After a long trip out of town, in which you have taken so many photographs with your smartphone and / or with your digital camera, you have decided to transfer the shots to your computer, so that you can review them and, if necessary, edit and share (with the your family or on social networks).
But soon after taking apart the phone or camera to retrieve the memory card, you realized you didn’t have a clue how to properly connect it to your computer. Don’t worry, here I am going to explain to you all the possibilities at your disposal regarding how to read the SD card on a PC .
In this regard, you must know that there are multiple ways to do this, even without putting too much hand in your wallet. Below are all the indications of the case. That said, there is nothing left for me to do but wish you a good read!
Index
- Identify the SD card format
- microSD
- SD Card
- Nano SD/Nano Memory Card (NM)
- Other types of memory cards
- How to read SD card on PC with built-in reader
- How to read SD card on PC without built-in reader
- How to read the files on the SD card
- Windows
- macOS
Identify the SD card format
Before explaining how to read SD card on PC , I think it is right to inform you about the existing formats . In fact, there is not a single type of memory card on the market, so before you even try to insert the one you have in your computer, you must learn to recognize it, so as to use the right slot in the card reader. An incorrect evaluation of the SD card format can also damage, often irreversibly, the card itself or the reader. Below you will find information on the main types of SD cards on sale .
microSD
One of the most popular formats of memory cards, to date, is microSD , which is the most compact size ( 15 x 11 x 1 mm ), suitable for use with smartphones that support internal memory expansion or with consoles . such as Nintendo Switch (in the latter case I suggest you get well informed about compatibility, perhaps also taking a look at my guide on the best accessories for Nintendo Switch ).
This card is roughly the size of a fingernail, has various types of speeds and very good capacities (cuts can even reach 2TB). It is a very widespread category of memory card, thanks to the success obtained on Android smartphones (even if the latter are slowly increasing the available internal storage), but it can also be used on reflex cameras and the like, with support for the SD Card format. using the appropriate SD adapter , often included in the microSD package.
Samsung Memory MB-MC64GA EVO Plus 64 GB microSD card, UHS-I U3, …
See offer on Amazon
Samsung MB-MC128GA/EU EVO Plus Scheda MicroSD 128GB, UHS-I, Class…
See offer on Amazon
Amazon Basics Microsdxc, 128 Gb, With Adapter Sd, A2, U3, Speed D …
See offer on Amazon
SanDisk UHS-I microSDXC Card for Nintendo Switch 128GB – Product co …
See offer on Amazon
Given the size, it is not difficult to recognize the microSD slot on a memory card reader: this is usually the smallest one (the width of the card in question is only 11 millimeters), and can be identified via the MicroSD , TransFlash or TF label next to the slot. If you’re interested in the matter, you might be interested in taking a look at my guide on which SD card to buy .
SD Card
The SD Card format (also known simply as SD card ) is a format that is still quite widespread in the field of photography and digital video cameras , due to its small size, albeit larger than that of microSD cards ( 32 x 24 x 2, 1 mm ), high writing and reading speeds and potential in terms of capacity (an SD Card can reach cuts up to 1 TB ).
Therefore, for those who need quick backups, these are still among the best cards available on the market, having outclassed all other types of rival cards over time (MultiMediaCard, CompactFlash Card, xD Card and Memory Stick Pro Card). The SD slot is not difficult to recognize, even if in a classic card reader there are various slots all very similar to each other; the SD slot is recognizable by its specific width ( 24 mm ) and is often accompanied by the writing SD or SD Card as a label.
