Question: Can't access SD card on Kindle Fire

jimdays · 03-15-2016, 09:23 AM

I have a friend who recently bought a new cheap ($60) Kindle Fire that has a port on the side to insert a micro SD card. He bought a 32 GB micro SD card and inserted in the slot. The SD card fit perfectly in the slot. However, when I connect the Kindle to a Windows computer via USB cable, I can only see ( and read/write) to the internal storage. The external SD card does not show up on the Windows computer, so I can't transfer any files to it. Also, if I use ES Explorer app on the Kindle, I can see the SD card (shows as 28 GB free space), but when I try to do a very simple operation, such as create a new folder on SD card, I get an error message that says:
Please choose the root directory SD card (/storage/sd card) of ext SD card to grant ES permission to operate
I'm not sure what to do. There is a very small screenshot that appears on the Kindle to suggest how to solve this problem, but it is so small, that I can't read it.

Barbara1955 · 03-15-2016, 01:55 PM

I have the same problem. Only way to use it ...it seems is to Go into Settings>Storage & give permission to download Apps, Movies & Audibles to it.

HarryT · 03-16-2016, 06:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimdays

Also, if I use ES Explorer app on the Kindle, I can see the SD card (shows as 28 GB free space), but when I try to do a very simple operation, such as create a new folder on SD card, I get an error message that says:
Please choose the root directory SD card (/storage/sd card) of ext SD card to grant ES permission to operate

Have you done what it told you to? As Katie says, this is a permissions issue.

Barbara1955 · 03-16-2016, 05:47 PM

Harry is that the Only way to put things on the SDCard? Even with Permission Movies I Download are Not going to the SDCard. I did manage to transfer most of the apps I use to the card... one by one. Movies are Hoggin my Hard Drive. I feel the SDCard was a waste of money all 128 gig

HarryT · 03-16-2016, 06:24 PM

I'm afraid you'll need to ask someone more familiar with the Fire phone than I.

Barbara1955 · 03-16-2016, 06:48 PM

Fire Phones Don't have SDCards. But my Fire 10" Tablet Does.

solitarywolf · 03-17-2016, 07:46 PM

My understanding is that Amazon restricts what can and cannot be loaded on the SD card. I read it in either in an online review or on the Amazon site. This is a "known" issue/feature and you are not doing anything wrong. Amazon as locked it so the card cannot be used they way we want to store media.

Barbara1955 · 03-17-2016, 07:59 PM

That sucks. I read that When you remove the card its wiped clean! So as far as I can see its useless! Amazon way of giving people what they requested then fixing it so it don't work. IF I known I would have saved my $70 for other things..useful things. Instead of buying a 128 gig worthless SDCard.

And I sure would NOT have got a $200+ Fire!

darryl · 03-18-2016, 02:53 AM

I know later versions of Android have severely restricted access to sd cards. I'm not sure if Amazon has made things worse (they well could have) or if the problem stems from Google.

Dusky Rose · 03-18-2016, 09:35 AM

They've got some information about the storage on the Fire SD card here.

You can install apps and games, download music, videos, and audiobooks, and store photos and personal videos on an external MicroSD Card. Books, Silk browser downloads, and email can only be downloaded to and stored on the internal storage of your Fire tablet.

When they say "books" I think they mean books downloaded from Amazon. I have my whole library on the SD card, in epub format, on the SD card and they open in EZ and Aldiko.

I also think that for the things you can 'download' they mean that you can point apps to download those items to that space. (I think it's in the settings somewhere that you can point apps to us that space instead of internal storage.) But app access doesn't mean you can 'sideload' that media yourself. It's just for app use.

I'd point the video apps to that space, download something, then see if it's visible on the SD card. If it is, then maybe you can sneak other files there, but the app may never see them since they're not listed in their inventory.

But you might find it works if you pay with it that way.

Cinisajoy · 03-18-2016, 02:33 PM

Katie,
Hold on to that SD card. It is not useless. You can always reformat it and use it in another device later.

