A corrupted SD card can often be saved using various data recovery methods. The chances of recovering the data depend on the type and extent of corruption. Quick action is required to prevent overwriting the existing data.
What causes an SD card to become corrupted?
There are several potential causes of SD card corruption:
- Improperly removing the card from a device while files are still being written
- Physical damage to the card from drops, bends, etc.
- Malware or viruses infecting the card
- Power outages while the card is being accessed
- Using the same card between different devices with incompatible file systems
- Exceeding the card’s maximum storage capacity
- Low-quality or counterfeit cards that fail prematurely
These issues can lead to corrupted data or even complete failure of the card. The file system becomes damaged, preventing the operating system from properly accessing the stored files.
Can SD card corruption be fixed?
It is often possible to recover data from a corrupted SD card. How likely recovery is depends on these factors:
- Type of corruption: Cards with minor file system damage are more recoverable than those with electrical/physical flaws.
- Cause of damage: Software issues are easier to fix than physical destruction.
- Card capacity: Less data makes recovery simpler.
- Overwrite activity: Rewriting data on a corrupted card severely reduces recoverability.
As long as the damage is logical (software-based) and no extensive overwriting has occurred, recovery has a decent chance of at least partially succeeding.
Steps to attempt SD card data recovery
If you have a corrupted SD card, follow these steps to try recovering your files:
- Stop using the card immediately: Prevent your devices from overwriting data by taking the card out of use.
- Scan for errors: Run the disk checking utility CHKDSK (Windows) or fsck (Mac/Linux) to assess file system damage.
- Try built-in tools: Your operating system may have SD card recovery tools available.
- Connect the card to a computer: Use a card reader to connect the card directly instead of a mobile device.
- Make a disk image: Create an image file duplicate of the card to preserve its current state for recovery.
- Run data recovery software: Use reputable software like Recuva or Disk Drill to scan the card and restore files.
- Send to a specialist: For mechanical issues or valuable irreplaceable data, use a professional recovery service.
Stop using the card
As soon as you realize your SD card is corrupted, it is crucial to stop using it immediately. Every new write operation could overwrite portions of your valuable data. Eject the card properly from any devices and do not attempt to add or modify files.
Scan for errors with CHKDSK or fsck
Chkdsk (Windows) and fsck (Linux/macOS) are built-in utilities that scan storage devices for file system errors and attempt basic repairs. Run one of these tools on your corrupted SD card to get an idea of the severity and nature of the corruption. This step can fix minor file system issues but is unlikely to repair physical card flaws.
Try built-in recovery tools
Some operating systems include SD card recovery tools that you can attempt first:
- Windows: Disk Management, Recuva, Puran File Recovery
- Mac: Disk Utility First Aid, PhotoRec
- Linux: TestDisk, PhotoRec
While basic, these utilities may successfully restore at least some files from cards with minor corruption.
Connect the card directly to a computer
For best results, connect your corrupted SD card directly to your computer using a card reader. SD slots built into phones and other devices often have limited functionality compared to readers with direct USB connections.
Make a disk image of the card
Creating a full byte-for-byte image copy of the corrupted card preserves its current state for recovery software to scan without risking further data loss. Use DriveImage XML (Windows), ddrescue (Linux/macOS) or similar imaging tools.
Run advanced data recovery software
After imaging the card, run advanced third-party recovery software like:
- Recuva: Free Windows recovery app for restoring deleted files.
- TestDisk: Free, open source utility for recovering lost partitions and repairing boot sectors.
- Disk Drill: Comprehensive Mac/Windows recovery software to salvage lost files.
- R-Studio: Powerful recovery for Windows, Mac, and Linux systems.
These tools scan the card image and reconstruct damaged files using advanced algorithms. They may be able to recover data even from cards with significant corruption.
Send to a professional recovery service
For SD cards with physical damage or valuable files that could not be recovered DIY, consider enlisting an electronics restoration company. Specialists have access to clean room facilities and proprietary repair techniques that can salvage data from highly damaged cards.
SD Card Recovery Software
SD card recovery software provides the best chance for restoring files from a corrupted card. Here are some of the top options:
| Software | Supported OS | Main Features |
|---|---|---|
| Recuva | Windows | Free recovery of accidentally deleted files |
| TestDisk | Windows, Linux, Mac | Partition repair and recovery of lost files/folders |
| Disk Drill | Mac OS, Windows | Scans and restores data from internal/external drives |
| R-Studio | Windows, Mac, Linux | Advanced scanning modes for complex recoveries |
Recuva
Recuva is free, easy-to-use Windows software designed to recover files that have been accidentally deleted from your computer, recycle bin, camera card, or MP3 player. It supports FAT, exFAT, and NTFS file systems.
