Memory cards, including SD cards, are convenient portable storage devices used in many consumer electronics like digital cameras, phones, and tablets. However, occasionally users may encounter issues reading files from an SD card, especially if attempting to access the card on an older or incompatible device.
One common cause of unsupported SD cards is using an outdated or generic card reader that does not recognize newer versions of SD cards. For example, an old card reader may not be compatible with SDXC or SDHC cards, resulting in the “unsupported” error message.
Other factors like corrupted data, bad sectors, or formatting issues with the card itself can also lead to accessibility problems. Thankfully, with a few troubleshooting steps, it is often possible to recover data from an unsupported SD card when using the right tools.
Identify the SD Card Model and Capacity
The first step is to identify the specific SD card model and its capacity. Look for any labels, stickers, or print on the card itself that indicates the brand, model number, storage capacity, and speed class rating. According to some sources (https://www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/computers/buying-guide/everything-you-need-to-know-about-sd-cards), if you do not know the brand or model, check the camera manual for recommendations on compatible cards. You can also look up the model number online to determine the specifications. Some brands like SanDisk have serial number checkers on their website (https://bulkmemorycards.com/model-number-serial-number/) to identify cards.
To find more technical details, you may be able to access the card’s CID register and internal information using certain tools or card readers (https://www.cameramemoryspeed.com/sd-memory-card-faq/reading-sd-card-cid-serial-psn-internal-numbers/). This can provide additional data like the manufacturer, product name, card type, and storage capacity.
Next, check the device specifications and user manual to verify SD card compatibility. Make sure the device supports the SD card’s capacity, bus interface, and speed class rating. Incompatible devices may fail to detect, read, or write to newer generation cards properly.
Try a Different Reader
Many built-in card readers have limited compatibility and may not work with older or less common card formats. An external USB card reader that supports multiple formats is more likely to read your unsupported SD card.
Multi-format USB card readers are inexpensive, portable, and widely compatible with different cards and computers. They allow transferring data between multiple storage devices without device-specific built-in card readers.
Using an external USB card reader bypasses any compatibility issues with your computer’s built-in SD card reader. The USB reader acts as a go-between to access data on storage devices. With support for SD, microSD, CF, and more, a USB reader enables accessing data from cards the computer can’t otherwise read.
Update Drivers
One way to potentially enable an unsupported SD card is to update the drivers for your card reader or USB port. Driver updates can add support for new cards by upgrading the software that manages the connection between the operating system and the hardware (source). To update your drivers on Windows 10 or 11:
1. Open Device Manager, right-click on your SD card reader/USB port, and select “Update driver.”
2. Choose to search automatically for updated driver software or browse your computer for the driver. Windows will search online and install the latest available driver.
3. Restart your computer after the driver update completes. Then, reconnect your SD card and see if it now appears.
Updating to the latest manufacturer-provided drivers can enable support for newer card formats and fix compatibility issues. However, if the hardware is too outdated, a driver update may not be able to add full support (source). In that case, further troubleshooting is required.
Use File Recovery Software
File recovery software can read the raw data from SD cards and recover deleted photos even if the card is not being recognized properly by your computer. These programs scan the card and rebuild the file structure so you can regain access to your files.
Some of the top recommended data recovery programs for SD cards include:
EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard – Free version available to recover up to 2GB of data.
Stellar Data Recovery – Works on both Mac and Windows. Can recover from formatted drives.
Recuva – Free deep scan capabilities.
PhotoRec – Specifically designed to recover photos, videos and audio files.
These programs can often recover your photos as long as you haven’t overwritten the data on the SD card by taking new photos or videos. For best results, install one of these programs immediately after realizing your photos are missing and perform a deep scan on the drive.
Reformat the Card
Reformatting an SD card will wipe all data currently on the card, but will restore the card to a usable state if it has become corrupted or unreadable by your devices. It is important to note that reformatting will permanently delete any photos, videos, documents or other files stored on the card, so you should attempt data recovery first if possible.
