Solving “Error Writing to SD Card”

This article may help if:

• Your SD card worked normally until now, and
• Suddenly the app can’t save backups to it, sometimes with a message that the card is read-only.

This usually doesn’t mean the card is broken, and you don’t need to format or replace it.

What’s going on?

This is a common Android problem. When the SD card’s file system has a small error, Android protects the card by switching it to read-only. Unmounting and mounting the card again in Settings usually doesn’t help.

Solution 1: Restart with the card removed

1. Turn off your phone.
2. Remove the SD card.
3. Turn the phone on, then turn it off again.
4. Put the SD card back in.
5. Turn the phone on.

This quick reset often fixes the problem.

Solution 2: Repair the card on a computer

You’ll need an SD card reader (many laptops have one, or use a small USB card reader). Connecting the phone by USB is not enough, because Windows can’t repair a card while it is inside the phone.

1. Turn off the phone, remove the SD card and put it in the card reader.
2. On a Windows PC, open File Explorer and find the SD card under This PC.
3. Right-click the card and choose Properties.
4. Open the Tools tab and click Check under Error checking.
5. Click Scan and repair drive and wait for it to finish.
6. Eject the card safely and put it back in the phone.

The repair does not delete your files. On a Mac, use Disk Utility > First Aid instead.

Solution 3: Save backups to the phone’s internal storage

If the card is still read-only, save backups to internal storage for now:

1. On the Chats screen, tap the Customize icon (the sliders at the top).
2. Open Exporting and tap Default Save Location.
3. Choose a folder in internal storage, for example Download.

Still not working?

Contact us through the support chat: tap the three-dot menu (⋮) on the Chats screen, then Help & Support, then Chat. We’ll help you find the best solution.