Database Users

[Q] Note 3 camera unable to save on external sd card

Hi All,
I have a stock non rooted Note 3... Recently bought a 32GB class 10 micro sd for it... Whenever I change the storage for camera to sd card it clicks a picture with an error of unable to save to sd card switching back to device storage....
1) Why isnt it able to use the sd card for storage
2) I have formatted the card multiple time both via pc n phone
3) read abt read-permissions but didnt find much applicable info
What can i do about it as I can copy paste file via pc to micro sd successfully and the files reflect properly in the phone...

zahirsayed said:
Hi All,
I have a stock non rooted Note 3... Recently bought a 32GB class 10 micro sd for it... Whenever I change the storage for camera to sd card it clicks a picture with an error of unable to save to sd card switching back to device storage....
1) Why isnt it able to use the sd card for storage
2) I have formatted the card multiple time both via pc n phone
3) read abt read-permissions but didnt find much applicable info
What can i do about it as I can copy paste file via pc to micro sd successfully and the files reflect properly in the phone...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try using a different microSD card? My class 6 32GB works!

so does this mean that the card is corrupted i will test another card and confirm...

Likely the card is the issue.

ilikegoogle said:
Likely the card is the issue.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have conducted these tests:
1) Used my 32 gb card on my old note 2 and camera is able to save pictures directly on it
2) Used my old 16 gb card on my new note 3 and camera is able to save pictures directly on it
Conclusion:
1) Note 3 is functioning properly with 16gb card but not the 32gb card
2) My 32gb card is fine as note 2 is able to write on it with no issues
There is a problem with Note 3 unable to write on a working 32 gb samsung class 10 micro sd...
Awaiting a solution..

Is your card anyway protected or something? I got 32gb class 10 card from Samsung and and it's working fine (If I remember right the card was some red/grey colour, bought it couple months ago and it worked as well in my old S2)
Sent from my SM-N9005 using XDA Premium HD app

Spere said:
Is your card anyway protected or something? I got 32gb class 10 card from Samsung and and it's working fine (If I remember right the card was some red/grey colour, bought it couple months ago and it worked as well in my old S2)
Sent from my SM-N9005 using XDA Premium HD app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Im not sure about card being protected as it works fine on NOTE 2...
I just formatted the card via CMD... still nothing... camera doesnt save to mem card...

zahirsayed said:
Im not sure about card being protected as it works fine on NOTE 2...
I just formatted the card via CMD... still nothing... camera doesnt save to mem card...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just got a call from tech support who took remote access of my phone... he simply wasted my time by try few things n asking baseless questions... issue persists...

zahirsayed said:
Just got a call from tech support who took remote access of my phone... he simply wasted my time by try few things n asking baseless questions... issue persists...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have tried an over night sd card format with my mac 7 level erase. Still the same issue. No change. Please help.

zahirsayed said:
I have tried an over night sd card format with my mac 7 level erase. Still the same issue. No change. Please help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have finally tried additional steps with no success:
1) bought a new samsung class 10 micro sd card --- not working in my phone
2) formatted the new card --- no change
3) used it in my friends note 3 and it worked fine
4) did a factory reset on my phone --- it worked for 2 mins and again started giving the error
what is the issue here???????

For what it's worth... Although I have a Note 2, after updating stock Android from 4.1.2 to 4.3, I recieved the same errror. You might also have 4.3, since 4.1.2 has not been delivered on the Note 3. Maybe an Android 4.3 issue, instead of a Note issue?

Solved. I checked my SD card: 2 corrupt files. After making a backup of the SD card, I performed a full format and placed all files back on the SD card. Camera now stores pics on SD card. Card clearly had an issue. Whether this has to do with android 4.3 or not, I don't know.

zahirsayed said:
Hi All,
I have a stock non rooted Note 3... Recently bought a 32GB class 10 micro sd for it... Whenever I change the storage for camera to sd card it clicks a picture with an error of unable to save to sd card switching back to device storage....
1) Why isnt it able to use the sd card for storage
2) I have formatted the card multiple time both via pc n phone
3) read abt read-permissions but didnt find much applicable info
What can i do about it as I can copy paste file via pc to micro sd successfully and the files reflect properly in the phone...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just talked with Samsung support after a 64gb class 10 failed and a 32gb class 10....They told me that their phones dont support class 10 cards officially and that they are known to fail. They suggested that I ask the card manufacturer to replace the card with a lower class.....something about the way files get written...basically they know its an issue but dont have a time table for it to be resolved if it will be at all.

