deeper.
Other ways when Android does not see the memory card
Today we store a lot of data on a removable memory card - photos, videos, documents and applications.
If the Android phone does not see the microsd, then there are many reasons. Don’t panic - this does not mean that your data files will be lost - the problem is usually easily solved by the smartphone owner himself.
The smartphone may not see the memory card due to incompatibility - the card is not suitable for your smartphone.
Therefore, you should make sure that the card model is compatible with your phone. In the device characteristics you can see whether it supports this model.
Also look at what size it supports - maybe the most popular one with 32 GB is not suitable.
If you have done this, and your smartphone continues to not see the external drive, proceed to the methods described below.
The smartphone does not see the microsd - restart and reinstall the card
If the drive responds to the device, but the smartphone still does not detect it, the first thing to do is restart the phone.
If the problem was caused by a software bug, the system will quickly detect the removable drive after restarting.
The memory card should be inserted into the slot without pressure until it clicks. If the problems continue, try the following method to return the device to its original state (reset).
After reset system files restore, and the smartphone will automatically return to its factory state.
Be careful - this procedure will delete personal user data and do not forget to charge the phone to at least 50%.
Android does not see the SD memory card - check the SD memory card for errors
To do this method, follow a few simple steps:
- connect the drive to your computer or laptop;
- in the “My Computer” section, find it and right-click it;
- select "Properties" and go to "Tools";
- select “Check disk for errors” and click “Run check”;
- On the “Options” tab, check the box next to “Automatically fix ...” and “Check and repair ...”, then run the test.
- After scanning, insert the drive into the phone.
If checking for errors does not help, you will have to apply more advanced measures. Try formatting it.
It happens that there are mistakes, but nothing can be done. There are times when the SD card does not want to be formatted. In this case, use the next step.
If, after formatting, the phone sees the memory card, but cannot open it, then format it again, but on the smartphone.
Of course, it happens that even the computer does not see the memory card. What to do? Then most likely there is only one way out - to identify the manufacturer and try to find a program on their website that corrects their product.
If all the methods described above do not solve the problem, go to the nearest repair point, where they will reinstall the Android system or restore the memory card.
Why did Android stop seeing the microsd memory card after formatting?
This is the last section in our story. If you formatted an external drive on a computer or laptop, your Android phone may not see it.
Why? Because he “doesn’t understand” all the formats that computers and laptops work with.
The computer or laptop could be formatted in ntfs format, but the android needs exFAT or FAT32.
What to do? The solution suggests itself, of course. Paste it back into the PC and below the “File system” line, select the correct format and format again. Good luck.
A micro SD card helps to significantly increase the memory capacity of your Android device. Therefore, if Android does not see the microSD flash drive, users immediately need to understand the causes of the malfunction and fix negative factors.
This article is suitable for all brands that produce phones on Android 9/8/7/6: Samsung, HTC, Lenovo, LG, Sony, ZTE, Huawei, Meizu, Fly, Alcatel, Xiaomi, Nokia and others. We are not responsible for your actions.
Problems with the memory card
If Android does not see the memory card, then the cause of the problem may be on the side of the device itself or in the operation of the flash drive. You should start diagnosing with an external drive. Common causes of malfunction include:
- Inappropriate file system (for example, NTFS or ExFat instead of Fat32).
- Formatting errors, file system failures.
- Incompatibility of the card and phone, unsupported volume (the device cannot work with cards larger than 16 GB, and you install a flash drive of 32 GB, 64 GB or 128 GB).
- Hardware problems with the memory card, physical damage to the contacts.
If the card from the camera or video recorder cannot be read when installed in the phone, then the first thing you need to do is make sure that the mobile device supports this format and size.
The incompatibility problem can only be corrected by replacing the drive with a suitable one. It is much easier to deal with errors in the file system (or the wrong file system). After formatting, the card will be detected without rebooting or other unnecessary actions:
Increase Formatting will delete all data on the memory card. If this is critical, save them to your computer before cleaning the drive, and after changing the file system, put them back on the card.
Problems with your phone
If the memory card is compatible with the phone, the file system is in a format suitable for Android, and there is no hardware damage, then the reasons should be sought in the operation of the smartphone. If a smartphone does not see a flash drive installed from another smartphone, but the computer does, then the following factors may influence this:
- Incorrect drive installation.
- The memory card slot is damaged/dirty.
- Android software glitch.
Try removing the memory card and reinserting it, making sure the slot is working properly. If you see that the contacts are dirty, clean them with a regular eraser or a damp cloth. If cleaning does not help, there is a possibility that the contacts have become loose or damaged. Repairing them yourself is problematic and usually requires replacing the component.
If the device in Recovery sees the flash drive, while Android does not see the SD card in applications, although it shows that the space is occupied, then the cause of the problem should be sought in the operation of the system. If the error occurred due to a system failure, rebooting the device will help fix it.
Increase Another solution is to reinstall the problematic application or transfer it from internal memory on microSD. What to do for this:
- Open settings.
- Go to the "Applications" section.
- Select the application you are having problems with.
