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SD cards are widely used in digital cameras, digital devices, and computers as a convenient method of providing additional storage capacity. They offer users a compact and portable means of storing and sharing much more data than that provided by the onboard capabilities of their devices. As with all storage media, there is always the chance that data loss can occur. Jump to:
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:
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. IMPORTANT: The first part of this article describes the causes of SD card corruption and the methods for fixing it. If you’re reading this article because you want to recover lost data from a corrupted SD card, feel free to jump to this section. How to Detect That Your SD Card is CorruptedThere 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.
Methods to Fix Corrupted/Damaged SD CardsMultiple 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. Try a different card readerPerhaps the issue is not with the card but the reader. Make sure it’s actually the card before trying to recover data from it. Make sure hidden files are displayed by your operating systemYou may have to modify viewing settings to allow all files on your SD card to be viewed. Here’s how. Windows 10
Mac
Sometimes assigning a drive letter to the device is all that it takes to resolve the problemIf your Windows operating system does not recognize the card, you can try this easy fix. Drive letters are not relevant on Mac systems. Windows
Use operating system utilities such as chkdsk on Windows or Disk Utility on Mac to repair the SD cardCaution 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
Mac
Reinstalling the drivers for the devices that are not working correctly can sometimes fix the problemIt’s certainly worth a try if you cannot access your data. Windows
Mac
Format the SD card to make it useable again after it has been corruptedThis 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
Mac
Use data recovery softwareThe 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 Using SD Card Recovery SoftwareA 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 DrillDisk Drill is a freemium data recovery application that offers a user-friendly method of recovering lost data from any disk-based storage device. The tool is available for Windows and Mac systems and uses a slightly different interface for each platform. Here are the simple steps you use to recover data using Disk Drill.
Option B: PhotoRec Now compare this method, which allows the user to recover with a few clicks, to the process required with a free tool like PhotoRec. The first thing you will notice is that PhotoRec does not have a user-friendly interface. To use the tool you need to be prepared to engage with the command
line and need to know a little bit about data recovery techniques. Here are the steps you will have to perform to recover with PhotoRec.
Using free software often involves tradeoffs in functionality and ease-of-use. Disk Drill is a far superior recovery platform that minimizes complexity while delivering enhanced results. It is not the time to try and save a few dollars when valuable data is at risk. It’s in your best interest to use a reliable data recovery tool. What Data Can Be Recovered?Data recovery software can get back your valuable information no matter what type of files have been deleted. Software can recover your:
The data that can be recovered from a corrupted SD card is dependent on how the card has been used since the corruption occurred. Data that is deleted from storage devices is usually still physically present on the media until the space it occupied is used to save new information. This means that continuing to use an SD card after you suspect it has suffered corruption risks overwriting the files you want to recover. 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 DevicesSome 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.
If these methods don’t work, you can recover data from a corrupted SD card with data recovery software. Other SD Card-Related ProblemsThe 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:
A Minute of Theory: What is SD Card Corruption Actually?SD card corruption is the term used to describe various problems that affect the logical representation of data on the device. The corruption makes it impossible to view or access the data on the card. Your operating system cannot recognize the files and folders on the disk though they may still be intact. 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 FutureHere 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.
Did you
know? FAQNo. If the card is truly corrupted, you will need a computer to fix the issue. Yes, by using data recovery software you can recover files without formatting. Follow these easy steps:
Formatting a corrupted SD card can be a quick way to allow you to fix the card and reuse it. Unfortunately, this process will delete the data on the card, so is not recommended until after you have used recovery software to recover your files. Running chkdsk can lead to lost data if you allow the tool to perform repair functions. In fixing bad sectors, some data may be deleted. If chkdsk discovers errors, you may want to consider using recovery software to save the data before fully repairing the disk. Yes, it is. A reliable data recovery service may be able to recover the files from a physically damaged memory card. CleverFiles Data Recovery Center can recover files from all kinds of damaged storage devices, including SD cards. Robert Agar is the Content Writer & Managing Editor for Handy Recovery. Robert brings over 30 years of experience in data storage, security, compliance, backup, and recovery to the HandyRecovery team. Several years ago, he turned his attention from hands-on technical roles to develop a career as a freelance writer concentrating on technology and its impact on society. Areas of focus include the cloud, data recovery, artificial intelligence, and industrial automation. Andrey Vasilyev is an Editorial Advisor for Handy Recovery. Andrey is a software engineer expert with extensive expertise in data recovery, computer forensics, and data litigation. Andrey brings over 12 years of experience in software development, database administration, and hardware repair to the team. Can you recover pictures from a corrupted SD card?Can you recover photos from a corrupted SD card? It depends on the condition of your SD card, but in general, yes, you can recover photos from a corrupted SD card. If it has software issues, all you need to recover photos from it is a reliable and efficient data recovery tool and a computer.
How do I recover corrupted photos on my Android phone?8 Best Ways To Repair Corrupted Photos In Android. Clean Your Memory Card.. Recover Photos From The Recycle Bin.. Add An Extension To Corrupted Photos.. Recover Photos From LOST.DIR Folder.. Try A Different Image Viewer App.. Photo Not Opening Due To Wrong Image File Format.. Recover Photos Using A Recovery App.. Can you fix corrupted SD card with Android phone?How can I recover data from a corrupted SD card on my android phone? There is no way to recover the data once you have formatted the corrupted SD card. However, if you did a backup or file transfer on a computer, you may be able to transfer it back after formatting.
How do I uncorrupt SD card on Android?How to Repair Damaged SD Card in Android. Make a backup of all data on the card.. Format the card using a computer.. Reinsert the card into the Android device.. If the card is not detected, format the card on the Android device.. Insert the card into the computer and restore the data.. Insert the card into the Android device.. |