Can't write to Note 3 SD card
I have the same problem, I can only write to the SD card if I take it out of the phone and do it with my computer.
I purchased a Transcend 64GB card with the phone. The dealer exchanged the card after he satisified himself there was a problem.
I still have the same problem.
Can't write to the card, via any of the following (or get a partial write and failure with a corrupt file) USB, Kies, Airdroid, or file copy from internal to external card.
I have to take the card out of the phone and write to it with a PC, then I can read the files.
I'm beginning to think this is a manufacturers defect in the phone, I've seen a couple of other posts on this same subject. One was on the Sammy site.
I would like to solve this issue without having to submit my phone to Sammy under warranty and be without a phone for however long.
zahirsayed said:
I have finally tried additional steps with no success:
1) bought a new samsung class 10 micro sd card --- not working in my phone
2) formatted the new card --- no change
3) used it in my friends note 3 and it worked fine
4) did a factory reset on my phone --- it worked for 2 mins and again started giving the error
what is the issue here???????
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

The only way i could fix it was to use a Samsung 64 GB Class 10 card... but that card as well is a little dicey to use as once my battery went low and the phone got switched off and corrupted the memory card... so i just use it for movie storage, no camera pics...
yitzi said:
I have the same problem, I can only write to the SD card if I take it out of the phone and do it with my computer.
I purchased a Transcend 64GB card with the phone. The dealer exchanged the card after he satisified himself there was a problem.
I still have the same problem.
Can't write to the card, via any of the following (or get a partial write and failure with a corrupt file) USB, Kies, Airdroid, or file copy from internal to external card.
I have to take the card out of the phone and write to it with a PC, then I can read the files.
I'm beginning to think this is a manufacturers defect in the phone, I've seen a couple of other posts on this same subject. One was on the Sammy site.
I would like to solve this issue without having to submit my phone to Sammy under warranty and be without a phone for however long.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

New Card only works a short while.... Then
When I had my Transcend 64GB card replaced, it was ok for a short time then it went back to the old problems. I can't write data to the card while it's in the phone only when written from a PC. If I save a file somehow from the phone (which usually fails) the file will be corrupted, such as a song or movie it will not play smoothly, or perhaps at all. Save it from the PC and it's ok.
zahirsayed said:
The only way i could fix it was to use a Samsung 64 GB Class 10 card... but that card as well is a little dicey to use as once my battery went low and the phone got switched off and corrupted the memory card... so i just use it for movie storage, no camera pics...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

yitzi said:
When I had my Transcend 64GB card replaced, it was ok for a short time then it went back to the old problems. I can't write data to the card while it's in the phone only when written from a PC. If I save a file somehow from the phone (which usually fails) the file will be corrupted, such as a song or movie it will not play smoothly, or perhaps at all. Save it from the PC and it's ok.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually android 4.4.2 kitkat can't save anything to sdcard...except samsung's app, because i had this issue too

Can't write to SD Card on Note 3
I was having problems on JellyBean 4.3 with writing to SD card, got a new card and everything seemed ok for a little bit. Then issue returned. Upgraded to KitKat 4.4.2 and problem is worse if anything.
I have seen fixes for this issue if you are willing to root the phone and void warranty to fix it. I have 3 other rooted devices, I could root the Note 3 but it's brand new, I don't want to blow the warranty away.
crazy_777 said:
Actually android 4.4.2 kitkat can't save anything to sdcard...except samsung's app, because i had this issue too
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

yitzi said:
I was having problems on JellyBean 4.3 with writing to SD card, got a new card and everything seemed ok for a little bit. Then issue returned. Upgraded to KitKat 4.4.2 and problem is worse if anything.
I have seen fixes for this issue if you are willing to root the phone and void warranty to fix it. I have 3 other rooted devices, I could root the Note 3 but it's brand new, I don't want to blow the warranty away.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The only solution is just wait for another samsung software update

