Card Cannot Be Accessed Canon Camera? How to Fix?

The card cannot be accessed on Canon, which usually means there's something wrong with your Canon SD card or a card reader problem. When you encounter this error, it's better to check your SD card status or try to format it.

How to fix the card that cannot be accessed effectively? We'll help you fix "Card cannot be accessed Canon" in 4 simple steps:

What Is the 'Card Cannot Be Accessed Canon' Error

• Error message 1- "Card cannot be accessed. Reinsert/change the card or format card with the camera."
• Error message 2 - Err 02. Card cannot be accessed. Reinsert/change card or format card with camera.

This is a common error accepted by Canon owners when they insert a card reader in the digital camera/DSLR/camcorder. So far, quite a lot of popular Canon models are infected, including Canon R100, 7d, t5i, 80d, 6d, t1i, rebel t5, t3, 500d, 5d mark iii...

The "memory card cannot be accessed" error would prevent you from taking photos or viewing files. As the full error message implies, [1] try to reinsert the card a couple of times, [2] change the card with a new one, or [3] format the SD card in the camera. Those manners are meant to make the card function well.

Why does my SD card say it cannot be accessed? This SD card error might occur because of many reasons, such as:

• ⚠️ Physical damage. Physical damage can prevent the camera from reading the SD card properly.
• ⚠️ SD card corruption. File system corruption and errors in the card make it unreadable by the camera.
• ⚠️ Locked SD card. If the card's lock switch is on, it blocks any changes or access.
• ⚠️ Inserted improperly. If the card isn't fully seated in the slot, the camera fails to detect it.
• ⚠️ Wrong format. Using a card not formatted for Canon cameras causes recognition issues. If it's a brand new memory card that you use for the first time, make sure that you format the SD card to the FAT file system, which digital cameras can recognize properly.

Now, follow the steps below to fix this Canon SD card access error and recover lost files on the SD card.

How to Fix Canon SD Card Cannot Be Accessed in 4 Steps

Don't worry if you have encountered this error SD card warning message on your Canon digital camera; you can easily recover photos from a corrupted SD card by following the steps below. Follow these 4 straightforward steps to troubleshoot the issue and get back to shooting.

✅Step 1. Check the SD card and the Canon Camera

If the Canon camera says you need to format the SD card to use it, don't format the card immediately. There are some quick fixes you can try to fix the card that the Canon camera cannot access:

• 🔒 Unlock the SD card. Slide the tiny lock switch on the card's side. If it's enabled, your Canon can't write or read data.
• 🔄 Test a different card. Pop in another known working SD card. If it reads, your original card's likely faulty.
• 🧹 Clean the card slot. Power off the camera. Gently blow dust from the slot or use a dry cotton swab. Grime blocks connections.
• 📸 Reinsert firmly. Remove the card, wait 10 seconds, and reseat it until it clicks. Loose contacts trigger errors.

If none of the quick solutions here resolve your SD card inaccessible problem, you should first perform SD card recovery and then format your card. Now, move on to the next step and recover data from your SD card.

✅Step 2. Perform Canon SD Card Data Recovery

Before taking action to troubleshoot with suggestions, you must find a digital camera SD card recovery solution first. Data recovery is prior to SD card repair, as long as you cannot afford to lose the media files in the malfunctioning storage card.

Since formatting an SD card would wipe data out, do not rush to format the card if tons of pictures and video clips are on it. Use EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard to recover files from an inaccessible SD card, and then remove the error with your camera or PC. You can download 

What if you've formatted the card before coming to this solution? Don't worry. The data recovery software is still able to recover formatted SD card data. It can also repair corrupted videos and photos during data recovery. This specialized SD card recovery tool can help you solve SD cards not being detected or showing up without losing data. Check this step-by-step guide to recover lost data from the Canon camera's SD card.

Step 1. Connect the SD card, memory card, or CF Card to your computer and launch EaseUS memory card recovery software on your PC. The SD card will be listed under the Devices section. Choose the SD card and click "Scan for lost data" to start looking for your lost data.

Step 2. The software will start a scan automatically. The scan is powerful enough to find all lost files that even lost file names. After the scanning process, you can find deleted items from the tree-view panel on the left. Then, click "Filter" if you are looking for a specific file type, like photos, documents, videos or emails.

Step 3. You can directly double-click the files to preview the content. After this, you can choose wanted files and click "Recover" to restore them to a secure location on your PC or other external storage devices.

💡Tip: You can restore data on the local disks, external hard drives, and also the cloud storage.

Here's a video about SD card recovery software; you should watch it and learn more about SD card recovery:

• 00:30 - EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard Introduction
• 01:10 - Recover SD Card Files with EaseUS
• 02:17 - Windows File Recovery Introduction
• 03:34 - TestDisk Introduction
• 04:15 - PhotoRec  Introduction

 

This recovery tool is one of the best choices, and many users have recovered deleted files from their SD cards with EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard:

• 📒I'm not super tech-savvy, but my son accidentally deleted a whole folder of family photos from my sd card. I was so upset and had no idea what to do. I found EaseUS Data Recovery online, downloaded the free version, and within minutes it started scanning my computer. It was really easy to use — I just clicked a few buttons and it showed me all the deleted files. I could even preview the pictures before recovering them! If you're in a panic like I was, this software is a lifesaver. Super easy and it works! from Trustpilot
• 📒I tried multiple recovery tools before EaseUS, but none found the files I needed. EaseUS Data Recovery not only found the files from my corrupted SD card but also recovered them with original folder structure and file names. It truly stands out in terms of performance. from Trustpilot

Don't forget to share this Canon SD card recovery guide on social media to help more Canon users!

