Quick Answers
There are a few common reasons why an SD card may not work properly in a Samsung Galaxy S5:
- The SD card is corrupted or damaged
- The SD card is not properly inserted or mounted
- The SD card is incompatible with the device
- There are issues with the SD card slot/reader
- The SD card is locked
- There are permission or software issues
Checking the SD Card Slot and Connections
One of the first things to check is whether the SD card is properly inserted in the SD card slot. Remove and reinsert the SD card to ensure it is sitting flush in the slot. Check for any obstructions or damage to the slot itself. If the card is not fitting properly, the phone may not be able to detect it.
Inspect the SD card for any physical damage or dust/debris on the contacts. A damaged reader or connector pins in the SD card slot can also prevent the device from recognizing the card. If there is any damage to the SD card or SIM card tray, you may need a repair or replacement.
It is also important to make sure the SD card is oriented correctly when inserting it, with the contacts facing down. SD cards are very small and it is easy to accidentally put them in upside down. Double check the card direction if you are having trouble getting the device to detect it.
Checking Mounting and Enabling SD Card Access
If your Galaxy S5 can detect the SD card but cannot access files and data on it, the card may not be properly mounted by the OS. To check this:
- Go to Settings > Storage
- Select the SD card
- Tap Mount (for Marshmallow and earlier) or Enable (for Nougat and later)
This will mount the external storage and give your phone permission to fully access the SD card. You may also need to set the SD card as your Default storage location in the Storage settings.
Checking for Corruption and Errors
One of the most common reasons an SD card may not work properly in a Galaxy S5 is because the card itself has become corrupted. Corruption can occur if the card was not safely ejected before being removed, if there was a sudden power loss while writing data, or general wear and tear over time.
To check for errors, remove the SD card and insert it into a computer if available. Right click the drive and select Properties > Tools > Check. Check Disk will scan the card for file system errors and attempt to repair them. This can often get a corrupted card working again.
You can also try reformatting the SD card using your computer or the Galaxy S5 itself. This will wipe all data but can fix software errors. Go to Settings > Storage > SD Card > Format to reformat the card.
Testing the SD Card in Another Device
To rule out physical damage to the card itself, try inserting your SD card into another compatible device like a digital camera, laptop, or card reader. If the card is not recognized or does not function in multiple devices, it is likely damaged or faulty. However, if it works fine in another device the problem is isolated to your Galaxy S5.
Checking Compatibility Issues
Not all SD cards have full compatibility with the Samsung Galaxy S5. There are a few technical requirements for speed, capacity and filesystem that need to match up.
SD Card Speed Class
Your Galaxy S5 requires an SD card with Speed Class 10 or higher. Lower class cards that are Class 2, 4 or 6 will not have enough performance to properly operate in your device. Refer to the speed class markings on your card to double check it meets the Class 10 minimum.
SD Card Capacity
Higher capacity SD cards may also have compatibility issues with the Galaxy S5 depending on the standard. Cards up to 32GB labeled SDHC (Secure Digital High Capacity) are certified to work. Higher capacity cards up to 512GB labeled SDXC (Secure Digital eXtended Capacity) may have issues unless they are specially formatted.
ExFAT File System
By default, SD cards are often formatted using the FAT32 file system which has a 4GB file size restriction. High capacity SDXC cards over 32GB should be formatted to use the exFAT file system to remove this limit. Some cards may not function correctly until they are reformatted from FAT32 to exFAT.
You can reformat the SD card in your computer or use the Galaxy S5 itself. Go to Settings > Storage > SD Card > Format and choose exFAT as the file system.
Software and Permission Issues
Outside of physical card errors, problems with the Galaxy S5’s software and apps can also prevent proper SD card detection and usage. Here are some troubleshooting tips for software-related issues:
- Check for any available OS and software updates for your Galaxy S5 and install them. Updates may fix SD card bugs and issues.
- Try removing and reinserting the SD card after restarting your phone. This will remount the card and refresh any software handling it.
- Double check that any anti-virus apps are not incorrectly flagging your SD card and blocking access.
- Wipe the cache partition of your Galaxy S5 to clear out any corrupted app and software data related to the SD card.
- Use Safe Mode to boot your phone without third party apps and services to isolate potential interference from installed software.
If none of those steps resolve the issue, you may need to back up your data and perform a factory reset. This will wipe your Galaxy S5 back to a clean state which can correct software faults.
SD Card Is Locked
Another potential reason your Galaxy S5 may not be able to write to or modify data on the SD card is if the card is locked. SD cards have a physical toggle switch on the side that can lock the card to be read-only. Make sure this slider is not in the locked position.
Conclusion
In summary, these are the top reasons an inserted SD card may not work properly in the Samsung Galaxy S5 and how to troubleshoot them:
- SD card is damaged – Test in another device, check physically, reformat
- SD card not inserted correctly – Remove and reinsert, ensure contacts are clean
- SD card not mounted – Manually mount in Storage settings
- Compatibility issues – Check speed class, capacity, filesystem format
- Software problems – Restart phone, wipe cache, OS updates, factory reset
- SD card locked – Disable read-only lock on card
- SD card reader hardware issue – May require repair/replacement
With some systematic troubleshooting, you should be able to get your Samsung Galaxy S5 to successfully read and utilize your SD card for external storage expansion.