It can be frustrating when your SanDisk SD card is not being recognized or is corrupted on your Mac. The good news is that there are several steps you can take to try and recover the data on the SD card. Here are some quick answers to common questions about recovering a SanDisk SD card on a Mac:
Quick Answers
Why is my SanDisk SD card not showing up on Mac? Common reasons an SD card is not recognized include improper insertion, driver issues, file system corruption, or physical damage to the card.
How do I mount the SD card on Mac? First, check the card reader and cable connections. Then try inserting the card into a different USB port or reader. If it still won’t mount, you may need to force mount the drive in Disk Utility.
Can I recover data from a corrupted SD card on Mac? Yes, data recovery software like Disk Drill can scan corrupted cards and restore files. You can also format the card to try fixing file system errors.
How can I fix my unreadable SanDisk SD card? To fix an unreadable card, try mounting it with disk utility, running First Aid to check for errors, reformatting the card, or using data recovery software.
What do I do if my SD card won’t format on Mac? If the card won’t format, tryDisk Utility’s First Aid tool. Check for hardware issues with the card reader. As a last resort, low-level format the card using SD Card Formatter for Mac.
SD Card Basics
SD cards store data on flash memory chips rather than magnetic platters like traditional hard drives. They are a popular storage medium for digital cameras, mobile devices, handheld gaming systems, and other consumer electronics.
SanDisk is one of the major manufacturers of SD, microSD, SDHC, and SDXC memory cards. They range in capacity from 4GB up to 1TB for high capacity storage needs.
SD cards use the FAT32 or exFAT file systems. Newer SDXC cards with over 32GB of storage are typically formatted with exFAT for compatibility.
Why Is My SanDisk SD Card Not Showing Up on Mac?
There are several potential reasons why your SanDisk SD card may not be showing up or mounting correctly when inserted into your Mac:
- The SD card is not inserted properly into the card reader. Remove and reinsert to ensure full contact.
- Loose cable connection between card reader and Mac. Check cable fittings.
- Outdated card reader drivers on Mac. Update drivers in System Preferences.
- Damaged SD card reader slot or malfunctioning reader. Try a different reader.
- File system errors or corruption on the SD card. May require data recovery software.
- Physical damage to SD card connectors. Check for bent pins or scratching.
- SD card is password protected. Input correct password to unlock and mount.
- Unsupported exFAT file system. Install software update to add support.
If none of those issues are the problem, the SD card itself may have experienced corruption or damage that prevents the Mac from recognizing it.
How to Mount an SD Card on Mac
If your SanDisk SD card is not mounting automatically, here are some steps to try and manually mount it on your Mac:
- Check your Mac card reader and cable connections. Disconnect and reconnect.
- Try inserting SD card into a different USB or Thunderbolt port on your Mac.
- Test the SD card in a different external card reader if possible.
- Restart your Mac computer and try inserting the card again after booting up.
- Open Disk Utility on your Mac. Select the SD card and click Mount in the toolbar.
- Run First Aid in Disk Utility on the card to check for errors and attempt a repair.
- Reset your Mac’s SMC and PRAM/NVRAM to resolve low-level system issues.
The SD card should show up on your Mac desktop like a standard disk drive when properly mounted. You can then access the files stored on the card.
If you keep getting read/write errors or the SD card refuses to stay mounted, the file system may be corrupt. Data recovery software or reformatting may be required.
Recovering Data from a Corrupted SD Card on Mac
If your SanDisk SD card becomes corrupted or has file system damage, you may see errors like “SD card is not readable by this computer” when trying to access it on Mac.
Specialized data recovery software for Mac can help rescue photos, videos, documents, and other files from an SD card with corruption or file system issues. Some options to try include:
| Software | Key Features |
|---|---|
| Disk Drill | Recovers 500+ formats from Mac internal and external drives |
| EaseUS | Has free option. Scans lost partitions. |
| Stellar | Advanced scans for formatted and deleted data. |
| Remo Mac Recovery | Recovers data after corruption, formatting, OS crashes. |
The data recovery process involves scanning the SD card to reconstruct files and retrieving as much data as possible. The software salvages photos, videos, audio, documents, and other file types from cards with corrupted or missing file systems like exFAT and FAT32.
