(Solved) ASUS ROG Ally Not Recognizing SD Card

Oliver updated on Nov 27, 2024 to Partition Master | How-to Articles

Is your ASUS ROG Ally not recognizing SD card? How to make the SD card readable? If you are facing the SD card issue on the ROG Ally, here are nine practical solutions for you.

Having trouble getting your ASUS ROG Ally to recognize your SD card? You're not alone. Several users have reported similar issues:

Hi, I just purchased a 1TB SanDisk microSDXC UHS-I card, and my Ally will not recognize it, nothing shows up in my PC. The card is new and it is totally functional in my other PC. - ASUS ROG forums
Card stopped reading in Ally though works on my other PC. Though put a different card in the Ally and it works. What's going on? Also seems to be many people with this issue now. - ASUS ROG forums

If you're an Asus ROG Ally user, you definitely know that it is a portable gaming device manufactured by Asus that operates on the Windows 11 platform. Equipped with an AMD Zen 4 processor, known as the AMD Z1 and Z1 Extreme, it also connects a TV or a monitor through a docking station or a dongle. But what can you do if Asus ROG Ally does not recognize SD card?

The good news is that there are solutions! This guide explores nine fixes to get your ROG Ally to recognize your SD card. So, read this guide from EaseUS thoroughly and learn how to fix Asus ROG Ally not recognizing SD Card.

Why Does ASUS ROG Ally Not Recognizing SD Card?

Users may experience an issue where the Asus ROG Ally fails to recognize an SD card when attempting to access it. There could be various reasons why your ASUS ROG Ally fails to recognize an SD card. Based on reports from different sources, here are some possible causes:

  • Faulty SD card: The SD card being used may be corrupted due to improper insertion/removal, power outages, insufficient power supply, or virus infection.
  • Insufficient power supply to the card reader: A low battery on the ROG Ally can result in insufficient power being supplied to the SD card reader, causing the SD card to go unrecognized.
  • Software issues and glitches: Conflicts between software or corrupt installation files on the ROG Ally can lead to software issues and glitches affecting SD card recognition.
  • Corrupted system settings: Bugs within the Windows OS may cause system settings to become corrupted, impacting SD card recognition.
  • Excessive temperature: The SD card slot on the ROG Ally is positioned near the heat exhaust, leading to potential thermal stress conditions that can result in the SD card reader failing to detect the SD card.
  • Outdated or malfunctioning ROG Ally firmware: Failure to update the ROG Ally BIOS may result in outdated firmware or temporary/random bugs that affect SD card recognition.
  • Outdated or corrupted driver: Outdated or corrupted drivers lead to issues with SD card recognition.
  • Dirty or damaged SD card slot: Disruption of the pins inside the SD card slot or the presence of debris can hinder proper connections and affect data reading.

If you're experiencing the same issue, you're close to fixing your Asus ROG Ally's failure to recognize SD cards. Consider sharing this article with your fellow Asus ROG Ally users so they can quickly resolve this problem if they encounter it.

 

How to Fix ASUS ROG Ally Not Recognizing SD Card?

To resolve the issue of ASUS ROG Ally not recognizing the SD card, you can try several potential solutions. Let's explore nine solutions.

  1. Solution 1. Reinsert SD Card and Restart ASUS ROG Ally
  2. Solution 2. Update BIOS
  3. Solution 3. Run Hardware and Devices Troubleshooter
  4. Solution 4. Change Letters and Paths
  5. Solution 5. Format SD Card
  6. Solution 6. Read SD Card via A Docking Station
  7. Solution 7. Update Card Driver
  8. Solution 8. Repair Corrupted SD Card
  9. Solution 9. Factory Reset Your Device

Solution 1. Reinsert SD Card and Restart ASUS ROG Ally

Start with basic troubleshooting steps; minor software issues and glitches can be fixed by simply reinserting the SD card and restarting Asus Rog Ally.

