Features, settings & updates

Get troubleshooting tips to configure your Roku settings. The community forum has tips for screen mirroring, Guest Mode, software updates, audio, and more.
cancel
Showing results for 
Show  only  | Search instead for 
Did you mean: 

SD Card not being recognized-Roku 3

Hello, need some help. I have a sd card that is 16gb. I am putting it in my Roku 3 and it is not being recognized by it in order to format. Not sure what to do next. I have restarted the roku several times, also. If you can help that would be great! Thanks in advance. 

Tags (1)
0 Kudos
2 REPLIES 2
DBDukes
Community Streaming Expert

Re: SD Card not being recognized-Roku 3

@Littlet1983 

Roku devices are designed to work with 2 GB cards. Depending on the particular card reader in the device -- Roku buys parts and they must meet minimum requirements; larger capacity readers are above the minimum of course -- it may or may not read the card. And, even if it reads the card, it will only use 2 GB of the capacity, with the remainder (14 GB in your instance) being wasted.

It could also be that the card reader has gone bad, since the Roku 3 is a really old device (2013, if it's model 4200), so a smaller card may not make a difference.

DBDukes
Roku Community Streaming Expert
Note: I am not a Roku employee.

If this post solves your problem please help others find this answer and click "Accept as Solution."

0 Kudos
makaiguy
Community Streaming Expert

Re: SD Card not being recognized-Roku 3

In addition to @DBDukes' reply ...

It may also be a formatting issue with the SD card itself such that the Roku does not recognize a card is in place.

You may be able to salvage this. Try formatting the card in your computer, if it has a card reader that can handle SD cards. After formatting, see if the Roku will detect and reformat the card successfully.

Windows instructions (don't know what would differ on other systems):
Do a slow (i.e. don't use the "fast format" option) format of the card via your computer. Select FAT32 and select it to use the default allocation size.

Back when I was using a Roku 3, I had to do this several times as the card would get corrupted and not let the startup process proceed beyond the "Bouncing letters" stage.  Eventually I decided the small benefit provided by the card was not worth the trouble of maintaining it.

Roku Community Streaming Expert
I am not a Roku employee, only a user like you.  Please, no support questions via private message -- post them publicly to the Community where others may benefit as well.
If this post solves your problem please help others find this answer by clicking "Accept as Solution.".

Streaming Stick 4K+ 3821 | Streaming Stick+ 3810 | TCL Roku TV 43S245/C107X