Key features:
- Restore a wide variety of file types – documents, music, video, photos, emails, etc.
- Deep scan mode for more complex data recovery from damaged media
- Securely overwrite deleted files to prevent recovery by others
- Preview files before recovering to selectively choose which ones to restore
TestDisk
TestDisk is a free, open source data recovery app primarily designed to recover lost partitions and repair corrupted boot sectors. It works on Windows, Linux, macOS, DOS and several other systems.
Key features:
- Locate and rebuild damaged or deleted partitions
- Fix boot problems that prevent system startup
- Retrieve individual files and directories that went missing
- Supports FAT, NTFS, exFAT, and many other file systems
- Image drives for safe data recovery operations
Disk Drill
Disk Drill is a comprehensive recovery app for Mac and Windows that rescues data lost due to accidental deletion, disk formatting, crashes, malware, and other scenarios. It can recover from internal/external drives, memory cards, iPods, etc.
Key features:
- Quick and deep scan recovery modes
- Protects data with Recovery Vault to retain deleted file metadata
- Scans inside apps like iPhoto and Outlook
- Previews files before recovery
- Supports all major file systems (NTFS, FAT32, exFAT, etc.)
R-Studio
R-Studio is advanced data recovery software with a reputation for being able to salvage data from even significantly corrupted or reformatted drives. It supports Windows, Mac, Linux, and Android operating systems.
Key features:
- Multiple scan modes for complex and deep recovery operations
- Reads drives with identified bad sectors
- Recovers data from RAIDs, dynamic disks, encrypted volumes
- Creates disk images for read-only analysis
- Support for both file systems and raw file recovery
Physical vs Logical Damage to SD Cards
SD card corruption can be categorized as either physical damage or logical damage. This determines the potential for recovering data from the card.
Physical Damage
Physical damage refers to some sort of electronic or mechanical failure of the SD card hardware. Examples include:
- Scratched card surface
- Bent or snapped card
- Overheated components
- Broken controller chip
- Detached surface-mount components
Physically damaged cards are less likely to be recoverable. Data may still be intact in undamaged flash memory modules, but accessing it is difficult without functioning hardware. Professional data recovery shops using specialized tools represent the best chance for salvaging data.
Logical Damage
Logical damage refers to file system corruption and other software-based issues without physical card breakdown:
- Accidental file deletion
- Virus infection
- Partition/boot record deletion
- Corrupted FAT/exFAT/NTFS structures
- Error removing card during write operation
Since the SD card hardware still functions properly, logical damage has a good chance of being reversed with data recovery software and disk repair tools. The right scanning algorithms can rebuild corrupted file systems and restore lost files.
Preventing SD Card Corruption
You can take steps to reduce the chance of your SD cards becoming corrupted and losing data:
- Buy name-brand cards from reputable sellers
- Use the smallest capacity card suitable for your needs
- Handle cards gently – avoid drops, impacts, water damage, etc.
- Disable write caching features that could corrupt data if power is interrupted
- Eject the card properly before removing it from devices
- Keep your antivirus software up-to-date to block malware
- Regularly back up important files stored on the card
Following these guidelines helps prevent both physical and logical damage. But backups are still crucial in case unexpected corruption issues arise.
When to seek professional SD card recovery
In some corruption cases, DIY recovery attempts may fail to salvage data from a damaged SD card. Turning to a professional recovery service could be your only recourse.
Consider professional recovery if:
- Valuable or irreplaceable photos, videos, documents, etc. are stored on the card
- You tried everything – CHKDSK, Recuva, TestDisk, etc. – without success
- The card has physical damage visible under inspection
- Your data loss incident involves proprietary information or legal concerns
Reputable recovery labs use techniques like:
- Chip-off – physically removing storage chips from the card
- Microsoldering – repairing damaged controllers and traces
- Clean room recovery – rebuilding card data under dust-free conditions
These methods can salvage data from highly corrupted cards. But professional recovery entails a substantially higher cost than DIY options.
Conclusion
Recovering data from a corrupted SD card is often possible thanks to the availability of specialized data recovery software tools. The likelihood of successful recovery depends on the type of corruption and how muchoverwrite activity has occurred since the card failed.
To give your data the best chance of being rescued:
- Stop using the card immediately after any corruption symptoms occur
- Connect the card directly to a computer via a reader rather than a mobile device
- Make an image backup copy of the card before attempting recovery
- Use advanced recovery software like Recuva, TestDisk, or Disk Drill
SD cards with minor logical corruption generally have decent prospects for DIY file recovery. But cards with physical damage may require professional data recovery services to extract their contents.
Prevention is critical. Always handle your cards with care, never remove them during activity, and maintain backups of your important SD card data.