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Realtek PCIe/USB Card Reader Controller

This is the host controller behind the memory-card slot on a large share of laptops and all-in-one desktops. It handles card detection, speed negotiation, and how the slot recovers from sleep, which is why the right driver matters even though the slot looks simple. On a branded machine, treat the Realtek name only as a clue; the version to install is the one your PC maker validated for that model, not a generic Realtek download, because the OEM build carries the power-management tuning the slot needs.

Realtek PCIe/USB Card Reader Controller driver family: Compact memory card reader and cards beside a laptop on a white desk with light blue accents.
Card Readers reference

Family profile

Documented Windows releases
Windows 10, Windows 11
Hardware category
Card Readers
Manufacturer
Realtek
Related families listed
12 in this category, 9 elsewhere from Realtek

Realtek PCIe/USB Card Reader Controller at a glance

DetailWhat it means for you
Reader typeIntegrated host controller behind a built-in slot
ConnectionInternal PCIe or USB inside the machine
Driver neededYes, a controller driver is required
Driver sourceOEM platform or chipset package, not a bare Realtek build
Wake-from-sleepDepends on the matched driver's power tuning
Speed ceilingSet by the controller's supported card modes
A quick read on what this family is and what to expect from its driver package.

How to tell this is what you have

  • Listed as a Realtek PCIe or USB card reader controller in Device Manager
  • Appears under Memory technology devices
  • Sits behind a built-in SD slot on a laptop or all-in-one

Worth knowing: Common integrated laptop reader controller. On a laptop or prebuilt PC, prefer the OEM's matched version over a generic download.

DriverHub US does not host driver files or bundle an updater. This page documents the Realtek PCIe/USB Card Reader Controllerfamily; its citations are selected from the package-source policy recorded for this family.

Package path for Realtek PCIe/USB Card Reader Controller

The family record names OEM platform or chipset package, not a bare Realtek build as the package source. Match the package to the exact Realtek PCIe/USB Card Reader Controller device signals on this page and to Windows 10, Windows 11. A family name alone is not enough when the publisher separates packages by model, hardware revision, or PC configuration.

Common integrated laptop reader controller. On a laptop or prebuilt PC, prefer the OEM's matched version over a generic download.

Shared identification, preparation, installation, verification, and rollback procedures are maintained on the complete card readers guide, rather than repeated on every family page. The citations below follow this family’s declared vendor, Windows, PC-maker, or motherboard-maker source policy.

Official sources and citations

These links go directly to the named publisher. Check the domain, exact model, Windows version, and package details before installing.

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Other card readers families to compare

Realtek PCIe/USB Card Reader Controller next to the other 12 families in this category

FamilyManufacturerDocumented Windows releasesHow you recognize it
Realtek PCIe/USB Card Reader Controller (this page)RealtekWindows 10, Windows 11Listed as a Realtek PCIe or USB card reader controller in Device Manager
Dell integrated media card reader driver (Latitude, XPS, Inspiron)DellWindows 10, Windows 11Built-in slot on a Latitude, XPS, or Inspiron chassis
HP integrated media card reader driver (EliteBook, Pavilion, ENVY)HPWindows 10, Windows 11Slot on an EliteBook, Pavilion, or ENVY chassis
Lenovo integrated card reader driver (ThinkPad, IdeaPad, Yoga)LenovoWindows 10, Windows 11Slot on a ThinkPad, IdeaPad, or Yoga chassis
ASUS integrated card reader driver (Zenbook, Vivobook, laptops)ASUSWindows 10, Windows 11Slot on a Zenbook or Vivobook chassis
Acer integrated card reader driver (Aspire, Swift, Predator)AcerWindows 10, Windows 11Slot on an Aspire, Swift, or Predator chassis
Microsoft Surface storage/reader componentsMicrosoft SurfaceWindows 10, Windows 11Delivered through Windows Update on Surface hardware
MSI integrated card reader driver (laptops)MSIWindows 10, Windows 11Slot on an MSI laptop chassis
Gigabyte / AORUS integrated card reader driver (laptops)GigabyteWindows 10, Windows 11Slot on a Gigabyte or AORUS laptop
Kingston USB card readers (Workflow / MobileLite)KingstonWindows 10, Windows 11External USB reader on a cable, not a built-in slot
Samsung microSD USB reader/adapterSamsungWindows 10, Windows 11Compact USB adapter for a single microSD card
SanDisk / Western Digital USB card readers (ImageMate)Western DigitalWindows 10, Windows 11External ImageMate USB reader
ASRock desktop board USB/card reader header supportASRockWindows 10, Windows 11Front-panel reader wired to a motherboard USB header
Use this when you are not certain which family your hardware belongs to.

