Level 1

36 points

SD Card not showing up in Finder Sidebar (other removable drives do) - Big Sur

Since I upgraded to Big Sur, SD Cards inserted into my 2015 MPB 15" do not show up in the Finder Sidebar. They do appear on the desktop and and in Finder windows under my Mac.

Other removable drives (e.g. USB drives) show up and disappear when ejected as normal.

I checked in Finder Preferences and removable drives are checked on under the Sidebar items.

If an SD Card is mounted, I can drag-and-drop its icon to the sidebar. However, once ejected, its entry remains on the Sidebar. Clicking on it obviously doesn't work since the SD Card is no longer inserted/mounted.

On Catalina SD Cards used to behave like any other removable drives. That is, they would automatically appear on the Finder Sidebar when mounted, and I could eject them from there as well. After ejecting them they would automatically disappear from the Sidebar.

Anybody else experiencing this?

Posted on Nov 16, 2020 6:25 PM

Top-ranking reply

Old Toad

Level 10

215,196 points

Posted on Dec 5, 2020 2:44 PM

Boot into Safe Mode by booting with the Shift key held down and check there to see if the problem persists. Reboot normally and test again.

NOTE: Safe Mode boot can take up to 10 minutes as it's doing the following;

• Verifies your startup disk and attempts to repair directory issues, if needed

• Loads only required kernel extensions (prevents 3rd party kernel/extensions from loading)

• Prevents Startup Items and Login Items from opening automatically

• Disables user-installed fonts

• Deletes font caches, kernel cache, and other system cache files

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65 replies

burdell1

Level 1

34 points

May 22, 2021 9:54 PM in response to JeffersonW

I have the same problem and the only cards I use are from my Sony cameras

Old Toad

Level 10

215,196 points

Nov 22, 2020 12:21 PM in response to Ikester

Does the SD card show up on the Desktop when it's inserted into the reader?

Boot into Safe Mode by booting with the Shift key held down and check there to see if the problem persists. Reboot normally and test again.

NOTE: Safe Mode boot can take up to 10 minutes as it's doing the following;

• Verifies your startup disk and attempts to repair directory issues, if needed

• Loads only required kernel extensions (prevents 3rd party kernel/extensions from loading)

• Prevents Startup Items and Login Items from opening automatically

• Disables user-installed fonts

• Deletes font caches, kernel cache, and other system cache files

Dec 5, 2020 1:16 PM in response to Ikester

I recently updated to Big Sur (2017 MacBook Pro) and as a working photojournalist this is really hampering my work flow. Happy, I guess, that it's not just me experiencing this.

When in the field I usually have PhotoMechanic and Photoshop taking up all the screen space and typically don't even see the desktop or need to since I navigate with the Finder.

I, too, hope the capability to see SD cards in the Sidebar is restored. I noticed when I popped a CF card in the other day that those still show up, but I only use mirrorless cameras now and those take SD cards.

Nov 19, 2020 10:43 AM in response to Ikester

Same here on 2019 MBP 16".

Dec 5, 2020 2:38 PM in response to Old Toad

Well, maybe it's just Sony cards that won't show up, then. They appear on the desktop all right, as "Untitled 1."

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SD Card not showing up in Finder Sidebar (other removable drives do) - Big Sur