Please contact support so they hear this is a common if not default issue
Thanks for the update.
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Done. I’ll keep you updated.
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I am using a ‘microSDXC-Karte Evo Plus 512 GB’ and I initially decided to use it as internal storage and that worked fine with some exceptions (storage information in the android settings were weird as it showed the card having 499 GB of 1 TB used at all times no matter what. The phones total storage was displayed correctly, but as used…) Then I decided to switch it to mobile storage and now after formatting I get the permanent notification that the sd card is not supported… What the hell.
I’m interested in your support reply.
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This could also be some hiccup from the previous internal format. Have you tried formatting it externally using another phone or computer before configuring it as external storage?
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I also have issues using SD cards with two Fairphone 4’s. I have tried
SanDisk Ultra 128 GB microSDHC Memory Card + SD Adapter with A1 App Performance Up to 120 MB/s, Class 10, U1 (Twin Pack). After seeing the initial prompts from Android about slow performance, I tried
SanDisk Extreme Pro 128GB microSDXC Memory Card 170MB/s Class 10, UHS-I, U3, V30
However, this seems to have made things worse, with 1 phone seeing the card is missing/corrupt and the other reporting errors using the cards. I have only just found these forum posts and the “recommendations” not to use SD Cards as internal storage, so I’d already done that. However, I’m somewhat bemused how Fairphone can sell a phone with an option which is so clearly inadvisable and not include something in the packaging as a warning if they’re not going to remove the option in the OS.
There seems to be mixed reports on Samsung cards working. Are there any confirmed reports of success with the Samsung Evo plus 128GB Micro SD SDXC Class 10 memory card U3 100MB/S (MB-MC128HA APC)? FYI I have raised case 485888 with Fairphone support. However, if I can fix it with a known working card rather than waiting for 5 days I would love to do that!
Thanks for your help.
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I haven’t followed this thread. But for what it’s worth, I have a Kingston Canvas Select Plus microSD Card 10 UHS-I - 512GB. I use it as portable storage (movies, music, offline music/Google Maps, etc.).
In the beginning I couldn’t format this SD card on my phone. It failed at around 20% in the format process. After I formatted the SD card on my computer to exFAT I was able to successfully format it on my phone and it works without issues now.
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Nah I have spent the whole day now reformatting and reformatting this damn SD card and it won’t accept it. What a joke. No wonder why other manufacturers don’t use SD card slots anymore, because those things are a pain in the ass.
I have done the same like you. What do you use as allocation size for exFAT formatting? For me it won’t work no matter what I do and it fails on 20% on the phone.
I used the full size. I used GNOME Disks to format it. No special options enabled. I also don’t know if GPT is used or not. Will check in the near future. Because I prefer GPT.
I’m using a SanDisk Extreme 128 GB set up as external storage and it works like a charm.
Lucky me, I guess.
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Update. The Samsung Select SD card has arrived.
H2Testw shows similar read speeds to the Sandisk Extreme (76 vs 77) and slightly slower write speeds (58 vs 67). Despite this, the FP4 is no longer complaining about slow performance, reinforcing the belief that this is a software issue. The card was immediately recognised and I was prompted to complete “setup”. I selected use as external this time and was again prompted to format (despite exFAT formatting at the factory). I did this and was invited to move applications to the drive…which was a little strange…When I declined I was told the card was ready to use.
When checking the card in storage settings it immediately shows 130GB of storage is consumed.
This is strange for a couple of reasons:
- I definitely selected portable storage rather than internal. The Android system files appear to have been automatically moved, yet this took no time.
- The system files when stored in on board storage, was much less than 130GB.
However, no further errors about the SD card and apps are performing as expected (with none running from the SD card). Again, this reinforces the belief that there is a known bug affecting specific card manufacturers which is not being advertised by FP. Still no response from FP Support.
Your screenshot shows a 256GB SDCard inserted but the above Photo shows a 128GB sdcard? Also it looks like the SD card shown as 256GB size is not formatted as external storage. IMHO your phone still thinks it has a previously installed 256GB card as internal storage attached…
I wouldn’t trust the storage settings. Your data may get corrupted!
Update: I can confirm the
256GB Samsung EVO Plus SD Card
microSDXC UHS-I Class(10) U3 4KUltra HD
is still working without any I/O problems.
BR, Toni
Yes it looks like internal storage Oops!
I have similar issues on FP3 using internal.
It doubles the size of the card and then takes 50% plus a bit away.
This is a test with a 16GB card
But it works fine as externsl with no capacity errors
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Thanks @astx I’ve realised it was my error and I selected internal rather than portable storage when first formatting (I read it too quickly). IMHO the first/default option should be portable if there are known issues with internal.
Formatting the card as portable has resolved the issue with it seeing it as 256GB and showing the system files on there. However, I’m now stuck with the issue of the portable format option not actually working. It gets to 20% and says it is complete, but clearly it is not. When I look under storage it shows the card as unsupported:
I have tried resetting the SD card with “USB Image Tool v1.8.1.0”, but it’s still failing to format the card properly in the phone. A full exfat format in Windows (10) also fails. I don’t have another Android based phone to format it other than FP4. I have a Linux Mint machine, but only a VM, so unsure as to whether it can access the SD card to use GNOME Disks. I guess I could boot into Linux Mint from a USB drive and format the SD card from there, but it’s a bit of a risk that the wrong disk will be selected…I think I’ll use an old machine 
what a PINTA just to use an SD card!
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I already tried formating two Sandisk SDs using different systems - without success. Seems to need an update of the kernel modul. Thanks Toni (@astx) a request ist in the way.
Spend your time on something else 
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Sorry, thanks to Zr4, who contacted the support concerning the SD Card problem.
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I have as well a 256 Extrem Pro from SanDisk and it do not work. Or to say it stops working after reboot - after approximately 10-15 Minutes.
It works with an external SD card reader connected to the Fairphone.
What I recognize using the SD card reader: the Card gets really hot in the reader - that has a Aluminium surface and therefore is able to transmit the heat.
Previously in my HTC U12 - the card was in the Aluminium frame - good heat transmission as well.
Inside the Fairphone - there is no ability to transmit the heat.
So when the card becomes hot it stays hot inside.
That may explain on why the card stoped serving after approximately 10 Minutes of Use.
So my guess is: if the SD cards get hot and havin an issue with it - they will fail.
Alternatively: The internal card reader is not providing enough power when the card is in use.
I have a Samsung Evo in use and this one stays cool in operation and do not have any issue.
So I would not only blame Fairphone on this issue… 
But maybe to position the SD as well into the Alu frame is not the worst idea for next design.
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Hi @F.Sowa,
I’ve been proceeding on the assumption the Samsung disks will be OK (this is what I am using as of today). Having formatted the Samsung disk as internal earlier today, I can’t get it to reformat as portable and get past 20%. I have tried wiping the disk with all zeros and using a Linux Mint boot iso to format it with GNOME Disks. However, GNOME Disks gives me the following error:
I have read this is because the disk has no partition. I have tried creating a partition with GParted. However, I get this error:
When I boot off the main disk rather than a Linux Mint boot iso, I can format the SD card immediately with zero issues in Windows 10. I’m not as familiar with Linux, so I’m unsure what I’m doing wrong here. However, it’s a brand new disk (today) and given I can successfully format it in exactly the same machine/slot with a different OS, it doesn’t appear to be a hardware issue.
Any help on the Linux side gratefully appreciated.
Cheers,
Tim
Hi Tim,
using GParted first delete the existing partition, then create a new partition table with type msdos, then format this partition as exfat.
This should work…
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