Issues with SD cards on Samsung phone or tablet

Using an SD card is a great way to expand and manage your storage. It's cost-effective, frees up internal memory, and is easily removable, so you can access the files using a PC. Most issues with the SD card can be solved with a few simple steps.
Samsung Galaxy Note 20 with a 512GB Samsung EVO Plus microSD card partially ejected.
Samsung Galaxy Note 20 with a 512GB Samsung EVO Plus microSD card partially ejected.

Issues with SD cards on Samsung phone or tablet

SD card is corrupted or not recognized
SD card error appears
Format an SD card
Adoptable storage is unavailable
SD Card or tray is stuck
SD card is corrupted or not recognized
1
Remove and reinsert the microSD into your phone or table.
Sometimes this can help resolve the issue. Make sure the SD card is correctly inserted into the slot or tray.
2
Test the card with another device.
Use the card with another device. Sometimes, a PC will have higher compatibility with file systems not supported by Android.
3
Format the card.

If the previous steps do not work, you will need to format the card with the phone or tablet.

Important: Before formatting the SD card, test it with another device and back up any important data.

4
Use the SD Card Formatter

If the device cannot format the card, you can use the SD Association's Memory Card Formatter on a PC or Mac.

Note: If your SD card is not being recognized by your phone or tablet, it may be damaged. Try using a new card instead.

SD card error appears
SD card error appears

A malfunctioning SD card can cause data loss and device performance issues. It should be replaced or removed.

Formatting the SD card may help resolve some errors, but if the warning still appears, it is highly recommended to back up any data that is on the SD card and replace it with a better card.

Format an SD card
Warning
Formatting erases all data currently stored on the SD card. To avoid data loss, back up your data before you format the SD card.
1
Insert the MicroSD card.
The microSD card slot location varies between devices. For specific instructions, refer to the user manual.
2
Open the Storage menu.
Navigate to and open Settings, and then tap Device care. Tap Storage, tap More options (the three vertical dots), and then tap Advanced.
3
Format the MicroSD card.
Tap SD card, and then tap Format. Tap Format again to confirm.
Adoptable storage is unavailable
Adoptable storage is unavailable
Adoptable storage is not available on Samsung devices. Using a microSD card for adoptable storage will reduce the overall performance of your phone or tablet, and is meant for devices with very low internal memory sizes. MicroSD cards used for adoptable storage are encrypted and cannot be removed from your device without factory resetting your phone or tablet, and formatting the SD card.
SD Card or tray is stuck
SD Card or tray is stuck
If the card or tray are stuck in the device, please visit a Samsung walk-in service center or you can schedule a repair service online.
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