Purple Lady · 03-18-2016, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimdays

I have a friend who recently bought a new cheap ($60) Kindle Fire that has a port on the side to insert a micro SD card. He bought a 32 GB micro SD card and inserted in the slot. The SD card fit perfectly in the slot. However, when I connect the Kindle to a Windows computer via USB cable, I can only see ( and read/write) to the internal storage. The external SD card does not show up on the Windows computer, so I can't transfer any files to it. Also, if I use ES Explorer app on the Kindle, I can see the SD card (shows as 28 GB free space), but when I try to do a very simple operation, such as create a new folder on SD card, I get an error message that says:
Please choose the root directory SD card (/storage/sd card) of ext SD card to grant ES permission to operate
I'm not sure what to do. There is a very small screenshot that appears on the Kindle to suggest how to solve this problem, but it is so small, that I can't read it.

To use ES File Explorer with the sd card, just follow directions. They may be a little confusing at first glance, but when you actually see it it makes more sense.

First screen - choose Select

Click image for larger version

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Second screen choose Select "Storage Device" on bottom

Click image for larger version

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If you don't see Storage Device on the bottom, you may need to tap the three lines in the upper left corner. Then your screen will look like this and you need to choose it here first and then it should show up like the previous screen.

Click image for larger version

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ID: 147181

Purple Lady · 03-18-2016, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Katie1

Harry is that the Only way to put things on the SDCard? Even with Permission Movies I Download are Not going to the SDCard. I did manage to transfer most of the apps I use to the card... one by one. Movies are Hoggin my Hard Drive. I feel the SDCard was a waste of money all 128 gig

Quote:

Originally Posted by Katie1

That sucks. I read that When you remove the card its wiped clean! So as far as I can see its useless! Amazon way of giving people what they requested then fixing it so it don't work. IF I known I would have saved my $70 for other things..useful things. Instead of buying a 128 gig worthless SDCard.

And I sure would NOT have got a $200+ Fire!

When you remove the card it shouldn't get wiped clean, but if you have apps that you loaded to your sd card removing it will of course cause the apps not to work. The settings will only allow Amazon apps to load movies to the sd card. I used Amazon video and it downloaded to the sd.

I think I saw in another thread that you had problems with another video app downloading to the sd. Unfortunately some apps simply don't let you save content to the sd. You first need to install the app or move the app to sd for it to work. I use Zinio for magazines and it won't let you store the magazines to the sd no matter what you do.

Barbara1955 · 03-18-2016, 10:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cinisajoy

Katie,
Hold on to that SD card. It is not useless. You can always reformat it and use it in another device later.

Along with the 30+ other SDCards. Flash Drives... yea right

Barbara1955 · 03-18-2016, 10:35 PM

The only Problem Videos I have are AMAZON! It seems to take DAYS to DL them

03-15-2016, 09:23 AM	#1
jimdays Member Posts: 15 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2014 Device: kindle touch WP63GW	Question: Can't access SD card on Kindle Fire I have a friend who recently bought a new cheap ($60) Kindle Fire that has a port on the side to insert a micro SD card. He bought a 32 GB micro SD card and inserted in the slot. The SD card fit perfectly in the slot. However, when I connect the Kindle to a Windows computer via USB cable, I can only see ( and read/write) to the internal storage. The external SD card does not show up on the Windows computer, so I can't transfer any files to it. Also, if I use ES Explorer app on the Kindle, I can see the SD card (shows as 28 GB free space), but when I try to do a very simple operation, such as create a new folder on SD card, I get an error message that says: Please choose the root directory SD card (/storage/sd card) of ext SD card to grant ES permission to operate I'm not sure what to do. There is a very small screenshot that appears on the Kindle to suggest how to solve this problem, but it is so small, that I can't read it.

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03-15-2016, 01:55 PM	#2
Barbara1955 Non-Techy Posts: 4,455 Karma: 15499273 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: WV---USA Device: Samsung Cell Phone & Amazon Fires & Kobo eReaders	I have the same problem. Only way to use it ...it seems is to Go into Settings>Storage & give permission to download Apps, Movies & Audibles to it.

