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Easy-to-follow steps to repair the lock on an SD card
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SD cards have mechanical locks on them that allow you to prevent them from being written to. While this can be good for security, most of the time they just end up getting broken. Luckily, fixing the SD card will only cost you a couple of cents and a minute of your time. See Step 1 below to learn how.
Things You Should Know
- Find the groove where the lock switch used to be and get rid of any leftovers that are stuck there.
- Use cellophane tape to cover the groove and make sure it isn't blocking any contact surfaces on the back of the SD card.
- With something sturdy like an ID card or credit card, smooth out the bubbles, if there are any.
Steps
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Find the lock groove. Look for the spot where the lock switch used to be. The groove is typically located on the left edge of the SD card when you are looking at it from the front. -
Remove any remaining lock material. If there is any plastic piece of the old lock switch still attached or dangling, use nail scissors to gently snip out the remaining piece.Advertisement -
Get some cellophane tape. You will need a thin, clear cellophane tape with a strong adhesive grip. Scotch brand is the most common, but any brand will work as long as it is very adhesive. Make sure that roll is not very wide. 1/2" is the standard. -
Remove a piece of tape. Remove a small piece of tape from your roll. Remove a 1/2" piece of tape from the roll, creating a 1/2" x 1/2" square of tape. -
Affix the tape to the lock groove. The tape should be wrapped around both the front and the back of the SD card, creating a level surface along the edge with the lock groove. Make sure to firmly press the tape down so that there are no wrinkles or bubbles.- Ensure that none of the contacts on the back of the SD card are covered by the tape, or the card will not read.
- Bumps in the tape or raised edges could cause the SD card to get stuck in the slot.
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Insert the card into your device or reader. The SD card should now be fully unlocked. If it is still locked, make sure that the tape has created a level surface on the lock edge. [1] X Research source
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Community Q&A
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QuestionWhen the card is locked, does it prevent more pictures being taken and picture deletion?Community AnswerYes to both. Information can neither enter nor leave the card, it is literally locked.
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QuestionWhat should I do when the card gets stuck in the slot?Community AnswerTake it to a camera shop. They will put it through a machine or use tools to get it out. They shouldn't charge you for it.
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QuestionWhy would my SD card say there are no images?Community AnswerIf there is nothing on the SD card, that's what it will say. However, where there are images on the card and it says "no images," your device or card may be damaged.
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Tips
- This same method works for floppy discs if you're still using them.Thanks
- This may not work with other types of SD cards.Thanks
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Things You'll Need
- Sticky or Scotch® tape (clear or Magic)
- SD card with a broken switch
- Nail scissors (if needed)
About This Article
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 345,292 times.
Reader Success Stories
- "My lock switch for the SD card broke off a while back when I tried to insert the card into my computer. Ever since then, my SD card remained write protected. Following the instructions through an article on how to fix this issue was surely a good choice for me. After reading through wikiHow's article by removing excess pieces of the lock and applying tape to seal the SD card, it came to my surprise that my SD card was working again. All in all, I am thankful for the help the article provided." ..." more
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"My lock switch for the SD card broke off a while back when I tried to insert the card into my computer. Ever since then, my SD card remained write protected. Following the instructions through an article on how to fix this issue was surely a good choice for me. After reading through wikiHow's article by removing excess pieces of the lock and applying tape to seal the SD card, it came to my surprise that my SD card was working again. All in all, I am thankful for the help the article provided."
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"I was about to throw out my SD card because the lock switch broke off. The plastic had split, and when I opened it up slightly the switch fell out. I couldn't find it, but a week or so later I searched the Internet for help and found this article, which showed how to fix it using sellotape. I tried it; it failed to work the first two attempts, but I think it was because I didn't have enough tension to give it a flush edge. 3rd attempt was successful. No need to buy new card now, thanks! "
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"I failed first time around, so I watched again. I noticed that she didn't have sellotape (scotch) & improvised using a packing tape cut into a small strip. Realising that packing tape is thicker than ordinary sellotape, I added a second layer and had no worries."
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"This was an excellent and easy fix for an SD card! Thank you, people, for posting this! I was about to buy an SD card at Walmart ($8 to $9), but found this article. I love your how-tos and follow them all the time!"
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"I accidentally broke the lock switch and I was nervous it could not be fixed. Then I Googled "how to fix an SD card" and this came up! It worked right away. So glad!"
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