- Click "Move to SD Card".
Increase If difficulties with identifying an external drive arise after flashing the device, you should reflash it again using the official Android build from the manufacturer. You can get by with a less radical method and simply reset the settings through the Android interface or Recovery Menu.
Among the many problems that owners of Android-based mobile devices often encounter, the situation when the phone does not see the flash drive is one of the most common. This is especially unpleasant when a mobile device is used not only for communication, but as a player, camera, for Internet surfing, saving important information; problems can turn into a real disaster.
Why doesn't my phone see the MicroSD flash drive? In what main reason such circumstances? How to prevent its occurrence? And what to do in this case? What are the effective ways to solve the problem when the phone no longer sees the flash drive? More details can be found in our analytical review.
Understand the essence of the problem situation
From the very beginning, it is extremely important to understand exactly how the problem manifests itself. To do this, you need to carefully check whether the flash drive really is not reflected either on the desktop or in the corresponding sections, and whether the memory card icon has disappeared. In addition, you should check all directories mobile devices for the absence of corresponding files stored on the storage device.
In addition, several other points indicate problems: when immediately after installing the flash drive there is no corresponding message, suddenly “memory card is disconnected” or the message “memory card is damaged” appears. Don't forget that all these unpleasant situations can occur on a completely new or very old phone. Likewise, a memory card can be one you just purchased or one that you have been using for several months. There are no guarantees that a similar situation will not happen to you.
Main reasons
The reasons why the phone does not see the memory card can be divided into two large groups: the first are those that are directly related to the operation of the phone, the second are those whose reason for appearing is hidden in the functionality of the drive itself. As a rule, the first group includes situations when the memory card slot is damaged, there are malfunctions in the functionality of the device software, as well as all kinds of failures and hardware problems.
The second group combines the following circumstances: when the device is faulty, out of order (mainly we're talking about old cards that have been used for a very long time and often), physical damage occurs, a file system mismatch is detected (old phone - new drive).
Effective solution to the problem
There are a few effective ways, which help combat such malfunctions of the flash card. The choice of one option or another depends on the reason why the problem situation occurred. But very often the nature of the problem is not clear at all. In this case, you need to try several methods at once. The easiest option is to check if there is a problem in the phone itself. To do this, install some other working drive into the device.
Of course, if the smartphone doesn’t see it either, then the problem is not in the flash drive, but in the phone itself. What to do in such a situation? Don't panic is the first thing. Second, thoroughly clean the memory slot from dust and carefully wipe the contacts on the media itself. This is best done using a regular cotton swab. Sometimes such simple steps help restore the card to working condition. But if you notice that the card slot is already broken, there is only one option - replace it with a working one.
The second way is to use Recovery mode. Using this functionality, you can return all thoughtless settings to factory settings, while eliminating unsuccessful actions and dangerous software. But first, try just rebooting the phone (rebooting, not just turning it off and on). Then press the volume down and power buttons simultaneously and do not release them for about ten seconds. As a rule, the device immediately reboots and a special menu appears (similar to the BIOS in the Windows system). Then open Wipe cache partition and then reboot your device (this will take a little longer than usual). But if this method does not help, then you need to work with the card on a computer.
Using a special adapter, install a memory card into the PC. If the computer does not see it, the flash drive is most likely faulty. Next, the algorithm of actions is as follows: Win + R, in the “Run” window, enter the command diskmgmt.msc. After this, all memory devices will be reflected. Now you need to check whether the letter that designates the card matches the letter of the optical drive (or some other device). Sometimes the problem is solved by simply renaming it. Otherwise, try formatting the card from File Explorer. To do this, right-click on the map. This will open the corresponding menu. In it, select “Quick Format”, indicating that you want to create a FAT32 format system. After these steps, install the card in your phone. The problem should go away. But if it is still relevant, then the reason for it lies in a hardware malfunction.
Another effective method– restoration of the card operation. Basically, it is effective when messages like “The memory card is damaged” or “There is no access to the memory card” appear. The algorithm of actions is as follows: first you need to connect the card to the computer to check what condition it is in - working or not. Then open Explorer by right-clicking, select Properties and then Tools. After this, you need to run a disk check (be sure to indicate that you want to automatically correct errors and malfunctions that are detected).
You can also use this method: find the SYSTEM directory, then – StorageDevicePolicies. The parameters that need replacing will appear on the right side of the window. Write in parentheses a zero value for the defining parameter - 0x00000000(1). After such actions, the card should work efficiently.
In addition there are different types memory cards. For example, microSD XC is typical, the capacity of which is more than 32 GB. Such drives are characterized by a different file system, which, unfortunately, is not recognized by all devices. Accordingly, some smartphones simply cannot support such cards. It is not possible to make changes to the file system (it can be done, but you need special knowledge and skills).
Main conclusions
In a situation where a mobile phone stops identifying a flash drive, there is no need to panic. First, determine what exactly is the hidden cause of this problem. And then try little by little different ways: formatting, cleaning, restoring functionality. One of the options will certainly help solve your problem in which the phone does not see the flash drive.
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