SD Card Reader SUPER Slow in 2021 M1Pro MBP 16"

I have this issue as well. Extremely annoying. There's no reason why I should have to upgrade my Sandisk extreme Pro UHS-I cards if they work perfectly for me.

When I use an external reader they work fine, the issue is only with the built in reader.

Ive submitted a bug report.

Still very slow after upgrading to MacOS 12.1. The card is SanDisk 128GB Extreme PRO SDXC UHS-I Card (SDSDXXG-128G-GN4IN), formatted using Sony A7III camera.

The above card works fine on my early 2013 Retina MacBook Pro 15.

Another card that I have, Sony 128GB UHS-II card, works fine on the new M1 Pro 16".

I finally received my MBP M1Max, and I just experienced this issue, which I hadn't heard about previously, though now I see how many people are affected. Horribly slow and crashed when reading from my SanDisk Extreme Pro 95mb/s card. Confirmed that using my older Avotch USB-C dongle worked as it had on my 2017 that I just replaced. While the card reader was not nearly the main reason I upgraded, I was really looking forward to having that slot back. Apple needs to fix/replace depending whether it's hardware or software. With the problem as widespread as it is, it's hard to understand how they didn't catch it prerelease.

It would seem that all posts are omitting the software used to import the images. My experience is similar to everyone else's when I attempt to import images into Adobe Lightroom Classic (Version 11.1 Universal Application) Sometimes I get the window, sometimes I crash. Never get to import.

I attempted the import with Apples Photos app. same stack of images. They imported so fast that I didn't even realize it was done. (8 raw images taken with my dslr)

Just wanted to see if anyone's else slow issues are across the board in every app or just specific apps. Perhaps we need to be in Adobe's forums...

This is completely unacceptable! I bought this to replace a 2015 iMac; its internal SD Card runs circles around this thing. So disappointed - I feel like many corners were cut to deliver the 2021 M1Pro MBP 16" in some dumb update cycle regime. Apple please develop a fix or issue us refunds for these models. It is absolutely ridiculous to market this to creative pros and have such a slow interface on an internal. Not happy at all.

Just the Finder in my case, no third-party software involved. However, my problem cards are now working fine after the macOS 12.1 update (which is perhaps consistent with Apple's Photos working properly for you).

I would be surprised if this was a problem with Adobe, or other, software. If that software is working OK with an external reader then the only thing that's changed is the card reader and its "device driver" – whatever parts of macOS that present the device to the application software.

Looks like it may well be related to the particular card.

When reporting the problem, I'm sure it would help Apple if people gave as much info as possible about the card they were using (manufacturer, size, speed, all the stuff that's printed on it).

after upgrading my OS to 12.1 and making sure all Apple software was updated as well, I saw signifigant improvement in copying files in the finder.

Imports using apple photos and apple image capture were also fast.

For My Adobe Lightroom issues, I matched my preferences to those found in this video from Adobe: https://youtu.be/ArbjC-kc034

This improved my performance in Adobe Lightroom Classic as well.

Although all of these measures provided improved performance I went ahead and upgraded my SD Card from a Sandisk Ultra Plus to a Sandisk Extreme Pro with 170 mb/s read speed, and SDXC "type" indicator. This new card seems/feels much faster overall in both the camera and on the laptop transfers.

My only regret with my M1Pro is that I didn't opt for 32GB of RAM. :(

I've had this issue too since the first time I used the sd card reader. I have a MBP 14 M1Pro. At first I thought it was a problem with the sd card, but it kept happening with other sd cards.

I've called apple twice about it, and they just tell me that I need to go to the store or send the computer in so they can replace the reader. Kind of frustrating to be without a computer for that long. I asked if apple knew about the issue and if they know anything, and they couldnt comment on it.

Does anyone know if this is a software issue or hardware issue?

I think it's software. Specifically Finder. It has been a nightmare to work with since I started using a Mac 10 years ago. There was one period of time where the copy/paste didn't work. Just glitchy.

