What should I do if I accidentally delete photos from my SD card? Don't worry, this page provides some tested methods to recover deleted data from SD card for free.
SD Card (Secure Digital Memory Card) is a tiny portable storage disk used to add more space to read and write data on mobile devices such as smartphones, cameras, etc. Users can store various files on SD cards such as audio, photos, videos, documents, emails, and more. Also, it helps users save and transfer files between mobile devices computers, and laptops. This is why SD cards are very popular among users.
However, data loss is a common issue that can cause headaches. Like other storage devices, files stored on SD cards can be lost due to accidental deletion, formatting, file system corruption, physical damage, virus infection malware attack, etc. This post will guide you on how to recover deleted data from SD card for free.
Generally speaking, if an SD card file is deleted, the files won't appear in the file manager, but it's not actually deleted immediately. The system just marks the file's disk space as "free" and waits for new data to overwrite it. Therefore, as long as the lost data is not overwritten, there is still a chance to retrieve it.
So, it's worth noting that to have a better chance of successfully recovering lost data from SD memory card, please stop using SD card to save new data to avoid data overwriting. At the same time, you need a reliable way and start memory card data recovery as soon as possible. Using powerful data recovery software like FastRecovery will be a great choice.
Once you are aware of data loss, you should perform recovery SD memory card as soon as possible. In reality, if your SD card was connected to your computer before deletion, you can recover deleted files from the Recycle Bin. If not, you can rely on data recovery tools like FastRecovery to restore deleted SD data regardless of data loss scenarios and compatibility.
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🦠Data Loss Scenarios: Accidental deletion, formatting error (eg: you need to format the disk), virus or malware attack, Recycle Bin recovery, lost partition data recovery, and RAW SD card recovery. |
🔗Compatible SD Types: Standard SD card, micro/mini card, CF card, MMC card, xD Picture card, SDHC, SDXC, SDUC, UHS-I, and UHS-II, etc., in different storage, such as camcorder, digital camera, music and video player. |
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🏆Different SD Brands: Panasonic SD card recovery, Nikon, Canon, Kodak, FujiFilm, Olympus, Samsung, Lexar, Transcend, Toshiba, Kingston, SanDisk and more. |
💿Supported File Formats: Image formats including 3FR file recovery，CR2/CR3, CRW, DCR, DNG, ERF, EXR, FFF, HEIC, IIQ, KDC, MPO, MRW, NEF, NRW, ORF, PEF, RAF, RAW, RW2, RWL, TIF, X3F, etc., and others related to Videos, Audios, Documents, Archive files. |
Free download and install this SD card data recovery software to get back your data in just a few clicks.
Note: The free edition is capable of recovering deleted data from SD card over 500MB. To recover more or unlimited data files, please upgrade FastRecovery to advanced editions.
Now, we will show you the easiest way to retrieve deleted files from SD card for free, i.e., using the data recovery software FastRecovery, which has two advanced scanning methods that greatly increase the success rate of data recovery.
✔ Quick Scan: Quickly scan and locate deleted files by their file path and logs. If some of the metadata is corrupted, you may not find your files there.
✔ Deep Scan: Scan the disk or partition containing lost data more thoroughly and takes longer. It even supports RAW data recovery.
If the files are inaccessible but the SD card is in working order, you can easily perform data recovery using FastRecovery. However, if the card is physically damaged or broken, a technician is required to recover the lost data. Follow the steps below if you are in the previous situation:
Don't download and install FastRecovery on the SD card where you store deleted files, as this may cause data to be overwritten.
Any newly added data or disk formatting can overwrite data. Please avoid these operations after realizing data loss.
Connect the SD card to your computer via a card reader and be sure it's recognized by Windows. Click USB/SD Card Recovery after accessing FastRecovery. You can also choose a more suitable alternative. All of them can help you retrieve data without causing any damage.
Hover the mouse over the drive, and click Scan.
It will automatically start Deep Scan to scan every sector of the SD card to find files buried deeper in the file system. In contrast, this mode takes a long time, just be patient.
Wait for the process to complete. The software is designed to organize and display data by Type (default) or Path, offering options to sort, search, filter, and preview files, thus making it easier to locate files.
👉Under the Type section:
👉 Under the Path section: Directly navigate to the original location where you saved deleted files. Sort files if needed.
Choose the data you want to recover, and click the Recover button to proceed.
In the following window, you will be asked to select a location to save the recovered files. Please select a new location instead of the original. Because restoring deleted files to the original will cause further data loss.
You should follow some of the useful TIPS mentioned here to prevent losing it again from the SD card in the future:
Always safely eject the memory card before removing it from a device. Improper ejection can cause file system corruption, leading to data loss.
Back up your memory card data frequently to a computer or cloud storage. In case of accidental deletion or corruption, you can restore files from backup.
Avoid filling the memory card to its maximum capacity. Keeping some space free reduces the chances of corruption and makes recovery easier if something goes wrong.
Do not remove the memory card while files are being transferred to or from it. Interruptions during transfer can corrupt files and lead to data loss.
Frequently switching the memory card between different devices increases the risk of corruption. Use it primarily on one device to minimize compatibility and file system errors.
Physically protect the card from moisture, dust, and extreme temperatures. Physical damage can lead to loss of data or make recovery difficult.
In addition to FastRecovery, there are other methods to recover files from SD card that you can refer to.
When you find that some files in your SD card are missing, they may have been hidden due to viruses/malware or accidentally formatted. Hence, you can use the ATTRIB command to find and recover your data.
Steps to recover files from SD card using CMD
Step 1. Connect the SD card to your computer, and press Windows + R to launch Run.
Step 2. In the Run window, type the” cmd” and click OK.
Step 3. Type the command in the Window: ATTRIB -H -R -S /S /D G:*.* and hit Enter. After the command prompt returns to its original location, the process will be complete, and then you can go to the destination to check these files. (Replace the G in the command with the letter of your SD card.)
Windows File Recovery is Microsoft's official data recovery tool with complex parameters, which might be a bit complicated for a green hand. Try this software if you are a technician and the computer is Windows 10 2004 and later.
There are some parameters you need to learn including the syntax, and how to select recovery mode & switches:
✔ The format and common syntax of Windows file recovery commands is: winfr source-drive:destination-drive:[/mode] [/switches].
✔Select your mode and switch according to the following chart.
Step 1. Download and install Windows File Recovery from Microsoft Store.
Step 2. Open Windows File Recovery. To restore DOCX files from E: drive to D: drive with Segment mode, type as follow: winfr E: D: /segment /n *.docx.
If you mean your SD card is formatted, it's possible to recover deleted files easily and quickly. Before that, you need to be sure of the formatting method.
All in all, to protect your data, be sure you don't use the Full Format method.
These is all the methods to recover deleted data from SD card. From the above analysis, it can be found that it is the most sensible to use file recovery software to recover data from SD card, which does not require any complicated parameters and anyone can easily retrieve files.
BTW, regularly backing up your important SD card data will prepare you for any data loss. You can let one of the best free backup software for Windows 11/10/8/7, AOMEI Backupper Standard, help you.