💡 This article is written by humans, with all solutions and steps verified.
SanDisk SD cards are among the most popular and reliable memory cards. As a result, many users use them to store photos and videos from cameras, drones, and other electronic devices. If you are one of these users and have lost some files, don't worry. In many cases, they can still be recovered.
In this article, we will guide you through recovering deleted or lost files from a SanDisk SD card at home, what to do before you start, and when to seek help from data recovery services.
File recovery is complex, and the final result depends on the cause of the loss and the steps you take afterward. To increase your chances of a successful recovery, refer to the table below. We have categorized various data loss situations and provided different suggestions for each.
| Common situations | DIY recovery probability | Our suggestions |
|---|---|---|
| You accidentally deleted some files from the SanDisk memory card | High | Please stop using your SanDisk card immediately and use data recovery software to scan it. |
| You formatted the SanDisk SD card using the default method. | High | Do not save any data to this card, and use recovery software with file signature scanning, such as iBeesoft Data Recovery. |
| Virus or malware infection | Medium | Scan with reliable software before attempting to recover your lost files. |
| The SanDisk SD card file system is displayed as "RAW," or the data is inaccessible. | High | First, please ignore the formatting prompt. Next, use SanDisk recovery software to rescue the files. Afterward, format it to fix this error. |
| Some photos or videos were lost during the transfer process. | Medium | Use the following software to recover them immediately. If some recovered files can not be opened or used, try repair tools. |
| Fully formatted the SanDisk SD card | Incapable | |
| Physical damage to the SanDisk SD card, such as breakage, connector issues, or it not being recognized. | Incapable | Please don't try to handle it yourself. Instead, contact a data recovery service. |
If you had previously copied these files to another storage device or backed them up with tools like Windows File History or macOS Time Machine, then you can recover them without software. Otherwise, you will need to rely on data recovery software. In this case, choosing a trustworthy and secure option is crucial. Here, we recommend starting with iBeesoft Data Recovery. Here are the reasons.
Next, let's look at how to use this tool to complete the recovery process.
For macOS users, the file recovery process for a SanDisk SD card differs slightly compared with that on a Windows PC.
Of course, iBeesoft Data Recovery isn't the only software solution for users who have lost files from a SanDisk card. If you don't have time to sift through hundreds of similar tools to find the right one, you can also take a look at the following five software options before making your final decision.
RescuePRO was developed by LC Technology International, which is a partner of SanDisk. For this reason, many people regard RescuePRO as the best choice for SanDisk file recovery. That was true a few years ago. However, because it hasn't been updated in years and lacks the photo and video repair features found in mainstream software, it may be ineffective in complex data-loss scenarios. For usability, it is still worth a try if you just want to recover deleted files from a SanDisk memory card.
In our tests, Disk Drill can recover files from your SanDisk memory card, even if the card is not functioning properly. It integrates multiple scanning modes, letting you complete the entire process easily without switching between them manually. Besides, it offers some diagnostic and protection tools. Overall, its powerful feature set is undoubtedly a major advantage. However, the high price may deter many potential users.
RecoverIt claims a recovery success rate of up to 99.5% and supports all file formats. This seems very attractive. Indeed, it performs very well in common data loss scenarios, like accidental deletion or formatting. However, if you prioritize the safety of SanDisk card recovery software, we suggest skipping this option. Although many antivirus tools mark it as safe, we encountered some warnings when scanning it with VirusTotal.
If you have ever looked into data recovery software, you've probably heard of EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard. Launched in 2004, it is one of the most popular similar tools for Windows and Mac. EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard performs well in a wide range of recovery scenarios, but we found that its deep scanning capabilities need improvement. Nevertheless, it can usually help you undelete or unformat an SD card, though its name may change.
Are you looking for truly 100% free SanDisk card recovery software? We think these two must be your first consideration. They are distributed together. TestDisk is used to repair corrupted file systems or partition tables, while PhotoRec is used for data recovery. Although they lack a graphical user interface, every step is explained in detail. In terms of performance, they certainly won't disappoint.
As long as your SanDisk SD card isn't physically damaged, we believe the software above should be able to restore data from an SD card. However, the most effective method is to prevent data loss from happening in the first place. To that end, the following suggestions can help prevent this situation:
| Suggestions | Reasons |
|---|---|
| 1. Make sure the device has sufficient battery power. | If the device runs out of power while shooting footage, the data may not be fully saved to your SanDisk SD card. |
| 2. Safely eject your SanDisk memory card. | Whether you use the card in a digital device or a computer, always use the "Eject" option before removing it. Otherwise, its file system may become corrupted, such as showing as "RAW," which could prevent you from accessing files within it or cause other errors. |
| 3. Consistently back up your photos or videos. | After you finish shooting, copy the files to your computer or to cloud storage. This will ensure you always have a backup copy. |
| 4. Format the SanDisk SD card with default settings unless you plan to sell or give away the card, or to protect your privacy. | This method will not completely erase the data. Even if you forget to back up files or miss important ones during the backup process, you may still be able to restore them. |
| 5. Do not use the same SanDisk SD card in several devices | Cameras, drones, and dash cams each have their own preferred data-storage methods. This can result in compatibility issues or even damage existing files if you use the same card across different devices. If you must, back up the data on the SanDisk SD card first, then format it on the new device. |
Usually, files deleted or missing from a SanDisk SD card can be recovered, provided you stop using the card immediately. In most cases, we recommend using iBeesoft Data Recovery. It uses unique algorithms designed for RAW photos and large video files to maximize recovery success.
If your card appears damaged or unrecognized,don't try to recover the data yourself; ask a professional data recovery service for help.
Last, even excellent SanDisk card recovery software has its limitations. So, follow our tips to prevent data loss. After all, prevention is far easier and less stressful than recovering lost files.
Yes! iBeesoft Free Data Recovery lets you recover up to 2GB of data for free. If you exceed this limit, then you can use PhotoRec. It is completely free, but less user-friendly and less capable of handling complex data-loss situations than the former.
It is possible. If you saved only a few photos or videos to the card, you might be able to recover some or all of the previous files. This depends on whether they have been overwritten by new data.
No, there isn't. However, you can check if you have a backup. Also, some digital devices, such as DJI drones, temporarily write captured footage to cache and store it in internal storage, so you can check there as well.
It depends on the damage situation. For this problem, please check out this guide on how to fix a RAW SD card without formatting. Before proceeding, we still suggest using the methods above to recover the files first, as your data is invaluable.
You can try file repair tools and online services. These tools can fix errors in the file header, structure, or identifiers. If it fails, it means that parts of the recovered file have been overwritten. In this case, you will lose them forever.
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