Sandisk Ultra 32Gb Sdhc Scheda, Fino A 120 Mb/S, Class 10, Uhs-I, V10,…
See offer on Amazon
SanDisk Ultra 64GB SDXC Scheda, fino a 120 MB/s, Class 10, UHS-I, V10
See offer on Amazon
SanDisk Extreme Memory Card, SDXC 128GB up to 150MB / s, C …
See offer on Amazon
SanDisk Extreme PRO, 64 GB SDXC Memory Card Up To 170 MBs, No …
See offer on Amazon
Lexar Professional 2000x 64GB SD Card, UHS-I SDXC Memory Card …
See offer on Amazon
You may also still find, on some readers, the wording SD / MMC on the SD card slot: this is because the MultiMediaCard format is compatible with the SD Card slot. In an SD Card slot you can also insert a microSD card , provided you use the adapter , as I explained to you in the previous chapter of the guide .
Kingston Canvas Select Plus SDCS2/128GB Scheda microSD Classe 10 con A…
See offer on Amazon
Kingston Canvas Select Plus SDCS2/64GB Scheda microSD Classe 10 con Ad…
See offer on Amazon
Do not insert the microSD card without an adapter into the slot reserved for SD Cards : you would run the risk of dropping the small card into the large slot, without being able to recover it safely (you could damage the contacts in an attempt to recover it and, among other things, take an electric shock). In any case, you might be interested in consulting my tutorial on which SD to buy for a reflex .
Nano SD/Nano Memory Card (NM)
Net of the aforementioned microSD (generally designed for smartphones and consoles) and SD Cards (generally indicated for video cameras), there is also the nanoSD format , also known as Nano Memory Card or NM .
We refer to a type of memory card more recent than the others: it has the same dimensions as a nanoSIM ( 12.30 x 8.80 mm ) and is available in sizes starting from 128 GB .
At the time of writing this guide, there are no readers compatible with this type of memory card: it is currently only compatible with certain models of Huawei smartphones .
Huawei 06010396 Nano Memory Card, 128 GB, Compatible only with Mate 20 …
See offer on Amazon
Other types of memory cards
Earlier I referred to microSD , SD Card and nanoSD , which are the most used formats nowadays, but clearly you may come across other formats that are a little less popular.
For completeness of information, I will therefore briefly illustrate the memory card formats that you can still find in the devices in use until a few years ago .
- CompactFlash Cards: These appear as 8 x 36.4 mm cards , with a thickness that varies depending on the type ( type I is 3.3 mm thick , while type II is 5 mm thick ). Capacity ranges from 16MB up to 128GB.
- xD-Picture Card: they look like cards of 20 x 25 x 1.78 mm . The capacity is at most 2 GB, so you can consider it a fairly obsolete format.
Olympus xD Picture Card 1 GB type M memory card
See offer on Amazon
- MultiMediaCard: the ancestors of the SD format, they appear as 32 x 24 x 1.4 mm cards , but there are also two smaller versions (RS-MMC from 18 x 24 x 1.4 mm and mobile MMC from 14mm x 11mm x 1.1mm). They have the same contacts as SD cards, so they can be plugged into the same reader slot in most cases.
Hama MultiMediaCard 64 MB
See offer on Amazon
- Memory Stick: This is a memory card format produced by Sony and dedicated to its devices. It comes in various versions: Memory Stick (standard and Pro), with dimensions of 50 x 20 x 2.5 mm , and Memory Stick Duo (standard and Pro), with dimensions of 30 x 20 x 1.5 mm . The maximum capacity is 64 GB, but the format has fallen out of use as Sony, over time, has preferred to adopt the SD and microSD formats.
Sony Memory Stick Pro 8GB High Speed 50MB / s – Memory Card …
See offer on Amazon
Sony MSHX32B2 Memory Stick PRO Duo 32GB – 50MB/s Reading, Nero
See offer on Amazon
If you find yourself in front of an “unknown” card, read the label carefully and compare the dimensions with those shown above: you will easily be able to recognize it.
How to read SD card on PC with built-in reader
Now that I’ve shown you how to recognize the main existing SD card formats , it’s time to go ahead and understand how to read their content via your computer’s built-in reader , if any.
Usually, on desktop PCs , it is present in the front part of the body, with the various slots in plain sight (in some cases the reader could be protected by a flap, in order to avoid accumulation of dust). In this case, identify the most suitable entry for the card in your possession and, gently but above all without forcing, insert it in the correct direction .