Follow the steps:

Step 1. Carefully remove the SD card from your ROG Ally and then reinsert it. Make sure it's pushed in all the way and clicks into place.

Step 2. Restart Your Asus Rog Ally. A quick restart can clear up minor software glitches that prevent SD card recognition.

Once your device has rebooted, check if it now recognizes your SD card. If not, let's move on to some other troubleshooting options.

Solution 2. Update BIOS

If a simple restart didn't solve the SD card issue, let's try updating your ROG Ally's BIOS. Outdated firmware can sometimes lead to compatibility problems with external components like SD cards.

Follow the steps:

Step 1. Visit the official ASUS ROG Ally BIOS & Firmware webpage.

Step 2. Choose "RC71L" from the BIOS & FIRMWARE.

Step 3. Download the "BIOS Update (Windows)" and proceed with the installation.

Step 4. Once installed, the gaming console will be restarted automatically. After the restart, open File Explorer to verify if the "ROG Ally not detecting SD card" issue has been resolved.

Solution 3. Run Hardware and Devices Troubleshooter

Troubleshooting can resolve various issues on your ASUS ROG Ally handheld gaming console, including SD card recognition problems. Follow these steps to run a troubleshooter:

Step 1. Press "Windows" + "R" to open the Run dialog.

Step 2. In the Run dialog, type DeviceDiagnostic and press "OK."

Step 3. Click "Next" in the "Hardware and Devices" option.

Step 4. The troubleshooter will automatically detect and resolve hardware-related issues on your ASUS ROG Ally.

Step 5. Once troubleshooting is complete, check File Explorer or "This PC" to see if the SD card appears.

Solution 4. Change Letters and Paths

Windows assigns drive letters to your storage devices, including SD cards. Occasionally, a conflict with another drive letter can cause recognition problems. Let's try changing the drive letter assigned to your SD card:

Step 1. Open the Run dialog, type diskmgmt.msc, and press "Enter."

Step 2. Right-click on your SD card in the Disk Management Window.

Step 3. Choose the "Change drive letter and paths" option and click "Change."

Step 4. Select a new letter from the drop-down menu provided next to the "Assign the following driver letter" option.

Step 5. Click "OK" to save changes, and go to your File Explorer to check if the SD card is recognized.

Solution 5. Format SD Card

If none of the previous solutions worked, formatting your SD card might be the best step toward resolving the issue of the Asus ROG Ally not recognizing the SD card.

You may have concerns about your data as formatting usually deletes entire data on the SD cards, but fortunately, there's a tool called EaseUS Partition Master Free that enables users to format SD cards from FAT32 to NTFS without losing primary data stream files and vice versa.

Follow the steps:

Step 1. Install and launch EaseUS Partition Master on your computer.

Step 2. Go to the Disk Converter tab, select "FAT => NTFS" and click "Next."

Step 3. Select the partition that you want to convert to NTFS and then click on "Convert." (Tick the "Show More" option in the panel's upper right corner to display the hidden partitions.)

Step 4. Wait until the operation process is finished.

This tool can save your ASUS ROG Ally from not reading the SD card without data loss. Download it now and enjoy its convenience.

Solution 6. Read SD Card via A Docking Station

Based on numerous user experiences and official sources, the issue of the "Asus ROG Ally not recognizing SD card" appears to stem from thermal stress. To potentially alleviate this problem, connecting a LISEN 13-in-1 docking station to the ROG Ally and using it to read the SD card could be beneficial. This may help reduce the device's temperature and prevent it from causing damage to the SD card.

Follow the steps:

Step 1. Acquire a LISEN 13-in-1 Docking Station.

Step 2. Connect the LISEN 13-in-1 Docking Station to your ROG Ally.

Step 3. To use the LISEN 13-in-1 Docking Station, locate and insert the slot corresponding to the Micro-SD card.

Step 4. Next, verify if the issues with the Asus ROG Ally not recognizing the SD card have been resolved.