This SD card issue is hit or miss. Fast sometimes, slow most of the time. Surely it's a software issue.

My problems on 16" MBP seemed to be fixed by macOS 12.1. Still with the same card, I did a couple of biggish uploads via Finder with decent performance. Then, out of the blue, with another 100 Raw images to transfer (20-25MB each), all the problems reappeared. I have made no changes to the card except taking the extra photos.

I now again see big delays before anything happens. So big in this case (a minute or so with nothing transferred) that I cancelled the transfer. With that also locked-up, and time pressing, I resorted to pulling the card out. That left the Finder unable to see the reinserted card at all (several attempts). Only a reboot resolved the situation.

Roll on 12.2?

Went to download photos from a Sandisk Extreme 90 MB/s 32 GB this morning and had all kinds of issues with my MBP 14 with the new Silicone...think it must be M1Pro? I downloaded to 3 computers. First was a Imac (2021 intel) no issues and the download took less than a minute. Then did the same on my 16" MBP (2020) via an external reader...less than a minute. Finally used the SD card slot in the MBP 14 and all **** broke loose. Computer didn't show the card unless i want into the disk utility. Couldn't download and couldn't eject because I was getting a 'volume couldn't eject because it's in use". As per the Apple tec I shut the laptop down, took out the card, reinstalled the OS (same to same 12.1 to 12.1). Turn the computer on and now it sees the card but tells me it will take 40 minutes to download. Couldn't eject the SD card so shut everything down again. Plugged in my external reader and the download took about 20 seconds.

Was on the phone with Apple support twice and bumped up to second tier twice and disconnected twice. Not sure it was Apple's fault but they had my phone # and I waited for a call back...nothing.

Next step was to take the card (This one was a Sandisk, 32 GB Pixtor @ 48 MB's) out of another camera and do the whole download/archive routine. In the card slot in the iMac, external reader for the MBP then on to the card slot on the MBP 14. Much more data on this card and each transfer took about 4 minutes. No issues on the MBP 14.

I could push this all out of my mind since the second card from another camera seemed to work fine on all the computers and no issues on the MBP 14. But one of the key reasons for buying this laptop was to be able to use it in the field and do downloads there instead of in my office. So what happens when this issue comes up again...when I'm out in the field doing a shoot?

Doesn't seem quite so random, but then...it does seem random. Apple initially said it wasn't a known problem. I tried to point them to this thread.

So, Apple, how about letting us know what's going on? Have to travel tomorrow but when I get back I may try to escalate this to tier 3 or higher...maybe a replacement computer would solve the problem but how do I know? Will push though.

Andrew

If you are using card that are already UHS-i or falser, and performance is still poor, you may have a Hardware issue in the reader hardware.

You may wish to make an appointment at your local genius bar at an Apple-owned store for a free evaluation.

Apple-Authorized Service Providers can provide an evaluation, but they are free to charge an "evaluation fee" to keep you from taking up the time of their expensive technicians with trivial problems or non-problems. If you obtain warranty service or pay for any other service, be sure to ask for a refund of the evaluation fee. The worst they can say is, "no".

ANY time you may hand over your Mac for service, you MUST have a complete Trusted backup of all your files on a separate, local disk you keep at home. If there is a serious problem detected and the mainboard needs to be replaced, your drive is soldered to that board, and will NOT be returned to you.

<< Tomorrow I'm returning my unit back to the store ... >>

You are welcome to return your unit for a full refund, provided you bought direct from Apple in the same country, and you are within the 14-day free refund/exchange window.

<< ... and get a new one... >>

... there may be a little problem with that part. In my area, the next available base model can be delivered 22 Feb at this writing.

It would be really useful to have an official Apple opinion on this.

Getting a replacement machine creates a lot of work in rebuilding it, not to mention downtime during the replacement process (and it's very wasteful too). If Apple had a bad batch of card readers then that will be a necessity but it may be a macOS issue, in which case we can just tough it out until there's a fix.

I have been hoping for the latter so am tolerating it for now but it would be polite to tell us what's happening.