| Symptom | Likely Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| SD card not appearing in File Explorer | Realtek SD card reader driver missing | Install Realtek Card Reader driver from Lenovo Support |
| SD card detected but read errors | SD card file system error or damaged card | Run CHKDSK on the SD card drive letter |
| Card reader shows Unknown Device in Device Manager | Windows Update replaced Realtek driver with generic | Uninstall Unknown Device and reinstall Lenovo Realtek driver |
| Card reader missing from Device Manager entirely | BIOS PCIe/SD controller disabled | Check BIOS settings and update Lenovo BIOS |
The Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i Gen 9 Core Ultra 7 155H uses a Realtek PCIe SD card reader. This reader requires the Lenovo-certified Realtek Card Reader driver for proper SD, SDHC, and SDXC card recognition. When the card reader appears in Device Manager but shows a yellow warning, the driver is corrupted or the generic Microsoft SD host controller driver is installed instead of the Lenovo Realtek driver.
Fix: Install Realtek Card Reader Driver from Lenovo Support
Go to Lenovo Support and search for IdeaPad Pro 5i Gen 9. Under Drivers and Software, find the Realtek Card Reader Driver. Run the installer and restart. The Lenovo-certified Realtek Card Reader driver correctly configures the PCIe lane connection between the IdeaPad Pro 5i Gen 9 mainboard and the Realtek RTL8411 SD card controller, enabling proper SD card enumeration and transfer speeds. After a clean Windows install, the SD card reader appears as Unknown Device until this driver is installed.
Fix: Run CHKDSK on SD Card
If the SD card appears in File Explorer but shows read errors or incorrect file contents, run chkdsk E: /f /r (replace E: with the SD card drive letter). SD cards that are frequently removed without using Safely Remove Hardware can develop FAT32 or exFAT file system corruption that prevents correct reading even when the card reader driver is working. CHKDSK repairs file allocation table errors and marks bad sectors to prevent further file system damage.
Per Haziqah Nordin, photography student using Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i Gen 9 for photo editing: “SD card from camera was not reading on the IdeaPad Pro 5i Gen 9. Device Manager showed the card reader as Unknown Device. Downloaded the Realtek Card Reader driver from Lenovo Support for the IdeaPad Pro 5i Gen 9 and installed. SD cards from both SD and microSD adapters detected immediately after restart.”
Fix: Update Lenovo BIOS
Open Lenovo Vantage or go to Lenovo Support to download the latest BIOS for the IdeaPad Pro 5i Gen 9. BIOS updates include PCIe controller firmware that manages power state transitions for the Realtek SD card reader. An outdated BIOS can cause the SD card reader to remain in a low-power state after the system resumes from sleep, requiring a full restart to detect SD cards again. Updating BIOS resolves the sleep-wake SD card detection failure without requiring driver reinstall.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the SD card not reading on Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i Gen 9?
The Realtek Card Reader driver is missing or replaced by a generic Windows driver. Install the Realtek Card Reader Driver from Lenovo Support for the IdeaPad Pro 5i Gen 9. If the SD card appears but has errors, run CHKDSK. If the card reader is missing from Device Manager entirely, update the BIOS via Lenovo Vantage.
What SD card speeds does Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i Gen 9 support?
The IdeaPad Pro 5i Gen 9 Realtek PCIe SD card reader supports SD Express, UHS-II, UHS-I, SDHC, and SDXC cards. For maximum card reader speeds, use UHS-II rated SD cards and the Lenovo-certified Realtek driver. The generic Microsoft SD host controller driver may limit transfer speeds to UHS-I speeds even with UHS-II cards inserted.
Does Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i Gen 9 support microSD cards?
The IdeaPad Pro 5i Gen 9 has a full-size SD card slot. MicroSD cards are supported with a microSD-to-SD adapter. Insert the microSD card into the adapter first, then insert the adapter into the full-size SD card reader. The Realtek card reader driver supports all SD card families in adapter configuration as long as the card meets the SD 3.0 or UHS-I/II standard.
Why does the SD card stop working after sleep on Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i Gen 9?
The Realtek PCIe SD card reader enters a deep power state during sleep that requires BIOS embedded controller support to reinitialize. Update the BIOS via Lenovo Vantage for the latest EC firmware. Also open Device Manager, find the Realtek card reader, Properties, Power Management, and uncheck Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power to prevent the card reader from being fully powered off during sleep.
Conclusion
SD card not reading on the Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i Gen 9 Core Ultra 7 155H is fixed by installing the Realtek Card Reader Driver from Lenovo Support, running CHKDSK on the SD card drive letter for file system errors, and updating BIOS via Lenovo Vantage for SD card reader sleep-wake PCIe power state fixes. The Realtek PCIe SD card reader requires the Lenovo-certified driver for SD card detection, correct transfer speeds, and stable operation after sleep on the IdeaPad Pro 5i Gen 9.
Ryan holds a Computer Science degree and has over 20 years of hands-on experience with PC hardware, software, and driver troubleshooting. He is the author behind softwaredriverdownload.com, where he helps everyday users fix driver issues quickly and accurately. Ryan has personally tested most of the fixes on this site across a range of Windows 10 and Windows 11 machines.
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