What Causes SD Card Corruption?
There are several common causes of SD card corruption that can lead to lost or inaccessible data:
Physical damage to the card such as scratches, cracks, water damage, or bending can corrupt the card and make it unreadable by your device. The internal components and data chips in SD cards are delicate and vulnerable to physical stresses.
Improper ejection of the SD card without properly dismounting it first can lead to file system corruption. Always use the “Safely Remove Hardware” option on your computer or device menu before removing the card.
Viruses and malware are another common cause of SD card corruption. If an infected device writes data to the card, it can damage system files and make the card unreadable.
Formatting errors can occur if the card is not formatted properly for the device it is being used on. Always make sure to follow the manufacturer guidelines for formatting the card before first use.
Over time, continued use can cause bad sectors and lost data clusters that will render the card unusable. SD cards have a limited lifespan and will eventually fail after repeated read/write cycles.
Signs Your SD Card is Corrupted
There are several signs that indicate your SD card may be corrupted or damaged:
Error messages – You may get error messages when trying to access files on the SD card. For example, you may see “SD card error” or “cannot read SD card.” This indicates the device is having trouble reading data from the card.
Card not recognized – If you insert the SD card into a device like a camera or computer, and the device does not detect or recognize the card, this is a sign of corruption. The card is unreadable by the device.
Missing files – When you open the SD card on your device, you may notice files are missing. Photos, videos, documents and other data may have disappeared from the card. This loss of data is a clear sign of corruption.
Other signs include unexpected read/write errors, inability to format the card, freezes or crashes when accessing the card, and more. If you experience any issues reading, writing or accessing data on the SD card, it likely means the card has become corrupted or damaged in some way.
First Steps When Card is Corrupted
If you notice signs that your SD card is corrupted, such as missing files or error messages, there are a few initial steps you should take right away:
First, stop using the card. As soon as you realize there is a problem, eject the card properly and don’t attempt to add or modify files. Continuing to use a corrupted card can overwrite your files and make them harder to recover.[1]
Next, make a copy of the corrupted card. Use drive cloning software to create an image file, sector by sector. This preserves the card in its current state for recovery software to scan and recover data from.[2]
Finally, try the SD card on another device like a computer, tablet, or phone using a card reader. Sometimes the card itself is fine but there is a problem with the device it is plugged into. If the card works normally on a different device, the original reader may be faulty.
If the card appears corrupted across multiple devices, it’s time to run recovery software or consider formatting as a last resort. But avoiding further usage and cloning the card early on gives you the best chance of getting your files back intact.
File Recovery Software Options
There are several good software options for recovering files from a corrupted SD card. Some of the top choices include:
Recuva
Recuva (https://www.ccleaner.com/recuva) is a free Windows utility that can recover deleted or lost files from hard drives, memory cards, and other storage devices. It has a simple interface and deep scan features for finding files that were overwritten or marked as deleted. Recuva supports FAT, NTFS, and exFAT file systems.
EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard
EaseUS (https://www.easeus.com/datarecoverywizard/free-data-recovery-software.htm) provides a free SD card recovery software for Windows and Mac. It can recover photos, videos, music, documents from SD cards formatted with FAT, exFAT, and NTFS file systems. The tool also allows previewing files before recovery.
Stellar Data Recovery
Stellar Data Recovery (https://www.stellarinfo.com/data-recovery-mac.php) offers a free trial version for recovering lost or deleted files from SD cards and other devices. The software works on Windows and Mac. Key features include corrupted file repair, formatted drive restoration, and email recovery.
Disk Drill
Disk Drill (https://www.cleverfiles.com) is a professional recovery software for Windows and Mac OS. It can recover 200+ file formats from internal/external drives, SD cards, USB flash drives, etc. Key features include quick and deep scan modes, protection against accidental deletions, and a user-friendly interface.
Scan and Recover Files
The first step to recovering your files from a corrupted SD card is to install and open a file recovery software like Disk Drill (1). Disk Drill offers a free scanning and preview feature for all files, allowing you to verify the data you wish to recover before paying for the software. Once installed, select the corrupted SD card as the location to scan. The software will run a deep scan, pulling recoverable data from the card. This may take some time depending on the size of your SD card and amount of data present.
After the scan completes, you can preview the files found and select those you wish to recover. Any lost or deleted files on the card that have not been overwritten should be retrievable through the software. Select all the files you wish to recover and save them to a different location, like your computer hard drive or an external storage device. Avoid saving recovered data back to the corrupted SD card.
