10 Best Ways to Fix SD Card Not Showing Up on Mac

An SD Card is a portable way to store and transfer data. You can easily transfer files such as photos, videos, and documents between an SD card and your Mac. If your Mac only has Type-C ports, you can use a USB-C Hub with an SD Card Reader slot to enable data transfer and add more ports for improved functionality.

However, some users may encounter an issue where the SD Card does not show up on their Mac. This post offers solutions to fix SD cards not showing up on Mac.

1. Check if the SD Card Is Locked

Every SD card has a sliding switch on the side to lock it, preventing data modification or deletion. Although you can still access the data with the switch in the lock position, we recommend unlocking it to verify if it appears on your Mac.

2. Check the SD Card Reader Port

If unlocking the SD card is not helping, you can try cleaning the SD card port on your Mac. If you use an SD card reader, clean it and reconnect it with your Mac. Use a cotton bud or a small dental floss brush to remove dirt from the SD card port.

3. Restart Your Mac

Another solution is to restart your Mac. This will give a fresh start to macOS and all applications. Follow these steps:

1. Click the Apple logo.

2. Click Restart.

After your Mac restarts, insert the SD card to check if it is showing up.

4. Check Your Finder Sidebar Preferences

Whenever you connect an external storage device like an SD card to your Mac, it will appear in the Finder’s sidebar and on your desktop. If the SD card is not showing up, check the Finder sidebar preferences on your Mac.

To display your SD card in the Finder’s sidebar, follow these steps:

Step 1: Press Command + Spacebar to open Spotlight Search, type “Finder,” and press Return.

Step 2: Click the Finder tab in the top-left corner.

Step 3: Select Preferences from the options.

Step 4: In the Finder Preferences, click Sidebar.

Step 5: Check if all the Location items are enabled.

Follow these steps to display your SD card on Desktop.

Step 1: Click Finder.

Step 2: Click Finder in the top-left corner and select Preferences.

Review and eliminate redundant words or phrases in the provided text:

Step 3: Under General tab, ensure that all items are selected.

Step 4: Connect your SD card and check for its visibility.

5. Check for SD Card Listing in Disk Utility

If your SD card is not appearing in Finder or on your Desktop, check if it is listed in Disk Utility. Connect the SD card to your Mac and follow these steps:

Step 1: Press Command + Spacebar to open Spotlight Search, type “Disk Utility,” and press Return.

Step 2: Check for the SD card listing on the left side of the Disk Utility window.

If the SD card name appears in grey, it is not mounted on your Mac. To fix this, click on Mount in the top-right corner.

Your SD card should now be visible in Finder or Desktop.

6. Repair SD Card Using First Aid

If your Mac cannot read the SD card after mounting it, repair it using Disk Utility’s First Aid option. First Aid will fix storage-related errors but may result in data loss. To avoid this, recover your data before running First Aid. Follow these steps to run First Aid on your SD card:

Step 1: Open Disk Utility on your Mac.

Step 2: Click on First Aid.

Step 3: Click Run to confirm.

After completing the First Aid process, check if your SD card appears in Finder or on the Desktop.

7. Check for SD Card Reader Listing in System Report

If the SD card isn’t showing up, check if your Mac’s SD card port works. You can do this by accessing System Report on your Mac. Follow these steps:

1. Click the Apple icon in the top-left corner.

2. Click on About This Mac.

Step 3: Select System Report.

Step 4: In the menu, find Card Reader.

Step 5: Select the option and check for details such as Vendor ID and Device ID. If your Mac lacks a built-in card reader, you will not find this information. If no details are visible, try the following solutions.

8. Reset NVRAM (For Intel Macs Only)

If your Mac has an Intel processor, perform an NVRAM reset. NVRAM holds settings such as sound volume, startup disk selection, and time zone. To fix the issue of the SD card not showing up on Mac, try this solution. Keep in mind that you’ll need to readjust these settings after performing the NVRAM reset. Follow these steps:

Step 1: Click the Apple logo and select Shut Down.

Step 2: Boot your Mac again.

Step 3: While your Mac is turning on, press Option + Command + P + R for 20 seconds.

Step 4: Release all four keys when the Apple logo appears for the second time – indicates that NVRAM reset is complete. Your Mac will restart.

Step 5: Insert your SD card again to check if it is showing up or not.

9. Restart USB Daemon From Terminal

USB Daemon is a background process that mounts external storage devices, manages configurations, and transfers data seamlessly. If it malfunctions, your Mac won’t recognize external storage devices, including SD cards. You can restart USB Daemon using Terminal on your Mac. Follow these steps:

Step 1: Press Command + Spacebar to launch Spotlight Search, type Terminal, and press Return.

Step 2: Once Terminal opens on your screen, type the following command: sudo launchctl stop com.apple.usbd; sudo launchctl start com.apple.usbd

Step 3: Press Return. Step 4: After the process is complete, close Terminal and insert your SD card to check if your Mac reads it.

10. Visit Your Nearest Apple Store

If none of the steps mentioned above have resolved the issue, we recommend visiting your nearest Apple Store. There might be an issue with the SD card port. If you are using an SD card reader for your Mac that supports USB-C, consider getting a new one.

Use SD Card for Your Mac

We hope this list of solutions will help you fix the problem and use your SD card to transfer files from your Mac. If you are not looking for a USB-C Hub, you can use a USB-C SD Card Reader for your Mac.