Guide: How to Recover Data from Micro SD Card Not Detected?

How do I recover files from a Micro SD card that won’t read?

Micro SD cards are increasingly being used to expand the storage capabilities of mobile phones, drones, gaming devices, and cameras because of their tiny sizes and flexibility.

Although Micro SD cards render great convenience for users, careless treatment definitely can bring the risk of data loss. Many users have complained about their Micro SD card not showing up, not to mention recovering data from undetected Micro SD cards.

Please be calm because this post aims to help you learn how to recover data from Micro SD card not detected.

Why is my Micro SD card not showing up?

To choose a more targeted solution, let’s get an overview of the possible reasons below.

Connection issue: Poor connection can discourage your Windows PCs, mobile phones, digital cameras, or other storage devices from detecting your inserted Micro SD cards.

Locked Micro SD card: After enabling the write-protection feature, your SD/Micro SD card will not be read or recognized. So you’re supposed to turn off this feature.   

Missing drive letter: Windows OS cannot recognize drives or partitions without assigned drive letters in File Explorer.

Corrupted/outdated driver device: If there’s a problematic Micro SD card device driver with a yellow mark in the Device Manager, which suggests you need to reinstall/update your driver device.   

Deletion: It’s not surprising that there are no detected files after deletion.

Incompatible file systems with your Windows or cameras: Incompatible file systems are also blamed for undetected Micro SD cards.

Corrupted file systems: Bad sectors/errors in your Micro SD card will force you to recover corrupted hard drives by repairing corrupted file systems.

For Windows | 5 ways to recover data from Micro SD card not recognized

After connecting my Micro SD card to my Windows 10, so how can I fix my Micro SD card not detected? Please refer to the following five feasible fixes.

Fix 1. Recover data from Micro SD cards using data recovery software

After deletion, is there a way to recover data from detected Micro SD cards? It is clearly possible.

Given the special characteristics of SD & Micro SD cards, there’ll be no more dependable method than using professional Windows data recovery tools like MyRecover, because few users are aware of proactive backups using Windows features or backup software.

★Powerful features, friendly design, and industry experience of MyRecover:    

Powerful features: Recover deleted & lost MS Office files, folders, compressed files, photos, songs, videos, audio, websites, and 200+ file types from HDD, USB, SD cards, etc.

Easy-to-find: During Quick Scan and Deep Scan, you can quickly locate your desired files by Path, Filename, Date, Size, etc.

Convenient: Retain the original Path, Filename, and Format for the deleted files.  

Excellent compatibility: Support NTFS, FAT32, exFAT, and ReFS file systems.

• After recovery, please remember to save these retrieved files in another location.
• To recover large-scale deleted & missing files from Micro SD cards, please consider upgrading MyRecover to the Professional or Technician edition.

Don’t hesitate to install MyRecover on your Windows 11, 10, 8, 7, or Windows Server PC now!

Step 1. Insert your Micro SD card into your Windows. After running MyRecover, hover the mouse over your connected Micro SD card and click Scan.

Step 2. Filter your needed data according to Name, Date, Document Type, or Path. You can also type the file names of your desired Micro SD card files in the search bar to quickly locate them.

Step 3. Go to the Deleted Files/Recycle Bin/Other Missing Files folder and select the files you want. Then click “Recover x files” to start Windows data recovery.

Fix 2. Assign a drive letter to detect your Micro SD cards

When it comes to problems regarding your undetected Micro SD card, you need to open Disk Management to see if there’s an assigned drive letter for this connected Micro SD card or not. Because Windows File Explorer cannot display unlettered drives/partitions.

If there’s no data loss, after detection, you can locate your desired files from your Micro SD card easily. This method also can help you recover hidden partitions in Windows 7, 8, 10, or 11 computers.

Step 1. After connecting the Micro SD card to your Windows PC, press “Win + R” and type “diskmgmt.msc” in the Run box. Then press “OK” or hit “Enter” to open the Disk Management utility.

Step 2. Right-click on your Micro SD card and choose the “Change Drive Letter and Paths” option.

Step 3. Select “Add” to assign a new drive letter to this unlettered Micro SD card.  

Step 4. Select the “Assign the following drive letter” option. Please ensure the newly chosen drive letter is different from all the existing drive letters.

Fix 3. Update device drivers in Windows via Disk Manager  

Sometimes, an outdated device driver can prevent your Windows OS from accessing or detecting your inserted Micro SD card. Please refer to the steps below to solve this issue.

Step 1. Connect the Micro SD card to your PC. Then open Device Manager by entering it in the search bar.

Step 2. Go to Disk drives and right-click on your connected Micro SD card. Then select the “Update driver” option.

Step 3. Select the “Search automatically for drives” option. Please wait patiently.

Fix 4. Run CHKDSK to repair corrupted file systems of Micro SD cards

Corrupted file systems can automatically prevent you from opening and accessing data from your Micro SD card. At this point, CHKDSK is ready to fix corrupted file systems.

You’re supposed to use the /f, /r, / x, or /b parameters to correct a volume’s file systems & file system metadata. Let’s show how it works.

Step 1. Type “cmd” in the search bar and click “Run as administrator” to open the command prompt window.

Step 2. Type “chkdsk” in the window.

Step 3. Type “chkdsk d: /f” or “chkdsk d: /r” as you need.

Fix 5. Format undetected Micro SD cards to a compatible file system

As mentioned above, the incompatible file system is one of the reasons why your Micro SD card is not accessible.

If you don’t know how to format partitions and alter file systems via Disk Management, you can get assistance from this handy AOMEI Partition Assistant Standard. This powerful software also can help you repair corrupted file systems and bad sectors via CHKDKS.exe.

Step 1. After installing its free demo version on your Windows PC, connect your Micro SD card to this computer.

Step 2. After seeing all the partitions, right-click on your connected Micro SD card and select the “Format Partition” option.

Step 3. Select a file system you want and click the “OK” button.

Please click “Apply” to save these changes and wait patiently.

For Android | 2 ways to recover data from Micro SD card not recognized

So how do I fix my Micro SD card not detected on Android phones? Perhaps these two fixes can help you.

Fix 1. Clean the SD card slot

As you can see, your Android phone is easily exposed to all kinds of dust and crumbles. If these thirty things get into your SD card slot, which could cause your Micro SD card to lose connection. So you’re advised to clean your SD card slot with care.

Fix 2. Unmount and remount your undetected Micro SD card

If the above fix is useless, you can remove your Micro SD card first and reinstall it with the following steps.

Step 1. Open your Android phone and go to Settings > Storage > SD card. Please note that Micro SD cards are subject to the same rules as SD cards.

Step 2. Click the Eject/Unmount icon next to your SD card.

Step 3. Restart your Android phone and go back to Storage > SD card to tap mount.

Related Q&A about SD/Micro SD card

How to recover data from Micro SD card not detected? Please get efficient methods for undetected Micro SD cards from the above content. Besides, there’re some relevant tips.