How do I fix SD card not recognized on my MacBook Pro M4?

Question

How do I fix SD card not recognized on my MacBook Pro M4?

Hi, I have a 14 inch M4 MBP running Sequoia 15.4 that won't read an SD card from the internal SD slot. The computer will not read a standard SD card, nor a microSD card inserted into a SanDisk adapter then inserted into the MBP SD card slot. The card does not mount, is not showing in finder and does not appear under External in Disk Utility. BUT, all cards will mount if I utilize an external SD Card -> USB C dongle.

Note: The internal SD Card reader has worked in the past. Also note, I have restarted the machine, updated the latest software (now 15.4), and that one cannot reset the NVRAM on an M4.

Thoughts?

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Posted on Apr 9, 2025 12:16 PM

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Answer 1

Owl-53

Level 10

102,985 points

Apr 10, 2025 7:10 AM in response to KevinCloutier

Thanks to fellow contributor @ HWTech

point of reference and context

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/255732726?answerId=260728932022&sortBy=oldest_first#260728932022

sudo nvram -c

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Answer 2

bhanu5567

Level 3

572 points

Apr 9, 2025 10:51 PM in response to KevinCloutier

start by restarting your Mac to resolve potential software glitches.

Inspect the SD card for physical damage and ensure it's unlocked; also, clean the SD card slot to remove any debris.

Test the SD card with another device or use a different card to determine if the issue lies with the card or the Mac.

In Finder Preferences, confirm that "External disks" is selected under both the General and Sidebar tabs to ensure SD cards appear correctly.

Open Disk Utility to check if the SD card is listed; if it appears but isn't mounted, select it and click "Mount," or use "First Aid" to repair disk errors.

Ensure your macOS is up to date by going to System Settings > General > Software Update.

If problems persist, resetting the System Management Controller (SMC) and NVRAM/PRAM may help.

Persistent issues might indicate a hardware problem, so contacting Apple Support or visiting an Apple Authorized Service Provider is advisable.

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Answer 3

Owl-53

Level 10

102,985 points

Apr 10, 2025 5:17 AM in response to bhanu5567

bhanu5567 wrote:

If problems persist, resetting the System Management Controller (SMC) and NVRAM/PRAM may help.

All good suggestions 👍

An important element that may need some updating

Apple Silicon Computers do not have an SMC nor can one reset the NVRAM

I am aware of a Terminal Command to reset the NVRAM for M-Class computer

I just do not know that command is 😔

refer link below

Reset the SMC of your Mac

Reset NVRAM on your Mac

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Answer 4

Apr 10, 2025 5:45 AM in response to Owl-53

I don't believe any of these suggestions differ from what I put in the original post, maybe I am missing something? For example, the link for NVRAM explicitly says "The steps to reset NVRAM don't apply to Mac computers with Apple silicon, and aren't needed on those computers."

Am I missing the command you mentioned, if so, please let me know as I would like to try more debugging before contacting apple about a warranty on a 4 month old computer, but both of these response lead me to believe I have done all that's possible from a user perspective. Def. correct me if I'm wrong wrong, please!

Thanks

Thanks for the help,

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