{"id":66753,"date":"2020-11-12T06:04:21","date_gmt":"2020-11-12T06:04:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.stellarinfo.com\/blog\/?p=66753"},"modified":"2026-02-27T10:14:20","modified_gmt":"2026-02-27T10:14:20","slug":"solved-sd-card-usb-drive-pen-drive-shows-0-bytes-error","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.stellarinfo.com\/blog\/sd-card-usb-drive-pen-drive-0-bytes\/","title":{"rendered":"Solved: SD Card\/USB Drive\/Pen Drive Shows 0 Bytes Error"},"content":{"rendered":"

The 0 bytes error is not new. Many users complain about facing this error while trying to access their SD card or pen drive on the computer.<\/p>

Zero bytes implies no data in the storage drive. The error is bound to make you panic as it points towards data loss from the removable storage media.<\/p>

However, there are various ways to repair USB or SD card showing 0 bytes error and restore the lost data.<\/p>

What causes USB<\/strong> <\/strong>drive 0 bytes error?<\/strong><\/h2>
\n
\"Removable
Figure: Removable disk showing 0 bytes<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>

Following are the probable factors that can trigger 0 bytes error in removable disks:<\/strong><\/p>

    \n
  1. Virus infection<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Bad sectors in the storage drive<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Failed USB connection with computer<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Files are hidden in the USB storage<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. Damaged Master Boot Record (MBR) of removable media<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  6. Sudden interruption during the read\/write process<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  7. Improper unplugging of SD card, pen drive, or USB flash drive from the computer<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  8. Physical damage in your USB flash drive or memory card<\/li>\n<\/ol>

    How to fix 0 bytes on a USB flash drive\/ SD card?<\/strong><\/h2>

    No media error does lead to permanent loss of files from the storage drive, if not fixed. If your camera card or pen drive contains important photos and videos, immediately repair the 0 byte drive and restore its files.<\/p>

    Solution 1: Connect the removable drive with another computer<\/strong><\/h3>

    Connect your SD card, USB drive or pen drive to another computer. Check if the 0 bytes error appears or not.<\/p>

    If you can access the storage media without error, it means the issue is with your computer. Immediately backup the files stored in the removable disk and format the media to fix the issue.<\/p>

    In case you still see the 0 bytes or empty media on another computer, then move to the next solution.<\/p>

    Solution 2: Change the card reader<\/strong><\/h3>

    If the SD card is showing 0 bytes error, try by changing the card reader. The SD card error may be due to the damaged card reader.<\/p>

    Solution<\/strong> 3: Install anti-virus on your computer<\/strong><\/h3>

    If the SD card or USB drive error is not a hardware issue, it could be a virus in the computer or the storage media.<\/p>

    Install a trusted anti-virus software to scan your computer and the removable media. The anti-virus would delete malicious software causing 0 bytes error.<\/p>

    After which, you should be able to access the photos, videos, or music stored in your pen drive or memory card.<\/p>

    Solution 4: Unhide files in 0 byte SD card using CMD command<\/strong><\/strong><\/h3>

    The files may be there in the USB or SD card but hidden due to corruption in the media. Unhide and view the files by using CMD command in Windows.<\/p>

    Steps to run CMD command in Windows 10:<\/strong><\/p>

      \n
    1. Connect the removable drive with PC.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    2. Note the drive letter name of USB\/ SD card\/ pen drive in the drive list.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    3. Press Win+R<\/strong> and in the Run<\/strong> box type CMD <\/em><\/strong>and hit Enter<\/strong>.<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n
    4. A command prompt window opens. Type the following command: attrib -h -r -s \/s \/d g:\\*.*<\/em><\/strong> Here ‘g’ is the drive letter of your removable media.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    5. Press Enter<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>

      Once the process completes, check the storage drive if you can access its files.<\/p>

      Solution 5: Run CHKDSK command <\/strong><\/strong><\/h3>

      You can run the Check Disk Utility (CHKDSK) command to fix storage media corruption<\/a> and view the files on SD card\/ USB or pen drive showing 0 byte error.<\/p>

      CHKDSK utility can repair the file system errors which may be the cause of the USB 0 bytes problem.<\/p>

      Steps to run CHKDSK command:<\/strong><\/p>

        \n
      1. Connect the removable drive with PC.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      2. Note the drive letter name of USB\/ SD card\/ pen drive in the drive list.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      3. Press Win+R<\/strong> and in the Run<\/strong> box type CMD <\/em><\/strong>and hit Enter<\/strong>.<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n
      4. A command window opens, type “chkdsk”<\/em><\/strong> followed by the drive letter of USB\/ SD card\/ pen drive, then a colon and \/f. (e.g., chkdsk G: \/f). Here G is the drive letter.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      5. Press Enter<\/strong>. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
      6. Chkdsk will check for possible errors and try to fix the file system errors in the removable media. Next, follow the subsequent message prompts.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      7. Once the process is finished, restart your system. Now access the storage media. The 0 byte error should be fixed.<\/li>\n<\/ol>

        Solution 6: Create partition in Disk Management<\/strong><\/h3>

        Use this method if the 0 byte SD card or pen drive shows its data unallocated in disk management.<\/p>

        Steps to fix SD card\/ USB error in disk management:<\/strong><\/p>