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An SD card is commonly used in cameras or Android devices to transfer work files, save photos, or expand internal storage. As the use of SD cards becomes more widespread, though, problems with them also become more common. Have you ever experienced any of these issues?
If you also encounter the "SD card is empty or file system is unsupported" error, don't worry. I'll help you analyze the causes and provide various solutions.
Why do I get the "SD card is blank or unsupported file system" error?
The “SD card is empty or has an unsupported file system” error is one of the most annoying issues with SD cards. Before you learn how to fix it, you should know why this error occurs in the first place. Why does an SD card become empty or have an unsupported file system?
- Damaged file system
- Faulty USB port or card reader
- Bad sectors on the SD card
- Removing the SD card without safely ejecting it
- Connecting the SD card to different systems
- Removing the SD card while a device is still connected
- Using the SD card on a computer system with viruses
There can be several reasons why an SD card appears empty, either due to the card itself or user error. The following sections will provide some simple fixes you can try before seeking professional help.
How to Solve the "SD Card is Blank or Format not Supported" Issue
Solution 1: Restart your device
The simplest solution is to restart your device. This can resolve most issues, and might fix an SD card that shows up as blank.
Step 1: Turn off the device.
Step 2: Restart your device and see if the SD card starts working.
Fix 2: Reinsert the SD card
The slot designed to hold the SD card can become finicky. Try removing the SD card and reinserting it to see if the issue is an empty card or an unsupported file system.
Solution 3: Try a different device.
If the USB port or reader is problematic, try connecting the card with a different reader. Alternatively, connect the SD card to another device to check if the problem lies with the card itself.
Fix 4: Check the SD Card
On Windows, you need a professional disk management tool, like the tools Partition Master Free, which can be used to check the SD card and fix a corrupted file system. You can use it to detect bad sectors and resolve the "SD card is empty or unsupported file system" issue.
Step 1: Right-click the problematic partition.
Step 2: Choose Tools > Check File System.
Step 3. Choose whether or not to hide the partition.
Step 4: In the "Check File System" window, select the option to "Attempt to repair if errors are found."
Click "Start" to check for partition errors.
Fix 5: Show Hidden Files
If you've inserted your SD card into different devices, it may have left some hidden files on the SD card that aren't compatible with the current system. You can resolve the empty SD card issue by deleting the hidden files.
Step 1. Place the SD card in the reader, then connect the reader to your computer.
Step 2. Open the Control Panel and choose Programs.
Step 3: Click on “Appearance and Personalization” on the left-hand side.
Step 4: Click on “File Explorer Options” and then select “View.”
Step 5: Check the box for “Show hidden files, folders, and drives.”
Step 6: Click “Apply” and save. If there are any hidden files, delete them and format the SD card as blank.
Fix 6: Run an antivirus scan
If your SD card is connected to an insecure device, it might also turn blank. Thus, you can run an antivirus scan to check if the SD card is under virus attack and eliminate it. You can use the built-in security tools in Windows to do this.
1. Type in "Windows Security" and open the window.
Step 2: Click on “Virus & threat protection.”
Step 3: Choose your “Scan Options”.
4. Select “Custom Scan” and start the scan. Choose your SD card.
Fix 7: Format the SD Card
If the above methods don't work, you can try formatting your SD card. This will not only fix the "SD card is blank or unsupported file system" issue but also make the SD card able to store data again. AOMEI Partition Assistant is a powerful tool that can easily format your SD card to FAT32. The tool is user-friendly.
Step 1: Right-click on the SD card's partition that you wish to format and select “Format…”
Step 2: Set a new volume label, file system (NTFS/FAT32/EXT2/EXT3/EXT4/exFAT), and cluster size for the selected partition, then click “OK”.
Step 3: Click "Yes" in the dialog box that appears to continue.
Step 4: Click the "Perform 1 Task" button on the toolbar, then click "Apply" to start formatting the SD card.
You can also format the SD card on your computer using Disk Management or Diskpart. However, if you want to use Diskpart, you need to be careful with the commands. You can click on the links below for a step-by-step guide.
How to Format SD Card on Windows 11?
This article introduces various methods to successfully format an SD card in the Windows 11 operating system.
Solution 8: Buy a new SD card
If your SD card is severely damaged and can't be repaired or formatted, it would be wiser to just buy a new one to solve the issue.
Here are eight solutions to fix the "SD card won't format" issue. If you're facing other problems with your SD card, click the button below to find the solutions.
Conclusions
Ever encountered the SD card showing up as blank or unsupported file system error? This article offers you 8 solutions. If it's a human-caused issue, you need to be more careful when removing the SD card in the future.
If it's the SD card, you can use a partition tool like MiniTool Partition Wizard to check for errors or format it.
Frequently Asked Questions about SD Cards being blank or having unsupported file systems.
There are some common issues regarding SD cards being empty or having an unsupported file system. You might want to read about them if you're interested.
1. What Causes SD Card Errors?
Incorrect usage, bad sectors, physical damage, and file system corruption can all lead to SD card errors. You can fix these issues with the solutions I provide in this article.
How do I fix the error that my SD card is empty?
There are several ways to fix the SD card blank error. You can use a partition master tool to check for bad sectors or format the SD card with it. You can also delete hidden files.
3. How do I know if my SD card is corrupted?
If your camera or other device fails to recognize the SD card, if your SD card reader isn't listing the card, or if you're unable to open files on the SD card, then you know that your SD card is corrupted.