Hardware

How to Recover Data from Corrupted SD Card

Once your SD card gets corrupted, the first thing to do is to restore files from the SD card. Data may be lost during the repair process, so it is best to get back files in advance. Below steps to Recover Data from corrupted SD Card.

You may try the following 3 corrupted SD card file recovery solutions for help:

  • Turn to Powerful SD Card Recovery Software
  • Show Hidden Files
  • Try Manual Data Recovery Service

Recover SD Card Data with EaseUS Data Recovery Software

Once your SD card turns to RAW or Windows asks you to format it before you can use it, take it slow. The files are still on the SD card, using data recovery software to recover SD card data to another location as soon as possible.

EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard is a professional in recovering deleted, formatted or inaccessible data in various data loss cases. It is the best choice to recover your data from a corrupted SD card with its powerful data recovery capacity and intuitive user interface. It also works recovering data from computer hard drives, recovering formatted USB drives, and all storage media like SD cards, CF cards, etc.

Step 1. Select SD card to scan

Downoad and install EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard on your Windows PC.

Use the proper way to connect your SD card to the computer. Let Windows recognize the card and assign it a drive letter.

Launch EaseUS SD card recovery software. All connected drives will display here. Select your SD card according to its drive letter under the Devices section. Click “Scan” to start finding lost data on your SD card.

Step 2. Check for scan results

After the scanning process, you can click “Filter” and specify one or several file types to show up, like Pictures, Word, Excel, PDF, Videos and so on. This will help you quickly find wanted files of one kind.

Step 3. Preview and recover data

After the scan, you can check and preview found files by double-clicking each one of them.

Choose desired files and click Recover.

Choose a different location to save the recovered files instead of the orginal SD card.

Show Hidden Files on SD Card

Applies to: Fix SD card suddenly shows empty, or displays partial files error.

If your SD card suddenly shows empty or the SD card only displays partial data after fixing the corruption error, the data might get hidden. The other way is to show hidden files on the SD card:

  • Connect SD card to PC and press Windows + E to bring up Windows Explorer.
  • Right-click on the SD card and select “Properties”.
  • Go to the View tab, under Hidden files and folders, click “Show hidden files, folders, and drives”.
  • Then click “Apply”, then “OK”

#3. Turn to Manual Data Recovery Service

If EaseUS SD card recovery software fails to scan and find your lost data on the SD card, don’t worry. You still have an option to try, turning to a manual data recovery service.

How to Fix Corrupted SD Card in Windows 10/8/7

Applies to: Fix SD card corrupted, SD card not reading, SD card not detected/recognized, error.

The listed fixes are applicable to fix different levels of SD card corruption, and it’s advised for SD card owners to try each method one by one, from simple to complex.

Altogether, the 10 ways of SD card repair solutions also work to fix corrupted memory cards, USB, external, or internal hard drives. Now, let’s start.

Reconnect SD Card – Change SD Card Reader, USB Port, or New Computer

Applies to: Fix SD card not readable or not detected by the computer, camera, etc. devices.

Sometimes, connection issues or power issues are likely to cause SD card unreadable problems. First of all, it’s better to exclude exterior factors that can be fixed with a few tricks.

Step 1. Unplug and reconnect your SD card to the PC.

Step 2. If your SD card fails to show up, try the following 3 tips:

  1. Change a new SD card reader, insert the SD card to it, and connect it to the PC.
  2. Switch the USB port and reconnect the SD card to your computer.
  3. Connect your SD card to another new computer.

After this, check if your SD card shows up or is readable. If yes, jump to the corrupted or damaged SD card recovery section at the end of this page to bring back all your important files immediately. If nothing shows up, continue with the following fixes.

3. Run CHKDSK to Fix and Repair Corrupted SD Card File System

Applies to: Fix SD card file system corruption or bad sectors issue.

SD card has a limited lifespan, like other removable storage devices. It will grow bad sectors or the file system may corrupt after a long period of use.

The CHKDSK command will find SD card file system corruption errors and remove bad sectors. This is also the most applicable way to repair a corrupted SD card without formatting.

Step 1. Plug your SD card into your computer with a card reader.

Step 2. Type cmd in the search box, right-click Command Prompt and select “Run as Administrator”.

Step 3. Type chkdsk F: /f /r /x and hit Enter.

  • “F:” means the drive letter of the corrupted SD card you want to repair.
  • “/f” is to fix any found errors.
  • /r” is to locate bad sectors and recover any readable information.
  • /x” is to force the volume you’re about to check to be dismounted before the utility begins a scan.

After finishing all these steps, if you see “Windows has made corrections to the file system” in the command window, congratulations. The corrupted SD card is successfully fixed, you can view and use your data again.

4. Type exit when the checking and fixing process completes.

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