How to Fix Nintendo Switch Not Reading microSD Card: 6 Solutions

My microSD Card Is Not Recognized in Nintendo Switch

Nintendo Switch is a popular game console that supports microSD cards for extra game and screenshots storage. However, some users find that their microSD card is not recognized or readable in the Switch.

When this happens, downloaded games, screenshots, or captured videos stored on the card may become inaccessible.

But what causes this problem? Let’s look at the possible reasons why your Nintendo Switch is not reading the microSD card.

Why Is My Nintendo Switch Not Reading My microSD Card

The microSD card recognition issue may occur due to temporary glitches, compatibility problems, outdated software, or physical damage.

Here are the possible causes.

Temporary glitches.

Like any other electronic device, Nintendo Switch may run into temporary glitches. These glitches can prevent the console from detecting or reading the microSD card.

Improper card installation.

If the microSD card is not fully inserted into the slot or the contacts are not facing the right way, the console cannot establish a stable connection. This prevents the console from reading the card correctly.

Dust in the card slot.

If there is any dust or debris in the console’s card slot or the card contacts, the card may not be recognized.

Card incompatibility.

Nintendo Switch only supports microSD, microSDHC, and microSDXC cards. If your SD card is not supported, it cannot be recognized by the console.

Additionally, the Nintendo Switch 2 supports only microSD Express cards, not standard microSD cards.

Outdated Switch software.

Nintendo Switch needs up-to-date system software to recognize your SD card, especially if it is a microSDXC card. If the console system is outdated, the card cannot be detected, or you may receive error messages.

File system corruption.

If the microSD card’s file system is corrupted, the Switch may fail to read it. This can happen due to improper ejection, interrupted data transfer, etc.

Physical damage to the card.

Drops or mishandling of the microSD card can cause physical damage to the card. If the card is physically damaged, the Switch cannot detect it.

After knowing the common causes of “Nintendo Switch microSD card not reading”, let’s break down how to fix the problem.

The solutions include restarting the Switch, cleaning the card and slot, checking card compatibility, updating the Switch system, and formatting the card.

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Fix 1. Restart Nintendo Switch

If you insert the microSD card while the console is powered on or in sleep mode, the Switch may not recognize it. Restarting the console will reinitialize the system.

Even if the card has been working well for a long time, temporary system errors can occur after the Switch has been running for a while. This may prevent the console from reading the microSD card. Restarting the console can help fix these errors.

In addition, power fluctuations or hardware conflicts can also cause card recognition issues. Restarting the console can help establish a stable connection.

How to restart Nintendo Switch?

Step 1. Hold down the Power button on the top of the console for three seconds.

Step 2. Select Power Options from the Power menu.

Step 3. Select Restart to reboot the Switch.

If holding the Power button for 3 seconds does not open the Power menu, keep holding it for 12 seconds or more to force the Switch to shut down.

If after restarting the console, the card is still not detected, try the next solution.

Fix 2. Clean the microSD card Slot

If there is any dust and debris in the card slot or contacts, the console may not detect the microSD card. So, it is necessary to check for any dirt and clean it.

How to clean the Nintendo Switch microSD card slot or contacts?

Step 1. Completely power off the Switch.

Step 2. Remove the card from the console and check for any dust or debris.

Step 3. Use a can of compressed air to gently blow out any dust or debris from the slot. Clean the card’s metal contacts with a soft and dry cloth.

Step 4. Reinsert the card into the console properly. Then, restart the Switch and check whether it detects the card.

If the card and the card slot are clean, but the Switch still cannot read the card, there may be compatibility issues.

Fix 3. Ensure the microSD Card Is Compatible With Nintendo Switch

Not all microSD cards are supported by the Nintendo Switch. Using an incompatible card can prevent the console from recognizing it.

Which microSD cards are supported on Switch?

The following types of microSD cards are supported:

• microSD (up to 2 GB)
• microSDHC (4 GB – 32 GB)
• microSDXC (64 GB and above)

If the current card is not compatible with Nintendo Switch, replace it with a compatible one.

Fix 4. Check for Nintendo Switch System Update

Keeping your console up to date ensures compatibility with your microSD card. Make sure to install the latest system update.

How to perform a system update on Nintendo Switch?

Step 1. Turn on your Switch and go to the System Settings menu.

Step 2. Scroll down the menu and select System.

Step 3. Select the System Update option to start the system update process.

If the console is already running the latest system version but your microSD card is still not being read, the card may be faulty or have a corrupted file system. In this case, try formatting the card.

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Fix 5. Format the microSD Card for Switch

How to format the microSD card when the Switch cannot detect it? For better control and reliability, it is recommended to format the card on a computer.

However, formatting removes all files on the card permanently. So, if there are important game, screenshots, or videos on the card, recover them first.

Process 1. Recover Files on the microSD Card

MiniTool Power Data Recovery is a professional data recovery tool designed for recovering files on Windows. Supported file types include photos, videos, and other types of files.