In most cases, file recovery software will find and restore your lost images, videos, documents and more from an SD card or device, as long as the original data still exists in some form on the card. Early action is key, as overwriting and continued used of a corrupted card reduces the chances of recovery.
Tips to Avoid Corruption
There are several simple practices you can follow to help avoid SD card corruption.
First, always safely eject the card before removing it from your device. Simply pulling out the card without properly ejecting can lead to file system corruption. Refer to your device’s manual for the proper eject procedure. https://www.naturettl.com/10-ways-to-avoid-memory-card-problems/
Also, be sure to handle SD cards carefully and avoid exposing them to liquids, extreme heat, cold, or high humidity. The contacts on the cards are sensitive and can be easily damaged if mishandled.
When transferring files to and from the card, use a dedicated USB card reader rather than plugging the card directly into your computer’s USB port. Card readers are more reliable and place less stress on the card’s components.
Finally, be sure to regularly reformat your card in the camera to clear out any fragmented data. Fragmentation can eventually make the card unreadable. Refer to your camera’s manual for reformatting instructions.
Reformatting a Corrupted Card
Sometimes the only way to properly fix a corrupted SD card is to reformat it, which will erase all data on the card. Reformatting should only be done as a last resort when other recovery methods have failed. According to CleverFiles, reformatting will restore full functionality of the card, but result in permanent data loss.
To reformat an SD card, you’ll want to use an SD card formatter tool, not the normal reformatting option in Windows. The official SD Card Formatter from the SD Association is recommended, as it fully erases and reformats cards to their original state. Simply download and install the tool, select your SD card, choose “FORMAT” and the card will be completely erased and reformatted.
Reformatting should allow you to use the SD card again normally. However, keep in mind that all previous data on the card will be permanently deleted. Only reformat an SD card when absolutely necessary and other recovery attempts have been unsuccessful.
Data Recovery Services
When DIY file recovery options are unsuccessful, turning to professional data recovery services may be your last resort to get your files back. Though expensive, these services employ advanced techniques and specialized tools to recover data from severely damaged or corrupted media that consumer software cannot handle.
Data recovery labs open the SD card in a clean room environment and examine the internal components under a microscope. They can replace damaged controller chips or swap memory boards to access the raw NAND flash storage and read data directly off the chips. This requires highly skilled engineers and can cost anywhere from $300 to over $1000 depending on the extent of the damage and desired recovery scope.
While the high price limits these services to cases of catastrophic data loss, the recovery success rates are much higher compared to DIY software solutions. With clean room access and advanced forensic skills, professional data recovery stands the best chance of rescuing your files from an SD card that appears beyond repair.
If the card contains extremely valuable or irreplaceable data, the steep price may be worth recovering those precious memories and assets. But for less critical content, the cost likely outweighs the benefit.
Best Practices to Avoid Corruption
Here are some best practices you can follow to help prevent SD card corruption:
Make regular backups of your SD card data (Source). Copy your photos and videos off the SD card to a computer hard drive or cloud storage after each shooting session. This way if the card does get corrupted, you won’t lose anything.
Use high-quality SD cards from reputable brands like SanDisk or Lexar (Source). Avoid cheap or counterfeit cards which are more prone to errors. Pay attention to the card’s speed rating for your camera model needs.
Handle memory cards gently and avoid exposing them to liquids, dust, heat, and physical shocks (Source). Don’t bend or scratch the cards. Use a protective case when not in the camera.
Remember to properly format your SD card in the camera, not on your computer (Source). This sets up the optimal file system for your camera model.
FAQs
Below are some common troubleshooting questions and answers regarding recovering files from a corrupted SD card:
Why does my SD card keep getting corrupted?
There are several potential causes of frequent SD card corruption (source):
- The SD card is low quality or counterfeit
- Your device is not safely ejecting the SD card before removing it
- Your SD card is infected with malware or viruses
- There are bad sectors accumulating on the SD card
Can I recover photos from a corrupted SD card?
Yes, you can often recover photos and other media files even from a severely corrupted SD card using data recovery software. The recovery success rate depends on the severity of the corruption (source).
My SD card shows 0 bytes – can I get my data back?
If your SD card is showing 0 bytes or the wrong capacity, the file system has likely become corrupted. You can try using recovery software to scan and restore the files. But if the card itself has failed, you may need professional data recovery services.
Can I fix and continue using a corrupted SD card?
It’s not recommended to continue using a corrupted SD card for important data. Even if you are able to temporarily fix it, the card can fail again at any time leading to permanent data loss. Consider the card unusable and replace it.