03-16-2016, 05:47 PM	#4
Barbara1955 Non-Techy Posts: 4,455 Karma: 15499273 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: WV---USA Device: Samsung Cell Phone & Amazon Fires & Kobo eReaders	Harry is that the Only way to put things on the SDCard? Even with Permission Movies I Download are Not going to the SDCard. I did manage to transfer most of the apps I use to the card... one by one. Movies are Hoggin my Hard Drive. I feel the SDCard was a waste of money all 128 gig

03-16-2016, 06:24 PM	#5
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	I'm afraid you'll need to ask someone more familiar with the Fire phone than I.

03-16-2016, 06:48 PM	#6
Barbara1955 Non-Techy Posts: 4,455 Karma: 15499273 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: WV---USA Device: Samsung Cell Phone & Amazon Fires & Kobo eReaders	Fire Phones Don't have SDCards. But my Fire 10" Tablet Does.

03-17-2016, 07:46 PM	#7
solitarywolf Ink Drinker Posts: 222 Karma: 347666 Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: San Francisco, CA Device: Kindle Scribe, Kindle 2021, Ipad Pro, iPhone Pro	My understanding is that Amazon restricts what can and cannot be loaded on the SD card. I read it in either in an online review or on the Amazon site. This is a "known" issue/feature and you are not doing anything wrong. Amazon as locked it so the card cannot be used they way we want to store media.

03-17-2016, 07:59 PM	#8
Barbara1955 Non-Techy Posts: 4,455 Karma: 15499273 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: WV---USA Device: Samsung Cell Phone & Amazon Fires & Kobo eReaders	That sucks. I read that When you remove the card its wiped clean! So as far as I can see its useless! Amazon way of giving people what they requested then fixing it so it don't work. IF I known I would have saved my $70 for other things..useful things. Instead of buying a 128 gig worthless SDCard. And I sure would NOT have got a $200+ Fire!

03-18-2016, 02:53 AM	#9
darryl Wizard Posts: 3,108 Karma: 60231510 Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Aura H2O, Kindle Oasis, Huwei Ascend Mate 7	I know later versions of Android have severely restricted access to sd cards. I'm not sure if Amazon has made things worse (they well could have) or if the problem stems from Google.

03-18-2016, 09:35 AM	#10
Dusky Rose Connoisseur Posts: 79 Karma: 2565288 Join Date: Aug 2015 Device: Kobo Aura One, Ipad mini retina, Kindle Voyage and Fire	They've got some information about the storage on the Fire SD card here. You can install apps and games, download music, videos, and audiobooks, and store photos and personal videos on an external MicroSD Card. Books, Silk browser downloads, and email can only be downloaded to and stored on the internal storage of your Fire tablet. When they say "books" I think they mean books downloaded from Amazon. I have my whole library on the SD card, in epub format, on the SD card and they open in EZ and Aldiko. I also think that for the things you can 'download' they mean that you can point apps to download those items to that space. (I think it's in the settings somewhere that you can point apps to us that space instead of internal storage.) But app access doesn't mean you can 'sideload' that media yourself. It's just for app use. I'd point the video apps to that space, download something, then see if it's visible on the SD card. If it is, then maybe you can sneak other files there, but the app may never see them since they're not listed in their inventory. But you might find it works if you pay with it that way.

03-18-2016, 02:33 PM	#11
Cinisajoy Just a Yellow Smiley. Posts: 19,161 Karma: 83862859 Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Texas Device: K4, K5, fire, kobo, galaxy	Katie, Hold on to that SD card. It is not useless. You can always reformat it and use it in another device later.

03-18-2016, 10:35 PM	#15
Barbara1955 Non-Techy Posts: 4,455 Karma: 15499273 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: WV---USA Device: Samsung Cell Phone & Amazon Fires & Kobo eReaders	The only Problem Videos I have are AMAZON! It seems to take DAYS to DL them

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