64GB Sandisk Ultra micro SD cards not working on S5 and Note 10.1

So,
I understood that I could use up to 128GB on the S5.
If this is true, why Can't I use a standard sandisk Ultra micro SD card of 64GB? The menu shows me I can unmount and format, but that doesn't seem to work. I tried formatting in MS-DOS (FAT) format using my Mac (I don't have windows), which worked for my Note 2 but not my S5.
If I try writing a file to the micro SD card it says: "ERROR, could not write file".
When I try to format using the phone, it says no card installed (despite the card being installed, its size being indicated, the unmount and format options being available, etc).
Interesting, I have a second one installed in my note 10.1 2014 edition, and that one behaves a little different. It is also not usable but it greys out the unmount and format options as if the card does not exist (yet still it indicates the available size). Note, for this one I also used the MS-DOS (FAT) formatting method on my Mac.
I know the micro SD cards for both the S5 and the note 10.1 2014 edition are both ok, because I tested them on my Note 2, which reads and writes to the cards perfectly fine.
Both the S5 the tablet and the microSD cards were bought on Singapore Airport.
For info, the tablet runs 4.3 and the S5 runs 4.4.2 straight from the box.
Can someone help me with this?

So I found for the Note 10.1, if I format it with my Note 2, it accepts the card and I can use it normally.
The S5 does not do this, so I suspect this is another major issue with kitkat 4.4.2 (I also have VPN issues with 4.4.2 which I don't have on 4.3)

I have the same card you have in my S5 (it was in my S4 before). I have no issue with the card. But I cannot use other app than the stock file manager to write to it. This is a Kitkat issue though.

Airax said:
I have the same card you have in my S5 (it was in my S4 before). I have no issue with the card. But I cannot use other app than the stock file manager to write to it. This is a Kitkat issue though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i have a 64gb sdhc and i get the error icon on pic and videos when i try and transfer from laptop, phone storage to sd or any type of way the s5 will show the crash icon on the pic and wont view it. Ive used a new 64gb sdxc and 64gb sdhc both did the samething.

I've had 2 of the same genuine SanDisk 64gb cards fail in a similar way on my S3 because I tried to format in Fat32 so it would work with directory bind to move data to external but both times it killed the cards and only a few formatting programs even recognised the card in the end, So this time I'm taking no risks and the card was formatted in S3 then S5 and has gone nowhere near a PC and has run perfect for over a year now.

Michael_P said:
I've had 2 of the same genuine SanDisk 64gb cards fail in a similar way on my S3 because I tried to format in Fat32 so it would work with directory bind to move data to external but both times it killed the cards and only a few formatting programs even recognised the card in the end, So this time I'm taking no risks and the card was formatted in S3 then S5 and has gone nowhere near a PC and has run perfect for over a year now.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And I regularly put my Micro SD into a PC to copy files without issue.

Airax said:
And I regularly put my Micro SD into a PC to copy files without issue.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just try to avoid formatting in PC because that's where you might get the problems... And anyway I just backup on flash drive through OTG because it saves all that hassle of installing drivers on everything and sitting at the computer or removing the card most days.

I have the same problem here. I have two microSD Samsung 64GB class 10 original (one of these I got on the launch event of Galaxy S5 at Barcelona). Before S5 I had a Galaxy Note 3 and it worked without problems. So I changed my phone to a S5 and both can't be recognized in it. So I bought a 32 GB Sandisk 'cause someone suggest an incompatibility with 64 GB / FAT 32. On the microSD slot, the phone won't recognize it. At USB OTG, S5 recognize only the 32GB... both of 64GB still can't be recognized. WTF?
And yes: all the SD cards can be used normally at PC, W10 tablets...

Media disappears off sd card."

