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All of a sudden three of my 4 SD cards won't fit in the slot (2012 Macbook Air). They used to - now, one after the other they simply won't go all the way in, the way my one working card does. There's no chance that the metal contacts are contacting - they won't go in far enough.
They fit fine in other slots on other machines. Why?
Your description supports your suspicion of an obstruction, but it is not readily apparent.
I suppose there is little harm in gently shaking or tapping the Mac (powered down, lid closed) in an effort to dislodge what may be a piece of debris that might be resting beneath one of the contacts, causing mechanical interference and preventing any possibility of electrical contact.
Shake and / or tap in various orientations. Maybe try using a vacuum, maybe try some compressed air, maybe a combination of those techniques.
Another advanced troubleshooting technique: have someone else look at the card that works vs. the ones that don't. Doesn't have to be a photographer or computer expert. Sometimes another set of eyeballs will notice something yours didn't.
If you don't get anywhere, physical disassembly will be required. Start here: Apple Repair.
Your description supports your suspicion of an obstruction, but it is not readily apparent.
I suppose there is little harm in gently shaking or tapping the Mac (powered down, lid closed) in an effort to dislodge what may be a piece of debris that might be resting beneath one of the contacts, causing mechanical interference and preventing any possibility of electrical contact.
Shake and / or tap in various orientations. Maybe try using a vacuum, maybe try some compressed air, maybe a combination of those techniques.
Another advanced troubleshooting technique: have someone else look at the card that works vs. the ones that don't. Doesn't have to be a photographer or computer expert. Sometimes another set of eyeballs will notice something yours didn't.
If you don't get anywhere, physical disassembly will be required. Start here: Apple Repair.
To state the obvious, be sure to install it in the correct orientation: Contacts "down" (facing the bottom of the Mac). If it's upside-down for example, it won't go in.
Here is a not-so-great picture of the inside of the SD card slot on a 2012 MBA:
Inspect yours for the possibility of an obstruction. If you find one, dislodging it could be tedious and something you may or may not want to do on your own.
Yep. Obvious. 😂 I've been using the same cards over the last several years with no issues. I do know how they fit in the slot. I'm a photographer and use them almost daily. There is no visible damage to any of the three that suddenly won't go in. They only go in about half way, compared to the one that still works. It's like they are being physically blocked. I'm mystified, especially since I can put them into my Windoze machine and into portable card readers just fine.
Inspect the cards themselves very carefully. After being used many, many times, the plastic can wear in certain spots. Compare the ones that do not work correctly to the one that does work. You may need to magnify them in some way to visually see the difference(s).
👍
I agree with SergZak's recommendation to inspect the cards themselves, but dismissed it as a possibility since it simultaneously affected three of the four cards, besides, they work in other machines. Identifying any difference between them and the one that works will be instructive.
In any event there's no particular technique to using SD cards; as you wrote you've been doing it every day for years.
Thanks. I'll have another look.
Why won't my SD Cards fit any more?