On notebooks , as a rule, there is only the SD Card slot : all you have to do is identify the appropriate slot (usually located on the sides of the laptop or just below the touchpad, on the front) and insert the SD card (or the microSD with adapter ).
On some notebook models, you may also find a “dummy” SD card inserted into the slot, useful to protect it from dust (obviously you have to remove it every time you intend to use it).
How to read SD card on PC without built-in reader
Does your computer not have a built-in card reader , or do you have a reader that is not compatible with your memory card? You don’t have to worry, all is not lost.
In fact, external card readers are available on the market , whether they are convenient “keys” (the solution I consider most convenient) or hubs that can be connected to the computer via USB , able to perform the task of reading their own. content.
All models are generally self- installing , therefore they do not need any type of additional driver to work correctly on Windows or Mac .
Trust Robson Mini Card Reader Memory card reader
See offer on Amazon
USB 3.0 Card Reader, 7 in 1 SD/TF/CF/MS/XD/Micro SD Card Reader…
See offer on Amazon
zedela SD Card Reader, Micro SD Reader, 7 in 1 USB 3.0 Card Reader …
See offer on Amazon
Trust Halyx Fast USB-C Hub and Card Reader, 5 Gbps with USB 3.2 G …
See offer on Amazon
Beikell SD / Micro SD Card Reader, USB 3.0 Memory Card Adapter …
See offer on Amazon
UGREEN USB 3.0 Lettore Schede SD TF CF MS, Card Reader 4 in 1 USB A, L…
See offer on Amazon
How to read the files on the SD card
Now that you know the methods for inserting the SD card into your computer , it’s time to find out how to access the files on it, using both the Windows File Explorer and the macOS Finder . It is very simple, as you will see through the instructions below.
Windows
If you have a computer with Windows , reading the memory card is really very simple, since the necessary drivers are already integrated into the operating system (even in the case of older OS, such as Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 , let alone for what concerns Windows 10 and Windows 11 ).
In any case, to access the contents of the card, all you have to do is insert it into the reader or into a USB port using an external reader , wait a few seconds and start File Explorer / Explorer , by clicking on the yellow folder icon located in the bar of applications .
At this point, select the Computer / This PC icon attached to the sidebar of the window that appears on the screen and, finally, double-click on the icon of the card just inserted in the computer (which could have a related name, for example, to the camera). This way, you can copy , move and delete files without any problem, just like you would any other folder or disk. You may want to check out my tutorial on how to transfer data to SD card .
If you want to quickly recover all the space on the card or you need to quickly format it , right-click on the card icon , present in File Explorer / Windows Explorer, and select the Format item from the context menu. I have given you more information on this procedure in my guide on how to format the SD card .
macOS
If, on the other hand, you have a Mac , the procedure is even simpler: all you have to do, in fact, is insert the SD Card / microSD into the appropriate reader integrated into the Mac (or into an external adapter ) and wait for the relative icon to appear , directly on the desk, usually in the upper right corner. To access the content, simply double-click the icon .
Alternatively, you can access the tab by clicking on the Finder icon attached to the Dock bar , and then pressing the tab icon located in the left sidebar, within the Locations section . Again, once the tab is open, you can move , create and delete as many files as you want without any hassle. In this context, you may want to delve into my guide on how to move files to SD card .
If you want to format your SD or microSD card quickly on Mac, click the Launchpad icon located in the Dock bar , then search for Disk Utility and select the most relevant result . Once the program in question is open, identify the memory card icon in the left bar, highlight it with a mouse click and, from the top bar, select the Initialize or Delete item .
At this point, in the small drop-down menu that should appear, indicate a name for the card and the file system to use, then click the Initialize or Delete button to proceed with the formatting. If you have difficulty applying these steps, I recommend reading my tutorial on how to format a microSD on Mac .