Solution 7. Update Card Driver

Updating the driver for the SD card can fix the Asus ROG Ally's failure to recognize it, which may be due to outdated or corrupted drivers.

Follow the steps:

Step 1. In the Windows search box, type Device Manager and click on it to launch it.

Step 2. Expand the Disk driver section by clicking on the greater than (>) sign.

Step 3. Right-click on the SD card driver listed under the "Disk drives" section, then choose the "Update driver" option from the context menu.

Step 4. In the subsequent window, select the "Search automatically for updated driver software" option. This prompts your console to search for any available driver updates online.

Solution 8. Repair Corrupted SD Card

If you're still grappling with the SD card recognition problem despite trying other fixes, it's possible that your SD card is corrupted. Corruption can stem from various causes such as abrupt removal, improper formatting, or physical damage. To thoroughly scan your SD card for errors or bad sectors and attempt to resolve them, we'll leverage the capabilities of EaseUS Partition Master.

This versatile tool offers comprehensive solutions for managing disk partitions, including error detection and repair functionalities. Follow the steps:

Step 1. Right-click the target partition that has a problem.

Step 2. Choose "Advanced" > "Check File System".

Step 3. Confirm if you want to hide the partition or not.

Step 4. In the Check File System window, check the "Try to fix errors if found" option.

Step 5. Click "Start" to check errors on your partition.

Solution 9. Factory Reset Your Device

Factory resetting your device should be your last solution because this process erases all data, settings, and apps from your ROG Ally, returning it to its original factory state. So, it's not recommended to factory reset your devices for minor issues. First, you should fix the problem of Asus Rog Ally not recognizing the SD card through other solutions mentioned in this guide. If all solutions fail and you're still grappling, you can do a factory reset.

Tip
It's crucial to back up any critical data before proceeding to save your data.

Follow the steps:

Step 1. Open Windows Settings by clicking on the Start menu's "Settings" gear icon.

Step 2. In the Windows Settings window, find the option labeled "System" and click on it.

Step 3. On the left-hand side menu within the "System" settings, locate and click "Recovery."

Step 4. Under the "Recovery" option, click "Reset this PC."

Step 5. Select the Remove Everything option and confirm to proceed.

Refer to the article below for more detailed guidance on how to factory reset Windows 10/11.

How Do I Reset Windows 10/11 and Make It Like New Again [No Data Loss]

This page will guide you through the factory reset Windows 10/11 process and make your system look new again. Read on to learn more. Read more >>

If all the fixes have failed to resolve the issue, you can contact the ASUS support team for further assistance and guidance. They can provide additional troubleshooting steps or arrange for device servicing if required.

Final Words

This comprehensive guide explored nine potential solutions to tackle the frustrating issue of your ASUS ROG Ally not recognizing your SD card. We've covered basic troubleshooting steps like restarting your device and checking connections alongside deeper solutions like updating drivers, formatting the SD card (with data recovery options!), and even a factory reset (as a last resort).

If you're looking for a powerful tool to manage your SD cards and other storage devices, consider EaseUS Partition Master. It goes beyond basic formatting, offering advanced features like error scanning, partition recovery, and even the ability to format between FAT32 and NTFS file systems without data loss.

FAQs on ASUS ROG Ally Not Recognizing SD Card

If you have any further questions about SD cards or your ROG Ally, this FAQ section might be helpful.

1. How much memory does the ROG Ally have?

The ROG Ally comes with 512GB of storage, perfect for carrying all your favorite games on the go.

2. Can you expand ROG Ally storage?

If you have a large collection and enjoy playing multiple games, you can increase your storage capacity with a microSD card.

3. What is the best SD card format for ROG Ally?

The ASUS ROG Ally, running on Windows 11, can technically recognize various SD card formats like FAT32, exFAT, and NTFS. However, for optimal performance, NTFS is generally considered the best SD card format for the ROG Ally.