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SD cards are widely used in electronic devices like digital cameras, smartphones, tablets, laptops, gaming consoles, GPS devices, music players, printers, car stereos, security cameras, dashcams, and CCTV systems for data storage purposes. As you may have experienced, when the SD card becomes damaged and unreadable, you cannot open the files stored on it. An instance of this is encountering an error message stating, “The disk you inserted was not readable by this computer,” or “The disk you attached was not readable by this computer.” If see the option “Initialize,” do not click on it immediately. Initializing the SD card will result in the complete data erasure.
To be more specific, when you initialize an SD card, you are essentially preparing it for use by creating a new file system on the card. This process typically involves formatting the card, which erases all existing data on it. Therefore, it is important to be cautious when prompted to initialize an SD card, especially if you have important data stored on it that you want to preserve. This article will illustrate how to address the issue of an unreadable SD card on a Mac and outline the necessary steps to recover data from the affected card.
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There are several reasons why an SD card may become unreadable by a Mac. Card reader problems can arise if the card reader is faulty or has compatible problem. Also, the corrupted file system on the SD card, caused by improper ejection or sudden removal, can render the card unreadable. Malfunctioning USB ports can also contribute to this issue, as a broken or busy USB port may prevent the Mac from reading the SD card.
Moreover, factors like viruses or malware infecting the SD card, file system incompatibility with the macOS version, or encryption using a third-party method can lead to unreadability. Driver issues, such as outdated or incompatible device drivers on the Mac, are another common cause of SD card recognition problems. Furthermore, physical damage, such as a bent connector or water damage, can make the SD card unreadable. File system errors and data corruption on the SD card, possibly due to software issues or improper handling, can also result in the Mac being unable to read the card. Lastly, compatibility issues, including using an unsupported file system or incorrect removal of the SD card without proper ejection, can lead to data corruption and unreadability.
Recovering data from an unreadable SD card on a Mac can be a daunting task, especially when important files are at stake. After the SD card suffers corruption or damage, the data stored within it becomes inaccessible. However, there is no need to panic as there are effective solutions available to retrieve your valuable information.
One such solution is utilizing specialized Mac data recovery software like iBoysoft Data Recovery for Mac. This advanced tool is designed to handle a wide range of data loss scenarios, including situations where SD cards are not readable by Mac computers. With its powerful capabilities, iBoysoft Data Recovery for Mac can efficiently scan the inaccessible SD card and recover a diverse array of file types, including photos, videos, documents, music, applications, and more.
Moreover, iBoysoft Data Recovery for Mac is not limited to SD card recovery; it also supports data retrieval from other storage devices like hard drives and USB flash drives. This versatility makes it a comprehensive and reliable option for recovering lost or inaccessible data on Mac systems. By using this easy-to-use data recovery software, you can regain access to your precious files and folders.
Recovering data from an unreadable SD card on a Mac is straightforward process that do not cost a long time.
Step 1: Download and install iBoysoft Data Recovery to your MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, Mac mini, Mac Pro, iMac, or iMac Pro. It also supports T2 chip, Apple silicon M1 & M2 Mac.
Step 2: Connect the unreadable SD card to your Mac and select it from the list of detected devices within the iBoysoft Data Recovery interface.
Step 3: Initiate the SD card scanning process by clicking on the “Search for Lost Data” option within the software.
Step 4: Once the scanning process is complete, you will be presented with a list of found files from the SD card. Take your time to browse through these files and use the preview feature to assess the content of each file before proceeding with the recovery process.
Step 5: Select the specific files you wish to recover by checking the corresponding checkboxes next to them. After making your selections, click on the “Recover” button to start the data recovery process. Ensure that you have a separate location designated for storing the recovered files to prevent any data overwriting or loss.
