Experiencing frustration with your iPhone not recognizing your SD card reader after the iOS 16 update? You’re not alone. Many users have reported issues, and even Apple technicians initially suggested incompatibility. It might feel like you need a special tool, almost like you’re wondering about “How They Scan Sim Car Chip Scanner” to access data, but the solution is actually simpler and relates to how iOS 16 handles external storage.
Many iPhone users rely on SD card readers to transfer photos and videos, especially photographers and videographers who need to quickly move large files from their cameras. After updating to iOS 16, a common problem arose: the iPhone would no longer detect the connected SD card reader. The usual “Import” option in the Photos app might disappear, leaving users puzzled and unable to access their files.
One user, Cuong777, shared a helpful workaround after a week of frustration, highlighting that despite initial concerns, SD card readers are still functional with iOS 16. The key is to bypass the Photos app’s import function and directly access the files through the “Files” app.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to access your SD card files on your iPhone running iOS 16:
- Insert the SD card into your card reader. Make sure your SD card is properly inserted into the designated slot of your card reader.
- Plug the card reader into your iPhone. Connect the card reader to your iPhone’s Lightning or USB-C port, depending on your iPhone model and reader type.
- Open the “Files” app on your iPhone. This is Apple’s file management app, pre-installed on all iPhones.
- Navigate to “Browse” within the Files app. In the Files app, you’ll typically see locations like “iCloud Drive” and “On My iPhone”. Tap on “Browse” usually located at the bottom of the screen.
- Look for “No Name” under “Browse”. This is the crucial step. Instead of looking for an “Import” option, you need to find “No Name” listed as a location in the “Browse” section. It might be located under “iCloud Drive” or simply appear under “Browse”.
- Tap on “No Name”. Once you tap on “No Name”, you should be able to see all the files and folders from your SD card directly within the Files app.
- Access your files. From here, you can view, copy, move, or share files from your SD card as needed. You can import photos and videos to your Photos app, or use the files for other purposes within iOS.
While this “No Name” workaround has proven effective for many users, including Cuong777 and a_mand_a, some users have reported that it doesn’t work for them, like carbide73. There are also alternative suggestions from other users that might be helpful in certain situations:
- Using the Photos App Import Option (Sometimes): DrummerJMS found that after plugging in the SD card reader and opening the Photos app, scrolling down to “Imported Photos” made the import option available in the bottom right corner. This suggests that in some cases, the traditional import function might still be triggered, but perhaps less reliably than before iOS 16.
- Restarting Devices: While some users like thai_iphone4 and aoverbey found restarting ineffective, it’s still a general troubleshooting step worth trying. A simple restart of your iPhone after connecting the SD card reader might resolve temporary glitches.
- Checking Card Compatibility: DownWith noted issues specifically with newer, larger MicroSD cards (128GB) and found a temporary fix by plugging the card into a computer’s docking station first. This hints at potential compatibility issues with certain SD card types or formatting that iOS 16 might be more sensitive to.
It’s important to note that Apple’s official support documentation, as suggested by OrigamiFan1, recommends checking for physical damage and trying a restart. However, these generic steps may not address the core issue related to iOS 16’s handling of SD card readers.
The shift to accessing SD card files through the “Files” app and the “No Name” location suggests a change in how iOS 16 manages external storage devices. It’s possible that the automatic “Import” prompt is less reliable, or that the system prioritizes file system access over direct media import in certain scenarios.
In conclusion, if your iPhone SD card reader stopped working after the iOS 16 update, don’t assume it’s broken or incompatible. Try the “Files” app “No Name” workaround first. This simple method has successfully helped many users regain access to their SD card files. While the exact reasons for this change in behavior are not officially documented, understanding this workaround can save you time and frustration when transferring files between your SD cards and your iPhone.
