Easy Ways to Mount an SD Card on Any Device

Micro SD cards are high-capacity memory cards often used in phones and tablets. An SD card will become “mounted” to a device when that particular device recognizes the SD card and renders it accessible for use. Most devices will automatically mount an SD card after the card is inserted into the Micro SD card slot, but if you use an Android or Galaxy phone device, you can manually mount an SD card via the settings menu. If your device fails to mount an SD card, you must verify that there are no hardware issues with your device or with the SD card itself.

Quick Steps

Insert the SD card into the SD card slot and power on your phone.
Open the Settings menu.
Tap Storage (it may be under Battery and device care).
Select SD Card.
Tap the icon with three dots (⋮) and select Format.
Tap Format to format as internal storage or select Format another way to format it as portable storage.

Section 1 of 4:

Using Android

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Check if your device supports SD expansion. Many newer phones and tablets are trending away from the use of SD and MicroSD cards as extended storage. Check the user's manual or manufacturer's web page for your phone model to see if it supports SD cards.
- If your phone does not have SD card support, you can get extra storage using a cloud-based storage service like Google Drive. You can also connect a USB-C microSD card reader to your device. However, you will only be able to use the microSD card as portable storage.
- Most devices that support SD card storage will have an extra slot for the SD card in the SIM tray or an extra tray for the SD card. Look for a pinhole along the side of your device. Insert a pin or paperclip into the pinhole and eject the tray. See if it will hold an SD card.
- Warning: Mounting an SD card will erase all data on it. If your SD card is used and has any files on it you want to keep, be sure to back them up to a computer before mounting your SD card with your Android device.
To do so, press the power button on the right side of your phone. Then tap Power off. Tap Power Off again to turn off your phone.

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On most newer phones, the SD card is inserted in the SIM card tray face down. Locate the SIM card tray on the side of the phone. It's a small oval-shaped compartment with a pinhole on the side. Insert a paperclip or the SIM card removal tool that came with your phone in the pinhole and press down to eject the SIM card tray. Place the SD card in the holder that's shaped like an SD card face down. Then reinsert the tray back in the phone.^{[1]
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Press the power button on the side of your phone to power your phone back on. Wait for it to boot up.
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Tap the SD Card detected notification. You should see a notification informing you that a new SD card is detected. You will need to format it to use it with your Android device. Tap the notification to get started.
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Tap Format or Format another way. There are two ways you can format an SD card on your Android device. Tap Format to format it as portable storage. Tap Format another way to format it as internal storage.^{[2]
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- Portable storage: Formatting your SD card as portable storage will allow you to store photos, videos, audio files, and documents on your SD card. However, you will not be able to install apps on the SD card. An SD card formatted as portable storage will be recognized by other devices. You’ll be able to transfer files from one device to another.
- Internal Storage: Formatting your SD card as internal storage will allow you to store files and install apps on the SD card. However, you will not be able to use the SD card in other devices or transfer files from one device to another.
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Mount and format the SD card manually if necessary. If the SD card has previously been unmounted, does not mount automatically, or you want to reformat your SD card as portable or internal storage, use the following steps to manually mount and format the SD card:
- Swipe down from the upper-right corner.
- Tap the Gear icon in the upper-right corner to open the Settings menu.
- Tap Storage.
- Tap SD Card.
- Tap the icon with three dots (⋮) in the upper-right corner.
- Tap Storage Settings.
- Tap Format.
- Tap Format to format the card as internal storage, or tap Format another way to format it as portable storage.
- Tap Format.
You can access all files stored on the SD card using the Files app on your phone. If your phone does not have a Files app, you can download Files by Google for free from the Google Play Store.

Section 2 of 4:

Using a Samsung Galaxy

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1
Check if your phone supports SD expansion. Many newer phones are trending away from the use of SD and MicroSD cards are extended storage. Check the user's manual or manufacturer's web page for your phone model to see if it supports SD cards.
- If your phone does not have SD card support, you can get extra storage using a cloud-based storage service like Google Drive. You can also connect a USB-C SD card reader to your device, but you will only be able to use the SD card as portable storage.
- Most devices that support SD card storage will have an extra slot for the SD card in the SIM tray or an extra tray for the SD card. Look for a pinhole along the side of your device. Insert a pin or paperclip into the pinhole and eject the tray. See if it will hold an SD card.
- Warning: Mounting an SD card will erase all data on it. If your SD card is used and has any files on it you want to keep, be sure to back them up to a computer before mounting your SD card in your Android device.
To do so, press and hold the Power button and Volume Down button on the right side of your phone. Then tap Power off.
On most newer phones, the SD card is inserted in the SIM card tray. Locate the SIM card tray on the side of the phone. It's a small oval-shaped compartment with a pinhole on the side. Insert a paperclip or the SIM card removal tool that came with your phone in the pinhole and press down to eject the SIM card tray. Place the SD card in the holder that's shaped like an SD card. Then reinsert the tray back in the phone.^{[3]
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Press the button at the bottom of the phone. If your phone does not turn on, it is likely that it is out of power. Plug it into the wall charger for fifteen minutes and try again.^{[4]
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Mount and format the SD card. If the SD card has been previously unmounted or does not mount automatically, use the following steps to mount the SD card manually:
- Open the Settings menu.
- Tap Battery and device care.
- Tap Storage.
- Swipe right to select your SD card or tap SD card from the menu.
- Tap the icon with three dots (⋮) in the upper-right corner.
- Tap Format.
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Access your SD card using the My Files app. You can find the My Files app in the Samsung folder in the Apps menu. Alternatively, you can download the Files by Google app from the Google Play Store.

