diff --git a/libraries/SD/src/sd_diskio.cpp b/libraries/SD/src/sd_diskio.cpp
index 5b51db4138f..538f4536e43 100644
--- a/libraries/SD/src/sd_diskio.cpp
+++ b/libraries/SD/src/sd_diskio.cpp
@@ -56,6 +56,10 @@ typedef enum {
   CRC_ON_OFF = 59
 } ardu_sdcard_command_t;
 
+// Align with ESP-IDF sdmmc SPI init (ACMD41 timeout must be >1s per SD spec)
+static constexpr uint32_t sd_go_idle_delay_ms = 20;
+static constexpr uint32_t sd_op_cond_timeout_ms = 3000;
+
 typedef struct {
   uint8_t ssPin;
   SPIClass *spi;
@@ -470,12 +474,12 @@ struct AcquireSPI {
  * the SD card specification. It performs card detection, type identification,
  * and configuration for SPI mode operation.
  *
- * The initialization sequence follows the SD card protocol:
+ * The initialization sequence follows the SD card protocol (SPI mode, aligned with IDF):
  * 1. Power-up sequence with 74+ clock cycles
- * 2. GO_IDLE_STATE command to reset the card
- * 3. CRC_ON_OFF to enable/disable CRC checking
+ * 2. Two GO_IDLE_STATE attempts to enter SPI mode
+ * 3. CRC_ON_OFF to enable CRC checking (with retry)
  * 4. SEND_IF_COND to identify SDHC/SDXC cards
- * 5. APP_OP_COND to set operating conditions
+ * 5. APP_OP_COND / SEND_OP_COND (SPI args; timeout >1s)
  * 6. Card type detection (SD/SDHC/MMC)
  * 7. Final configuration and sector count retrieval
  *
@@ -507,9 +511,19 @@ DSTATUS ff_sd_initialize(uint8_t pdrv) {
     card->spi->transfer(0XFF);
   }
 
-  // Step 2: Select the card and send GO_IDLE_STATE command
-  // This command resets the card to idle state and enables SPI mode
-  // Fix mount issue - sdWait fail ignored before command GO_IDLE_STATE
+  // Step 2: Perform two GO_IDLE_STATE (CMD0) attempts in SPI mode.
+  // Per SD Simplified Spec (figure 4-1) / IDF: some cards enter SD mode on the
+  // first attempt, so the first response may fail; the second must succeed.
+  // (sdCommand may also retry internally on no-token/CRC errors.)
+  // Fix mount issue - sdWait fail ignored before each CMD0 attempt
+  digitalWrite(card->ssPin, LOW);
+  if (!sdWait(pdrv, 500)) {
+    log_w("sdWait fail ignored, card initialize continues");
+  }
+  (void)sdCommand(pdrv, GO_IDLE_STATE, 0, NULL);
+  sdDeselectCard(pdrv);
+  delay(sd_go_idle_delay_ms);
+
   digitalWrite(card->ssPin, LOW);
   if (!sdWait(pdrv, 500)) {
     log_w("sdWait fail ignored, card initialize continues");
@@ -520,10 +534,16 @@ DSTATUS ff_sd_initialize(uint8_t pdrv) {
     goto unknown_card;
   }
   sdDeselectCard(pdrv);
+  delay(sd_go_idle_delay_ms);
 
   // Step 3: Configure CRC checking
-  // Enable CRC for data transfers in SPI mode (required for reliable communication)
+  // Enable CRC for data transfers in SPI mode (required for reliable communication).
+  // Some cards reject the first CRC_ON_OFF; retry once (same as IDF).
   token = sdTransaction(pdrv, CRC_ON_OFF, 1, NULL);
+  if (token != 1 && token != 0x5) {
+    delay(10);
+    token = sdTransaction(pdrv, CRC_ON_OFF, 1, NULL);
+  }
   if (token == 0x5) {
     // Old card that doesn't support CRC - disable CRC checking
     card->supports_crc = false;
@@ -547,12 +567,13 @@ DSTATUS ff_sd_initialize(uint8_t pdrv) {
       goto unknown_card;
     }
 
-    // Send APP_OP_COND to set operating conditions for SDHC/SDXC
-    // Wait up to 1 second for the card to become ready
+    // Send APP_OP_COND to set operating conditions for SDHC/SDXC.
+    // In SPI mode only HCS (bit 30) is valid; voltage bits must be 0 (same as IDF).
+    // Timeout must be >1s per SD spec (IDF uses ~3s).
     start = millis();
     do {
-      token = sdTransaction(pdrv, APP_OP_COND, 0x40100000, NULL);
-    } while (token == 1 && (millis() - start) < 1000);
+      token = sdTransaction(pdrv, APP_OP_COND, 0x40000000, NULL);
+    } while (token == 1 && (millis() - start) < sd_op_cond_timeout_ms);
 
     if (token) {
       log_w("APP_OP_COND failed: %u", token);
@@ -577,20 +598,20 @@ DSTATUS ff_sd_initialize(uint8_t pdrv) {
       goto unknown_card;
     }
 
-    // Try SD card initialization first
+    // Try SD card initialization first (SPI mode: ACMD41 arg must be 0)
     start = millis();
     do {
-      token = sdTransaction(pdrv, APP_OP_COND, 0x100000, NULL);
-    } while (token == 0x01 && (millis() - start) < 1000);
+      token = sdTransaction(pdrv, APP_OP_COND, 0, NULL);
+    } while (token == 0x01 && (millis() - start) < sd_op_cond_timeout_ms);
 
     if (!token) {
       card->type = CARD_SD;  // Standard SD card
     } else {
-      // Try MMC card initialization
+      // Try MMC card initialization (SPI mode: CMD1 arg must be 0)
       start = millis();
       do {
-        token = sdTransaction(pdrv, SEND_OP_COND, 0x100000, NULL);
-      } while (token != 0x00 && (millis() - start) < 1000);
+        token = sdTransaction(pdrv, SEND_OP_COND, 0, NULL);
+      } while (token != 0x00 && (millis() - start) < sd_op_cond_timeout_ms);
 
       if (token == 0x00) {
         card->type = CARD_MMC;  // MMC card