Dell

Dell integrated media card reader driver (Latitude, XPS, Inspiron)

Dell ships built-in card slots across its Latitude, XPS, and Inspiron lines, and the driver for the underlying controller is packaged specifically for each machine. Rather than a standalone download, it usually arrives inside the platform or chipset set that Dell validates against a given Service Tag. Look up your Service Tag on Dell's support site so the version you get matches your firmware, which is what keeps the slot detecting cards reliably after the laptop wakes.

HP

HP integrated media card reader driver (EliteBook, Pavilion, ENVY)

The card slot on HP's EliteBook, Pavilion, and ENVY machines runs on an integrated controller whose driver HP publishes per product number. Because the same silicon appears across many HP models, the correct build is the one listed against your specific unit rather than a generic part driver. Enter your product or serial number on HP's support site to pull the validated version, which is tuned to your machine's power settings so the reader wakes properly and detects cards each time.

Lenovo

Lenovo integrated card reader driver (ThinkPad, IdeaPad, Yoga)

Lenovo's ThinkPad, IdeaPad, and Yoga systems carry built-in card slots driven by an integrated controller, and Lenovo matches the driver to a machine type and model rather than to the chip alone. That machine-type matching is important because two Lenovo laptops with the same controller can need different validated builds. Identify your machine type on Lenovo's support site so the reader driver aligns with your firmware and the slot stays reliably across sleep cycles.

ASUS

ASUS integrated card reader driver (Zenbook, Vivobook, laptops)

ASUS laptops such as the Zenbook and Vivobook include a built-in card slot whose controller driver ASUS lists per model. As with other integrated readers, the version most likely to work well is the one shown on your exact model's support page, since ASUS validates it against that machine's firmware and power behavior. Selecting the model-specific package avoids the intermittent detection and failed-wake problems that a generic controller driver tends to cause on these thin-and-light designs.

Acer

Acer integrated card reader driver (Aspire, Swift, Predator)

Across the Aspire, Swift, and Predator ranges, Acer builds in a card slot whose controller relies on an OEM driver. The version to install is the one Acer publishes for your specific model, because it is validated with the firmware on that machine. Select your model on Acer's support site to fetch the matched build, which keeps the slot detecting cards after sleep and avoids the flaky behavior a mismatched generic driver introduces.

Microsoft Surface

Microsoft Surface storage/reader components

On Surface devices, storage and card-related components are handled as part of Microsoft's tightly integrated driver set rather than as separate reader downloads. Most of this arrives automatically through Windows Update, and Microsoft also offers a per-model driver and firmware package for offline or clean-install use. Because Surface hardware and drivers are validated together, the right approach is to keep Windows Update current and, if needed, pull the specific model package that matches your Surface generation.

Other Realtek families in the catalog

Realtek hardware documented outside card readers

FamilyCategoryDocumented Windows releases
Realtek High Definition Audio CodecsAudio & SoundWindows 10, Windows 11
Realtek USB AudioAudio & SoundWindows 10, Windows 11
Realtek PCIe Gigabit and 2.5G EthernetNetwork & Wi-FiWindows 10, Windows 11
Realtek Wireless LAN AdaptersNetwork & Wi-FiWindows 10, Windows 11
Realtek Bluetooth AdaptersBluetoothWindows 10, Windows 11
Realtek PCIe GbE Family ControllerEthernet & LANWindows 10, Windows 11
Realtek PCIe 2.5GbE Family ControllerEthernet & LANWindows 10, Windows 11
Realtek USB GbE Family ControllerEthernet & LANWindows 10, Windows 11
Realtek Virtual Audio Endpoint (companion feature)Virtual DevicesWindows 10, Windows 11
The same manufacturer often ships several unrelated device classes, each with its own package.
Official links, no hosted downloads

DriverHub US hosts no executables or updater tools. External citations are limited to official publisher support pages and are labeled before you leave this site.

Other Card Readers families

View all listed Realtek families
Full Card Readers reference

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