Good day everyone!
Today, the popularity of SD flash drives, I think, is not inferior to USB flash drives. Judge for yourself: phones, tablets, cameras, cameras - SD flash drives (sometimes called SD cards) are used everywhere!
In general, I must admit that SD cards are quite "capricious" devices, and it is not uncommon that the computer does not recognize or see it. In these cases, usually, we immediately remember that there are important photos, files, data on the flash drive - which simply need to be 100% returned and restored!
In this article, I will give the most common reasons for the invisibility of an SD card by a computer (laptop), as well as recommendations for their elimination. I hope my humble advice will be useful to someone. So...
Many users confuse one point (although it is not a key one, it will help in solving the problem). I will show it on the example of one user question.
I took the card from my phone (microSD) and inserted it into my new device, but he offered to format it. Then I returned it back to the old phone, but he also wanted to format it. My laptop also does not see this card and offers to format it. What to do? Help to recover data from a flash drive.
Illustrative case. The laptop sees your flash drive, and even offers to format it - i.e. he does not understand that there is data on it, cannot recognize your flash drive, cannot read the file system (in this case, the file system is marked as RAW).
This often happens due to:
- file system failure on a flash drive;
- Windows cannot read an unfamiliar file system (for example, it often happens with disks connected to a TV - it can reformat them into its own file system, and then Windows does not see it).
By the way, many people make one mistake when connecting the microSD to the computer: when inserting the card into the adapter, they do not push it all the way (see photo-1 below). As a result, the PC simply does not see anything when the SD adapter is connected.
Checking a flash drive: fixing file system errors
In this case, you can try to restore the performance of the flash drive and all the files on it using the chkdsk utility for checking and fixing errors (built into Windows).
To do this, do not agree with the Windows suggestion to format the media (screenshot above), but just run command line (The easiest way is to press Win+R, then type CMD and press Enter, see screenshot below).
Check disk / flash drive
An example of recovery is shown in the screenshot above. After such a simple procedure, the flash drive returned to its working state and functions normally to this day.
When the check succeeds, the command line will usually report something like: "Windows has checked the file system and found no problems. No further action is required".
As a rule, if there was a small file system failure, then chkdsk it will be eliminated and the flash drive will become readable (after this procedure, both the phone and the laptop will be able to read it).
Now what if chkdsk did not help, but you need to restore the files from the USB flash drive ...
Restoring files from a flash drive
If, after trying to fix errors, Windows still intends to format it (that is, the OS sees it, but does not recognize it), then first of all, I will recommend that you restore files from it (unless, of course, you need them).
After you format the USB flash drive, it will be more difficult to restore data from it (and if new files are written, it is generally impossible!).
There are special programs for data recovery. Some free and popular ones, I will give in the table below.
Instruction! How to recover photos from MicroSD memory card or USB flash drive -
3 Free Data Recovery Software
| Recuva
One of the best programs for low-level formatting of various drives: hard drives, flash cards, etc. Key features:
How to format SD card in HDD Low Level Format Tool:  Letter conflict: drive letter changeIn general, when you connect a drive (including a flash drive), Windows assigns a letter to this drive (for example, F:). But there is such a "glitch" that the letter is assigned incorrectly: for example, the one that is already in the system - as a result: a conflict occurs and your flash drive is invisible! Therefore, in case of invisibility of the flash drive, the first thing I recommend to do is go to "Disk Management": look at the drive letter, change it (it is possible to format the media). 1) To do this, first press the buttons Win+R, to a line "Open" enter the command diskmgmt.msc and press Enter.
2) Next, find in the list the disk (microSD card) that is not displayed (not visible) for you. Click on it with the right mouse button (sign-1 on the screen below) and in the context menu select "Change Drive Letter or Drive Path" . If the required flash drive is not in the list in Disk Management, go to the next subsection of this article. If the file system is marked as RAW, the flash drive must be formatted (more on this at the beginning of this article).
Change drive letter 3) In the next step, press the button "Change"(number-1 on the screen below), then set the slider to "Assign a drive letter (A-Z)" and choose some unique letter (one that is not in the system). Agree with the changes made. Sometimes, you may need to restart your computer (laptop).
If the problem was related to an incorrectly specified drive letter, the flash drive will become visible and will work in normal mode... Classes and formats of SD cardsSD-card SD-card is different - they differ not only in volume and manufacturer, but also in size, class (speed), generation. All this, of course, can affect the visibility of the SD-stick in the card reader... SD card sizes There are three form factors of SD cards: SD, miniSD, MicroSD (differ in size). Cards are used in a variety of portable devices: phones, cameras, camcorders, tablets, etc. The most widely used are microSD cards (due to their compact size, they can even be inserted into a miniature phone or MP3 player).
