# SD Card Initialization Failed on Adafruit Ultimate GPS Logger Shield **URL:** \ **Category:** Science and Measurement\ **Created:** [September 19, 2024, 7:06pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/sd-card-initialization-failed-on-adafruit-ultimate-gps-logger-shield/1303298 "2024-09-19T19:06:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![sallu1327](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/91b2a8/32.png) [@sallu1327](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/sallu1327)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2024, 7:06pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/sd-card-initialization-failed-on-adafruit-ultimate-gps-logger-shield/1303298/1 "2024-09-19T19:06:54Z")
Hi everyone, I am working on creating a GPS Data Logger using the `shield_sdlog.ino` example in the Adafruit GPS library. I am using an [Arduino Uno](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008GRTSV6?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title) and [this GPS Logger Shield](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1272) I've soldered the shield directly onto the Uno, as shown in the picture below. ![IMG_9082.HEIC](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/original/4X/3/3/f/33f5929e1f17923e83449fe6bd7dd029a6e0417d.jpeg) I've been following the steps from [the Adafruit Tutorial](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-ultimate-gps-logger-shield/sd-logging) and I keep getting ```arduino 12:05:31.058 -> Ultimate GPSlogger Shield 12:05:33.169 -> Card init. failed! ``` I made sure my Adafruit GPS library is version 1.1.3 (although that doesn't matter for the SD card issue) Any ideas how to solve would be much appreciated 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![anon94801460](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/278dde/32.png) [@anon94801460](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/anon94801460)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2024, 9:12pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/sd-card-initialization-failed-on-adafruit-ultimate-gps-logger-shield/1303298/2 "2024-09-19T21:12:16Z")
Have you tried a different SD card? Have you been able to format the SD card on a PC? Can you read data from a text file on a formatted SD card, using the shield? ---
**Author:** ![SurferTim](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/surfertim/32/1072341_2.png) [@SurferTim](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/SurferTim)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2024, 10:33pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/sd-card-initialization-failed-on-adafruit-ultimate-gps-logger-shield/1303298/3 "2024-09-19T22:33:11Z")
It appears the sd card isn't pushed into the slot completely. Was that intentional? Edit: And you don't have the icsp connector installed. From Adafruit > **As of Aug 20, 2023 -** we've updated this PCB with [Adafruit Pinguin](https://github.com/adafruit/Adafruit_Pinguin) to make a lovely and legible silkscreen and it now uses the 2x3 dedicated SPI port instead of pins 11, 12, 13. This makes it compatible with a wider range of Arduino-shaped boards! ---
**Author:** ![sallu1327](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/91b2a8/32.png) [@sallu1327](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/sallu1327)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2024, 6:37am UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/sd-card-initialization-failed-on-adafruit-ultimate-gps-logger-shield/1303298/4 "2024-09-20T06:37:59Z")
I'm fairly certain this is the issue -- its weird that they wouldn't include the header pins with the shield or the uno. BTW the sd card is in the slot -- it sticks out by design ---
**Author:** ![SurferTim](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/surfertim/32/1072341_2.png) [@SurferTim](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/SurferTim)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2024, 7:20am UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/sd-card-initialization-failed-on-adafruit-ultimate-gps-logger-shield/1303298/5 "2024-09-20T07:20:41Z")
If you are using an Uno, there are pads on the underside of the shield that you can solder jump to use D11-D13 instead of the icsp. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/system/32/1140315_2.png) [@system](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/system)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2025, 7:21am UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/sd-card-initialization-failed-on-adafruit-ultimate-gps-logger-shield/1303298/6 "2025-03-19T07:21:18Z")
Closed on March 19, 2025, 7:21am UTC This topic was automatically closed 180 days after the last reply. New replies are no longer allowed.