To reformat your SD card on Windows, open File Explorer, right click on the card name, and select “Format”. Choose FAT32 or exFAT as the file system, select “Quick Format”, and click “Start”. Confirm you want to erase data and reformat the card. The process should only take a few seconds to complete. See this article for step-by-step instructions: How do you reformat an SD card?
On a Mac, open Finder, select the SD card, press Command-E to bring up Get Info, and choose “MS-DOS (FAT)” or “ExFAT” as the format. Then click “Erase” and confirm reformatting. Detailed instructions can be found here: How to format SD card: Mac user guide
For Android devices, go to Settings > Storage, tap on your SD card, choose Format or Erase and confirm. Be aware this will erase all data. On a camera, find the format function in your device menu to reformat the card.
Reformatting an unreadable SD card may allow you to use it again after data recovery attempts. But if errors persist, the card itself may be damaged and require replacement.
Contact Manufacturer
If you are still unable to access the pictures on your unsupported SD card after trying the other troubleshooting methods, contacting the card manufacturer’s tech support may provide additional solutions. The two main SD card manufacturers are SanDisk and Western Digital.
When you contact tech support, provide details about your specific unsupported SD card, including the model number, capacity, and any error messages you see. Also note what devices and card readers you have tried to access the card with. The tech agents can then provide tailored troubleshooting tips or recovery options based on your situation.
SanDisk offers customer service by phone at (866) 270-5532 and live chat on their website during business hours. Western Digital has international phone numbers on their support page as well as email and live chat options. Calling tech support and providing detailed information gives you the best chance of finding a solution for your unsupported SD card.
Try a Different Computer
Sometimes issues accessing an SD card or its photos on one computer or device may simply be compatibility problems that can be resolved by trying a different computer or device. If your card reader or computer is incompatible or lacks drivers for your type of card, consider trying to access the files on a different device like a desktop or laptop computer, tablet, phone, or camera.
Friends or family members may have compatible devices at home you can try, so reach out and see if anyone has a computer or device that can read your type of SD card. Most computers have built-in SD card readers, and you may have better luck connecting the card directly rather than a separate card reader. Many times an older card will work with older computers and vice versa.
Places like libraries often have card readers and computers you can use as well. Connect your SD card to a different computer, then see if the files show up and are accessible. If the card works fine on a different device, then you know the issue is with your original computer or its reader. You can then look into updating drivers or compatibility. But if it still doesn’t work, your card itself may be damaged or too old/unsupported for newer readers.
Send to Data Recovery Service
If the data on the SD card is extremely valuable or irreplaceable, and software solutions have failed, a professional data recovery service may be able to help. Data recovery specialists have sophisticated equipment and expertise to attempt recovering data even from SD cards that are severely damaged or corrupted.
When choosing a data recovery service, look for a reputable company with experience specifically recovering data from SD cards. Ask about their success rates, security protocols, and costs. Many offer free evaluations to determine if recovery is possible before charging. Expect costs to start around $300 and increase depending on the complexity of the recovery.1
A professional SD card data recovery service represents the best chance of recovering critical data from an unsupported SD card where other options have failed. However, it can be an expensive last resort. Carefully research providers for the best chances of success.
Conclusion
In summary, to retrieve photos and files from an unsupported SD card, it’s best to first try the easiest options like using a different SD card reader or updating your computer’s drivers. If the card still isn’t recognized, try file recovery software designed for retrieving data from unsupported media. Reformatting the card is also an option, but will erase the existing data, so only do this if you’ve exhausted other options and have backups. As a last resort, contact the manufacturer for help or use a data recovery service, but these options can be expensive.
To avoid data loss from unsupported media in the future, it’s highly recommended to regularly back up important photos and files. This can be done by simply copying files to a computer hard drive or cloud storage. Backups allow you to try more advanced troubleshooting without fear of permanent data loss. Save time, money and frustration by preventing issues before they occur through regular backups.