To connect a microSD card to a laptop or computer, it always comes with a small adapter (see photo below).
Typical information on the SD card
Manufacturer : no comments here. The only thing is when you buy an SD card for yourself, I recommend choosing well-known manufacturers: SanDisk, Transcend, Sony, etc. SD card type
Important! Compatibility table for card readers and SD card types In principle, each card reader (on the package with it) indicates which cards it supports. Naturally, if you insert a newer card, he simply will not see it and you will not be able to read it. The table below will show you the compatibility of card readers and SD card types.
Card class (speed) Usually, SD cards do not indicate the speed of work (in MB / s, although sometimes they indicate it), but the class of the card. Using the tables below, you can find out what speed your card will support. Important: the higher the speed, the more expensive the card. Some devices require a specific card class (for example, a camera, otherwise video recording will be slow or not at all) - so be careful with this moment! Speed class UHS speed class
Capacity, card size The bigger, the better. True, try to proceed from real needs: if you need to store a dozen or two photos, then maybe it makes no sense to overpay and take a high-capacity card? Lack of driversIt is possible that your flash drive is not displayed due to the fact that the drivers for the card reader are not installed. In this case, the card reader itself does not work, which means that it will not read the SD card either. In this case, usually, the flash drive is not visible in "Disk Management" , and in device manager - a question mark will be lit in front of the device (it means that there are no drivers).
There is no driver (that's why the flash drive is not displayed ...) - device manager How to enter device manager
In the device manager, look at the "USB Controllers" tab, it should just be something like "Realtek USb 2.0 Card Reader" (see screenshot below). Opposite the device, no question marks or red icons should be lit.
If you do not have a device (card reader) in the lists, and there are unknown devices with question marks (example - ) - most likely you simply do not have a driver. There are several exits: PS A few more tips:  I am finishing the article on this. For additions on the topic - a separate merci in advance. All the best! |
Does your PC not see your Android phone or tablet via USB? This is a fairly common problem, but you can fix it yourself. In this article you will find useful tips on how to do this. In addition to the solutions below, there are several more that we have already talked about on our website! If the phone does not connect to the computer via USB, try via Wi-Fi: method 1.
Also look out for Internet file transfer apps: Pushbullet and AirDroid. In general, there are worthy alternatives to connecting via USB (unless, of course, you are interested in other possibilities like ).
As for the problem with connecting mobile devices via USB to a computer, there are only two types of it:
- The phone is not recognized by the computer, but is charged from it;
- The PC (or laptop) does not fully recognize the smartphone.
We will consider both options in detail and try to help you fix everything!
PC does not see Android phone via USB. What to do?
1. Use a different USB cable first. If there is no effect, the problem is not in it.
2. Check if the USB port is working: to do this, connect your mobile device to a different port. If the PC still doesn't see Android, then something else is causing the problem.
3. Try connecting your phone to another computer. If you fail here too, the problem may be with the microUSB or other components of the smartphone. In this case, only repair will help you.
4. If you connect your Android smartphone to a laptop or PC running Windows XP and the computer does not see the phone, you need to install MTP (Media Transfer Protocol) for Windows XP. You can download it from the official Microsoft website: http://www.microsoft.com/en-US/download/details.aspx?id=19153
5. Now for devices protected by a pattern or password. In order for the computer to see the files and folders, you must first unlock your phone or tablet. Tested on Nexus 7 2013 with Android 5.1.1.
If the downloaded drivers already come with an installer (.exe file), then you just need to run its installation. Also, the drivers will be installed when downloading and launching programs from various manufacturers for synchronizing devices with a PC (HTC Sync, Samsung Kies, etc.).
7. Turn on USB debugging. May I help.
8. Try to completely remove the old driver, then restart the computer and reinstall the driver as described in step 6.
9. Make sure that your smartphone or tablet is not connected to the computer in the " For charging only».
10. Also make sure that the item " USB modem". In this case, the phone will not be visible to the PC. You can turn it off in Settings» → « Wireless networks» → « More» → « Modem Mode».
11. When connecting Android to computer, you can choose the connection mode. As you can see, I only have 2 available (Nexus 7 2013 with Android 5.1.1). But on other devices, versions of Android, firmware, there are other modes like " USB Mass Storage».
