SD Card is Full or not Accessible - 6 Solutions to Fix It

Updated by

Sherly 

Updated on April 22, 2024

SD cards have versatile applications in smartphones, such as storing various files. However, you might have encountered a worrying issue where the "SD card is full or not accessible" while taking photos.

This issue could arise due to various reasons, such as virus infections, corrupted files, or the presence of bad sectors. To address the space issues on your SD card and understand why it becomes inaccessible, explore the comprehensive solutions from tools.

SD Card Full or Unavailable? How to Solve?

Below are some comprehensive solutions to address the issue of "SD card is full or not accessible." These 6 fixes will assist you in reclaiming the unavailable space to store more data on the SD card:

Method 1: Clear Cache

If you encounter the "SD card is full or inaccessible" error while using your phone, clearing the cache is a sensible first step. Cache data refers to junk or temporary files that occupy space on your device. To erase all cached data on your phone, go to Settings and tap on Storage & Memory. Next, select Cache or Cache Data. You'll then be given the option to clear the cache. Confirm your action when prompted. For a more detailed walkthrough, refer to this video from Republic Wireless:

Method 2: Change Drive Letter for SD Card

The issue with correctly reading the available space on an SD card can arise if the target disk in your computer doesn't have a drive letter assigned to it. To rectify this error, you need to either change or assign a new drive letter. For those who are new to this, using a third-party tool is a reliable option as they are generally more user-friendly. The tool called "tools Partition Master" offers a feature called "Change Drive Letter" that can be used to assign a new drive letter to an SD card.

To understand how Partition Master simplifies changing the drive letter for an SD card, follow the basic instructions outlined below:

Step 1. Run AOMEI Partition Assistant, right-click the target partition, and choose "Change Drive Letter".

Step 2. In the new window, click the down arrow and select a drive letter for the partition from the drop-down list, then click "OK".

Step 3. Click the "Execute 1 Task(s)" button in the top-left corner, review the changes, and click "Apply" to alter the drive letter for the selected partition.

Here's how to change or assign drive letters to SD cards. It's recommended to download Partition Master工具 for better management of your SD card rather than using conventional methods.

Method 3: Run the Windows Repair Tool

Another effective approach to fix the "SD card is full or not accessible" error is by using the built-in Windows Repair Tool. Although it's accessible through File Explorer, follow these steps to leverage this solution for identifying and resolving issues with SD card drives:

Step 1. On your PC, open File Explorer and right-click on your SD card drive. Next, select "Properties," then click the "Check" button under the "Error Checking" section in the "Tools" tab.

Step 2. Next, use the "Scan and Repair Drive/Scan Drive" feature and allow the Windows Repair tool to fix any issues related to your SD card.

Method 4: Run the CHKDSK Command

The well-known CHKDSK command can serve as an effective solution to the issue of "SD card is full or not accessible." Although this command is primarily used for fixing disk errors, follow the instructions below to help you address this problem:

Instructions: Search for Command Prompt and click on the "Run as administrator" option from the context menu. Then, execute the "CHKDSK SD: /f" command, where SD represents the drive letter assigned to your SD card.

Method 5: Adjust Local Group Policy Editor to Access SD Card

The Local Group Policy can be a suitable solution for addressing the "SD card is full or not accessible" error. It's possible that incorrect policy settings might have led to issues with your SD card. To rectify this problem, follow the instructions below to modify the group policy settings on your Windows device.

Step 1. Press the "Windows" and "R" keys together to open the Run dialog box. Then, type the "gpedit.msc" command and click the "OK" button to start the Local Group Policy Editor.

Step 2. Next, use the given path to navigate to the necessary policies for accessing the SD card: Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System > Removable Storage Access. Then, find the "Removable Disks: Deny execute access," "Removable Disks: Deny read access," and "Removable Disks: Deny write access" policies to modify them.

Step 3. Right-click on one of the found policies and change its status to "Disabled." To finish, do this for each of the mentioned policies, then restart your computer to verify if the SD card accessibility issue has been resolved.

Click the "Disable" option.

Be sure to share these remedies with your friends to help them resolve this issue if they ever encounter it while using their SD cards.