Some damaged SD cards may be impossible to fully recover if there is physical degradation. But specialized utilities can often restore a substantial number of files.
Reformatting a Corrupted SD Card
If data recovery is unsuccessful, another option is to reformat the corrupted SD card entirely. This will delete all data, but may fix underlying file system issues.
To reformat an SD card on Mac:
- Backup any retrievable files from the card first.
- Open Disk Utility and select the SD card.
- Click Erase in the toolbar and choose a file system.
- Give the card a name and click Erase to format.
For cards over 32GB, use exFAT format. Under 32GB, FAT32 is generally recommended.
Reformatting will wipe all data but can resolve corrupted file system issues. However, damage may persist if there are bad sectors. Low-level formatting tools may be required.
Fixing an Unreadable SanDisk SD Card
If your Mac says the SanDisk SD card is unreadable, there can be multiple causes:
- Unsupported file system requires software update
- Corrupted data or file allocation table
- Bad sectors on the SD card
- Partial physically damage to card
- Card reader hardware failure
Here are some steps to attempt repairing and fixing an unreadable SD card on Mac:
- Try reinserting the SD card into your Mac. Reboot computer.
- Connect card to a different USB or Thunderbolt port.
- Check for latest macOS updates for reader support.
- Open Disk Utility and run First Aid on the SD card.
- Use data recovery software to retrieve files and reformat.
- Check card for physical damage. Clean contacts with cloth.
- Perform low-level format with SD Card Formatter app.
- Contact SanDisk customer support for potential warranty replacement.
Ideally, you can fix the file system errors or firmware issues making the card unreadable through software repairs. But SD cards with bad sectors or physical degradation may need to be replaced.
Using SD Card Formatter for Mac
SD Card Formatter is a free utility for Windows and Mac that carries out a complete low-level format on SD cards.
This overwrites all data and performs a deeper clean of the card compared to standard quick formats. It resets flash memory to optimize performance.
Reasons to use SD Card Formatter include:
- Resolve read/write errors and bad sectors
- Fix SD card showing wrong capacity
- Erase all data before donating or selling cards
- Restore speed and performance
This can bring an unreadable card back to a usable state. However, SD cards with physical damage may still fail to work properly after low-level formatting.
What To Do If SD Card is Not Formatting on Mac
SD card corruption issues can sometimes prevent proper formatting on your Mac. Here are some steps to take if your SD card will not format correctly:
- Try formatting the SD card using Disk Utility again. Use Mac OS Extended (Journaled) file system for under 32GB or exFAT for over 32GB cards.
- Run First Aid in Disk Utility on the card to check for errors and attempt repair.
- Make sure you have latest macOS updates installed for SD card support.
- Try formatting the card in a Windows PC to see if the issue persists.
- Check your Mac SD card reader hardware and cables for faults.
- As a last resort use SD Card Formatter for deep low-level format.
- Contact SanDisk support if drive fails to format after steps above.
If First Aid fixes file system errors, the card should format properly again in Disk Utility. A low-level format or new reader may be needed if corruption persists.
Tips to Avoid Corrupted SD Cards on Mac
To minimize the chances of a corrupted or unreadable SD card with your Mac, follow these tips:
- Use name brand SD cards like SanDisk to ensure reliability and performance
- Avoid low quality generic cards that are prone to failure
- Insert and remove cards properly without forcing them in slots
- Regularly back up important files from your SD card to other storage
- Eject SD card before removing from your Mac
- Keep cards away from moisture, heat and magnets
- Handle SD cards carefully and avoid physical damage
High quality SD cards matched with reliable card readers will help reduce corruption issues. But it’s still important to regularly back up your shots, videos, and data in case a card becomes unreadable.
Conclusion
While SD card corruption can be frustrating, there are a number of steps you can take to recover your data and restore usability. Trying a different card reader, mounting the drive manually, running Disk Utility First Aid, reformatting, and using data recovery tools can get your card working properly again in many cases.
Physically damaged cards may require professional data recovery or replacement. But manufacturing defects are not common with major brands like SanDisk. Remember to handle your cards with care, back up data regularly, and stay updated on the latest macOS versions for maximum compatibility.