How to Recover Files From a Corrupted SD Card For Free

SD and MicroSD cards can become corrupted for a variety of reasons which makes it impossible to access the data stored on the card. As one can imagine, this can be extremely distressing, especially if the card contained photos or videos of a once-in-a-lifetime event like a wedding or birthday party. Fortunately, there are multiple methods that you can use to attempt a corrupted SD card recovery. We will show you how to get your valuable data back from a corrupted SD card.

Maybe you have had a situation similar to that described by this user:

So I just came back from a shoot, put my SD card in my card reader, and copied the files from the card to my computer. At least I tried to, but after the first image Windows reported an error message that the connected media was not formatted in a recognizable file system.

This kind of scenario can result in immediate panic as you think about all the irreplaceable memories tied up in the photos on that card. Take a deep breath and try to relax. We are going to help you get through this and, hopefully, get all your files successfully recovered.

How to Detect That Your SD Card is Corrupted

There are multiple signs that an SD card is becoming corrupted. Learning what they are can help minimize data loss and alert you to the fact that you may need to recover from a corrupted SD card. If you notice these issues, it’s a good idea to get your data off the card and address the corruption before further damage occurs.

Best Methods to Fix Corrupted/Damaged SD Cards

Multiple techniques can be used to attempt to repair a damaged or corrupted SD card. Here are some of the most commonly used methods you can try.

Method 1: Try a Different Card Reader

Perhaps the issue is not with the card but the reader. Make sure it’s actually the card before trying to recover data from it.

Method 2: Make Sure Hidden Files Are Displayed by Your Operating System

You may have to modify viewing settings to allow all files on your SD card to be viewed. Here’s how.

Method 3: Assign a Drive Letter to the Device to See if It Fixes the Problem

If your Windows operating system does not recognize the card, you can try this easy fix. Drive letters are not relevant on Mac systems.

Windows

1. Open Disk Management.
2. Right-click the volume for which you want to change or add a drive letter, and then select Change Drive Letter and Paths.
3. Choose Add or Change depending on which you want to perform on the SD card.
4. Specify the new drive letter and press OK.

Method 4: Use Operating System Utilities Such as CHKDSK on Windows or Disk Utility on Mac to Repair the SD Card

Caution should be taken when performing a repair, as there is the potential for data loss as the OS prepares the media for use. You might want to use recovery software to rescue the data before performing a repair on the card.

Windows

1. Open a Command Prompt on your Windows machine.
2. Type chkdsk ‘drive letter’ /f and press Enter.
3. Press Y until the command line reappears.
4. Type the drive letter and hit Enter.
5. Enter this command: drive letter: attrib –h –r –s /s /d *.*.

Mac

1. Insert the SD card into the Mac.
2. Navigate to the Utilities folder.
3. Double-click the Disk Utility program.
4. Click once on the SD card’s icon.
5. Click the First Aid tab.
6. Click Repair Disk. at the bottom-right corner of the main screen.
7. Wait for the progress bar to be full.

Method 5: Reinstall the Drivers for the Devices That Are Not Working Correctly to See if It Fixes the Problem

It’s certainly worth a try if you cannot access your data.

Windows

1. Right-click on My Computer and click the Manage option.
2. Click Device Manager.
3. Double-click Disk Drives from the list.
4. Right-click on your SD card in the menu.
5. Click Uninstall and then OK.
6. Disconnect your SD card before restarting the computer.
7. Once the computer reboots, connect the SD card again.

Mac

1. Go to Apple menu and select System Preferences.
2. Click Software Update.
3. Check for any available updates for your system and applications.

Method 6: Format the SD Card to Make It Useable Again After It Has Been Corrupted

This will delete all of the data residing on the device and should only be done when other methods have been exhausted. Try using recovery software to retrieve the data before formatting your card. Use the appropriate steps for your operating system.

Windows

1. Connect the SD card to your computer.
2. Open Windows Explorer.
3. Right-click on the SD card and select Format.
4. Choose the filesystem you want to use for formatting the card.
5. Click Start to format the storage device.

Mac

1. Insert the SD card into the Mac.
2. Navigate to the Utilities folder.
3. Double-click the Disk Utility program.
4. Click once on the SD card’s icon.
5. Click the Erase tab.
6. Supply the requested name format and scheme information.
7. Click Erase to perform the format.

Method 7: Use Data Recovery Software

The most reliable method of recovering data from a corrupt SD card is with data recovery software. It scans the device for recoverable data and lets you save it to a new and safe location.

How to Recover Data From a Corrupted Memory Card Using SD Card Recovery Software

A reliable way to recover files from a corrupted SD card or any other disk-based data storage device is with SD card data recovery software. In cases where important data is stored on the card and a quick fix doesn’t work, you may want to recover with software before trying more destructive methods such as formatting the card.

