How to Fix the Issue of an SD Card Not Showing Up in File Explorer

A damaged SD card can severely hamper your workflow since you won't be able to access anything on it. If you're encountering the "SD card not showing up in File Explorer" issue on your computer, don't worry; this article will guide you through resolving the "SD card not showing up in File Explorer" problem.

Preparations before resolving the issue of an SD card not showing up in File Explorer with the utf-8 encoding format

A damaged or corrupted SD card may not show up in File Explorer. You risk losing important files in the process of fixing it. Before you proceed with the troubleshooting, it's best to secure your data first with a reliable software like the Data Recovery Wizard tool, which is both reliable and effective in retrieving data from a damaged SD card.

One of the best SD card recovery software, the tool supports SD card recovery on Windows OS and Mac OS. This powerful software can recover lost or deleted files from an SD card, including images, videos, documents, and more.

Moreover, it can also recover formatted SD card, so you can use the tool's SD Card Recovery feature to retrieve lost data when you have to fix a corrupted SD card by formatting it.

Please follow these steps to recover stored data from an SD card that isn't showing up in File Explorer:

Step 1: Select the SD card to scan

• Download and install the Data Recovery Wizard tool on your Windows computer.
• Connect your SanDisk/Lexar/Transcend SD card to the PC using the right method.
• Launch the SD card recovery software. On the left, select "SD Card Recovery." This will show all connected drives. Choose your SD card and click "Scan."

Step 2: Review the scan results

Wait for the scan to complete. Select one or more file types to display, like pictures or videos. Click "Preview" to make sure they're the files you're looking for.

Step 3: Recover Data from SD Card

• Preview the recovered files, then click "Restore."
• Choose a location other than the original SD card to save the restored files.

After saving the recovered SD card data to a secure location, try any of the following six methods to resolve the issue of the SD card not showing up in File Explorer:

• Solution 1: Check the SD Card
• Solution 2: Run the Windows Troubleshooter from Settings
• Solution 3: Change the SD Card's Drive Letter
• Solution 4: Disable Write Protection on the SD Card
• Solution 5: Check for SD Card Errors in Device Manager
• Solution 6: Update the SD Card Reader Driver

Solution 1: Check the SD card

Before you proceed with the fixes, make sure to check your SD card first. It might not be showing on the file manager because it has dust or debris on it, probably due to not being used for a while.

If it's old, it might be scratched or damaged. Also, make sure your SD reader is compatible with your SD card, as older readers may not support new cards. You can effectively troubleshoot this problem in Windows by trying different SD cards.

Fix 2: Run Windows Troubleshooter from Settings

You can fix SD card issues by using the Troubleshoot settings on Windows. Here's how:

Step 1: Connect the SD card to your computer and go to “Settings.”

Step 2. Click on Update & Security > Troubleshoot.

<Step 3> Click on Hardware and Devices > Run the troubleshooter.

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Solution 3: Change the SD card's drive letter Solution 3: Change the SD Card's Drive Letter

Here you assign a new drive letter; that's it!

1. Press "Win + R" to open the "Run" dialog box.

<Step 2> Type diskmgmt.msc, and then press Enter.

Step 3: Select the “Disk Management” option from the list.

Step 6. Check if your SD card was detected and assigned a drive letter. If it's not found, you'll need to assign one by right-clicking on the SD card.

Step 7: Select "Change Drive Letter and Paths," and you'll see the "Add or Remove Drive Letters or Paths" window.

Step 8: Select the option to "Assign the following drive letter."

Step 9: Click "Add" to assign a new drive letter to the SD card reader.

Solution 4: Disable the Write Protection on your SD Card

When write protection is enabled, your SD card will appear as read-only, meaning you can't make any edits to it.

Step 1. Eject your "SD card" from your computer.

Step 2: Locate the "Lock Switch" on the side.

Step 3: Slide the lock switch upward to disable Write Protect.

Step 4: Connect your SD card and see if your computer recognizes it.

Fix 5: Check for SD card errors in Device Manager

The Device Manager allows you to view all devices connected to your Windows PC, including those with errors. That's it!

Step 1: Press "Windows + R" to open the "Run" dialog box.

Step 2: Type diskmgmt.msc and press “Enter.”

<b>Step 3:</b> Click &quot;Action&quot; when you have Device Manager open.

(4) Select [Check for hardware changes].

Step 5: Under "Portable Devices," you should see a yellow exclamation mark next to your SD card in the list.

Step 6: Right-click on it, and select "Properties."

< b > Step 7. Go to Device Status under General. Enable Device Status and check for error messages.

Fix 6: Update your SD card reader driver

Updating your SD card reader's driver will make it show up in File Explorer. Here's how to do it.

Step 1. Open Device Manager on your computer.

Step 2: Right-click on your “SD card” and select “Update driver.”

A pop-up will appear asking you to “Update driver software.” Select “Search automatically for updated driver software.”

4. Install any driver updates that it shows, then restart your computer and reconnect your SD card reader.

Conclusions

After thoroughly scanning the SD card, running the Windows Troubleshooter from Settings, changing the drive letter, disabling write protection, checking for errors in Device Manager, and updating the SD card reader driver, your SD card should start to show. Before attempting any other fixes, use the Data Recovery Wizard tool to ensure the safety of your data on the SD card.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on SD Card Not Showing Up in File Explorer with UTF-8 Encoding

Here are some questions to help get you started.

1. How do I find my SD card in File Explorer? To locate your SD card in File Explorer, typically follow these steps: 1. Open File Explorer: Click the folder icon on the taskbar or use the keyboard shortcut `Win + E`. 2. In the left-hand navigation pane, you'll see the various partitions and devices on your computer. Look for an entry labeled "SD Card," "Removable Disk," or something similar with the manufacturer's name of the SD card. 3. If you don't see the SD card immediately, click on "This PC" or "Computer" and check if there are any external storage devices listed. 4. Sometimes, the SD card might appear next to "Network" or under "OneDrive." If it's still not visible, ensure that the SD card is correctly inserted into your computer's card reader. 5. If the SD card still doesn't show up, try checking for driver issues in Device Manager or restart your computer to refresh the connections. Please note that these instructions apply to Windows operating systems. On a Mac, you would find the SD card in the "Devices" section of the "Finder."

Check out this guide to help you find your SD card in File Explorer.

Step 1. Open File Explorer.

Step 2: Select "This PC".

Step 3: Open 'Devices and drives' and locate your SD card.

Step 4: Click to open it.

2. Why is my SD card not showing up on my computer?

Reasons why an SD card doesn't show up on your computer include:

• The SD card hasn't been assigned a drive letter by your computer.
• The SD card is damaged or formatted incorrectly.
• You haven't updated your Windows device drivers.
• The SD card reader isn't connected properly.

Why does my SD card show up in Device Manager but not on My Computer?

A damaged or corrupted SD card will only show up in Device Manager. You'll need to use a quick format to fix drive errors and get the SD card to show up on your computer.