SD card reader not showing up in File Explorer: 6 fixes

The SD card reader in Windows 10 doesn’t show up in File Explorer for many people. It’s not really an issue for most people. But, if you want it to show up, there are plenty of fixes out there. Here are 6 of them, in no particular order.

Readers have been complaining about a slow SD card reader not showing up in File Explorer. So, what is going on? The problem may be related to the diskpart utility, which is used to change the drive letter of a physical drive to a different one. If you’re using an SD card reader instead of a hard drive, Windows may not recognize the device in File Explorer.

SD card slots were originally designed to store small amounts of data on removable memory cards. But as the technology evolved, so did our usage of them. Now, the card reader allows users to store literally hundreds of gigabytes of data on one small slot. With this much space, storing photos, videos and even music is no longer an issue, even if you don’t have a computer. Even if you don’t need one, you can often rent one for your digital camera for a short while.

SD cards are essential tools for a variety of devices, which is why almost every laptop or PC on the market has an SD card slot. While this specific item doesn’t seem to have many issues, what if it does?

In this post, we’ll go through a few solutions for when your SD card reader stops showing up in File Explorer.

Also see: What are the many types of memory card classes? Which one do you think you should get?

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With an SD card slot, there isn’t much that can go wrong. However, there are a few reasons why the SD card reader may not appear in File Explorer.

• It’s possible that the SD card isn’t correctly put into the reader.
• If you’re using an external reader, it’s possible that it’s not correctly linked to your computer.
• Drivers for devices that are out of date or have been corrupted.
• SD card was infected with a virus.
• The SD card’s drive letter is missing.

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Here are a few things you may attempt to resolve the SD card reader issue in File Explorer.

Make an attempt to reconnect.

The first thing you should do is pull out the card and attempt to re-insert it. Such issues are often caused by improper contact between the card terminals and the reader terminals. Use a separate USB port if you’re using an external card reader.

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Clean the interior of the house.

Contact between the card terminals and the reader may potentially be harmed or prevented by dust or dirt within the card reader. Cleaning the insides with a brush or a can of compressed air is recommended before reconnecting the SD card.

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Make the card seem nice.

If nothing else works, try completely re-formatting the card. The reason of this problem may be data corruption or malware infection, and the only method to get rid of it is to fully format the card to guarantee that no damaged files or viruses remain on the card.

Also see: What’s the difference between a SATA SSD and a PCIe SSD?

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Assign the card a drive letter.

By default, each drive attached to your PC is given a drive letter. It wouldn’t show up in Windows Explorer if your card didn’t receive one for whatever reason.

To enter the Run prompt, press Windows Key + R. Enter diskmgmt.msc in the search box.

Step 2: Locate your SD card reader, right-click it, and choose Change Drive Letter and Path from the menu that appears.

Step 3: Once you’ve clicked Add, you’re ready to go. 

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Look for faults on your SD card.

If setting a drive letter didn’t work, you may want to check your SD card for filesystem problems. 

To enter the Run prompt, press Windows Key + R. Enter diskmgmt.msc in the search box.

Step 2: Locate your SD card reader and choose Properties from the context menu.

Step 3: In the Tools menu, under Error Checking, click the Check button.

Step 4: Select Scan Drive from the drop-down menu.

Once the scan is complete, restart your computer, and the card should function normally. 

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Update/reinstall drivers

The final option is to reinstall or upgrade the mouse driver from the beginning. Here’s how to do it. 

Step 1: Press the Windows key and type Device Manager into the search box. Select the relevant search result by clicking on it. 

Step 2: Double-click your SD card reader under Disk Drives and choose Update driver.

If the mouse is still not working after updating the driver, try uninstalling the driver by following the instructions above, restarting your computer, and then reinserting the SD card or card reader. 

Also see: SDHC versus SDXC: 4 Key Differences

When he’s not writing/editing/shooting/hosting all things tech, he streams himself racing virtual automobiles. Yadullah may be reached at [email protected], or you can follow him on Instagram or Twitter.

We’re all familiar with the standard SD card slot, but what about the SD card reader? It’s one of the easier parts to lose, but you can still use your phone with a USB card reader, or purchase a USB-C card reader for use with your phone. There are six fixes for this problem.. Read more about sd card not showing up windows 7 and let us know what you think.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my SD card not showing up in file explorer?

This is a common issue that many people have. The solution to this problem is to format your SD card in the device you are using it on, and then try again.

Why is my SD card not being detected?

If you are using a SD card, make sure that it is not locked and has no write protection on it.

How do I fix my SD card it wont show up?

The SD card might be too full. Try deleting some of the files on your SD card and try again.

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