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2 September 2024  Ashley S. Miller  Specialist of Customer Service Dept.
 

Summary
Learn how to repair micro SD card that is not detected or readable by Windows or Android devices in this informative article.



Table of contents

table iconI. Reasons why the Micro SD card cannot be recognized by Windows/Android devices
table iconII. Use Renee Undeleter to recover Micro SD card data
table iconIII. Detailed introduction of Micro SD card repair method
how to repair micro sd card not detected

I. Reasons why the Micro SD card cannot be recognized by Windows/Android devices

① The Micro SD card is not installed correctly or the metal contacts are oxidized
If the Micro SD card is installed incorrectly, it will not be recognized. Read the installation instructions, adjust the card’s direction and position accordingly, and reconnect the device for inspection. If the metal contacts are oxidized, use an eraser to clean them.
② Virus infection
Micro SD card not recognized could be due to virus or malware attack. At this time, you need to use a card reader to connect the Micro SD card to the computer, and open the antivirus software to scan and clear the virus.
③ Micro SD card has been encrypted
If the encrypted memory card is placed on other devices, it will not be recognized. The solution is to decrypt the encrypted memory card on the device and try again.
④ The file system of the Micro SD card is wrong or damaged
Install the memory card in other Android phones or Windows devices to check if it is recognized. If not, the memory card may be damaged or the file system may be incorrect. In this case, use the chkdsk command to repair Micro SD card or reformat it to resolve the issue.
⑤ Micro SD card driver is outdated
The driver of the device connected to the computer is outdated, which may cause the device not to be recognized or used normally. The repair method is to update the corresponding driver.
If the Micro SD card is occasionally recognized by the computer, back up or transfer the data immediately. If data is lost, use the recovery software described below. After securing the data, use the Chkdsk command to repair or format the Micro SD card.

II. Use Renee Undeleter to recover Micro SD card data

1. What is Renee Undeleter?

Renee Undeleter is designed to restore system data files. Whether you’ve accidentally deleted files, emptied the recycle bin, or formatted a disk, this tool can retrieve lost data. It includes four functional modules: Fast Partition Scan, Whole Partition Scan, Whole Disk Scan, and Image Creation, addressing all data loss issues comprehensively.
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Multiple scan modes Fast partition scan, whole partition scan and whole disk scan;

Supported file types Image, video, audio, text, email and so on;

Image creation Create a partition image to read and back up data;

Supported devices SD card, SDHC, SDXC, USB flash drive, hard disk and computer.

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Multiple scan modes Fast partition/whole partition/whole disk scan;

Supported devices SD card/USB/hard disk.

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2. How to recover Micro SD card data with Renee Undeleter?

Step 1: Connect the Micro SD card to the computer through a card reader, download and install Renee Undeleter on the computer, and run Renee Undeleter. Select the (Whole Partition Scan) option on the main interface.
how to recover deleted pictures from the SD card when it is connected to pc
Note: Do not install Renee Undeleter in the disk where data is lost to avoid data overwriting.
select whole partition scan in renee undeleter to recover deleted video from sd card
Data Recovery Function:

  • Fast Partition Scan – Retrieve files lost due to accidental deletion or emptying the recycle bin.
  • Whole Partition Scan – Recover files from inaccessible or formatted partitions.
  • Whole Disk Scan – Analyze partition information and perform a full partition scan.
  • Image Creation – Create image to back up the current partition state.
Step 2: Select the Micro SD card partition and click (Next).
Renee Undeleter Whole Partition Scan
Step 3: Wait for the scan, which will depend on the Micro SD card’s memory size. During the scan, you can double-click to preview files. If you find the file you need, check it and click the Recover button to terminate the scan and start recovery. Alternatively, wait for the scan to end, check the files to recover, and then click the Recover button.
preview deleted mkv video file
preview and select the files to recover in renee undeleter
Note: It is recommended to save the recovered files in other partitions instead of the original Micro SD card to avoid data overwriting.
recover the whole disk data

III. Detailed introduction of Micro SD card repair method

1. Change the drive letter of the Micro SD card in the computer

When the Micro SD card is connected to the Windows computer but cannot be recognized, you can try to change the drive letter of the Micro SD card. Specific steps are as follows:
Step 1: Use a card reader to connect the Micro SD card to the Windows computer, right-click the (Start) menu, and select (Disk Management).
Step 2: Right-click the Micro SD card, select (Change drive letter and path), change a drive letter for the Micro SD card, and then go to the file explorer to check whether the Micro SD card has been recognized.
change drive letter in disk management

2. Update the driver of Micro SD card

Step 1: When the Micro SD card is connected to the computer, right-click the (Start) menu and select (Device Manager).
Step 2: Locate the Micro SD card in the device manager (under “Disk Drive” or “Universal Serial Bus Controller”). An exclamation mark on the icon indicates a driver issue.
Step 3: Right-click on the Micro SD card device and select (Update Driver).
update driver disk
Step 4: Select Browse my computer for driver software if you have a suitable driver, or Search automatically for updated driver software if unsure. Follow the prompts to complete the operation. Check if the Micro SD card issue is resolved after the update.
update Driver Confirm

3. Check the system file error of the Micro SD card

Use the Windows file system error checking function to check and repair the Micro SD card. Ensure the card is connected to the computer. Perform the following operations in File Explorer. If the card is not displayed in File Explorer, use Disk Management.
Step 1: Connect the Micro SD card to the Windows computer through a card reader.
Step 2: Open the file explorer, right-click on the Micro SD card, select (Properties) > (Tools), and click (Check) in “Error checking”.
sd card properties
fix SD card
Step 3: Click (Scan and Repair Drive). If errors are found, restart the computer to repair the file system. After fixing the drive, eject the Micro SD card and reinsert it into the Android phone to check if the Micro SD card is recognized.
scan drive

4. Format Micro SD card

Formatting the Micro SD card can resolve many issues, and you can format it to a file system supported by Android phones, such as FAT32 or exFAT. If the Micro SD card is not shown in the PC file explorer, right-click the Start menu and enter Disk Management to format it.
Step 1: Connect the Micro SD card to the computer via a card reader.
Step 2: Copy the entire Micro SD card data to other disks for data backup.
Step 3: Open File Explorer, right-click on the Micro SD card drive, and select (Format).
sd card formatted in this pc
Step 4: In the formatting window, choose an option from “File System”. For Micro SD cards 32GB or smaller, select FAT32; for cards larger than 32GB, select exFAT. (Click here to learn about the characteristics and differences of each file system)
Step 5: Click (Start) to start formatting the Micro SD card. After safely ejecting the Micro SD card, reconnect the Android phone to check if the problem is resolved.
Format the SD card

5. Use Chkdsk to repair damaged Micro SD card

If the Micro SD card is not physically damaged and the computer can recognize it (displayed in disk management), you can use the Chkdsk tool to repair logical errors. Note: This method will erase the data on the Micro SD card, so please back up important files first.
Step 1: Connect the Micro SD card to the computer through a card reader.
Step 2: Search for (cmd) in the computer search box, right-click (command prompt), and select (Run as administrator).
run as administrator
Step 3: In the command prompt, enter chkdsk H: /f (H: is the Micro SD card’s drive letter, /f is the repair parameter), and press Enter. The repair duration depends on the damage severity and storage size. Exit Command Prompt when complete.
TipsIf this command does not repair the Micro SD card, try chkdsk H: /r. The /r parameter finds bad sectors and restores readable information, including the functionality of /f with additional analysis for physical disk errors.