What to do if your phone won’t read the memory card?

“Fix Memory” or “SD Card Not Detected” messages are a common problem. You’ll get them when your phone can’t read your microSD card, which is the removable memory card that gives you extra storage. There are several reasons why you may be getting this error. Read our article below to find out what to do if your phone won’t read the memory card.

1. The microSD card chip is dirty

1. What to do if your phone won’t read the memory card?

Dust and dirt on the surface of the memory card is the most common cause of problems. Take care to very gently clean the metal part of the card. You can do this using a soft microfibre cloth with a minimal amount of water. When the card has dried completely, reinsert it into your phone.

2. The contacts in the microSD socket are bent

Sometimes the contacts in the SD card slot can be bent. This could be a likely cause of the problem if you take your memory card out of your phone quite often. To fix, take a look into the slot to see if you can see anything that looks bent. You could attempt to straighten the contacts again using a toothpick. If you do decide to try this, make sure you are very careful. Be aware that you could do more damage.

3. Errors have occurred on the memory card

2. What to do if your phone won’t read the memory card?

Sometimes, the cause of problems with the card is a damaged file system. You can format the memory card by selecting "Phone settings" and then the "SD card and phone memory" tab. Select "uninstall SD memory card" and "Format SD memory card". Please note that formatting will delete all files stored on the card.

4. The card has been infected with a virus or spyware

3. What to do if your phone won’t read the memory card?

If your phone won’t read the memory card, it could be a virus. To check, insert the microSD card into your computer and scan it with specialised anti-virus software.

Oliver Lane
Oliver Lane

Enthusiast of new technologies and modern mobile devices. An avid gadgeteer and GSM accessories tester. More recently, an electronic equipment reviewer and editor. In his free time, he tinkers and plays console. On the etuo blog, he deals with problems faced by smartphone users on a daily basis.

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