You want to put photos from your camera or drone on your MacBook, but where does the SD card go? Not every MacBook has a card slot, and sometimes the Mac does not see the card. This article explains which MacBooks have an SD card slot, how to read a card on a MacBook without one, how to import photos and what to do when the card does not appear.
Blue Apple repairs MacBooks in Amsterdam, including when the card slot or ports no longer work.
Which MacBooks have an SD card slot?
- MacBook Pro 14 and 16 inch (2021 and later): yes, an SDXC slot on the right side.
- Retina MacBook Pro up to 2015 and the 13 inch MacBook Air up to 2017: yes.
- MacBook Pro 2016-2020, MacBook Air with Apple chip, MacBook Neo: no.
Not sure which MacBook you have? See which MacBook do I have.
Reading an SD card without a slot
Use a card reader with USB-C. There are separate card readers and hubs with an SD and microSD slot built in. A hub with HDMI and USB-A is handy if you connect other things too. Choose a reader that supports UHS-I or UHS-II if you have fast cards. See choosing a dock, hub or adapter.
A microSD card
A microSD card from a drone, action camera or phone fits a normal SD slot with an adapter. Many card readers also have a separate microSD slot.
Importing photos and videos
- Open the Photos app. The card appears on the left under Devices. Choose what to import.
- Or open the card in the Finder and drag the files to a folder. Photos are usually in the DCIM folder.
Then eject the card in the Finder before removing it.
The MacBook does not see the SD card
- Push the card all the way into the slot, contacts down and facing in.
- Check in Finder Settings, Sidebar tab, that external disks are turned on.
- Open Disk Utility and choose View, Show All Devices. If the card is greyed out, click Mount.
- Try another card, or the card in another device. If another card works, the card is to blame.
- With a card reader, try another port or another reader.
Also see external drive not showing.
The card is read-only
A normal SD card has a small switch on the side. If it is set to "lock", you can read files but not delete or add them. Slide it up and insert the card again.
Formatting an SD card
Preferably format a camera card in the camera itself. If you want to format it on the Mac, choose ExFAT in Disk Utility (for cards larger than 32 GB). Note: formatting erases everything. See formatting a drive on your Mac.
Lost files or a damaged card
If the Mac says the card is unreadable, do not choose Initialise straight away, because that erases everything. Try the card in another device first. If there are important photos on it, stop using the card; that gives the best chance of recovery.
The card slot itself is broken
If a MacBook Pro sees no card at all, not even one that works in another device, the slot or its connection may be faulty, for example after moisture or a card pushed in at an angle.
What we do at Blue Apple in Amsterdam
We test the card slot and ports, look at the logic board and help with files from a damaged card where possible. More on our page about MacBook port repair.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my MacBook Air have no SD slot?
Apple left the slot out of the thinner models. A small USB-C card reader solves that.
Can I leave the card in the slot?
Yes, but eject it before packing the MacBook, so the card does not get damaged.
How fast does a MacBook Pro's SD slot read?
Fast enough for most camera cards. With very large videos you notice a difference with a fast UHS-II reader.
