Various memory card cannot be used errors in Camera Nikon/Android Samsung Phone/Tablet

My Nikon camera reported error [CHA], and when I repressed the play button, it would say "THIS CARD CANNOT BE USED". It happened when my Sandisk cf card was with full storage used in Nikon camera. What may I do to get it fixed? Is it possible to recover images from card cannot be used error?

Card cannot be used Error in Camera

Here is an error in camera that reported: This memory card cannot be used. Card may be damaged.

This memory card cannot be used damaged or insert another cardThis memory card can not be used - card may be damaged or insert another card

As we looked for information on the internet, we found that there were many Nikon camera with CHA error "This card cannot be used" on Nikon cameras Nikon D50, Nikon D70/D200/D700/D7200/D750 and more. Is this a fatal error or just another ordinary warning that could be fixed?

Nikon camera says CHANikon camera says CHA

Nikon camera says CHAThis card cannot be used error in Camera

This card cannot be used for recording or editing on this camera. To perform shooting with this setting, use a UHS-1 U3 compatiable memory card. Cannot record in this recording setting. Either switch to an SDXC Class10 or UHS-1 compatible memory card, etc. or change the file format.

Nikon official advised users to hold the button for 3 seconds and then press 'Replay' button, or format memory card.

There is another type of card cannot be used error - This card cannot be used for recording or editing on this camera, which prevent you from taking more photos nor changing the inside images.

This card cannot be used for recording or editing on this cameraThis card cannot be used for recording or editing on this camera

How to fix This card cannot be used for recording or editing on this camera

SD/MicroSD cannot be used in Android Phone

Android phone reported Can’t use SD card – This sd card isn’t formatted or uses a file system that’s not supported. To use the card in your phone, you’ll need to format it in Settings > Storage Sense

Cant use sd card in Android mobileAndroid mobile error - cant use sd card not formatted or unsupported file system

When sd card is corrupted, it may won't allow you to use it due to incorrect file system that cannot be recognized by the mobile. Mostly such error could be fixed by formatting by the phone or format it in Windows computer.

Cant use sd card in Android mobilePhone error - this microSD card cannot be used please format

Error with MicroSD card on mobile as the above photos showed that "This micro sd card cannot be used. please format the micro sd card. To format later, go to the home menu and select * system settings" =>Sysem =>Format"

It's very clear that the phone has already told you the way to fix such error that you may follow.

The causes

There could be serveral reasons that bring your sd/tf card cannot be accessed

  1. 1, CHA error in Nikon as the photo stated in the above part
  2. 2, unknown damages to the memory card
  3. 3, bad blocks may happen on your sd/tf card due to over and over reading and writing on the memory card
  4. 4, improper operations from users

3 Ways to Fix This Memory Card Cannot Be Used

Way 1 - Recover/Backup data from memory card

Whenever your memory card contains data that are no longer accessible, it's urgent to backup data when this memory card cannot be used no matter in your Nikon camera or your android Samsung phones. If there were no important files inside of the camera cf card, nor sd/microsd card, then you may directly go to the second solution Way 2.

Preparation: A card reader is required for getting a memory card connected to Windows computer. Take your card out of your phone/camera and then connect it to PC with a card adaptor.

Free Download backup software iCare to recover inaccessible memory card

1. Run iCare Data Recovery pro on your computer, enter "Deep Scan Recovery" mode.

Recover data with iCare ProBacukp data from damaged sd card

2. Select your memory card for backup

Recover data with iCare ProBackup data from inaccessible sd card

3. Backup found data from the inaccessible card to another disk drive.

Recover data with iCare ProBackup data from sd card

Also Recommend: 5 best memory card recovery tools
Or you may also try More mothods to backup memory card

Way 2 - Format memory card in camera/phone

You may format the memory card inside of your camera or mobile.

Camera formatting: Settings -> Format Card

format memory card by cameraFormat memory card by camera

Also read: how to format memory card when it cannot be formatted in camera

Note: if you are getting error "To perform shooting with this setting, use a UHS-1U3 compatible memory card.", you should format the memory card to be exfat that could resolve the problem.

How to format memory card exfat?

  1. 1, connect it to a Windows computer, like Win10 with a card reader (camera/mobile/tablet does not provide such function.)
  2. 2, right click memory card once you open it in 'This PC'
  3. 3, select "Format" option and choose EXFAT file system for the reformatting

format memory card exfatFormat memory card exfat

Way 3 - Fix memory card cannot be used using cmd

This is the function provided inside of Windows that you need to get your sd/microsd connected to PC with a card reader.

Open CMD -> type diskpart in the Run Window and then do the following steps.

format memory card diskpartFormat memory card using cmd

Note: you should replace volume 4 with the drive that your memory card stands for in the above list.

Also read: 12 free ways to fix damaged sd card

Solution update on Jan 17, 2020

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