<p>SD and MicroSD cards use a type of memory (Flash RAM) that is subject to wearing out -- the actual memory cells deteriorate very slightly each time data is written to them, and SD, MicroSD, and thumb drives typically don't use the very best flash RAM (as would hopefully be the case for internal Solid State Drives that house the operating system and user storage in your computer).</p>
<p>Further, the constant plugging and unplugging of these cards also puts wear on the connectors.</p>
<p>Either of these factors can result in one or more devices losing the ability to read the card, and this can result in only old files being accessible (though it's much more common for the card to become read-only, or even become unreadable).</p>
<p>If you can still read the original card in your computer, please make a complete copy of the contents immediately, and then write those contents to a new card (as well as keeping a copy on your computer's storage) -- and throw the old card away, so you don't accidentally use it for anything.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-06-18T12:00:14.547Z
2021-06-18T12:00:14.547Z
Zeiss Ikon
<p>Something in the Ender 3 stock firmware (and even custom Marlin builds) is prone to corrupting SD cards, especially if you've removed and re-inserted them without using the unmount command on the menu first. I never tracked down exactly what it was before switching away from Marlin, but whenever it happened, making a new directory, moving all the files to it, and deleting the old directory seemed to work (assuming you don't keep files in top-level directory) to get it to read them again. When that didn't work, moving them off to the host computer, reformatting the SD card, and moving the files back always worked.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-07-18T20:15:20.350Z
2021-07-18T20:15:20.350Z
R.. GitHub STOP HELPING ICE
<p>I´ve been using my Ender 3 Pro for almost 1 year now. Always using the provided SD card. For a couple of days, the printed does not read any new file that I load to the SD card, but it does with the older files (and it then prints correctly as well).</p>
<p>I tried deleting some old files that I don't need, I tried turning it on with the SD card, I tried inserting the card after turning the printer on. It's always the same.</p>
<p>I am using another SD card and it works properly.</p>
<p>Any idea?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-06-18T12:01:15.090Z
Welcome to 3D Printing Stack Exchange!  Please take the [tour] and read over the [FAQ] to get a better idea of how Stack Exchange works.
Zeiss Ikon
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-06-19T05:41:17.930Z
The original card I got with my ender3 also wore out recently.
user10489
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-12-14T19:24:45.900Z
I'd try to putting the SD card in your computer and formatting it (pulling off the files you want to save before doing so). If it still doesn't work, throw it in the trash.
LarryBud
<creality-ender-3><microsd>
Ender 3 Pro not reading new G-code files on original SD Card
Federico Ponzio
# Ender 3 Pro not reading new G-code files on original SD Card

(Asked by: username_0 on 2021-06-18)

I´ve been using my Ender 3 Pro for almost 1 year now. Always using the provided SD card. For a couple of days, the printed does not read any new file that I load to the SD card, but it does with the older files (and it then prints correctly as well).

I tried deleting some old files that I don't need, I tried turning it on with the SD card, I tried inserting the card after turning the printer on. It's always the same.

I am using another SD card and it works properly.

Any idea?

**Tags:** creality-ender-3, microsd

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Welcome to 3D Printing Stack Exchange!  Please take the [tour] and read over the [FAQ] to get a better idea of how Stack Exchange works.  
> **username_2**: The original card I got with my ender3 also wore out recently.  
> **username_3**: I'd try to putting the SD card in your computer and formatting it (pulling off the files you want to save before doing so). If it still doesn't work, throw it in the trash.  

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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2021-06-18. Score: 2

SD and MicroSD cards use a type of memory (Flash RAM) that is subject to wearing out -- the actual memory cells deteriorate very slightly each time data is written to them, and SD, MicroSD, and thumb drives typically don't use the very best flash RAM (as would hopefully be the case for internal Solid State Drives that house the operating system and user storage in your computer).

Further, the constant plugging and unplugging of these cards also puts wear on the connectors.

Either of these factors can result in one or more devices losing the ability to read the card, and this can result in only old files being accessible (though it's much more common for the card to become read-only, or even become unreadable).

If you can still read the original card in your computer, please make a complete copy of the contents immediately, and then write those contents to a new card (as well as keeping a copy on your computer's storage) -- and throw the old card away, so you don't accidentally use it for anything.


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### Answer by username_4 on 2021-07-18. Score: 1

Something in the Ender 3 stock firmware (and even custom Marlin builds) is prone to corrupting SD cards, especially if you've removed and re-inserted them without using the unmount command on the menu first. I never tracked down exactly what it was before switching away from Marlin, but whenever it happened, making a new directory, moving all the files to it, and deleting the old directory seemed to work (assuming you don't keep files in top-level directory) to get it to read them again. When that didn't work, moving them off to the host computer, reformatting the SD card, and moving the files back always worked.


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