Hey can anyone help me with an issue am having with my external sd card. ... I Have Installed hyperdrive rls 8 a month now ... I used SS 3.75 and install it to my stock slot then flash the nc2 kernel with odin.. The rom is working fine with a few fc but my pictures keep erasing automatically after I transfer them to the phone or when I take a picture with the camera app..
version of note 3 retail
safe strap 3.75
bootloader you have nc2
Help plz

goddie392 said:
Hey can anyone help me with an issue am having with my external sd card. ... I Have Installed hyperdrive rls 8 a month now ... I used SS 3.75 and install it to my stock slot then flash the nc2 kernel with odin.. The rom is working fine with a few fc but my pictures keep erasing automatically after I transfer them to the phone or when I take a picture with the camera app..
version of note 3 retail
safe strap 3.75
bootloader you have nc2
Help plz
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You may not have the same issue as I did but on my s3 it was a sign my sd card was going bad. Do you have a spare to test with? I sent two 64gb cards back before I got a good one. I keep a 32gb as a spare and test.
Sent by Darkseid from Apokolips

What kind of SD card do you have? Apparently, according to a thread here: http://www.discussny.com/technical-support/10143-samsung-galaxy-note-3-not-read-new-micro-64gb-card.html the Note 3 will not work with 64 GB SDHC cards. I know, I tried and also got the disappearing file problem. You have to use an SDXC type card.

Michele31415 said:
What kind of SD card do you have? Apparently, according to a thread here: http://www.discussny.com/technical-support/10143-samsung-galaxy-note-3-not-read-new-micro-64gb-card.html the Note 3 will not work with 64 GB SDHC cards. I know, I tried and also got the disappearing file problem. You have to use an SDXC type card.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That article Samsung is full of **** my note 3 is working fine with my 64gb card. I did have an issue early on where my media services went bananas but that worked itself out. Mine is a 64gb pny SDXC class 10.

mirrin said:
That article Samsung is full of **** my note 3 is working fine with my 64gb card. I did have an issue early on where my media services went bananas but that worked itself out. Mine is a 64gb pny SDXC class 10.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well I'll agree that there seems to be a lot of confusion surrounding this issue. All I can say is I tried a genuine Samsung brand 64 GB SDHC Class 10 micro-SD card in my Verizon Note 3 4.4.2 NC4 and it did not work. I had the card permissions fixed so I could write on it, and I could download my entire mp3 directory from my PC (USB transfer) and see all the files on the card, but as soon as I rebooted, the directory name was still there but it was empty. Also, all the mp3 files on /mnt/extSdCard played at 10x normal speed (and I tried half a dozen different players) but if they were stored on /sdcard, they played fine (same identical files). I have a 64 GB SDXC card on order that's supposed to be here today, so I'll be interested to see if that works.
UPDATE
I just put a Kingston 64 GB Class 10 SDXC micro-SD card in the phone. It came up already formatted so I didn't do that. I applied the "enable write to external SD card" option in Wanam Xposed and rebooted, but that didn't take so I ran the SD Fix app from the app store. That worked. I've now been able to successfully download data from four different apps onto /mnt/extSdCard and they're all OK. I also downloaded my MP3's (using FE) and they play OK too. Everything is still there and working properly after a reboot.
So I guess it's true - 64 GB SDHC cards will not work in the Note 3, but SDXC will.

Note 3 not detecting any memory card - "Blank SD card or unsupported file system erro

Note 3 not detecting any memory card - "Blank SD card or unsupported file system erro
Guys, need help....
All of a sudden, my 16 GB SanDisk card has stopped being mounted on my Note 3....
Its not a card issue, as card is being detected in other mobiles and PC as well.... And my Note 3 is not able to detect any other card
I have also formatted the card (FAT32), done chkdsk on Laptop and even reflashed ROM, however card is not mounting and the error that it is either Blank or unsupported file system keeps coming........
Also, i have been using the card on kitkat custom ROM for last 7-8 months without ne issue and now all of sudden its nt getting detected.....
Ne solutions/suggestions to fix this..... May be some file gone corrupted and any module/file to fix this ???
I really dnt want to go through Samsung service centre route for this
P. S. - I am on Dr Ketan's custom ROM - K12
Model - SM-N900
Sent from my SM-N900 using Tapatalk

