If you prefer using a Mac to a PC, it can be difficult to find the right CAC card reader to work well with your machine.
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So many CAC readers that might work well with Windows run into problems with Apple software and products. This is often despite the manufacturer claiming their product is Mac friendly.
To save you the trouble and frustration of purchasing a CAC reader that ends up not working for you, we’ve put together some of the best CAC readers for Mac users. Each product on this list has been confirmed to be Mac compatible by real CAC users. While a lot of products may claim compatibility, the ones on this list have been tried and tested by real Mac users.
Depending on your situation, you may prefer a CAC reader that is primarily intended for desk use, or one which is lighter and more portable. With this in mind, we offer you two lists ranking the best Mac compatible options. Don’t automatically assume the top product is the best for your situation. You might have a specific set of needs which makes another product a better fit. The tables are intended as an overall representation of the best CAC readers for Mac, but you should still consider how suitable each product is for your own purposes.
After the rundown of the best products, we have some general tips and advice on CAC usage for Macs.
Best CAC Card Readers For Mac – Desk Use
As the above table shows, the Saicoo V1 has been chosen as the best desk based CAC reader for Mac. This is our pick due to the fact that the Saicoo V1 has a good review score over a large number of reviews. The product is affordable, reliable, and has an unobstrusive, discrete style which will look good on almost any desk.
The Saicoo V2 has been chosen for the second place spot as it is slightly more expensive than the V1. However, if you definitely want a vertical standing CAC reader for desk usage, the V2 is the way to go. It has a good review score and the cost is only slightly higher than the V1. This small price increase is worth paying to get a good quality vertical standing CAC reader for Mac desk use.
Best CAC Card Readers For Mac – Portable Use
For portable CAC readers with tried and tested Mac compatibility, our top pick is the RT-SCR3 from Rocketek. The 4.5 average review score over a large number of reviews is testament to the product’s overall quality. The design means your CAC card is visible while inserted into the reader, which means you’ll never accidentally forget it.
The SCR-10 from Rocketek is the second choice pick for Mac compatible portable CAC readers. Although it is slightly more expensive than the SCR3, and has a slightly lower review grade average, the SCR-10 has a few extra features, such as built-in SD card compatibility. If you require the extra features, or anticipate needing them in the future, thge SCR-10 is a great choice of portable CAC reader.
CAC Card Readers For Mac Advice
Now that you’ve seen the best desk and portable CAC readers for Mac, please take a moment to consider the following advice.
- Always double check if the specific CAC reader you want is suitable for Mac use, specifically with your version of MacOS. There are some CAC readers that work well with older Mac versions, but not with the current iteration.
- Make sure that the seller will be happy to refund you if your CAC reader doesn’t work properly on your Mac
- Check that all of the correct drivers, security certificates etc. are in place before you throw in the towel. Sometimes, your Mac might not be the problem, it could be an issue with something else.
- Ensure you have the proper CAC Enabler for your OS. Our trusty guide to CAC Enablers for Mac can help you determine exactly what you need!
What is SD?
SD describes devices that conform to SD standards for non-volatile memory cards. See the SD Association website for details.
Are there size limitations for the cards that can be inserted into the SD slot?
Yes. The SD card specification for a memory card is 32mm by 24mm by 2.1mm. You can also use thinner cards, such as MultiMediaCards (MMC). Avoid using cards that have a thickness greater than 2.1mm, as they might damage the SD card slot if you try to insert them.
Which SD card formats work in the SD card slot?
Cards that conform to the SD 1.x, 2.x, and 3.x standards should work. The SD card slot can use:
- Standard SD, 4MB to 2GB
- SDHC (Secure Digital High Capacity), 4GB to 32GB
- SDXC, 4GB to 2TB
- MMC (MultiMediaCards)
- UHS‑II, up to 2TB (iMac Pro only)
You can use a passive adapter like the one shown here to make MiniSD, MicroSD, and higher density formats like MiniSDHC and MicroSDHC conform to the width and thickness specifications listed above:
How fast can my Mac read or write to an SD card in the SD card slot?
Mac notebooks use the USB bus to communicate with the SD card slot. They have a maximum speed of up to 480Mbit/s. Mac desktops use the PCIe bus to communicate with the SD card slot. Desktops can transfer data at a faster rate.
Check the packaging that came with your SD media to determine the maximum transfer rate that your specific card uses.
To determine the maximum transfer speed of your Mac, you can use System Information. Choose Apple () menu > About This Mac and then click System Report.
If you use a Mac notebook:
- Select Hardware, then select USB.
- Select Internal Memory Card Reader and look for the Speed entry.