Section 3 of 4:

Using Other Devices

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Mount an SD card on a computer. To mount an SD card on a computer, simply insert it into an SD card reader. Windows, Mac, and Chromebook computers will recognize and mount the SD card automatically. You can access the SD card using File Explorer on Windows or Finder on Mac.
- To mount a microSD card on a computer, you may need to purchase a microSD card adapter. Insert the microSD card in the adapter and then place the SD card adapter into the SD card reader.
- If your computer doesn’t have a built-in SD card reader, you can purchase a USB SD card reader.
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Mount an SD card on an iPhone. iPhones don’t support microSD card storage. However, you can purchase a USB-C SD card reader and connect it to your iPhone’s charging port. You can browse the SD card using the Files app.

Section 4 of 4:

Checking for Hardware Problems

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Unmount and remount the SD card. If you are having problems accessing your SD card on an Android device, use the following steps to unmount and remount the SD card and see if it fixes the problem:
- Open the Settings menu.
- Tap Storage (it may be under Battery and device care.)
- Select SD Card.
- Tap the icon with three dots (⋮) in the upper-right corner.
- Tap Unmount.
- Remove and reinsert the SD card.
Look for missing gold prongs. Check to make sure there aren't any dents or damaged areas of the SD card. ^{[5]
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If the SD card appears dirty, you can clean it using a soft cloth and some lukewarm distilled water or metal cleaner. Make sure the SD card is completely dry before reinserting it into your device.
After removing the SD card and inspecting it for damage and dirt, reinsert it back into your phone and attempt to remount it. Sometimes ejecting it and reinserting it fixes any problems it might be having.
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Reformat the SD card in exFAT or FAT32 format. If you have previously been used in a different device, it may be formatted in the wrong format. Warning: This will erase all data on the SD card. Insert the SD card into an SD card reader on a computer and then use the following steps to reformat the SD card in the correct format:
- Windows:
  - Press Ctrl + E to open File Explorer.
  - Click This PC.
  - Right-click the SD card.
  - Click Format.
  - Select exFAT (recommended) or FAT32 below "File System."
  - Click Start.
- Mac:
  - Insert the SD card into your card reader, then open the Disk Utility app.
  - Select View > Show All Devices.
  - Select your SD card from the sidebar menu.
  - Click the icon that looks like a hard disk with an x on the left side in the toolbar.
  - A dialog window will pop up asking if you want to erase the disk. Select MS-DOS (FAT): or exFAT: from the dropdown menu.
  - Enter a name for your SD card.
  - Click Erase > Done.
If the SD card works properly in another device, then your SD card slot may be faulty on the original device in which the card was tested. If the SD card fails to mount to another device, you may need to replace the SD card. Make sure before you put your SD card into another device, that that device is also fully charged.

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Will the files that are already stored on my SD card remain on the card when I move it to another phone?

Community Answer

Yes, the SD card will act exactly like a USB or hard drive. You should make sure that the new phone can read the files and have a file browser that will access them, but the files will absolutely still be on the SD card.

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How do I keep my pictures safe?

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Keep a backup copy of your pictures online, using Google Drive, Dropbox, iCloud, or other such service.

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How do I fix an unexpectedly removed SD card error?

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Put it back in the computer and check if everything is there, then properly remove it by right clicking and selecting "eject."

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Tips

If you are required to manually mount your Android device every time you connect it to a computer, consider downloading a third-party application that will automatically complete the mounting process for you, such as “Auto Mount Your SD Card,” or “doubleTwist Player.”^{[6]
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Format your SD card as a last resort if your device continues to fail to mount and recognize your SD card. Formatting your SD card will erase all its contents, but may correct any software problems preventing your device from recognizing the card.

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Warnings

Do not stick your finger or an object into the SD port in order to try and fix it. This will only cause more internal damage and require you to get a new phone altogether.

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Do not bend the card as you take it out of the SD port. You want to take it out slowly and methodically, avoiding any damage.

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Do not remove your SD card as it is in the process of dismounting, mounting, or reformatting. This will result in corrupt data, and make the card useless.

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