kingjack said:
Guys, need help....
All of a sudden, my 16 GB SanDisk card has stopped being mounted on my Note 3....
Its not a card issue, as card is being detected in other mobiles and PC as well.... And my Note 3 is not able to detect any other card
I have also formatted the card (FAT32), done chkdsk on Laptop and even reflashed ROM, however card is not mounting and the error that it is either Blank or unsupported file system keeps coming........
Also, i have been using the card on kitkat custom ROM for last 7-8 months without ne issue and now all of sudden its nt getting detected.....
Ne solutions/suggestions to fix this..... May be some file gone corrupted and any module/file to fix this ???
I really dnt want to go through Samsung service centre route for this
P. S. - I am on Dr Ketan's custom ROM - K12
Model - SM-N900
Sent from my SM-N900 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The problem has been exist since note 2 that: Samsung phone generally doesn't like Sandisk Cards.
Friend of mine had a 32Gb SanDisk microSD on his Note 2. From time to time, the phone acts as the card ejected for no reason. After a few months of battle, it just couldn't be detected it any-more.
Solution? Get a Samsung SDCard instead.
I bought him an original Samsung SD card while I was in Hong Kong at April. 4 months have passed, so far, no problem.
His Sandisk has been sat in my mum's N7000 (Note 1) and worked like a charm. :fingers-crossed:

vandals01 said:
The problem has been exist since note 2 that: Samsung phone generally doesn't like Sandisk Cards.
Friend of mine had a 32Gb SanDisk microSD on his Note 2. From time to time, the phone acts as the card ejected for no reason. After a few months of battle, it just couldn't be detected it any-more.
Solution? Get a Samsung SDCard instead.
I bought him an original Samsung SD card while I was in Hong Kong at April. 4 months have passed, so far, no problem.
His Sandisk has been sat in my mum's N7000 (Note 1) and worked like a charm. :fingers-crossed:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unfortunately, it could also mean that the midcroSD port is toast. I would look at that first -- see if there's any dust or foreign material in there and gently clean it out if you find anything. Then borrow a friend's microSD and see if it works in your device.

burtcom said:
Unfortunately, it could also mean that the midcroSD port is toast. I would look at that first -- see if there's any dust or foreign material in there and gently clean it out if you find anything. Then borrow a friend's microSD and see if it works in your device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Done that and its not mounting any card. In fact all cards are giving an error "Blank SD card or unsupported file system" and these cards are mounting and reading well on my wife's android.
Guess problem is software related, as card is getting detected but not reading/mounting properly. Any leads to any modules/files for solving ths ???

kingjack said:
Done that and its not mounting any card. In fact all cards are giving an error "Blank SD card or unsupported file system" and these cards are mounting and reading well on my wife's android.
Guess problem is software related, as card is getting detected but not reading/mounting properly. Any leads to any modules/files for solving ths ???
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As you have said, it is software related, so you have some options:
- Reflash the rom, or factory reset
- Report the problem to the rom's creator for fixing
- Or try another rom/firmware.

Change the rom

Not the rom or any sd card. Has to do with Samsung not supporting up to date 3rd party app permissions. You need to root your phone, then use fixsd app. I'm in the exact same boat on galaxy note 3 w/stock rom 4.4.4 kitkat and kernel date of Aug 28th 2014. Once again, an attempts at copying, moving, writing to sd card, you will have the error.

Same Here - Any fix?
I just got a used Note 3 (N900 international) off EBay. I am having the exact same problem here. I have tried lots of different brands/sizes of microSD cards and none can be mounted. It is possible that the card slot is hosed. This is on Lollipop. Without this, the phone is not very useful to me. So any fixes? Thanks
BTW - all of the cards are formatted fat32 and work fine in Windows. I have tried allowing the phone to format the card when prompted. Seems that the format attempt fails too.