Method 6: Format SD Card - 3 Options

If you've tried all the solutions provided above and still have no other options, you may need to format your SD card. While this will erase all data on your SD card, it's the last resort to resolve the "SD card is full or not accessible" issue:

Option 1: Utilize the tool Partition Master

Tools Partition Master has been presented as an outstanding disk management software for users. This utility can also be employed to correctly format your SD cards. Instead of resorting to traditional methods, give the "Format" function within Tools Partition Master a try for efficient execution.

Not only that, it also includes an "Undo" button to revert the operation if you change your mind. If you're looking for a guide on how to format your SD card using Partition Master, follow the detailed steps provided below:

Step 1. Locate your SD card and right-click on the partition you wish to format, then select "Format."

Step 2. Assign a new partition label, file system (NTFS/FAT32/EXT2/EXT3/EXT4/exFAT), and cluster size to the selected partition, then click "OK".

Step 3. Click "Yes" on the pop-up window to proceed.

Step 4. Click the "Execute 1 Task(s)" button on the toolbar, then click "Apply" to start formatting your SD card.

Given that tools like Partition Master make it efficient and effortless for you to manage tasks such as formatting your SD card or checking your SD card for errors, you might want to consider downloading this utility onto your computer.

Option 2. Use File Explorer

Aside from employing efficient methods, you can still resort to conventional techniques. Uncover the expert guidelines for formatting your SD card using File Explorer:

Instructions: To format the SD card using File Explorer, open File Explorer and right-click on your SD card drive to select the "Format" option. Then, customize the settings such as Capacity, File System (e.g., NTFS), and Allocation Unit Size for the SD card. Once you've configured all the necessary formatting options, click the "Start" button to begin the process.

Option 3. Utilize Command Prompt

To format an SD card, you can also utilize the Command Prompt for the process. Follow the fundamental steps outlined below:

Step 1. Type "Command Prompt" in the Windows search box, and then click the "Run as administrator" option to open Command Prompt with administrative privileges.

Step 2. After that, you need to execute the following series of commands sequentially:

1. diskpart
2. list disk
3. select disk X (where X refers to the disk number for the SD card)
4. clean
5. create partition primary
6. format fs=file system (e.g., format fs=fat32 or format fs=ntfs)

Why Can't I Access My SD Card?

If you're encountering the issue of "SD card is full or not accessible," several factors could be responsible, including:

• Improper Ejection or Insertion: It's possible that you didn't correctly insert or eject the SD card from your computer.
• Manufacturing Defect: There might be a manufacturing flaw in the SD card, which is causing this problem.
• Data Interruption: Interruptions during data transfer can render the card inaccessible since they can lead to malfunctions.
• Bad Sector Accumulation: The presence of bad sectors on your SD card can severely impact its total storage capacity.

Conclusion

The SD card is not accessible, and the file or directory is corrupted and unreadable. In this situation, you cannot use the SD card, and access will be denied. This article has covered all pertinent details regarding the issue of "SD card is full or not accessible." Along with understanding the fundamental reasons behind the error, you have also explored solutions that can help restore the functionality of your SD card.

Among the leading solutions, you've identified Partition Master as a prominent remedy for this issue. This disk management software assists in resolving problems with your SD card and even allows formatting when necessary.

"SD Card Inaccessible" FAQs

If you still have questions regarding the "SD card is full or not accessible" issue, here are some answers that might address your concerns:

**1. Why does my SD card show as full?**

There are several reasons why your SD card may appear fully occupied. This could be due to bad sectors within the SD card that are causing issues. Additionally, if a virus has infected your SD card, it might also result in such problems. A corrupted file system is another factor that can lead to difficulties managing your SD card.

**2. How do I fix an SD card that says it's full?**

The SD card that appears full but doesn't display any data can be resolved using the following solutions:

Fix 1. There might be some hidden files on your SD card. To unhide them, tap the "View" tab in File Explorer and enable the "Hidden items" option to view all the concealed data on your SD card.

Fix 2. If an error is preventing you from accessing the SD card, right-click on it and select the "Properties" option. Next, go to the "Tools" tab and click the "Check" button to run the Windows Repair Tool to fix SD card drive errors.

Fix 3. You can also format the SD card to address this issue. Right-click on your SD card in File Explorer and select the "Format" option. Then, specify the necessary settings and click the "Start" button.

3. What should I do if my SD card says it's full, but it's actually empty?

If you're encountering the issue of "SD card is full or not accessible," it's recommended to utilize the tool Partition Master. Since the problem might stem from an improper drive letter assignment, this issue can be resolved using Partition Master.