There are free and freemium solutions available for this purpose and we are going to look at two of them.

Option A: Disk Drill

1. Download and install the version of Disk Drill for your operating system. Install it on your computer’s main hard disk since you are recovering data from an external device.
2. Connect the SD card to the computer either with its built-in reader or an external device. You can try to connect the camera or mobile device or use an additional card reader.
3. Launch Disk Drill and choose the corrupted memory card from the app’s disk list.
4. Click the Recover button on Mac or the Search for lost data button on Windows systems. This starts the tool’s scanning algorithms which will find any recoverable data on the SD card.
5. Disk Drill presents a list of files that can be recovered. You can preview the files and select which one you want to have recovered.
6. Select the files for recovery and specify a new storage location for the recovered data. Don’t save them to the SD card, as this can cause further file corruption or overwrite data before it can be retrieved.
7. Click the Recover button to perform the recovery. Your selected files will be recovered to the designated storage location.

Option B: PhotoRec

1. Download, install, and launch PhotoRec.
2. Start the app on your operating system using administrator-level credentials.
3. Use the command-line navigation to select the storage device for recovery.
4. Select the partition that will be recovered.
5. Supply parameters to control the application’s settings.
6. Select the type of files to be recovered.
7. Choose the filesystem type.
8. Select a location for the storage of recovered files.
9. Perform the recovery. Files will be generically named and you will have to preview them and rename them as you see fit.

DIY Corrupted SD Card Data Recovery Basics

Data recovery software can get back your valuable information no matter what type of files have been deleted. Software can recover your:

• Photos
• Videos
• Documents
• Presentations
• Audio files
• And many more

Your best chance of a successful recovery is to stop using the card as soon as you discover it is having problems. It’s good practice to have an extra card or two with you when taking photos or videos so you can handle this kind of situation. Don’t risk everything on the card by trying to get in a few more shots when you know the device has issues.

Specifics of the Data Recovery Process on Different Types of Devices

Some recovery methods are specific to certain types of electronic devices. Here are some tips for attempting data recovery from a variety of devices that use SD cards for storage.

• 📱 Mobile phones and devices – Users of Samsung Android phones, iPhones, or tablets can try to recover lost data from within the apps that created the files. There are often “Recently Deleted” folders that temporarily hold deleted data so it can easily be restored.
• 📷 Digital cameras – Most digital cameras from manufacturers like Sony, Canon and Nikon have onboard storage that may temporarily store deleted photos. If you act quickly, you can often undo a file deletion by using this device feature.
• 💻 Laptop computers – You may be able to recover a deleted file from an SD card that was connected to your laptop by searching the Mac Trash Can or Windows Recycle Bin. Deleted files are temporarily stored in these locations to make them available for a quick and easy recovery.

Other SD Card-Related Problems

The problem of card corruption is often a case of a logical issue with the filesystem used on the device. There are, however, several other problems that may affect your ability to use an SD card that are unrelated to the card itself. Some of them are:

• Problems with the card reader – The issue may be a faulty internal or external card reader. Try using the card with a different reader to narrow down the cause of the problem.
• Bad USB port – The port you connect an external reader to can be at fault. Try a different USB port if one is available or connect to another computer if necessary. In this way, you can determine if it is the SD card that is the problem.
• Damaged SD cards – A damaged card will often exhibit the same issues as a corrupt one. Inspect the card for physical damage such as bent or dusty connectors. In cases of severe damage, you may need a memory card recovery service to salvage the data.

A Minute of Theory: What is SD Card Corruption Actually?

Corruption can be caused by human error, virus infection, and other forms of misuse. If you are careful with your cards, you can minimize the chance that your cards will become corrupted.

How to Avoid SD Card Corruption in the Future

Here are some tips to help you keep the data on your SD cards safe. Follow them to minimize the risks of your memory cards becoming corrupted.

• Use high-quality SD cards – Reliable market leaders like Kingston, Samsung, Lexar, Toshiba, PNY or Panasonic manufacture their SD cards to strict quality standards. Using these cards as opposed to inexpensive alternatives will result in less memory card corruption.
• Avoid viruses and malware – Running an effective antivirus package is imperative for all computer users. SD cards are often shared and used in different devices that may not be fully protected from malware infection. Only allow your cards to be used inserted into devices or computers that you are sure are clear of viruses to minimize the chances of your card catching one.
• Take care during data transfer – Don’t remove an SD card from a device or card reader while it is reading or writing data. Incomplete data transfers resulting from cards being removed from the device prematurely can lead to file corruption.
• Keep cards safe – Preventing physical damage by storing cards in protective cases is a good practice to follow. You should also keep the cards away from extremes of heat or moisture, as these factors can damage the storage media.

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