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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

Gregory Simpson1 Author

Level 1

60 points

Posted on Nov 6, 2021 8:59 AM

Interesting. I tested several cards (all SanDisk) formatted in several different cameras, In my case every card labelled "Extreme PLUS" was a no-go (most of these were 90 mb/s)... All the cards labelled "Extreme PRO" were fine (even the ones as slow as 45 mb/s).

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84 replies

Feb 7, 2022 5:30 AM in response to boris165MAC

After Monterey 12.2 installed - the problem was solved. My Respect and Thanks.

Feb 14, 2022 12:28 PM in response to Gregory Simpson1

I had the same issue, but updating to osx 12.2 seems to have solved it as other have mentioned!

Woody77

Level 1

5 points

Mar 6, 2022 10:53 AM in response to Gregory Simpson1

I just ran into this as well, and the issue was resolved after updating to MacOS 12.2.1. I'm not sure if it was the reboot, or the software update, which resolved the issue for me.

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.

Apr 22, 2022 5:18 PM in response to RuthEE10

12.2 fixed it for the most part for me. Still a little slow at times. My 2013 MacBook Pro worked much better...until the SD card hardware failed after ~7 years.

May 6, 2022 1:18 AM in response to Gregory Simpson1

Same problem here with SD card reader, unusable on an MBP M1 which is about 1 month old. Will update to 12.2 and see if it get's fixed

SD Card Reader SUPER Slow in 2021 M1Pro MBP 16"