Introduction: SD Card Hack for Macbook Pro Retina 13 Inch
If you are a proud purchaser of latest Macbook pro 13 inch with retina display, you might have already started to wonder or might already be wondering about the extending storage options for this beauty.
The challenge is the storage upgrade cost. The 128 GB SSD model is the cheapest one and 256 GB comes at a reasonable upgrade cost while the 512 GB SSD model seems too expensive.
The upgrade options are very limited with custom designed flash cards, adapters for micro SD cards and what not.
Another options can be an external hard drive but you might not want to lug around the external HDD for the extra music that you like or may be some episodes of your favourite TV series.
SD card is not recognized by the HyperDrive; How to open up the Micro SD card slot? GN28B HyperDrive DUO USB-C Hub does not fit or gets detected by 2018 MacBook Pro; What is the difference between original Kickstarter HyperDrive version and the current HyperDrive DUO? How to connect two monitors in extended view through the Duo Hub. How i solve this issue was, 1st use the search on the upper right of your screen (search for sd card) 2nd under the folders, you will see the sd card. 3rd open the go on the finder, open all documents 4th drag and drop the sd card from the search to the device in the all document windows. Instructions to possibly fix your SD card reader on your MacBook Pro. My laptop would not read any SD card even after using blowing compressed air and this m. It is not necessarily related to the SD card slot. First of all, make sure you insert your card properly. The metal contacts must face down and point toward your Mac. Put the card in carefully, but not too slowly: sometimes it does not mount properly because of it. Having another SD card for a test significantly simplifies the task.
What I have found out is that 64 GB is a sweet spot when it comes to price to value proposition as the cost of 128 GB SD cards is more than double, in fact 3 times the cost of 64 GB SD card cost.
In this Instructable we would see how we can use an off the shelf SD card to over come the storage limitation of our Macbook Pro 13 inch retina model.
*Note* This method may not work with all SD cards. But will work with most, specially the recent high capacity ones.
Step 1: What We Need?
What we need
1. A full size SD card, preferably 64 GB one. The one I used for this experiment was Strontium Nitro class 10 due to its price / value proposition. These are very easily available in India.
2. Cisdem appcrypt 3 1 0. A paper cutter with sharp edges.
3. A pencil to mark the card for cutting.
4. A pair of tweezers to pull out the card while testing. (Optional but comes in real handy)
5. A ruler or a straight surface.
6. Of course a Macbook Pro 13 with retina display. This might also work for other Macbook models with slight difference in step 2.
Step 2: Marking Our SD Card
The reason I went for this approach is because, the micro SD cards have become smaller and I saw in some videos on youtube that most of the plastic in full size SD cards was to maintain the form factor for cameras etc. I tore open some micro SD cards adapters as well to see the insides.
Also it doesn't make sense for manufacturers to have different die sizes to make internals of the SD cards as it all plastic that is needed to maintain the form factor.
First thing we need to do is insert the SD card in the SD card slot on the right side edge of our Macbook pro or any other macbook.
Take the pencil and mark the sides so that we have a clear line to mark our cutting line on the plastic.
This mark will be at different distance for each Macbook model, if we mark the line right it should be good enough.
Macbook Pro Not Detecting Sd Card Holder
Step 3:
Now keep the card on a hard surface, place a ruler or another straight object on the line.
Hold it tight, and start making cuts along the line that we made, we would need to make multiple cuts as we would not want to break the circuits inside (just in case we are unlucky and or card the electronics all the way till the end.
One easier way to check that would be to use the knife point to pry open the card from the bottom edge to do that, or if the card is not black you can use a really powerful light source to look at the insides to detect the circuit boundary.
Once we have made multiple cut marks we start by prying open the plastic case from the bottom and try and break along the lines by folding it slowly and steadily increasing the folding pressure.
Once the top part breaks we can do the same thing with the remaining half.
I guess my cuts were not that deep so the edge slightly chipped of.
Check the card by plugging in. It works. Now the tweezers come in handy to pull out the card, if u don't have long nails.
We may file the cut egde a little to remove sharp corners and edges as around half a millimetre keep out of the slot.
The card can be made real flush with the surface but in that case the tweezers are a must to pull it out.
Plug in the card and enjoy the free space to store your music, TV series, movies or whatever you want.
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Information about these and other types of Mac ports is in the specifications for your Mac: Choose Apple menu > About This Mac, click Support, then click Specifications. Or check your Mac user guide.