If you use a Mac desktop computer:
- Select Hardware, then select Card Reader.
- Look for the Link Speed entry. Computers that use the PCIe bus express their speed as GT/s.
Does the SD slot work with cards that exceed 32GB?
Yes. However, most media manufacturers preformat the media using common block-and-cluster sizes that don’t approach the theoretical limits of a given file system.
Most SD cards use the FAT32 file format, and preformatted FAT32 SD media is commonly available up to a capacity of 32GB. Media that exceeds 32GB usually uses the exFAT file system, while some smaller capacity cards use the FAT16 file format. Preformatted FAT16 media is generally available up to a capacity of 2GB.
If you use OS X Snow Leopard 10.6.5 or later, you can find out which file system you’re using:
- Insert the media into the SD card slot.
- Choose Apple menu > About This Mac.
- Click System Report.
- In the Hardware section, click Card Reader, and find the File System field.
Will the SD card slot work with SD cards that use the exFAT file system?
Yes. Any Mac that has an SD card slot and is running OS X 10.6.5 or later can use the exFAT file system.
exFAT is also supported in Boot Camp with Windows 7, 8.1, or 10 on any Mac made in 2011 or later with an SD card slot.
How do I insert media into the SD card slot?
When you insert the card, make sure that the metal contacts face down and point toward the computer. Don’t force media into the SD card slot, as this might cause damage.
How does my Mac use the media inserted into the SD card slot?
Your computer recognizes a card inserted into the SD card slot as a USB storage device. You can mount, read from, and write to the SD card just like you can with any other USB storage device.
I put the card in the slot, but it didn’t mount. What should I do?
Remove the card and insert it again. Sometimes the SD card won’t mount properly if you put it into the slot too slowly.
When I try to write content to the card, I get a 'cannot be modified' message. How can I fix this?
You see this message when you try to edit data on an SD card that’s locked. You need to use the lock slider to unlock the card before you can edit the data.
To eject the card, drag the icon that represents the card to the Trash. After the icon disappears from the desktop, you can remove the card from the computer. Adjust the lock slider tab to unlock the card, then reinsert the card into the slot. See the manufacturer’s instructions for the location of the slider tab.
Can I use Disk Utility to reformat an SD card?
You can use Disk Utility to partition and format an SD device as FAT32 (using the MS-DOS FAT setting) or Mac OS Extended. The Mac OS Extended format can be used only on Macintosh systems. Non-Apple systems won’t recognize cards formatted to Mac OS Extended.
You might have to format a card that’s larger than 32GB with exFAT if you want to use it with a digital camera, GPS, or another device. When in doubt, format the card in the device that you intend to use it with.
Can I install macOS on an SD storage device and use it as a startup volume?
Use Disk Utility to change the default partition table to GUID. Then format the card to use the Mac OS Extended file format.
How do I remove a card from the SD card slot?
Before you remove the card, allow any data transfer to SD media to complete. To eject the card, drag the icon that represents the card to the Trash. After the icon disappears from your desktop, you can remove the card from the slot.
Don't remove a card while your Mac is sleeping, as this could lead to data loss. Always wake your computer and eject the SD card before removing it from your Mac.
Can I use Secure Digital Input Output (SDIO) cards?
Can I use macOS to see the specifications for the interface hardware and media inserted in the SD card slot?
You can get information about the interface hardware and the media that you inserted in the slot from the System Information:
- Choose Apple menu > About This Mac.
- Click System Report.
- In the Hardware section of System Information, select USB.
- In the list of USB devices, select Internal Memory Card Reader to access information about the interface hardware and the media inserted into the SD card slot.
Can I use the SD card slot while running Windows using Boot Camp?
The SD card slot works with Boot Camp in all supported versions of Windows. You’ll need to download and install the Windows Support Software to use the SD card slot with Windows.
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Learn more about using Windows on a Mac.
Can I use an SDXC card on my Mac with Windows?
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You can use an SDXC card in Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10 with these Mac computers:
- MacBook Pro (Early 2011 and later)
MacBook Pro models from 2016 and later don't have a built-in SD card slot. You can use a USB-C card reader, or a combination of a USB-C to USB Adapter and a USB card reader. - MacBook Air (Mid 2011 and later)
- Mac mini (Mid 2011 and later)
Mac mini (Mid 2010) doesn't support SDXC cards. - iMac (Mid 2011 and later)
iMac (Mid 2010) doesn't support SDXC cards.
Can I use an SD, SDHC, or SDXC card to install Windows on my Mac?
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No. You can’t use SD, SDHC, or SDXC cards with Boot Camp to install Windows software on Mac computers.