Possible causes include incorrect connection actions, outdated or incorrectly configured software, malfunctioning USB cables, ports, or the devices themselves.
Follow the tips below, they can save you a lot of connection problems.
How to properly connect Android devices to your computer via USB
If you have Windows, ignore this paragraph. If you're using macOS, install Android File Transfer.
Make sure your mobile device is turned on and connect it to your computer. Then lower the notification panel on the gadget - you will see a special switch. Click on it and in the menu that appears, select the "File Transfer" mode. The names of the modes may differ depending on the version of Android and the model of the device.
After these steps, the computer should see the mobile device. On Windows, it will appear in File Explorer, on macOS, in the Android File Transfer window. But in the case of a Mac, you will need OS X 10.5 and Android 3.0 or later versions of these OSes, otherwise nothing will come of it.
How to properly connect iOS devices to a computer via USB
Make sure your mobile device is turned on and unlocked, then connect it to your computer. The first time, iOS will ask for permission to access media files and you will need to grant it.
In the case of a PC on Windows, the connected iPhone or iPad will appear in File Explorer under media devices. They will be displayed like regular digital cameras - you will be able to view and copy photos and videos. To access other data, you will have to use iTunes, which can be downloaded from the Apple website. The registration procedure will not cause difficulties, you just need to follow the prompts of the setup wizard.
On a Mac, things are a little easier. iTunes is already included with macOS, so it will launch automatically when you connect your iPhone or iPad. Interaction with content is carried out through a media combine, but iTunes is not needed to access media files. The standard Photos application, which also launches automatically when iOS devices are connected, will help you view and import them.
What to do if the computer does not see the USB device
1. Disconnect unnecessary USB devices from the computer.
2. Try connecting with a different cable or port.
3. Restart your computer and mobile device.
4. If you have Windows, update the driver required to recognize the USB device.
Launch a command prompt (Windows key + R), paste in it devmgmt.msc and press Enter. When the "Device Manager" opens, find the connected gadget in the list of equipment.
Right-click on the device and select "Update driver" → "Search for drivers on this computer" → "Select a driver from the list of available drivers on the computer."
Check "MTP USB device" in the list of drivers and click next to reinstall.
5. If the device is not showing up in iTunes, please use Apple's guide to resolve this issue.
6. Update the operating systems on your computer and mobile device to the latest versions. If you are using Windows Vista or XP, first try installing the MTP protocol by downloading it from the Microsoft website.
7. Check the functionality of the port in the gadget by connecting it to another computer. If the problem persists, contact the manufacturer's support service.
What to do if the computer does not see a device connected via Bluetooth
If you encounter visibility issues when connecting via Bluetooth, try the following solutions. Follow these steps one by one and maybe one of them will help you.
1. Make sure that both devices have Bluetooth turned on, and in the settings on each of them, the visibility mode for all other devices is activated. On iOS, these settings are part of the AirDrop service available in Control Center.
2. Place your tablet or smartphone closer to your computer.
3. Restart your computer and mobile device.
4. If the devices have successfully connected to each other before, delete the saved pair in the Bluetooth settings and try to reconnect.
5. Update the Bluetooth drivers on your computer.
6. Update the device operating systems to the latest versions.
Alternative connection methods
You always have a fallback - services with which you can transfer files between your computer and mobile device via the Internet. These are AirDroid, Pushbullet, as well as cloud storages like Google Drive, OneDrive and Dropbox. They allow you to bypass Bluetooth and USB if those options don't work or are not suitable.
If your computer does not see the mobile device because it is not connected via USB, there may be several reasons for this, as well as solutions. We will try to name all the reasons and give detailed instructions to fix the problem.
Everything that we write below is applicable to smartphones on the Android operating system, but can be used for other devices, and even for devices with other software.
Why Android phone is not visible via USB
Before you determine the cause of the malfunction and find a way to solve it, answer yourself the question: is this a pattern or an accident. If before that everything connected stably, what actions could lead to the error? Maybe you installed a program on your smartphone or computer, deleted the necessary file, or edited it incorrectly? Or did they do absolutely nothing? If you answer these questions, you can find out the cause of the problem.If your old mobile device connected to a PC on the Windows XP operating system without problems, then the problem is in the new smartphone. In this case, you can solve the problem by updating the software or installing a hardware independent protocol from Microsoft on Win XP. It is this MTP protocol that is responsible for data transfer via USB.