Thunderbolt 3
Use Thunderbolt 3 with displays and other devices that connect using either a Thunderbolt 3 cable or USB-C cable. You can also connect a USB-C power adapter and cable to charge your notebook computer. If you have a device that doesn't connect to this port, you might be able to use an adapter to connect it.
These Mac models have Thunderbolt 3 ports:
- MacBook Pro introduced in 2016 or later
- MacBook Air introduced in 2018 or later
- iMac introduced in 2017 or later
- iMac Pro (all models)
- Mac mini introduced in 2018
- Mac Pro introduced in 2019
If your Mac notebook or desktop computer has more than one port like this, each port supports ThunderBolt 3 and USB-C.
USB-C
Use USB-C with displays and other devices that connect using a USB-C cable. You can also connect a USB-C power adapter and cable to charge your notebook computer. If you have a device that doesn't connect to this port, you might be able to use an adapter to connect it.
MacBook models introduced in 2015 or later have a single USB-C port. This port doesn't support Thunderbolt devices.
If your Mac has only one port like this, it's a MacBook that supports USB-C but not Thunderbolt.
Thunderbolt
![Macbook Pro Not Detecting Sd Card Macbook Pro Not Detecting Sd Card](https://external-preview.redd.it/3rlPmyc8BxRcW5NO1OnfXRKEPnM-PEOu-WGOFJjXyDM.jpg?width=640&height=1137&crop=smart&auto=webp&s=022f50a52d917b176291e19aeca01054b4ed7ff1)
Use Thunderbolt or Thunderbolt 2 with displays and other devices that connect using a Thunderbolt cable.
These Mac models have Thunderbolt or Thunderbolt 2 ports:
- MacBook Pro introduced in 2011 through 2015
- MacBook Air introduced in 2011 through 2017
- Mac mini introduced in 2011 through 2014
- iMac introduced in 2011 through 2015
- Mac Pro introduced in 2013
![Macbook pro not detecting sd card upgrade Macbook pro not detecting sd card upgrade](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/S/aplus-seller-content-images-us-east-1/A1F83G8C2ARO7P/A1SF02M8IRPNMQ/ce4176e0-4abe-41d9-9454-82bf41be1e2d._CR0,0,970,600_PT0_SX970__.jpg)
Thunderbolt and Thunderbolt 2 are not the same as Mini DisplayPort . They have the same shape, but use different symbols on the cable and port. However, this port does support Mini DisplayPort for video output, so you can use a Mini DisplayPort cable to connect a Mini DisplayPort display.
Mini DisplayPort
Use Mini DisplayPort with displays that connect using a Mini DisplayPort cable.
These Mac models have Mini DisplayPort:
- MacBook Pro introduced in late 2008 through 2010
- MacBook Air introduced in late 2008 through 2010
- Mac mini introduced in 2009 and 2010
- iMac introduced in 2009 and 2010
- Mac Pro introduced in 2009 through 2012
Mini DisplayPort is not the same as Thunderbolt or Thunderbolt 2 . They have the same shape, but use different symbols on the cable and port.
USB-A
Use USB-A with devices that connect using a USB cable. USB ports are sometimes known by the USB specification of the port, such as USB 2 or USB 3.
Left to right: power, two Thunderbolt, USB-A, and Audio-Out.
HDMI
Use HDMI with displays and TVs that connect using an HDMI cable.
Ethernet
Use Ethernet with networks and devices that connect using an Ethernet (RJ45) cable.
FireWire
Use FireWire with devices that connect using a FireWire 400 or FireWire 800 cable.
SD card
Use the SD card slot with SD, SDHC, SDXC, MMC, and UHS-II media cards, such as those used by digital cameras.
Macbook Pro Not Detecting Sd Card Upgrade
Audio
Use Audio-Out — or — with headphones, speakers, and other audio-output devices that connect using an audio cable that has a 3.5 mm (1/8 inch) audio jack.
Use Audio-In with a microphone or other audio-input device that connects using an audio cable that has a 3.5 mm (1/8 inch) audio jack.
Power
Macbook Pro Not Detecting Sd Card Recovery Software
Use the power port , if available, to connect your computer to AC power using a MagSafe cable or adapter. This port isn't available on newer Mac notebook computers, which use Thunderbolt 3 or USB-C for power and charging. Learn more about power adapters and cables for Mac notebook computers.