SD Card Reader SUPER Slow in 2021 M1Pro MBP 16"

So I know Apple didn't splurge for a top-o-the-line SD card reader in the new 16" 2021 MacBook Pro, but this is ridiculous. The SD Card reader is insanely slow. How slow? Pop in an SD Card with only 30 16GB RAW files on it, and it takes 30+ minutes to import the files to Lightroom Classic. Used the SD card reader in my 5 year-old OWC Thunderbolt port, and the same card will import in 30 seconds.

Anyone have a clue what could be causing the SD Card reader to do this?

MacBook Pro 16″, macOS 12.0

Posted on Nov 3, 2021 8:43 PM

Top-ranking reply

Hamptongar

Level 1

12 points

Posted on Jan 28, 2022 9:48 AM

I added to this thread about ten days ago. Had an SD card that just made my 14" MBP go bonkers. Wouldn't show up in finder, couldn't eject or read. Finally got it to read and it said the download would take about 40 mins for some very small files. Spend time on the phone with Apple, got to tier 2 tec (disconnected twice) and they said they'd had no similar reports in spite of this active thread. Used an external reader and the files downloaded in less than ten seconds.

Upgraded OS to 2.2 last night and just inserted the same SD that I'd had the issues with. It showed up on the desktop and finder in a flash and downloaded just as fast.

I guess Apple solved the problem they allegedly never had. Good work for a job not done.

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84 replies

pbredtag

Level 1

8 points

Jan 28, 2022 11:56 AM in response to Hamptongar

Strange that you got that info. I contacted them a month ago. They confirmed that it was a problem

RuthEE10

Level 1

8 points

Mar 9, 2022 2:47 AM in response to Command_F

Many thanks. Updated and it’s working perfectly now. 👍😁

ueli274

Level 1

0 points

Apr 9, 2022 1:19 AM in response to Command_F

I just did and ok, now it's working! Very glad.

derek126

Level 1

8 points

Apr 21, 2022 3:52 PM in response to Gregory Simpson1

Just got my 16" MBP - one of the reasons to use the SD Slot - APPLE GET YOU ACT TOGETHER!!

derek126

Level 1

8 points

Apr 21, 2022 11:29 PM in response to RuthEE10

It's a brand new machine I received yesterday - and I did update the OS to the current version thanks.

Dec 23, 2021 1:27 PM in response to Gregory Simpson1

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.

Jan 23, 2022 3:29 PM in response to Rebelvue

<< 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.

Nov 21, 2021 1:01 PM in response to Gregory Simpson1

Not so. Mainly because I have newer and older cards and they are all slow. But if I plug them into a dongle they work fine. Something needs to be updated

Jan 26, 2022 11:04 AM in response to tomb777

Perhaps your card reader Hardware died.

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SD Card Reader SUPER Slow in 2021 M1Pro MBP 16"