To download the Media Transfer Protocol Porting Kit to your computer, visit the company's official page: . It will take a little time to install the protocol, and after the process is completed, the PC must be restarted. If this was the problem, the mobile device will be detected on the computer.
If the mobile device does not see Windows 7, 8 or 10, the problem is solved in another way. All the steps below are described for phones running Android 4 and above, but they can be applied to an older version as well.
If your smartphone/tablet is locked with a password or pattern, it must be unlocked, otherwise you will not see the contents of the memory from the PC.
If you are connecting a mobile device via USB, you should see the corresponding message on it. There should also be a USB icon on the Windows OS toolbar.
When you open the notification panel on your Android device, it should show you how your smartphone is connected to your computer. This can be a storage device, a USB modem, or a webcam that supports the “accurate time protocol”. If the device is connected to the PC as a USB modem, it is not visible in File Explorer. In this case, the USB modem is disabled in the wireless settings.
If the mobile device is connected as a webcam, then the problem lies in the hardware-independent protocol responsible for transferring files. In this case, the MTP protocol must be enabled.
If your smartphone has an older software version, you have more options to connect via USB. And in this case, we recommend connecting via a USB storage device (Mass Storage). You can do this in the notifications panel.
The phone does not connect via USB to the computer, but only charges
If no device is connected to your computer (no notification), you can try one of four things:
The latest versions of the Android OS connect to the PC via USB in battery charging mode by default. To change the mode, use the option to select a different option.
Additional Information
If the mobile device is malfunctioning and therefore cannot be seen by the computer when connected via USB, you can use additional data transfer methods. Information from a smartphone to a computer and vice versa can be transferred as follows:- Synchronize through any "cloud".
- Use one of the best applications that allows you to easily and quickly connect your computer and android devices. You can install the Windows version of the program and use all its functions. For example, using this tool, you can not only synchronize data, but also have access to contacts, receive messages on the desktop, view and work with the phone's display by controlling it with the mouse. The program is so simple and intuitive that even the most inexperienced user will quickly master it.
- Create an FTP server on your smartphone.
You bought a brand new smartphone and, say, you want to upload your playlists to it from your computer. Or your phone is already a year old and only now you have decided to connect it to your computer. But that was not the case: the computer simply does not see the phone connected via a USB cable.
There may be several reasons why this happens. Let's deal with everything in order.
The first thing you need to pay attention to is the cable with which you connect the phone to the computer. If you purchased an inexpensive cable for this, it may simply not meet the required resistance or material requirements. In this case, it is better to use the standard cables that come with the phone.
The second thing to check is Computer USB port to which the phone is connected. Connect the phone to any other port on the computer, if everything is in order, then the port itself is faulty. The reason for this may be either uninstalled drivers, or the USB port is simply not connected to the motherboard.
Now try restart computer and phone. It happens that after a banal reboot, the devices begin to “see” each other. When the phone is turned off, remove the battery from it, wait a couple of minutes and put it back in - this can also help.
If you have a Windows XP operating system installed and you connect an Android device to your computer, then install the Media Transfer Protocol on your computer. It can be downloaded from the official Microsoft website: https://www.microsoft.com/en-US/download/details.aspx?id=19153 .
For some phone models, when connected to a computer, you can select USB connection option. Put a marker in front of the item "Media device (MTR)". If you do not have such a menu, then go to "Settings" - "Network" and turn on one of the parameters: or "Media device (MTR)", or USB stick .
Another reason why the computer does not see the phone via USB may be installed drivers. First, disconnect your phone from your computer. Then we go "Start" - "Control Panel" – "Device Manager".
Here we click on the transparent arrow opposite the item "USB controllers" to open the list. Now connect your phone with a cable to your computer. Device Manager should update and the new device will appear in the list. I posted two pictures for comparison. After connecting, on the second, appeared.
I'm fine with the drivers. If you have a yellow exclamation mark or a red cross next to this item, as shown in the figure below, this means that the drivers need to be updated or not installed at all.
To fix this, right-click on the item "USB mass storage device" and select "Properties" from the context menu.
Next, you can find drivers by device instance code. How to do this is described in the article. If your operating system is Windows 7, from the drop-down list instead of "Device Instance ID" look for "Hardware ID".
Another problem why the computer does not see the phone can be viruses. Check the devices with an antivirus program, if it finds something, delete malicious files. Then restart your computer.
I hope one of the tips will help you and in the future a similar problem will not arise.
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