I just bought a used 2021 16" MacBook Pro (M1) on eBay. The SD card reader doesn't work. I've tried two SD cards and I restarted the MacBook with the SD card in the reader. Is there anything else I can do? (Besides spending $10 on USB C SD card reader, I hate to lose one of the USB C ports.)
MacBook Pro (M1, 2020)
Although a 2021 Mac is not that old, I have a 2015 iMac and noticed that the SD card reader (which to my knowledge had never been used on that Mac) was not working. I shined a bright light into the slot and used a toothpick and tweezers to CAREFULLY remove visible dust in there. Then I used a compressed air container to CAREFULLY blow out any remaining dirt or dust. After that, the reader worked again. There are delicate contacts in the reader so one must be careful, use a light touch, and if using compressed air, not blow it directly into the slot but angle it slightly so it is indirect.
Although a 2021 Mac is not that old, I have a 2015 iMac and noticed that the SD card reader (which to my knowledge had never been used on that Mac) was not working. I shined a bright light into the slot and used a toothpick and tweezers to CAREFULLY remove visible dust in there. Then I used a compressed air container to CAREFULLY blow out any remaining dirt or dust. After that, the reader worked again. There are delicate contacts in the reader so one must be careful, use a light touch, and if using compressed air, not blow it directly into the slot but angle it slightly so it is indirect.
In that case, assuming the cards are recognized in other devices, it seems the card slot is bad. I’d say your options are
Launch Utilities > Disk Utility then insert an SD card, does it show up?
I just shined a flashlight in the slot, it looks dirty. I'll talk to the eBay seller about how to clean it. I would spray electronics cleaner and then compressed air.
Good advice. I only bid on MacBooks that had a warranty and return policy. I'll contact the seller.
Changing topics, are you familiar with Evelina Fedorenko's brain imaging of hyperpolyglots, at MIT? Her research was profiled in The New Yorker:
Thurman, Judith. “The Mystery of People Who Speak Dozens of Languages.” September 3, 2018, pages 48-55. https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2018/09/03/the-mystery-of-people-who-speak-dozens-of-languages
I'm developing an app that will give superpowers for learning languages by ear.
Cool stuff, thanks! I have heard of her, though I’m focused more on molecular than cognitive neuroscience.
SD card reader not working on 2021 MacBook Pro (M1)
