The disk you attached was not readable by this computer

Every time i connect a sd card to my imac or macbook like from my dash cam or from my gopro a window pops up and says The disk you attached was not readable by this computer why does this happen and how do i fix it

iMac 24″

Posted on Sep 1, 2024 2:07 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Sep 1, 2024 7:39 AM

The issue you're encountering typically happens when macOS cannot recognize the file system on the SD card.


Why this can happen are:

  • The SD card might be formatted in a file system that macOS doesn't natively support.
  • The SD card might be corrupted or damaged, leading to unreadable data that macOS can't handle.
  • Sometimes, the issue can be related to how the SD card is mounted or detected by macOS.


Some ways to try to fix it:

  • Try inserting the SD card into the device it was used with to see if it can still read the card. If it does, the data might still be intact, and the issue is with macOS's ability to read the file system.
  • Connect the SD card to your Mac, and when the error message appears, click "Ignore." In Disk Utility, see if the SD card is recognized. Check the file system type (it will say something like FAT32, exFAT, or something else).
  • If it's a file system that macOS should recognize (like exFAT or FAT32), the card might be corrupted. In this case, try repairing the disk using Disk Utility by selecting the card and clicking "First Aid."
  • If the card is readable in Disk Utility but not mounting correctly, you might need to reformat it. Make sure to back up any important data first. Use either exFAT or FAT32 for the file system type.
1 reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Sep 1, 2024 7:39 AM in response to 41guzmanpabloATX

The issue you're encountering typically happens when macOS cannot recognize the file system on the SD card.


Why this can happen are:

  • The SD card might be formatted in a file system that macOS doesn't natively support.
  • The SD card might be corrupted or damaged, leading to unreadable data that macOS can't handle.
  • Sometimes, the issue can be related to how the SD card is mounted or detected by macOS.


Some ways to try to fix it:

  • Try inserting the SD card into the device it was used with to see if it can still read the card. If it does, the data might still be intact, and the issue is with macOS's ability to read the file system.
  • Connect the SD card to your Mac, and when the error message appears, click "Ignore." In Disk Utility, see if the SD card is recognized. Check the file system type (it will say something like FAT32, exFAT, or something else).
  • If it's a file system that macOS should recognize (like exFAT or FAT32), the card might be corrupted. In this case, try repairing the disk using Disk Utility by selecting the card and clicking "First Aid."
  • If the card is readable in Disk Utility but not mounting correctly, you might need to reformat it. Make sure to back up any important data first. Use either exFAT or FAT32 for the file system type.

This thread has been closed by the system or the community team. You may vote for any posts you find helpful, or search the Community for additional answers.

The disk you attached was not readable by this computer

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