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Getting Your Mac to Detect SD Cards and USB Drives

Issue Description 

SD cards or USB drives do not appear in Finder or Disk Utility. 

Common Causes 

  • Unsupported file systems 
  • Dirty connectors 
  • USB power issues 

Step-by-Step Solution 

Step 1: Check Disk Utility 

  • Open Disk Utility 
  • Look under External 

 

Step 2: Mount Drive Manually 

  • Select device → click Mount 

 

Step 3: Check Finder Settings 

  • Finder → Settings → General 
  • Enable External disks 

 

Step 4: Try Another Reader or Port 

  • Test with different SD reader 
  • Avoid hubs 

Explore Further 

  • Reformat drive if compatible 

Prevention & Best Practices 

Always eject drives safely.