✅Step 3. Format SD Card to fix Inaccessible Issues

After recovering data from your SD card, you can try to fix the Canon camera SD card that cannot be accessed on the Canon camera or the PC by formatting the memory card. Usually, your memory card will be back to normal after formatting the card.

1️⃣In Canon Camera:

Make sure the camera battery is charged. Insert the SD card in your camera and turn it on.

Step 1. Hold the "Up/Down" button and open the menu.

Step 2. Select "Setup" or "Utilities".

Step 3. Choose "Format". You'll receive an alert: "Format card. All data will be lost". Leave the "Low-level format" box unchecked because you don't need to do so.

Step 4. Select "OK". Take out the SD card and reinsert it in the camera. No error messages are there again. You'll get a blank card for reuse.

If you don't know where the format utility is on your Canon camera or don't know how to format a memory card on a Canon camera, finding Canon Support tutorials can be helpful.

2️⃣In a PC:

In fact, you have multiple free-to-use options to format an SD card on a Windows computer, like using the diskpart command line and a third-party free partition manager.

Step 1. Connect the SD card with a card reader to your PC.

Step 2. In the Windows File Explorer, right-click the removable disk that represents your card, and select "Format."

Step 3. In the pop-up window, choose FAT under "File System" and Default Allocation Size under "Allocation Size". For other options, leave it alone.

Step 4. Click "Start" to format the disk. Safely eject the SD card and insert it back to the camera. No error messages are there again. You'll get a blank card for reuse.

Formatting the memory card can fix common SD card issues, like "card not formatted" and "card not detected/recognized." Make sure you have backed up all the files or found a reliable SD card recovery tool, and then format your SD card.

✅Step 4. Ask Help for Data Recovery Services or Canon Support

So you've tried everything, but that stubborn "card cannot be accessed" error won't budge? You can find some professional teams for help

EaseUS data recovery services can be a good choice when your wedding/once-in-a-lifetime shots are trapped. The professional recovery experts can offer 1-on-1 manual service. 24 hours a day, recovery experts can dig deeper than software. If your SD card is severely corrupted, it's better to contact the professionals.

EaseUS SD Card Data Recovery Services

Click here to contact our experts for a free evaluation

Consult with EaseUS data recovery experts for one-on-one manual recovery service. We could offer the following services after a FREE diagnosis

• Repair corrupted RAID structure, unbootable Windows OS, and corrupted virtual disk files
• Recover/repair lost partitions and re-partitioned drives
• Unformat hard drives and repair RAW drives(Bitlocker encrypted drives)
• Fix disks that become GPT-protected partitions

If your Canon camera encounters hardware issues or you keep encountering this issue on multiple memory cards on your Canon camera, you'd better call Canon Support instead. You can start an online chat on the Canon website.

How to Master Your SD Card on Canon [Extra Tips]

Proper card handling stops errors before they start. After recovering 100+ photographer cards, here's what we found actually works:

• ✅ Format in Canon camera: Don't use your PC unless it's necessary! Canon's Format menu (in Settings) creates the perfect FAT32/exFAT structure your model needs. Pro tip: Do this when the card's empty to avoid "invalid card" warnings.
• ✅ Never yank cards during writes: See that tiny red light on your Canon camera? That means your RAW is saving. Yanking = corrupted files. Always wait 3 seconds post-shot before ejecting.
• ✅ Power up before removing the card: Turn off your Canon before inserting/removing cards.
• ✅ Clean contacts monthly: Dust can cause connection issues. Gently wipe gold strips with an alcohol-free electronics wipe (never tissue).
• ✅ Stick to 128GB or less for older models: Pre-2015 Canons (like 5D Mark III) choke on 256GB+ cards. Check your manual's "Card Type" section.

If you think these camera SD card tips are helpful, don't forget to share this passage on social media!

Canon Card Cannot Be Accessed FAQs

Check more information about this Canon card error message in this FAQ part:

1. How can I fix the card that cannot be accessed on the Canon G7x?

Power off your G7X, pop out the SD card. Check the lock switch isn't slid down. Clean gold contacts with a dry cloth. Reinsert firmly until it clicks. Still stuck? Format in-camera (Settings > Format) – but backup first! Old batteries cause glitches too – swap yours.

2. Can I fix the SanDisk card that cannot be accessed?

SanDisk cards act up like any other. Try this: Grab a different device like a laptop. If it reads there, the issue's your Canon. If you need SD card data recovery, download EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for help.

3. How can I format a memory card with a Canon camera?

It's not recommended to format your camera's SD card on the PC. Turn on your Canon > Go to [Settings] > [Format] > Confirm. This will wipe everything, so you need to back up your card first. Choose a right format for your memory card: FAT32 works for cards under 64GB; exFAT for larger ones.