I just got a used note 3 and my SD card is doing the same thing except I don't get an error message it just says in my storage that there isn't an SD card and o have also tried 3 other ones all different size and brand. All of which have been in a few different phones and worked just fine. The one that's current in my SD card slot I had in a note 2 until I got this note 3 and it worked perfect. I looked it up and found that the note 3 not reading any SD card is a hardware issue and the only way to fix it is repair the SD card slot or replace the phone

Looks like I have the same issue than most of you guys !
I'm running Cyanogenmod 12.1 on my SM-900W8. I tryed original samsung OS , factory reset didn't change a thing.
I tryed 3 microSD, a samsung evo 64GB , a sandisk extreme 32GB and a verbatim 8GB.
All of them work very well il my laptop but since a week or two , my note 3 refuse to detect any of them. It was working for over a year , then some random message started to show up ( something like unexpected sd card removal ) and I completely lost it right after.
They are not detected in TWRP either.
I'm looking everywhere on the internet but I don't find any fix for this particular issue. The only thing I saw is some brand new simcard / sd tray that need to be soldered. If that's the way to go I'll find somebody who can do that but I need to know first !

64GB SD Card -- Unsupported File system

I got Note 3 Neo, and when I try to use my Transcend 64GB Class 10 Card, I get the following message:
"Blank SD card
SD card is blank or has unsupported filesystem"
The card work properly for sumtime and then suddenly the above message starts to appear.
I have tried formatting on Win7 PC, in the phone - But same thing.
Also, if I use 32GB class 4 card its working perfectly.
Please provide solutions folks... and is their a way to format this card in Fat32, coz in windows there is only option for Exfat & NTFS..
PS: I am on Stock 4.3 JellyBen and the 64GB card is absolutely proper as when I use it in my camera its working flawlessly.

craige said:
I got Note 3 Neo, and when I try to use my Transcend 64GB Class 10 Card, I get the following message:
"Blank SD card
SD card is blank or has unsupported filesystem"
The card work properly for sumtime and then suddenly the above message starts to appear.
I have tried formatting on Win7 PC, in the phone - But same thing.
Also, if I use 32GB class 4 card its working perfectly.
Please provide solutions folks... and is their a way to format this card in Fat32, coz in windows there is only option for Exfat & NTFS..
PS: I am on Stock 4.3 JellyBen and the 64GB card is absolutely proper as when I use it in my camera its working flawlessly.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
go in recovery anf format it from there....

Don't format it using Windows, that's a really bad idea.
Use the format option under Settings > Storage > MicroSD > Format.

rayman95 said:
go in recovery anf format it from there....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well is their an option for just formatting the SD card and nothing else.. ? maybe you can provide steps.
BTW, also used SD card format software from SD association, but still same probs... so am sure this aint gona rectify the issue.
ShadowLea said:
Don't format it using Windows, that's a really bad idea.
Use the format option under Settings > Storage > MicroSD > Format.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Already done, as mentioned in my original post.

craige said:
Well is their an option for just formatting the SD card and nothing else.. ? maybe you can provide steps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you gon in recovery:mounts and storage/ format storage sdcard1
I'm with last philz, look my signature

rayman95 said:
you gon in recovery:mounts and storage/ format storage sdcard1
I'm with last philz, look my signature
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The only option I got in recovery is :
reboot system now
apply update from ADB
apply update from external storage
wipe data/factory reset
wipe cache Partition
apply update from cache
There is no option to wipe the SD card (Am on stock JellyBean)
Also, I have just done complete format (not quick) and still same issue. A google search shows numerous ppl are facing same issues but with their S5.
I guess I am the first one with this problem on Note 3 Neo. The only solution is to switch to Samsung MicroSD cards - Someone should Sue Samsung for playing such a ploy.

craige said:
The only option I got in recovery is :
reboot system now
apply update from ADB
apply update from external storage
wipe data/factory reset
wipe cache Partition
apply update from cache
There is no option to wipe the SD card (Am on stock JellyBean)
Also, I have just done complete format (not quick) and still same issue. A google search shows numerous ppl are facing same issues but with their S5.
I guess I am the first one with this problem on Note 3 Neo. The only solution is to switch to Samsung MicroSD cards - Someone should Sue Samsung for playing such a ploy.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
because you're nor toot and haven't got custom recovery

Try this, put your sdcard in memory card reader and connect it to the phone using usb on the go cable, see if it can be read using usb otg. If it can be read, most probably you have sdcard port issue.