There are 4 possible reasons for an SD card to display as full when it’s empty, but the most common one includes a corrupt card or a file system that needs reformatting. It’s also possible that the card contains hidden files that still take up space.
I’m Caleb, and I have five years of photography experience. I’ve done plenty of work with SD cards myself during that time, as one of the key items in my camera bag and my main way of getting pictures from camera to computer.
In this article, I’ll explain why an SD card might appear full when empty and how you can fix this problem. If you’re currently dealing with this problem and are confused about how to proceed, keep reading for the complete breakdown.
Contents
4 Reasons Why SD Card Says Full When It’s Empty
It’s hard to pinpoint a universal reason for this problem, as several factors can cause it. However, some of these causes are more common than others. These are the most common from my observations.
1. Corrupted SD Card
When your SD card is corrupted, it can affect many things, from reading and writing files to displaying the correct amount of available storage.
If you suspect this is the problem, you should check the card with specialized software that can tell you about the corruption and, depending on the severity, fix it.
You should, however, back up your files if possible. Fixing a corrupt SD card may involve reformatting it, in which case you’ll lose all the files on the card.
2. File System Problems
Your file system controls how data is stored on the SD card, and problems with the file system can lead to some of the same problems you might see from a corrupted card.
If the file system is the problem, you may be able to fix it by reformatting it. But as I mentioned in the previous section, you should back up your files before doing this since you’ll lose everything on the card when reformatting it.
When your device isn’t set to show hidden files, they can take up space without you realizing it.
On Windows, you can enable the display of these hidden files by clicking on the View tab in the File Explorer and checking the Hidden items box.
On macOS, you can display hidden files by pressing the Command + Shift + . (Period) keys while in the folder containing the files.
4. Faulty Device
It’s rarer, but not impossible, for the problem to be on your device’s side. In cases like these, the SD card is actually working fine, and your device is reading the wrong amount of data.
Pinning down an exact cause for this one is hard, as many factors can prevent a device from working properly.
One possible cause is driver issues. If you run into this problem, you might want to ensure your drivers are up-to-date, especially the ones that handle SD cards and other removable storage devices.
FAQs
These are some of the common questions about this SD card problem.
Can a Corrupted SD Card be Fixed?
Yes, it is possible to fix a corrupted SD card. Sometimes, just reformatting a card is enough. Other times, you may need to use a specialized recovery program that can repair corruption.
Why Does My SD Card Still Have No Space After Deleting Photos?
Sometimes, the data from files can continue to linger for some time after deletion, making it appear that you still have no space available.
How Long Do SD Cards Last?
SD cards are usually estimated to last about ten years, but the exact number can vary based on many factors. Things like the quality of the specific model and the frequency of use can raise or lower that number.
Conclusion
When your SD card shows up as full when it’s actually empty, it’s often because of a corrupted card or hidden files that you don’t know about. Problems with the file system can also be the cause. Reformatting may help, but you should back your files up first.
Is this a problem that you’ve run into? Did reformatting help in your case? Tell us in the comments!
