SanDisk Extreme PRO SD card not recognized after last ejection

SanDisk Extreme PRO SD cards are known for their high-speed performance and reliability, often used in professional photography, video recording, and other data-intensive applications. However, it can be alarming when such a trusted SD card is suddenly not recognized by your computer or device after a recent ejection. Whether it was ejected without safely removing it or there was a power interruption, the issue could stem from logical corruption, driver problems, or even physical damage. Fortunately, there are several steps you can take to troubleshoot and potentially recover access to your SD card without losing data.

The first step is to try a simple restart. Reboot your computer and reinsert the SD card. Sometimes the operating system needs to reset its connection to external storage devices. Use a different SD card reader or port to rule out hardware interface issues. Faulty card readers, USB hubs, or damaged ports can often be the root cause. If you're using a built-in SD card slot, try using an external USB card reader and see if the card is recognized.

If the card is still not detected, try checking it on another computer or device. In many cases, a card that isn’t recognized on one machine may still be accessible on another. This will help you determine whether the problem lies with the SD card itself or the device reading it. If the card is recognized on a different system, back up the data immediately.

On Windows, open Disk Management by right-clicking on the Start menu and selecting "Disk Management." Check if the SD card appears there, even if it doesn’t show up in File Explorer. If it appears without a drive letter, right-click and assign it a new letter. If the card shows as unallocated or RAW, it indicates file system corruption. In such cases, you can try running the CHKDSK utility to scan and repair errors. Open Command Prompt as an administrator and type chkdsk X: /f (replace "X" with your card’s drive letter). This tool attempts to fix logical errors and restore access without formatting.

On macOS, launch Disk Utility from Applications > Utilities. If the SD card appears grayed out, try mounting it manually. Use the First Aid feature to scan and repair the disk. If it fails, consider using Terminal commands such as diskutil list and diskutil mountDisk to attempt a manual mount. In some cases, the system may detect the card at the hardware level but fail to read the file system.

If neither Disk Management nor Disk Utility detects the card, your SD card may have suffered physical damage or firmware corruption. In such cases, avoid repeated attempts that may worsen the problem. Instead, consider using professional data recovery software like Recuva, PhotoRec, or EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard. These tools can often retrieve data from a logically corrupted card. Run the recovery software and scan the SD card using deep scan mode for the best chance of recovering files.

Make sure you’re using up-to-date drivers. Go to Device Manager on Windows and look for the SD card under "Disk Drives" or "Universal Serial Bus controllers." Right-click the device, choose “Update Driver,” and follow the prompts. If the card is not listed at all, try selecting "Scan for hardware changes" to refresh device detection. Similarly, macOS users should ensure their system is running the latest version of macOS, which can resolve compatibility issues.

If none of the above solutions work and the SD card is still not recognized in any device, it’s likely the card has suffered irreversible hardware failure. At this point, your best option is to contact SanDisk support, especially if the card is still under warranty. SanDisk offers a limited lifetime warranty on Extreme PRO SD cards and may replace a faulty card or recommend a certified data recovery partner.

To prevent such issues in the future, always eject SD cards safely using the "Safely Remove Hardware" option on Windows or "Eject" on macOS. Abrupt removal can cause file system corruption or damage internal memory sectors. Also, avoid using SD cards in devices with low battery or during firmware updates.

While it’s concerning when your SanDisk Extreme PRO SD card is not recognized after ejection, most cases can be resolved with careful troubleshooting. Whether it’s a minor software glitch or a deeper issue, acting promptly can often help you recover your data and restore the card’s functional.