How to Recover Deleted Photos From SanDisk Memory Cards With Ease

SanDisk memory cards are reliable and used by many professional photographers. They’re still prone to running into issues, though. Since SanDisk warranty doesn’t offer reimbursement for data recovery services, the onus of recovering the lost photos from a damaged SD card is on you. Even if you’ve merely deleted or formatted data on an undamaged card, you can still undertake the recovery yourself.

Recovering photos from a SanDisk card can be a simple process, even if you’re unfamiliar with it. We’re here to guide you through it step-by-step.

Our internal analytics show that most people prioritize understanding the recovery steps over the causes of data loss, since most users already know exactly what caused the loss of their SanDisk memory card photos. However, we’ve included both sections for your convenience. We’ll start with the recovery guide, followed by the section on common photo loss on SanDisk SD cards, in case you’re interested.

How to Recover Deleted Photos from SanDisk Memory Card

You can recover files from SanDisk SD cards using a data recovery tool. While there are countless tools out there, not all are reliable. Below, we illustrate the process of recovering deleted & disappeared photos from a SanDisk SD card using two of the most effective tools.

Option A: Disk Drill

Here’s how you can use Disk Drill to recover photos from your SanDisk SD card:

Step 1: Download and Install Disk Drill

Download Disk Drill and install it on your PC. You can recover files up to 500MB for free with Disk Drill.

Step 2: Scan the SanDisk SD Card

Launch Disk Drill and select the SanDisk SD card on the home screen. Once you’re done, click on the Search for lost data button.

Step 3: Recover Photos

Once the scan is complete, you can click on Review found items and select the Pictures option from the left sidebar to filter the scan’s results by file type. If you’re looking for a specific file extension, such as PNG, you can either expand the Pictures tab by clicking on it or search for *.png using the search bar at the top.

Select the photos you want to recover by checking the box next to them and click on the Recover button.

You’ll need to select a recovery location. Make sure to not to select the source drive as the recovery location to avoid overwriting. Once you’ve selected a location, click Next.

Option B: SanDisk RescuePro®

Here’s how to perform SanDisk photo recovery with RescuePro®:

Step 1: Download RescuePro®

Download RescuePro® and install it on your computer.

Step 2: Use the Recover Photos Option

Launch the app and select the Recover Photos option.

Select the device you want to scan and click Start.

Step 3: Open the Recovery Location

Once the app has finished the process, you’ll see the files it was able to find at the bottom of the interface. Unlike other tools, there’s no recovery button here. You’ll need to click on the Output Folder button at the top. Doing this will take you to the location where the app saved the recovered files.

Reasons Behind Photo Loss on SanDisk SD Cards

It’s already established that recovering photos from a SanDisk SD card is typically possible. As long as the card remains functional, there’s a high likelihood that data recovery tools can retrieve lost photos. For non-functional cards, professional data recovery services might be necessary.

Now, let’s delve into the common reasons photos might vanish from an SD card:

• 🤦 Accidental deletion: Hitting the delete button accidentally or deleting new photos while cleaning old photos can result in loss of photos.
• 🧹 Formatting: Did you recently format your SanDisk SD card without realizing you’ve stored photos on it? Formatting can wipe out all of the data on your SD card, but recovering files from a formatted SD card is almost always possible.
• ⚠️ Corruption: File system corruption, malware, and physical damage can corrupt your SD card. While you may not be able to access your photos, you can still recover files from a corrupt SanDisk SD card.
• 🔨 Damaged SD card: SD cards aren’t as prone to physical damage as hard disks because they’re similar to solid state drives and have no moving parts. Nevertheless, wear and tear or frequently dropping the card can still cause physical damage. You can recover files from a damaged SD card in many cases, but in case of severe damage, you’ll need to seek help from a data recovery service.

How to Recover Photos from Damaged, Broken, or Non-Functional SanDisk SD Cards

For a recovery tool to work, your card needs to be functional. If the card has become non-functional, there’s no way for a recovery tool to read the data from it. In cases where the SanDisk SD card is broken or severely damaged, you’ll need to send your card to a SD card data recovery service.

If you’re not completely sure about your card being functional, there’s a way to find out if a recovery tool will be able to scan your SD card. Put your card into the card reader and open the Disk Management console.

If you see the SanDisk SD card listed in there with the correct size, you’ll be able to scan the card. Chances of recovery, though, still depend on the severity of the damage.

Note that you might be able to fix the problem in some cases with a CHKDSK command. Sometimes, the problem could be your card reader. IIf the reader isn’t functioning properly, your SD card may not appear in the Disk Management console at all, or it might be displayed as ‘No Media’. Learn more about how to figure out if your SD card has become non-functional in our guide to recovering data from a dead SD card.

FAQ

How to Recover Photos from a SanDisk SD Card? Now You Know

SanDisk SD cards, while reliable, aren’t immune to data loss. Quick action is crucial for successful recovery. Using trusted tools like Disk Drill or SanDisk RescuePro® can restore lost memories. If DIY methods falter, professional services exist. Understanding data loss causes aids future prevention.