But in case youve recently found an old memory card and now want to know whats in it.
But what if the PC doesnt detect it?
If the same happens to you, fret not, as its very easy to fix.
In this guide, well share some easy ways to fix SD card reader not working in Windows 11.
So, without any further ado, read ahead and learn some easy ways to fix it.
Why Is the SD Card Reader Not Working in Windows 11?
Various reasons could cause the SD card reader not working issue on your Windows 11 PC.
So considerunlocking itby sliding the switch at the corner of it.
So, to check this,connect the SD card readerto another Windows 11 system.
So try this method to check whos the main culprit, and then apply the solutions accordingly.
So considerclearing your memory cardand then loop back and try to connect it to the PC.
Hopefully, this fixes the SD card reader not working issue on your Windows 11 PC.
2.From the search results underBest match, chooseCreate and format hard disk partitions.
3.In theDisk Managementwindow, choose theActionoption in the top menu to get a menu.
4.From the dropdown menu, select theRefreshoption to restart the Disk Manager utility.
5.Again, open theActionmenu and choose theRescan Disksoption to scan the drives again.
6.Once done, check whether your Windows 11 PC is not detecting your memory or SD card.
Luckily, most of the time, restarting the PC fixes these kinds of temporary issues.
So, it’s possible for you to also considerrestarting your Windows 11 PC.
Once done, press theEnter keyto reboot your Windows 11 PC and check the issues status.
3.Right-nudge the SD card driver, select theUninstall deviceoption, and then click theUninstallbutton.
4.Once the driver is uninstalled from the PC, click theActionoption in the top navigation menu.
5.From theActiondropdown menu, choose theScan for hardware changesoption to reinstall it.
6.After reinstalling the SD card adapter, find out if the PC is now detecting the SD card reader.
Scan For Malware and Viruses
1.Press theWindows keyto open theWindows Search Boxand typeVirus & threat protectionin it.
2.In theVirus & threat protectionwindow, click theQuick scanbutton to fire off the virus scan.
3.Once the virus scan is started, let it search for viruses and malware on your Windows 11 PC.
If the scan finds any malware on your system,remove itby trying the on-screen steps.
2.In theTerminalwindow, typesfc /scannowand press theEnter keyto start the SFC scan.
3.Once the scan is started, youll see theBeginning verification phase of system scanmessage.
After the completion of the scan, youll see the completion message on your screen.
But only try the method if youre facing this issue on your Surface.
2.ClickGet in Store appand thenOpen Microsoft Storeto kick off the download webpage.
3.In the next window, click theGetbutton to downloadSurface Diagnostic Toolkiton your PC.
4.Once the Surface Diagnostic toolkit is downloaded, launch itand follow the on-screen steps.
10. execute the Hardware Troubleshooter
1.Press theWindows keyon your keyboard to open theWindows Search Boxand typeCMDin it.
4.In the new window, press theNextbutton to run this troubleshooter to search for issues.
4.Finally, kill the window and check whether your memory or SD card is now showing up.
Doing so will fix all the temporary issues with it and, hopefully, clear this jam too.
2.UnderMemory Technology Devices, choose the card reader and right-click it to get a context menu.
3.From the contextual menu, choose thePropertiesoption and proceed to theDrivertab.
4.In theDrivertab, click theDisable devicebutton and then clickEnable deviceto re-enable it.
2.In theDevice Managerwindow, look for your memory card under theDisk drivessection.
3.Right-click it, choose thePropertiesoption from the menu, and move to thePoliciestab.
4.In thePoliciestab, confirm the box next toEnable write caching on the deviceis unchecked.
5.In the end, choose theOKbutton to save the changes and then check the issues status.
It may be possible that your system has some temporary issues.
2.In theWindows Updateswindow, choose theCheck for updatesbutton to find new updates.
3.If you see any new updates to install, clickDownload & installto download and install them.
4.Once done, start your gear and check whether the SD card reader is working.
Thus, this could be the same in your case.
Considering this, we suggest youreset your systems BIOS controls to the default.
2.In theSettings app, clickRecoveryon the right pane of it to dive into the recovery options.
3.In theRecoverywindow, click theRestart nowbutton next to theAdvanced startupoption.
4.Select theTroubleshootoption and then clickAdvanced optionsfrom the given options.
5.Choose theUEFI Firmware Settingsoption and then choose theRestartoption to continue.
6.On the next screen, clickLoad Setup DefaultsorLoad Default Options, and thenYes.
7.Exit the UEFI firmware controls and confirm whether your PC can read the SD card reader.
For some people, the issue started appearing after upgrading the PC to the new Windows 11.
If thats the case with you, we suggest youroll back your Windows 10 PC to Windows 11.
Microsoft lets us roll back to Windows 10 within 10 days of installing it.
2.In theRecoverywindow, under theRecovery optionssection, click theGo backbutton.
3.Lastly, follow the on-screen instructions to roll back your Windows 11 PC to Windows 10.
FAQs
Why Is Windows 11 Not Reading My SD Card?
Other reasons could be viruses, malware, etc.
How Do I Fix a Corrupted SD Card in Windows 11?
Open File Explorer > Choose This PC > Right-tap the SD Card > Properties > Tools > Check.
Why Is My Computer Not Detecting My SD Card Reader?
It could be possible that your memory card is broken, which is why the PC isnt detecting it.
How Do I Use an SD Card on My Laptop Windows 11?
What Is the Best Format for SD Card in Windows 11?
FAT32 is the best format for an SD card, as its good for smaller capacity flash memory devices.
In the end, do let us know which mentioned workarounds helped you handle this glitch.
