How to Fix Can't Read SD Card on Mac? [8 Methods]

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Having trouble reading or accessing your SD card on a Mac? You're not alone. Many Mac users encounter situations where their SD card is not recognized, fails to mount, or doesn't show up in Finder. This issue can be caused by hardware problems, file system incompatibility, macOS settings, or even corruption of the SD card itself.

In this guide, we'll go through step-by-step solutions to diagnose and fix the problem so you can access your SD card on your Mac again.

Why Can't My Mac Read an SD Card?

Your Mac should automatically detect an SD card once inserted into the built-in card reader or an external adapter. However, sometimes it doesn't appear in Finder or Disk Utility. Here are the most common reasons:

• Hardware Issues: A damaged SD card, faulty card reader, or malfunctioning Mac port can prevent detection.
• File System Compatibility: Macs support ExFAT, FAT32, macOS Extended (HFS+), and APFS. If the SD card is formatted with NTFS (Windows-only) or an unrecognized file system, it won't mount properly.
• Corrupt SD Card: File system corruption, bad sectors, or physical damage may cause the SD card to be unreadable.
• Mac Software or Settings Issues: Incorrect Finder settings, outdated macOS, or system errors can interfere with SD card detection.

Now, let's troubleshoot and fix the issue.

8 Fixes for Can't Read an SD Card on Mac

Fix 1. Use Mac Data Recovery App to Recover Data and Fix Inaccessible SD Card

Before fixing the unreadable SD card on your Mac, you can use Mac data recovery software - such as Donemax Data Recovery for Mac to help export and recover all files from the SD card.

Step 1. Download and install Donemax Data Recovery for Mac on your Mac and connect your SD card to the Mac.

Step 2. Open Donemax Data Recovery for Mac from Launchpad, then select the SD card to start data recovery.

Step 3. Click on Scan button to deeply scan the SD card and find all recoverable files including existing files, inaccessible files, deleted/formatted/lost files, etc.

Step 4. After scanning the SD card, you can preview all recoverable files. Then select the wanted files, click on Recover button to save them.

After data recovery, you can use Disk Manager to run First Aid or reformat the SD card on your Mac.

Fix 2. Quick Checks: Is the SD Card or Reader Faulty?

Before diving into software fixes, check for physical issues.

1. Ensure Proper Insertion

• If using a built-in card slot, ensure the SD card is fully inserted. Some Mac models require an adapter for microSD cards.
• If using an external reader, make sure it's properly connected. Try switching USB ports.

2. Test on Another Device

• Try inserting the SD card into another Mac, Windows PC, camera, or phone to see if it's detected.
• If it works elsewhere but not on your Mac, the issue is likely with macOS.
• If it's not detected on any device, the SD card may be damaged or corrupted.

3. Try a Different SD Card or Reader

• Insert a different SD card into the same reader on your Mac. If the new card works, the old card may be faulty.
• If neither card works, try a different external card reader to rule out a defective reader.

If your SD card is still not recognized, move on to software troubleshooting.

Fix 3. Use Disk Utility to Fix Can't Read SD Card on Mac

Disk Utility helps you manage and troubleshoot drives.

Step 1. Open Disk Utility: Go to Applications > Utilities > Disk Utility, open Disk Utility.

Step 2. Fix the unreadable SD card with Disk Utility:

• If the SD card appears but is unmounted, select it and click Mount.

• If the card appears as "Untitled" or "Uninitialized", it may need formatting. Just click on Erase button to format the SD card.

• Run First Aid on the SD Card: Select the SD card in Disk Utility. Click First Aid > Run. Wait for the scan to complete. If errors are found, Disk Utility will attempt to repair them.

Once done, try accessing the SD card again. If the SD card does not show up in Disk Utility, continue troubleshooting.

Fix 4. Check Finder Settings: Is the SD Card Hidden?

Sometimes, Finder settings prevent external drives from appearing.

Enable External Disks in Finder Settings:

1. Open Finder.
2. Click Finder on Apple menu, choose Settings.

3. Click General and Sidebar.
4. Ensure "External Disks" is checked.

If the SD card is now visible, your problem is solved! Otherwise, proceed to the next fix.

Fix 5. Reset NVRAM & SMC to Ensure SD Card Can Be Read

If your Mac has trouble recognizing external devices, resetting NVRAM and SMC can help.

1. Reset NVRAM (Intel Macs Only)

• Shut down your Mac.
• Turn it on and immediately press Option + Command + P + R for 20 seconds.
• Release the keys and let your Mac restart.

2. Reset SMC (Intel Macs Only)

For MacBooks with a T2 security chip:

• Shut down your Mac.
• Press and hold Control + Option + Shift for 10 seconds.
• Hold the Power button while still holding the other keys.
• Release all keys and turn the Mac back on.

For desktop Macs:

• Shut down your Mac and unplug the power cord.
• Wait 15 seconds and reconnect the power.
• Turn on the Mac.

For Apple Silicon Macs, simply restart your Mac - there's no need to reset NVRAM or SMC.

Fix 6. Check SD Card File System Compatibility

1. Find the SD Card Format in Disk Utility

• Open Disk Utility and check the format under the SD card name.
• macOS supports exFAT, FAT32, macOS Extended (HFS+), and APFS.
• If it's NTFS (Windows-only), macOS can read it but won't write to it.

2. Reformat the SD Card (Warning: This Erases Data)

• Open Disk Utility.
• Select the SD card and click Erase.
• Choose ExFAT (for compatibility with both Mac and Windows) or Mac OS Extended (HFS+).
• Click Erase and confirm.

If reformatting is not an option because of important data, try recovery tools before proceeding.

You also can install an NTFS driver on your Mac so that you can read-write the NTFS SD card on your Mac.

Step 1. Download and install Donemax NTFS for Mac.

Step 2. Open Donemax NTFS for Mac, select the NTFS SD card, click on Mount button.

Step 3. To read-write the NTFS SD card on your Mac, click on Enable Writable button.

Fix 7. Use Terminal to Force Mount the SD Card

If Disk Utility fails to mount the SD card, try using Terminal.

1. Check if macOS Recognizes the SD Card

• Open Terminal (Applications > Utilities > Terminal).
• Type:

  diskutil list

• Look for the SD card (e.g., /dev/disk4).

2. Manually Mount the SD Card

If the SD card appears in the list but isn't mounted, try:

diskutil mountDisk /dev/diskX

(Replace diskX with your SD card's actual identifier).

If this fails, consider reformatting the SD card.

Fix 8. Update macOS for Better Compatibility

If your Mac is running an outdated version of macOS, it may struggle with certain SD cards.

Check for macOS Updates:

• Go to System Settings > General > Software Update.

• Install any available updates.
• Restart your Mac and try accessing the SD card again.

Conclusion

If your Mac can't read an SD card, the issue is often fixable with simple troubleshooting. Checking Finder settings, using Disk Utility, resetting NVRAM or SMC, or updating macOS can resolve most problems. If the card remains unreadable, try force-mounting it via Terminal or using recovery software before reformatting. To prevent future issues, always eject SD cards safely and use a compatible file system. If all else fails, professional recovery may be needed. Hopefully, this guide has helped you restore access to your SD card!

If the SD card has been formatted to NTFS file system, you can use NTFS for Mac tool to help you enable read-write for the SD card on your Mac. Donemax NTFS for Mac is a powerful, 100% safe and easy-to-use NTFS for Mac tool. It can quickly enable read-write for NTFS drives on Mac.