How to fix SD card not detected error, Nokia 8 cannot read SD card (easy steps)

When your smartphone failed to recognize an SD card, it is either glitching or showing symptoms of bad SD card and/or damaged SD card tray. The latter however is rarely the case for new devices unless you’ve dropped it or got it wet by accident. Among the most prevalent SD card errors that are usually attributed to a software glitch is the one depicted by SD card not detected prompt. This error has been seen on various types of Android devices, old and new. Tackled in this post is the same error transpiring on the Nokia 8 smartphone. Should you need some more inputs on how to deal with this error on the same device, then I’ve got a rundown of generic solutions for you to try on. Feel free to refer to these subsequent walkthroughs whenever you need more help.

Before we proceed, if you’re looking for a solution to a problem with your phone, try to browse through our troubleshooting pages to see if we support your device. If your phone is in the list of our supported devices, then go to the troubleshooting page and look for similar problems. Feel free to use our solutions and workarounds. Don’t worry it’s free. But if you still need our help, then fill up our Android issues questionnaire and hit submit to contact us.

First solution: Soft reset/device restart.

Performing a soft reset or restarting your phone is likely what’s needed if what you’re getting is random error inflicted by minor software glitches. This clears the internal memory and refreshes the phone for smoother run. If you haven’t restarted your phone yet, then you must do so with these steps:

Press and hold the Power button for a few seconds.
Select Power off from the menu options then tap OK.
After a few seconds, press and hold down the Power button again to turn the phone back on.

This won’t affect your data and personal information stored on the internal memory, so expect all your files to remain intact.

Second solution: Unmount then reinstall SD card.

To make sure the problem isn’t due to a loose or dislodged SD card, try to remove and reseat the SD card on your Nokia 8. Before you remove the SD card from your phone, make sure you unmount it first. Unmounting the SD card will prevent damage and data loss. Here’s how to unmount SD card on your Nokia 8 smartphone:

Navigate to Settings-> Device menu.
Tap Storage.
To unmount the SD card, tap Eject.

After unmounting the SD card, turn your phone off and then continue with these steps to remove and reinstall SD card on your Nokia 8:

Insert the tray opener/SIM eject tool into the tiny hole next to the SIM and memory card tray.
When the tray pops out, gently pull it out.
Remove the SD card from the tray and then examine the card for any visible signs of damage like scratches and dents.
If everything looks good, place the SD card back into the tray with the contact area facing down. Be sure to place the SD card in the memory card slot (slot 2).
If everything is properly seated, slide the memory card tray back into place then gently push it to lock and secure.

Restart your phone afterwards and see if the error is gone. If it’s recurring, then try the next possible solutions.

Third solution: Boot into safe mode.

Apps and files you’ve downloaded can also trigger pertinent errors to occur when they go rogue. To determine if the SD card error is attributed to errant apps, try booting your Nokia 8 into safe mode. Only stock apps or pre-installed services are allowed to run in safe mode, thus making it easier for you to confirm if the problem is attributed to third-party apps. Should you wish to give it a try, then follow these steps to enable Safe Mode on your Nokia 8:

Press the Power button until the menu options appear on the screen.
Tap and hold on the Power off option for a few seconds.
If prompted, tap to confirm option to boot into safe mode.
Wait until your phone finished restarting. By then, you should see the Safe Mode badge at the bottom left corner of the screen.

Try to access the SD card while your phone is running on safe mode and see if it works. If you’re still getting the same error or your device still failed to read the SD card, then you may need to remove recently installed apps from your device individually until the error is fixed. Otherwise, consider other options.

Fourth solution: Reformat your SD card.

Formatting means wiping everything from the memory card. In other words, all files you saved in the card will be erased. This can help fix SD card problems that are inflicted by corrupted files or data segments from within the SD card that might have prevented your phone from reading it. If possible, you can move the files from your SD card to your computer before you reformat the card. Once everything is set, follow these steps to format SD card on your Nokia 8:

Tap to open the Apps screen.
Select Settings.
Tap Storage.
Scroll down and tap the option to Format SD card.
Read the message/warning prompt and then tap Format SD card again to confirm.

Note: Menu options may vary slightly depending on the Android version your phone is running on.

Follow the rest of the onscreen instructions to complete SD card formatting. When it’s done formatting the SD card, restart your device then mount the SD card again.

Fifth solution: Reset your phone (Factory reset).

Performing a factory data reset or master reset should only be considered the last option if all else failed to fix the problem and your Nokia 8 still cannot read the SD card. This will erase everything from your phone system including apps and services you’ve installed. Any bug or malware that might have caused conflict with the phone’s SD card functions are likewise obliterated in the process. The only downside is the fact that you will lose critical data in the process. If you think it’s worth a try, then follow these steps to reset and restore your Nokia 8 to its factory defaults and then set it up as new:

Back up all your important data.
When the backup is finished, tap Settings.
Tap Backup & Reset.
Select Factory data reset.
Tap Reset Device.
Tap Erase Everything.

Wait until the reset is complete and your device to reboot automatically. After it restarts, continue to set up your device as new. Then try and see if it is now able to read the SD card in it.

Other options

Use other SD cards. If you have any other compatible SD cards, try to insert them on your Nokia 8 and see if it will recognize any of them. If possible, use high-speed microSD card (Class 6 or ideally Class 10 / UHS-1(U3) SD cards) for better performance. If your phone can detect other SD cards, then the problem is on the SD card you’re using. Either it’s corrupted or worst, damaged.

Service. If your phone cannot read any SD card, then it may need service. You may consider taking your phone to a service center and have it diagnosed by a technician, especially if you previously dropped it or got it wet. It might have acquired some sort of physical or liquid damage on to the SD card slot or relevant components.

Connect with us

We are always open to your problems, questions and suggestions, so feel free to contact us by filling up this form. This is a free service we offer and we won’t charge you a penny for it. But please note that we receive hundreds of emails every day and it’s impossible for us to respond to every single one of them. But rest assured we read every message we receive. For those whom we’ve helped, please spread the word by sharing our posts to your friends or by simply liking our Facebook and Google+ page or follow us on Twitter.\

Posts you may also like to check out: