topic Re: "Card cannot be accessed. Reinsert/change card or format card in EOS DSLR & Mirrorless Cameras

EOS Rebel T5 "Card cannot be accessed. Reinsert/change card or format card

danielle4 — Thu, 08 Feb 2024 13:49:34 GMT

I just got this error on my T5. When I try to take a picture, it says: "Card cannot be accessed. Reinsert/change card or format card with camera." re-inserted but no luck.

So, I try to format the card from the camera menu settings, and it says "Cannot format. Change card."

I even tried re-formatting the cards on my computer, but still no luck. the card works on other cameras, so it's not the card.

I have used this card in the camera before and never had a problem, this just happened all of the sudden.

PLease help. My camera is only 4 months old.

Re: "Card cannot be accessed. Reinsert/change card or format card

Waddizzle — Thu, 21 Jul 2016 17:42:09 GMT

@danielle4 wrote:
I just got this error on my T5. When I try to take a picture, it says: "Card cannot be accessed. Reinsert/change card or format card with camera." re-inserted but no luck.

So, I try to format the card from the camera menu settings, and it says "Cannot format. Change card."
I even tried re-formatting the cards on my computer, but still no luck. the card works on other cameras, so it's not the card.
I have used this card in the camera before and never had a problem, this just happened all of the sudden.
PLease help. My camera is only 4 months old.

Cards can, and do, fail, usually without warning. What is the memory size of the card? Is it a mini-card with an adapter? If you say that the you cannot format the card on your computer, then that strongly suggests the card is bad, or corrupted.

My T5 doesn't like cards over 32GB. My T5 doesn't like miniature cards inside of adapters, either. The fact that the card doesn't work in your camera, but does in others is totally meaningless. Different cameras can use different formatting and file systems on their memory cards.

BTW, make sure the card isn't write protected, too.

Re: "Card cannot be accessed. Reinsert/change card or format card

danielle4 — Thu, 21 Jul 2016 20:47:14 GMT

the card is a 32GB sdHC. I did format it on my computer using the FAT32 file setting. it took a long time but it formatted. still can't use it in camera though. card is not write protected.

Re: "Card cannot be accessed. Reinsert/change card or format card

Waddizzle — Thu, 21 Jul 2016 21:51:37 GMT

@danielle4 wrote:
the card is a 32GB sdHC. I did format it on my computer using the FAT32 file setting. it took a long time but it formatted. still can't use it in camera though. card is not write protected.

After fiormatting in the computer, you would still need to perform a format in the camera to set up the default folders. At this point do not perform a low level format in the camera, because the computer has already done that for you.

However, if it took an unusually long time to format the card on the computer, the card could be bad, and on it's last leg. How much free space does the computer report is available. I say try a new card, from a different brand.

Re: "Card cannot be accessed. Reinsert/change card or format card

Todd1 — Fri, 30 Dec 2016 22:59:14 GMT

I had the same problem with a canon t5i that wouldn't recognize any sd card nor would it format any sd card. Got in touch with canon support and was told to send it in for repair at a cost of $190. Decided to diagnose myself and found one of the pins inside the camera card slot was not making contact with the sd card when it was inserted. Used a small flashlight, reading glasses and a bobby pin and bent the camera pin down just a little. Reinserted sd card and it worked

Re: "Card cannot be accessed. Reinsert/change card or format card

Dfincham84 — Wed, 06 Sep 2017 00:30:43 GMT

How did you get the bobby pin to grab on?

Re: "Card cannot be accessed. Reinsert/change card or format card

Dfincham84 — Wed, 06 Sep 2017 00:33:29 GMT

To the pin I mean

Re: "Card cannot be accessed. Reinsert/change card or format card

Tanzi — Sat, 30 Dec 2017 07:28:58 GMT

same to

Re: "Card cannot be accessed. Reinsert/change card or format card

Tanzi — Sat, 30 Dec 2017 07:37:33 GMT

it happening to me now cant see any solution here

Re: "Card cannot be accessed. Reinsert/change card or format card

Amateur675 — Sat, 17 Feb 2018 15:28:13 GMT

I have the same problem and it's driving me crazy. One solution (kind of) is to move all your pictures onto a drive or laptop so that your card is free. It ussually starts to work again.

Downside: This is only a quick solve because after a few pictures it shows the same message again...

Re: "Card cannot be accessed. Reinsert/change card or format card

ReneeNix — Sat, 24 Feb 2018 23:27:32 GMT

My camera stop reading my card. At first I thought it was the card but I put in an old card and it's still not working. It just says no card. Please help!!!!

Re: "Card cannot be accessed. Reinsert/change card or format card

Tim — Thu, 31 May 2018 21:52:17 GMT

Hello Danielle4,

We recommend trying a completely different card in the camera. Please make sure that you format the card in the camera prior to use. This will help you determine if the issue is within the card or the camera.

Re: "Card cannot be accessed. Reinsert/change card or format card

Jkm — Mon, 13 Aug 2018 04:19:32 GMT

Hi, ok I had the same issue with my canon t2i and figured it out, it was my fault. I bought a 32gb card and, I got an error message saying format or replace card. When I tried to format the card, my camera wouldn't let me. I tried to format it on my computer but, I couldn't do that either. After a good while trying to figure it out, I realized the card I bought came in a package with a much smaller tiny card. I figured that the smaller card is for my phone and, I don't really need it so, I just tossed it in my drawer. I realized much later that there was that slit on the bottom of my 32gb card. I figured it was just a part for your fingers to grab on to to pull it out of your camera or whatever. Well...that much smaller tiny card that came in the package with my sd card, that tiny card fit into that slit on the bottom of my sd card and, as soon as I put the sd card in my camera..perfect..over 4000 shots available and no need to format. So, I hope this helps someone out....

Re: "Card cannot be accessed. Reinsert/change card or format card

Waddizzle — Mon, 13 Aug 2018 07:52:34 GMT

@Jkm wrote:
Hi, ok I had the same issue with my canon t2i and figured it out, it was my fault. I bought a 32gb card and, I got an error message saying format or replace card. When I tried to format the card, my camera wouldn't let me. I tried to format it on my computer but, I couldn't do that either. After a good while trying to figure it out, I realized the card I bought came in a package with a much smaller tiny card. I figured that the smaller card is for my phone and, I don't really need it so, I just tossed it in my drawer. I realized much later that there was that slit on the bottom of my 32gb card. I figured it was just a part for your fingers to grab on to to pull it out of your camera or whatever. Well...that much smaller tiny card that came in the package with my sd card, that tiny card fit into that slit on the bottom of my sd card and, as soon as I put the sd card in my camera..perfect..over 4000 shots available and no need to format. So, I hope this helps someone out....

Two things:

1. MicroSD cards are not recommended for use in Canon DSLRs. The adapters are very unreliable.

2. The memory card really does require a low level format by the camera.

The microSD memory cards really should only be used in devices that use them directly, without an adapter. If you look up your camera’s instruction manual, I am sure that you will see “SD” and “SDHC” cards as being suitable for use. You will not see “SDXC” or “microSD” listed as a compatible type of memory card.

Memory cards are tested for speed and functionality during production. While it may seem as if the card has been pre-formatted, it has not. What you are seeing is residue from production testing. The formatting may not be complete, either. The production testing formatting residue needs to be completely wiped away by performing a “low level format” in your camera.

Re: "Card cannot be accessed. Reinsert/change card or format card

Jkm — Mon, 13 Aug 2018 11:14:46 GMT

Really? I had no idea about the sd card and micro that you mentioned. Thankyou for that information..

Re: "Card cannot be accessed. Reinsert/change card or format card

RobertTheFat — Thu, 16 Aug 2018 15:08:14 GMT

@Jkm wrote:
Hi, ok I had the same issue with my canon t2i and figured it out, it was my fault. I bought a 32gb card and, I got an error message saying format or replace card. When I tried to format the card, my camera wouldn't let me. I tried to format it on my computer but, I couldn't do that either. After a good while trying to figure it out, I realized the card I bought came in a package with a much smaller tiny card. I figured that the smaller card is for my phone and, I don't really need it so, I just tossed it in my drawer. I realized much later that there was that slit on the bottom of my 32gb card. I figured it was just a part for your fingers to grab on to to pull it out of your camera or whatever. Well...that much smaller tiny card that came in the package with my sd card, that tiny card fit into that slit on the bottom of my sd card and, as soon as I put the sd card in my camera..perfect..over 4000 shots available and no need to format. So, I hope this helps someone out....

What you bought is a micro-SD card (yes, the type of card used in cell phones), together with an adapter that makes it usable in place of a full-size SD card. After you discarded the micro-SD card, you were trying to use the adapter as though it were a card; so of course it didn't work.

Now that you're using the card and the adapter as they were intended to be used, things are working. But you may not be entirely out of the woods yet. Many users have found that combination unreliable, and having a card fail during an important photo shoot is the last thing you want to have happen. (Actually, it's the next-to-last thing. The last thing is not to discover the problem until you're back at your computer trying to edit the pictures you didn't take.)

So the bottom line is that the safest course of action is to throw both the adapter ind the micro card in the drawer and get a proper SD card. Or maybe you can use the micro card in your phone.

Re: "Card cannot be accessed. Reinsert/change card or format card

Jkm — Thu, 16 Aug 2018 16:33:29 GMT

Hi, I discovered that when I talked to a canon rep. The card I thought, it was just the adapter. The micro card is the main card and, that's not intended for my camera. So, I just bought a 16gb card...the right kind of card this time. It's over 2000 pics so, that's plenty. I sure don't want to take a bunch of pics and, have some issue later on where there are no pics. Or, their messed up some how. Better safe than sorry. Thanks.

Re: "Card cannot be accessed. Reinsert/change card or format card

mehdimed — Wed, 05 Sep 2018 22:28:02 GMT

Hello, I had this exact same problem! I have two SD cards (one a normal SD and the other one is a Micro SD inside an adapter)!

All I did is clean the "golden" pins (I'm not sure how you call them)!!! Both of them were a bit "dirty" from overuse, once I cleaned them they worked perfectly

Hope this would help

Re: "Card cannot be accessed. Reinsert/change card or format card

Theomid — Wed, 31 Jul 2019 20:11:41 GMT

I have a cannon1Dx mark ii and I have same issue “Card cannot be accessed. Reinsert/change card or format card“

Is there any way to retreat photographs or data back?

I’m using CFast card

Re: "Card cannot be accessed. Reinsert/change card or format card

wq9nsc — Wed, 07 Aug 2019 12:39:01 GMT

If you have photos on the Cfast card, as recommended above first try to read them with your Cfast card reader and if that doesn't work AND they are important photos then check with the card manufacturer to see if they have recommended recovery software.

When I was primarily using my 1D Mark II I would transfer photos by putting its SD card into a reader. But now that my 1DX Mark II and 1DX are what I use most of the time I transfer images via the Ethernet port. If you are using CF and Cfast cards with a card reader, make sure that you are using very good quality cards from a reputable retailer and be very careful inserting those cards because CF and Cfast socket pins are fragile compared to many other interface systems and easy to bend.

NOTE: there are a lot of lower end Cfast cards that use "CF class" memory and although these fit the Cfast port they only provide CF level performance. Also, memory cards are one of the most counterfeited products in the world and what you often get from large online merchants is a fake which may have both electronic and physical/mechanical deficiencies. After getting some counterfeits from the very large online retailer, I now buy all of my memory cards from B&H and Adorama.

Rodger