Why does my Xiaomi Mi 6 not able to read or detect SD card and how to fix it? [Troubleshooting Guide]

Having insufficient storage on your Xiaomi Mi 6? Don’t worry, you can have it expanded. The Mi 6 comes with a standard 6GB of RAM and two storage tiers from 64GB and 128GB. One of the advantages of having a smartphone with SD card support is getting an expanded memory and go beyond what the internal memory can originally allocate. All you have to do is secure an SD card, install it on your device and then fill it up with whatever contents you may want to add and use. It is supposed to work as simple as that.

However not all users of Xiaomi Mi 6 have the same positive experience as they end up having trouble with the microSD card installation. For some reasons, the phone cannot detect the micro SD card inserted and only prompts with an SD card not detected error. What could have possibly prevented the phone from reading the SD card and what should be done in order to get it fixed? These are the main questions to be addressed in this comprehensive guide. Read on to find out how to fix your Xiaomi Mi 6 that is not detecting SD card.

But before we go to our troubleshooting, if you happen to be looking for a solution to a different problem, then I suggest you visit our Xiaomi Mi 6 troubleshooting page for we may have already addressed concerns that are similar with yours. Feel free to use our solutions and workarounds. If they don’t work and you need further assistance, you can always contact us by completing our Android issues questionnaire and hitting submit.

Possible reasons why your Xiaomi Mi 6 is unable to detect micro SD card

When it comes to problems with SIM card and SD card, there are three possibilities that you need to consider. First, it can be an issue on the device itself, like random software malfunction. Second, it could be a problem on the SD card in use like a defective or incompatible SD card being installed. Improper installation of the SD card can likewise trigger a similar issue to occur as the device couldn’t read the SD card since the latter isn’t properly inserted in the SD card slot. Unlike other Android smartphones that have a dedicated slot for SD card, the Xiaomi Mi 6 only has one slot for both the SIM card and the micro SD card. Some people have even thought that this phone doesn’t have a microSD card slot because it only has one tray available. There is tendency for either cards to be incorrectly installed. This could likewise be the reason why many users of Xiaomi phones are plagued with SIM card errors. The worst among the possible causes is a defective hardware. While this isn’t likely the case with new devices, accidental drops and liquid exposure on the device can make it transpire. Any of these instances could cause the SD card slot to become loose or break. Unfortunately, there is nothing much more you can do on your end as hardware-related problems in mobile devices often require service as ultimate fix. This is why before troubleshooting SD card problems, try to rule hardware damage out from the possible causes beforehand. Doing so will save you time and effort as you’ll most likely to end up having the same problem afterwards.

Possible solutions to deal with SD card problems on your Xiaomi Mi 6

What’s mapped below are generic solutions and a few suggested workarounds you can use to fix the SD card that is not detected on your Xiaomi phone. To rule this out from the possible causes, try to use a different SD card that is compatible with Xiaomi Mi 6 then try to use it instead. If the phone is able to detect or read the other SD card, it denotes that the problem is isolated to the prior SD card you’ve used. A simple solution is therefore to replace your old SD card with a new one that is working.

If you don’t have an extra SD card yet, then you may attempt to do some gentle cleaning on your old SD card. It might be just some dirt that is preventing the phone from reading the SD card You can use a microfiber cloth with a little amount of alcohol clean it. Be sure to dry it out before inserting it back into your device. If this doesn’t work, try any of the given options below. To ensure that you are doing the right thing, here’s how to clean up your SD card:

  • Power off your phone.
  • Use an ejector tool to pop the SIM card tray out.
  • Carefully remove the SD card from the tray. Not that the SD card is placed on the same tray where the SIM card is placed.
  • Use a white colored rubber eraser, dab it in with a Q-tip and gently rub it over the pins or gold contact points of the SD card to detach any erosion. You can also use a microfiber cloth or cotton dipped in rubbing alcohol to clean the SD card pins.
  • Allow the SD card to dry out and once it dried out completely, insert it back into the tray then gently push the tray back into the slot.

Turn on your phone then say if you find luck from cleaning. If the problem persists, try the next solutions.

Format / Reformat your SD card

The SD card or some of its contents might have been corrupted or infected by some malware. As a result, the device is no longer able to read the SD card even when it’s properly installed in the slot. To fix the problem, you will need to reformat the SD card. However, doing so will also mean wiping contents from the SD card. If you want you can backup your SD card files to your computer before you proceed with SD card formatting. You can use an Android Backup Restore software to backup your Android files like photos, videos and even some apps from your SD card to your computer. More importantly, you can restore the backup file in a format that is compatible with Android later.

Here’s how to format SD card on your Xiaomi Mi 6:

  • Connect your microSD card to your computer with the adapter. Be sure to check and use a compatible adapter for your SD card and computer.
  • On your computer, open This PC folder to view your hard drives including the SD card that  you just plugged in.
  • Right-click on your SD card and select Format option. A new pop up will prompt you to format and set up your SD card. Make sure to set the File System to FAT32.
  • Check the Quick Format option then click the Start button.

After the SD formatting is complete, restart your Xiaomi Mi 6 then see if that fixes the problem.

Fix the SD card with your computer (Windows PC)

If reformatting of the SD card fails to fix the problem and your Mi 6 is still unable to recognize or read the SD card, try to fix it using your computer. Here’s what you can do next:

  • Insert or connect your SD card into the computer. You can use a compatible adapter to do so.
  • When connected, navigate to Device Manager on your computer then click This PC. Doing so will show up a list of all your hard drives.
  • Right click on the interface and select Properties.
  • Navigate to the left pane then open the Device Manager option.
  • Locate your SD card reader and then uninstall it. You can usually find it under Disk Drivers or Universal Serial Bus Controllers folder.
  • Once you find your SD card reader, right click on it then select the option to Uninstall.
  • Restart or refresh your computer then go back to the Device Manager to install the Device Driver Software.
  • Click on the Scan for hardware changes icon to instigate installation of the device driver software required for your device.

Wait until the driver installation is complete. You will then see your SD card on your computer afterwards.

What to do if your Xiaomi Mi 6 is now able to detect the SD card but then gets stuck?

In the case where your Mi 6 is able to recognize your SD card but gets stuck on the Preparing SD card error, you can try mounting and unmounting the SD card.

  • To do so, head over to Settings-> Storage-> Mount SD card on your phone.
  • If prompted, read the Unmount SD card warning then tap OK to confirm action. Note that menu options may vary between device models.

Once you have successfully mounted the SD card, restart your phone then try to see if that fixes the problem. If that won’t work, try to reformat your SD card then using the same steps provided earlier.

Take your phone to a technician

If none of these workarounds is able to fix the problem and that your Xiaomi Mi 6 still cannot detect or read the SD card, then most likely the underlying cause is on the hardware components. In this case, your next option is to take your device to a technician and have it accessed for any indication of hardware malfunctions for fixing.

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