AOMEI FastRecovery
Best Software to Scan SD Card for Deleted Files | Free Download
This article will describe a free & reliable data recovery software - AOMEI FastRecovery to scan SD card for deleted files and recover them immediately. Scroll down to explore more!
By Ivy / Updated on June 6, 2025
Is It Possible to Recover Deleted Files from SD Card?
“I have a 32G Ultra Plus SD installed on my Sony Xperia Z3. And main usage of this card is for all sorts of backups such as contacts, messages, videos and photos. Unfortunately, I deleted two folders on the SD card by mistake. What to do now to restore the files? Does Sandisk offer any software for this?” – Question from Reddit
Absolutely yes, but it depends on how deletion worksand what happens afterward. The possible cause may be accidental deletion, formatting errors, corrupted file system, virus or malware attacks, improper ejection or device malfunction, etc.
However, the recovery rate dependson a few critical factors:
- Whether or not there is data overwriting. If the new file takes up space from deleted files, it may not be fully recovered.
- The SD card is still readable. If the card is physically damaged or not recognized by your Windows, any software may not access and scan SD card for deleted files.
- Use a reliable SD card recovery software. A superior data recovery software will greatly increase the success rate of file recovery in Windows 10, 11, etc., or servers. It should include those key features, e.g., Quick & Deep Scan, file preview, support for multiple data types, user-friendlyinterface, etc.
Quick Checks Before Scanning Your SD Card
Here are some quick checks to be sure SD card data recovery process is smooth.
#1: Ensure the SD Card Is Recognized by Windows
To makesure your SD card is properly recognized, you can check if it's displayed in File Explorer or Disk Management.
Option 1: File Explorer
Open File Explorer and scroll down to devices and drives under This PC. Then, try to find your SD card, either by label or capacity. If it doesn't appear, try a different card reader or USB port.
Option 2: Disk Management
Right-click the Start menu and select Disk Management. Then, check the listed drives for your SD card and verify its drive letter and status, usually, labeled as “Healthy”.
#2: Avoid Overwriting Deleted Files
Once files are deleted, avoid using the SD card immediately. Overwriting data reduces the chances of successful data recovery.
- Stop taking photos or saving new files to yourcard.
- Don't format or attempt repairs SD card, even if it’s corrupted.
- Begin the recovery process as soon as possible.
Best Software to Scan SD Card for Deleted Files and Recover (Full Recovery)
AOMEI FastRecovery is one of the best SD card data recovery software for Windows that can scan SD card for deleted files and recover them immediately. It supports wide data types and integrates with Quick Scan & Deep Scan methods for different scenarios, such as accidental deletion, formatted/corrupted card, lost partition, virus attacks, etc.
- Quick Scan: Integrated in the Hard Drive Recovery section, it’s mainly used to scan and recover deleted files. The scanning speed is very fast and takes about 3-5 seconds.
- Deep Scan: Optionally scans SD card or other devices when you cannot find the desired data or in more complex scenarios, e.g., recover files formatted SD card. It’s also integrated in the USB/SD Recovery section.
In addition, it’s user-friendly and easy to use for all users. It also offers users some useful features, e.g., file filter, file preview, immediate recovery, etc., to simplify the recovery process and make it faster, especially useful for recovering specific files or folders.
Step 1. Select the SD card to scan
Connect the SD card to your computer via a card reader. Open AOMEI FastRecovery after installing and select the SD card based on your needs:
- Go to the Hard Drive Recovery section if your files are deleted by mistake, select the SD card, and click the Scan button to quick scan SD card.
- For more complex scenarios, such as formatted card, directly switch to USB/SD Card Recovery to deep scan SD card recovery.
Step 2. Scan SD card for deleted or missing files
By default, Quick Scan take only 3-5 seconds while Deep Scan requires more time, depending the size of your data and USB port. In short, they only show deleted files, greatly reducing the time it takes to find them.
Step 3. Find deleted files quickly
Directly type the file name or extension in the search box, which is the easiest method to find deleted files, especially for specific files and folders. Also, click the Filter feature to specify a specific data type (e.g., documents, audios, videos, etc) or find them in the original location.
Step 4. Preview and recover deleted files
Once found, double-click on files to preview them and make sure you select the right ones. Then, click the “Recover”button to recover deleted files from SD card without waiting for the final result.
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If you can’t find the deleted files in the Hard Drive Recovery section, click Deep Scan in the lower left corner. Or directly deep scan SD card for data recovery.
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Please choose a different location to save the recovered files, preventing data overwriting.
How to Recover Deleted Files from SD Card without Software
If your files are deleted recently and don’t want to install any software, try the following 3 methods to recover deleted files from SD card.
Method 1: Check the Recycle Bin
If you transfer files to your computer before it’s deleted, you can check and recover deleted files from Recycle Bin in the following steps.
Step 1. Double-click the Recycle Bin icon on your Desktop.
Step 2.In the Recycle Bin folder, locate and right-click recently deleted files, then click the Restore option.
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To select multiple files, please hold on the Ctrl key until you select all of them.
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The deleted files will be restored to the original location.
Method 2: Check Your OneDrive
Also, if your SDcard was synced with OneDrive, the filesmight still reside in the OneDrive.
Step 1. Open a browser and sign in with your OneDrive account.
Step 2. Search for the files you want to recover. Or directly go the Recycle Bin. Then, select them and click the Download button.
Step 3. Select a new location to save the recovered files.
Method 3: Scan SD Card using CMD (for hidden or corrupted files)
If your still can’t find deleted files on SD card, it may be hiddenorcorrupted. You can try the CHKDSK and ATTRIB commands to recover them.
Step 1. Be surethe SD card is recognized. Press Win + R to open the Run window, then type cmd and click OK to open the Command Prompt window.
Step 2. In the Command Prompt window, type chkdsk X: /f /r and press Enter. It will scan and fix any found disk errors, causing hidden files. Replace X: with your SD card drive letter.
Step 3. Then,type attrib -h -r -s /s /d X: *.*and press Enter. It helps unhide hidden files due to virus attack.
Tips to Avoid Future Data Loss on SD Card
If you don't want to lose any data on SD card, it's essential to take some prevention measures:
- Back up SD card dataregularly
- Always use the safe eject option
- Avoid using the same card across many devices
- Use antivirus tools to prevent malware
Conclusion
Even if it feels like all hope is lost, don't panic — scanning SD card for deleted files on Windows is completely possible with the best free data recovery software - AOMEI FastRecovery. It offers users with two advanced scanning methods that apply to different scenarios, such as accidental deletion, formatting, corrupted card, etc.
Also, you can consider using Recycle Bin, OneDrive, or CMD if your files are recently deleted or hidden. At last, don’t forget to create copies of your files on SD card, which gives you a choice to restore files from backup.
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