[2023] How to Fix Nintendo Switch Not Reading SD Card? (2024)

Since its launch, the Nintendo Switch has been a popular console choice for gaming enthusiasts. But because there are so many games to download, the 32GB internal storage isn't enough to store them all. Therefore, gamers usually rely on a micro SD card to expand storage capacity. But many players come to a common "switch does not read SD card” issue when using a card with a storage capacity of more than 64 GB. If you're using a 128GB or 200GB SD card and your Nintendo Switch isn't recognizing it, we have a quick fix. Check the reasons behind the inability of the switch to detect the SD card and the methods to fix this problem. We have also added a bonus tip for recovering data if you lose it due to a corrupt SD card.

1. Part 1: What is the reason for the Switch not reading the SD card?
2. Part 2: How to Fix Nintendo Switch Not Reading SD Card?
   • Solution 1: Enable genstart
   • Solution 2: Remove and reinsert the SD card
   • Solution 3: Make sure the SD card is compatible with the switch
   • Fix 4: Reformat SD card
   • Solution 5: Try another Micro SD card again
   • Fix 6: Wis de cache op Nintendo Switch
   • Solution 7: Check for Switch update
   • Solution 8: Tjek Switch storage space
   • Solution 9: Check for damage to game cards
   • Solution 10: Clean the game card slot and the game card
3. Bonus Tip: What should I do if the SD card is damaged and all data on it is lost? IS CALLED

Part 1: What is the reason for Switch not reading SD card?

If your Nintendo Switch cannot find your SD card, there could be many reasons for it. Below we have listed some common reasons:

• You have not inserted the SD card correctly.
• The SD card is physically damaged.
• The file system on the SD card is formatted for another device.
• The SD card is already damaged or destroyed due to battery problems, file transfer errors or power outages.
• Your SD card storage type is too large or too small for Nintendo Switch.

Part 2: How to Fix Nintendo Switch Not Reading SD Card?

There are a number of ways you can resolve the 'Nintendo Switch cannot read SD card' issue. Let's take a look at them:

Solution 1: Enable genstart

If you are facing the 'Nintendo SD card not working on switch' issue then just turn off the console. Follow the instructions below to force restart the Nintendo Switch:

Trin 1: Press and hold the Nintendo Power button for three seconds.

Trin 2: Select "Disable" when "Power Settings" appears. Turn on the console and check the problem.

If the power switch does not respond, press and hold it for twelve seconds to perform a forced restart.

Solution 2: Remove and reinsert the SD card

Another way to resolve the 'Nintendo Switch micro SD card not working' error is to remove and reinsert the SD card from the device.

Trin 1: Turn off the console by pressing and holding the power button for three seconds. Gently pull out the SD card.

Trin 2: Reinsert the SD card. Turn on the console and check if the problem is resolved.

Solution 3: Make sure the SD card is compatible with the switch

If your SD card is not compatible with Nintendo Switch, you will see the error message 'micro SD card not working on Switch'. An SD card or mini SD card is not compatible with the Switch and only a micro SD card will work. If you are using an SDXC card, you will need to perform a system update after inserting it into the Nintendo Switch.

Trin 1: To update the SD card, navigate to "Home Menu". Select "System Settings".

Trin 2: Select "System." Then select "System Update".

The system will now search for and download the latest available updates.

Fix 4: Reformat SD card

If your "Nintendo switch suddenly stops reading SD card" doesn't solve the problem, you need to reformat the SD card. However, reformatting the card will erase all data on it. So make sure to backup your card to your PC before starting the reformatting process. How to do that:

Trin 1: Navigate to the "Start Menu". Select "System Settings".

Trin 2: Select "System" at the bottom left. From the appropriate options, select “Formatting Options”.

Trin 3: Enter your parental control PIN when prompted. Now select “Format MicroSD Card” and press “Continue”.

Once the reformatting process is complete, the console will restart. Check again to see if the problem occurs.

Solution 5: Try another Micro SD card again

Try inserting multiple cards into your Nintendo Switch one by one. If it doesn't detect them all, the problem is with the switch and not the cards. A hardware error may have occurred. In such cases, please contact Nintendo Customer Service for assistance or send the Switch to the nearest Nintendo Repair Service for repair.

Fix 6: Wis de cache op Nintendo Switch

Another way to solve the “Nintendo Switch micro SD card not working” problem is to clear the Switch's cache. How to do that:

Trin 1: Open "System Preferences." Then click on the System tab.

Trin 2: Select "Formatting Options > Reset Cache."

Trin 3: Select "Reset" in the "User Area" to clear the switch's cache.

Once the reset process is complete, check if your Nintendo Switch can read the SD card again.

Solution 7: Check for Switch update

If you encounter the "Nintendo switch cannot read SD card" error, it may be because the Switch has not been updated with the latest software versions. Follow the instructions below to update the switch with the corresponding SD card software update:

Trin 1: Navigate to "System Settings." And then select "System Update". The system checks for game, software, or SD card updates.

Trin 2: Wait for the system to download and install them. Then restart the console.

Solution 8: Tjek Switch storage space

Sometimes the Nintendo Switch cannot read the micro SD card if it runs out of internal or SD storage space. In such a scenario, check the storage space of the Switch and make sure it has enough space to install games via an external SD card or USB drive.

Solution 9: Check for damage to game cards

View the game map on your Nintendo Switch. If it has any scratches or dirt on it, it can also cause the "Switch not reading the SD card" error. Take a cotton swab dipped in alcohol and gently clean the playing card. If this does not solve the problem, replace the game card.

Solution 10: Clean the game card slot and the game card

A dirty game card slot and game card can also prevent the Nintendo Switch from reading the SD card. So take a cotton swab dipped in alcohol and clean the game card and SD card slots and where you place your Joy-Con controllers. Clean everything thoroughly until no dirt remains.

Bonus Tip: What should I do if the SD card is damaged and all data on it is lost?

There may be another reason why your Nintendo Switch cannot read the SD card. Your memory card data may be damaged or corrupted. If this happens, restore your data as soon as possible. Otherwise, the files are permanently gone. Try using third party software such as4DDiG data recovery software, as it can seamlessly recover permanently lost or accidentally deleted data in three simple steps. This is what 4DDiG can do:

Here's what else 4DDiG can do:

• Recovers data from micro SD cards, USB sticks, internal and external drives and digital cameras.
• Retrieves data from damaged, damaged or formatted storage devices.
• Extracts audio, video, document and image files in more than 1000 formats.
• Recovers files after retrieving them from damaged partitions and corrupt or crashed systems.
• Recovers hidden, accidentally deleted or corrupted data due to a malware attack.
• It offers fast recovery speed by restoring data to its original state.

Follow the steps below to recover data from corrupted SD card using 4DDiG tool:

1. Download and install the 4DDiG Data Recovery software on your PC. Then connect the damaged SD card to your PC and open the software. Select the SD card to scan from the interface.

2. Press "Start" to check for lost data on SD card. You can switch between tree view and file preview while the tool searches for details about the lost data.

3. After the 4DDiG tool recovers all the lost files, press the "Recover" button and save them to your PC.

Conclusion

The Nintendo Switch is an excellent console for gamers. However, like any modern device, it also has its fair share of problems, including the "the switch does not read the SD card" problem. If you are facing the same problem, check out the quick fixes we mentioned earlier in our post. Probably one of them will be able to solve this problem. But if the micro SD card is damaged then that is another case where you want to save the data. In such cases,Best tool for SD card data recoverycan help you recover lost data. It can retrieve more than 1000 hidden, lost, corrupted, damaged or formatted file types from SD cards, USBs and drives with high recovery rate.