This software fully supports microSD cards used in Nintendo Switch and works well with file systems such as exFAT, FAT32, NTFS, etc.

The recovery process is completely read-only. It will not write to or overwrite any existing data on the card. Even if the microSD card’s file system is corrupted or damaged, the recovery is easy and safe.

This free data recovery software allows you to recover up to 1 GB of files for free. Get it and follow the steps below to recover your files.

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Step 1. Scan the microSD Card.

Make sure the microSD card is well connected to your computer. Then launch the MiniTool data recovery software.

On the main interface, find your microSD card under Logical Drives and click the Scan button on it to start scanning.

Wait for the scanning process to finish, and you will get the best and most complete scan results.

Step 2. Find and Preview Found Files.

Once the scan is complete, you can start locating the files you want to recover.

You can browse the recovered files in two ways: by Path or Type. Path organizes files according to their original folder structure, while Type groups files by file type and format.

If there are many files, you can use Filter or Search to find your files more quickly. Filter allows you to filter files by type, size, modification date, or category. Search lets you look for a specific file by entering its full or partial name.

In addition, you can preview a file by double-clicking it.

Step 3. Save Needed Files.

Tick all required files and click the Save button. When the new small window appears, select a new location and click OK to store the ticked files.

Since the free edition of this recovery tool only supports recovering 1 GB of files for free, if you want to recover more, you need to upgrade to a Professional edition.

After recovering your files, it is time to format the microSD card.

Process 2. Format the microSD Card

The Nintendo Switch microSD card format should be either FAT32 or exFAT. I will share 4 options with you for formatting the card to one of these file systems.

Option 1. From File Explorer.

You can format your microSD card directly from File Explorer.

Step 1. Open File Explorer and go to the This PC section.

Step 2. Right-click your microSD card and choose Format.

Step 3. Expand the File system option and choose FAT32 or exFAT. Then type a volume label, and click the Start button.

Step 4. Click OK, and wait for the process to complete.

Option 2. Via Disk Management.

Using Disk Management, you can format your microSD card similarly to File Explorer.

Step 1. Right-click the Start button and choose Disk Management.

Step 2. Right-click the microSD card partition and choose Format.

Step 3. Type a volume label, choose a proper file system, and click OK.

Step 4. Hit OK again to confirm.

Option 3. Use CMD.

If you prefer command-line tools, you can format the microSD card using CMD.

Step 1. Type cmd in the Windows search box. Then, right-click Command Prompt and choose Run as administrator.

Step 2. Input the following command lines one by one and press Enter after each:

• diskpart
• list volume
• select volume # (replace # with the volume number of your microSD card)
• format fs=exfat quick (if needed, you can replace exfat with fat32)

Option 4. Run MiniTool Partition Wizard.

If you encounter errors while formatting the microSD card, run MiniTool Partition Wizard. It is a free partition manager that supports formatting a drive to FAT32, exFAT, NTFS, and other file systems without any cost.

Click the button below to get MiniTool Partition Wizard and give it a try.

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Step 1. Run this partition manager. On its home page, select the microSD card partition, and choose Format Partition from the left menu.

Step 2. Set the partition label, file system, and click OK.

Step 3. Click Apply in the lower left corner to confirm the formatting.

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Fix 6. Replace the microSD Card

If your Nintendo Switch continues to have issues reading the microSD card even after formatting, the problem may be due to a faulty card or a hardware issue.

In this case, try replacing the microSD card with a new and compatible one. If the new card works, the old one is likely faulty and needs to be replaced. If the problem persists, contact Nintendo Switch support for repair assistance.

After learning several solutions to fix microSD card recognition issues on your Nintendo Switch, let’s take some preventive measures to avoid similar problems in the future.

How to Prevent Switch microSD Card Recognition Issues

To avoid issues with your Nintendo Switch not reading a microSD card, follow these tips:

• Use compatible high-quality microSD cards. Switch supports microSD (up to 2 GB), microSDHC (4 GB – 32 GB), and microSDXC (64 GB – 2 TB), while Switch 2 supports microSD Express (up to 2TB). Brands like SanDisk or Samsung reduce recognition issues.
• Insert the card correctly. Shut off the console before removing or inserting your microSD card. Also, insert the card fully until you hear a click.
• Keep console software up to date. Switch system updates sometimes fix microSD card compatibility issues.
• Avoid physical damage. Keep the card away from bending, moisture, dust, and debris.

Conclusion

To sum up, if your microSD card is not recognized by the Nintendo Switch, first restart the console or reinsert the card. Next, make sure the card is supported and the system software is up to date.

If all the basic troubleshooting steps are completed but the card is still not detected, the next step is to format the card to restore its functionality. To avoid data loss, use MiniTool Power Data Recovery to perform SD card recovery before formatting.  

For any questions about MiniTool’s software, please feel free to contact the support team at [email protected].