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Try changing the USB port by connecting the card reader to a different port, ensuring both a front and back port are tested for functionality. It’s important to firmly insert the SD card reader into the USB port to establish a secure connection, as a loose connection can impede proper communication between the Mac and the card, leading to unreadability. Additionally, if changing the port doesn’t resolve the problem, consider disconnecting the SD card and restarting your Mac computer. Simply disconnect the SD card, initiate a restart from the Apple menu, and after the restart, reconnect the SD card to the Mac’s USB port. This straightforward step can often reset the connection, potentially allowing your Mac to successfully read the SD card.
When faced with an unreadable SD card, a straightforward solution often lies in restarting your Mac. Begin by safely removing the troublesome SD card from your computer. Next, navigate to the Apple menu located in the top-left corner of your screen and select the Restart option.
As your Mac reboots, it undergoes a fresh start, potentially resolving any underlying issues that were hindering the SD card’s recognition. Once the restart is complete, carefully reinsert the SD card into a functional USB port on your Mac. This process essentially acts as a reset mechanism, allowing for a renewed connection between your Mac and the SD card.
This simple yet effective troubleshooting method can often address common connectivity issues, offering a quick and convenient way to restore functionality to your Mac’s SD card reading capabilities
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The issue of an unreadable SD card on macOS can occur if the SD card is either unformatted, formatted with a file system that macOS does not support (such as EXT4, EXT3, EXT2, Btrfs, XFS, or ReiserFS commonly used in Linux systems), or if it is encrypted in a way that macOS cannot read natively. macOS typically supports file systems like HFS+ (Mac OS Extended), APFS, FAT32, exFAT, NTFS, HFSX, and HFS (Mac OS Standard) out of the box. If an SD card is formatted with an unsupported file system or is encrypted in a manner that macOS cannot handle, you may need to use third-party tools or utilities to access the data on the SD card.
To confirm the format of the memory card and potentially address the issue, you can use the Disk Utility application on your Mac. You can also use Disk Utility to reformat the SD card if the current format is incompatible with macOS.
Step 1. Begin by navigating to Finder, then proceed to Applications and Utilities before opening Disk Utility.
Step 2. Locate and click on the SD card from the list displayed on the left-hand sidebar.
Step 3. Examine the file system format associated with the SD card, which can be found under the card’s name within the right-hand pane (check out the example picture).
macOS includes a useful feature called First Aid within Disk Utility, which is specifically designed to address minor disk issues such as partition table damages and file system errors. This tool can be utilized when facing problems with an SD card, such as the card not mounting properly on a Mac. By running First Aid on the SD card through Disk Utility, you may be able to diagnose and potentially resolve issues that are preventing the SD card from mounting and functioning correctly on your Mac.
Step 1. To begin, navigate to Finder > Applications > Utilities > Disk Utility to open the app.
Step 2. Click on “First Aid” located in the toolbar at the top to initiate the diagnostic process.
Step 3. Run the First Aid tool on the SD card by clicking “Run” on the prompt (check out the image above) and then selecting “Done” once the First Aid procedure is complete.
Now, you can reopen your SD card to check if the error message ‘The disk you inserted was not readable by this computer’ has disappeared.
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To address an unreadable SD card on your Mac, one efficient method is to initialize or format the SD card to ensure compatibility. However, it’s crucial to note that this action will erase all data stored on the card. Therefore, it’s recommended to utilize file recovery tools like iBoysoft Data Recovery for Mac to safeguard important files before proceeding with the initialization or formatting process. Below are the steps to initialize or format an SD card on your Mac:
Step 1. Begin by launching Finder on your Mac, then navigate to Applications, followed by Utilities, and finally open Disk Utility.
Step 2. Select the SD card and click on the “Erase” button located in the top toolbar.
Step 3. Provide a name for the card, choose either FAT or exFAT as the format, and maintain the default scheme option, if applicable.
Step 4. Click on the “Erase” button and allow the formatting process to complete.
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In summary, when dealing with an unreadable SD card on a Mac, it’s crucial to proceed with caution to prevent data loss. You can diagnose potential causes and use effective methods in this article to fix the issue, such as utilizing specialized data recovery software like iBoysoft Data Recovery for Mac and running diagnostics through Disk Utility.
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