How to Fix 3D Printer Not Reading SD Card – Ender 3 & More
3D printers like the Ender 3 can have issues with reading the SD card, making it difficult to get some 3D prints started. So, I decided to write an article to help you try and fix this issue.
To fix a 3D printer not reading the SD Card, you should ensure that the file name and folder are formatted properly and without spaces in the G-Code file. Also, inserting the SD card while the 3D printer is off has worked for many. You may need to clear up space on the SD card or replace it altogether if it is damaged.
There’s some more useful information that you’ll want to know with your 3D printer and the SD card, so keep reading for more.
How to Fix a 3D Printer Not Reading SD Card?
There are many reasons why your 3D printer might not successfully read your SD card. Some fixes are more common than others, and in some cases, you might have a major fault.
In most cases, the issue is related to software while in some cases, hardware such as the MicroSD Card itself or SD Card Port could also be at fault. Below are some of the most effective solutions to apply if your 3D printers are not reading SD cards.
- Remove the SD Card and Re-Insert It Properly
- Clean your SD Card and the SD Card Slot
- Rename the G-Code File
- Remove Space in G-Code File Name
- Insert SD Card with Power OFF
- Change the SD Card’s Format
- Try Using a Lower Capacity SD Card
- Fix Your Card Reader
- Free Up Space on Your SD Card
- Replace Your SD Card
- Use OctoPrint to Get Around Needing an SD Card
1. Remove the Card and Re-Insert It Properly
In some cases, the 3d printer not reading SD Card error can be a result of you inserting the SD card incorrectly. You might’ve placed the SD card in with the sticker/pins facing the wrong direction.
With the Ender 3 printer, the pins should be facing downwards, while for printers like the Anycubic series or the Ender 3 V2 and Pro, make sure the pins are facing upwards.
So, remove your SD card and make sure it is inserted correctly. Also, make sure the pins of the SD card are making firm contact with the pins in the printer’s SD card slot.
2. Clean Your SD Card and the SD Card Slot
If there’s any dust on the SD card or debris inside the SD card slot, the printer will have trouble reading the card. So, make sure they are both clean. You can wipe the pins on the SD card with a soft cloth to get rid of any dust.
For the card reader, you can clean it by blowing it gently with a hair dryer or compressed air to get rid of any debris.
3. Rename the G-Code File
Some 3D printers like the Ender 3 have an 8-character limit for the names on G-Code files. According to people on Reddit forums and in YouTube comments the issue of an Ender 3 v2 not reading the SD card can occur if the file name surpasses this limit.
To fix this, they renamed the file and ensured the new name stayed within the 8-character limit. Another thing to remember is to not have a folder with underscores in the name because it can cause SD card issues.
4. Remove Spaces in the G-Code File Name
Almost all 3D printers consider spaces as invalid characters. This could be the reason for your 3D printer not reading the SD card because if the G-code file name has spaces in between, the printer may not even recognize it while showing an immediate SD card error message.
So, check the G-code file name for any spaces and remove them. Also, the name of the G-Code file should only begin with a letter or a number. Ensure you don’t use an underscore or any other special character.
5. Insert the SD Card with the Power OFF
Some 3D printers won’t detect your SD card if you insert it while the printer is ON. So, make sure your printer is turned off whenever you’re about to insert the SD card.
Once you’ve inserted the card, you can turn on the printer. One user suggested hitting any button if you are facing an SD Card Error Message. This will redirect you to the Main Menu where you can click “Print from SD Card” and then OK.
This can solve the card reading issue in many cases.
6. Change the SD Card’s Format
When printing from an SD card, you should ensure that it is in the FAT32 format. If the SD card is in any other format, the 3D printer might not recognize it leading to errors like the Ender 3 Pro not reading SD card.
So, check your SD card and change it to FAT32 if it’s in any other format like NTFS or exFAT. Here’s how you can do it.
- Insert your SD card into your PC.
- Open “File Explorer” either by clicking on the “This PC” icon or searching “File Explorer” from the Start Menu.
- All the partitions and external devices will be listed in the section “Devices and Drives”.
- Simply right-click on the SD Card and click on the “Format” option from the dropdown menu.
- A formatting window will appear with the sub-label “File System”. Click on this option and it will display a few different formats of the SD Card.
- Click on the “FAT32(Default)” or “W95 FAT32 (LBA)”.
- Now click on the “Start” button at the bottom. It will format the SD card while removing all its data and changing its file system format as well.
Once the PC finishes the formatting process, re-upload your g-code into the SD card and insert it into the 3D printer.
7. Try Using a Lower Capacity SD Card
While newer printers like the Bambu Lab X1 can accept SD cards with capacities reaching 2TB, older printers are a bit size-constrained. In most of these printers, using an SD card with a capacity of more than 8GB can cause reading issues.
So, try a lower-capacity SD card(<8GB) to see if the issue goes away. Some users also fixed this issue by changing the format of the high-capacity SD cards to FAT32.
Note: Although this factor can cause errors, some users also claim to have used SD cards as big as 16GB without facing any issues. So, it mainly depends on different types of 3D printers and their compatibility.
8. Fix Your Card Reader
A damaged card reader can also be the root cause of your card reading issues. If you’ve ever looked inside a 3D printer, it has a mainboard that has a card reader built into it. That card reader part might have sustained some damage, rendering it unable to read your SD card.
One user tried pushing the SD card fully into the card reader without allowing the spring recoil to push the card out slightly. When he turned on the 3D printer, the card was recognized, but when he stopped applying pressure, the card stopped reading. This happened because the mechanism of his printer’s card reader was damaged.
If your card reader is damaged like this, you may have to replace your mainboard or get the card reader fixed by a professional. Here’s a video that shows how you can repair a MicroSD slot.
You can get a replacement from Amazon. The Uxcell 5 Pcs Spring Loaded MicroSD Memory Card Slot is a great choice. However, replacing it does require technical skills with a soldering iron.
I recommend taking it to a repair shop if you aren’t great with a soldering iron.
9. Free Up Space on Your SD Card
If your SD card is running low on free space, its performance can take a hit. In this scenario, the printer will have trouble reading the G-code file from the SD card or even recognizing it.
To fix this, we recommend deleting all non-essential files from your SD card. In fact, make sure the only files on your SD card are the files you intend on printing at that moment.
10. Replace Your SD Card
If your SD card has gone through some physical wear like the connectors being damaged, you might need to replace it. I’ve had some instances where my SD card just stopped being recognized by my 3D printer and my computer.
I tried removing and inserting it many times but nothing worked out, so I just had to replace the SD card.
Many people also mention that the SD cards that come with 3D printers aren’t the best quality so you may run into issues if you use them. This isn’t the case all the time, but it’s worth keeping in mind.
11. Use OctoPrint to Get Around Needing an SD Card
Using OctoPrint is a great way to bypass the need for an SD card since you can wirelessly transfer files from your computer or laptop to your 3D printer. Several 3D printer users love this method of transferring files since it makes things simpler and gives plenty of extra functionality.
You can watch this video below to learn how to set up OctoPrint for your 3D printer.
Final Thoughts
Your 3D printer not reading your SD card can be a quite frustrating error to encounter when setting up your printer. However, with the steps we’ve outlined above, you should be able to fix this issue and get back to creating beautiful 3D-printed parts.
Good luck and Happy Printing!
Frequently Asked Questions
How to Format an SD Card for 3D Printing
There are a few steps on how to configure an SD card for 3D printing:
- Start by formatting the SD Card before saving a G-Code file in it, making sure the SD card is clear except for the bin files
- Set the file system or format of the SD Card to “FAT32”.
- Set the allocation unit size at a minimum of 4096 Bytes.
- After setting these factors, all you need to do is simply upload the G-code file into the SD card and then put it inside the SD Card or USB port on the 3D printer for further processing.
- You may need to re-format the SD card with the “Quick Format” box unchecked if the SD card is still not working
Does the Ender 3 V2 Come With an SD Card?
Yes, it does. You should receive an 8GB MicroSD card along with a card reader to help transfer files from your computer or laptop to the SD card.
The latest version of the Ender 3 series which is the Ender 3 S1 comes with a standard SD card which is the larger version.
What is the Best SD Card and Size for 3D Printing?
The SanDisk MicroSD 8GB Memory Card from Amazon is a great choice for your 3D printing needs. Most 3D printer G-Code files aren’t huge, so having 8GB from this reputable company should be more than enough to get you 3D printing successfully. A 16GB SD card is also popular but not really needed. 4GB can work well.
Some people have issues with larger SD cards like 32GB & 64GB. However, after switching to an 8GB SD card, they don’t have the same issues.
Can You Take Out the SD Card While 3D Printing?
Yes, you can take out the SD card while 3D printing if the print is paused. Users have tested this and mentioned that when their print was paused, they copied files over, put the SD card back in, and resumed printing. One user even paused and made slight G-Code modifications to the fan speed and continued successfully.
Files in 3D printing are read line-by-line so that makes it possible, though you should be careful with doing this because you could potentially end the whole print if you can’t get it resumed. You may have to turn off the printer and turn it back on again to get a prompt to resume the print.
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