Losing important files from your SD card on Android can be devastating. Luckily, there are several great apps that can help you recover deleted files. In this 5000 word article, we will explore the best apps for SD card file recovery on Android, looking at their features and how well they work.
Why Files Get Deleted from SD Cards
Before we get into the recovery apps, let’s first look at some of the common reasons files get deleted from SD cards in the first place:
- Accidental deletion – This is probably the most common reason. You may delete a file or folder by mistake.
- System error – Sometimes there is a glitch or corruption that causes files to go missing.
- Intentional deletion – You may delete old files to free up space that you no longer need.
- Format or reset – If you format the SD card, it wipes all the existing data.
- Removing the card – If you remove the card without properly ejecting it first, files could get corrupted or lost.
As you can see, there are many ways important files could go missing from your Android’s SD card. The good news is that, in many cases, the files aren’t actually gone forever. They still exist on the card until they get overwritten by new data. This provides a window of opportunity to recover them.
How Deleted File Recovery Works
When you delete a file from an SD card, it isn’t instantly erased from the card. What happens is that the file’s entry in the card’s file table is removed, essentially “unlisting” the file and marking its storage sectors as available for new data. The actual file data still resides on the card until it gets overwritten.
Data recovery software can scan the card and look for file signatures of common file types. When it finds the signatures, it can rebuild the file table to regain access to deleted files. However, this only works if the file data hasn’t yet been overwritten by new data saved to the card.
The longer you wait to run data recovery after deletion, the greater the risk that files will get overwritten and be unrecoverable. So it’s important to use recovery software as soon as possible.
Factors to Consider When Choosing Recovery Software
There are many data recovery apps available for Android. Here are some key factors to consider when choosing one:
- Recovery success rate – The most important factor is how effectively the app can recover deleted files, especially photos, videos, documents, and other common file types.
- Ease of use – The app should make it simple for the average user to scan their card and restore files with minimal taps and configuration.
- File systems supported – It should support recovering files from the major file systems like FAT32, exFAT, and ext4 used by SD cards and Android.
- Preview function – A preview feature allows you to view files before recovering them to avoid recovering unwanted files.
- Filtering – The ability to filter scan results by file type or other criteria makes it easier to locate the files you want to restore.
- Cost – Paid apps often offer better features and success rates than free ones, but free apps may suit simple needs.
Keeping these factors in mind, let’s look at some of the top file recovery apps for retrieving deleted files from an Android SD card.
Top Apps for Recovering Deleted Files from SD Card
1. DiskDigger
DiskDigger is one of the most popular free file recovery tools on Android. It’s easy to use – simply launch the app, grant permissions, select the SD card, and tap “Start Basic Photo Scan.” The app will scan the card for recoverable photo and video files.
Once the scan completes, you can preview found files to confirm they’re the ones you want to recover. Then select the files and tap “Recover” to restore them to your device’s internal storage or an attached SD card. Filters and search help narrow down results.
In addition to photos and videos, DiskDigger can recover documents, archives, audio files, and more. But you need to purchase the paid “Photographer” license to unlock those features. Overall, DiskDigger is a great free option for recovering lost media files.
2. EaseUS MobiSaver
EaseUS MobiSaver is a robust recovery app with an impressive success rate. It can retrieve a wide range of file types from Android internal storage, SD cards, and other connected storage devices.
MobiSaver provides a simple 3-step recovery process: choose a storage location, scan for deleted files, then preview and recover the files. It also allows filtering scan results by various criteria.
One handy feature is that MobiSaver lets you create an image of your SD card before attempting data recovery. This preserves the state of the card to maximize the recovery success rate.
While the free version of MobiSaver works well, upgrading to the paid pro version adds features like deeper scan capabilities, additional file types supported, and assistance from EaseUS data recovery experts if you run into trouble. It’s one of the most full-featured recovery apps for Android available.
3. Undeleter Recover Files & Data
Undeleter markets itself as the most easy-to-use data recovery app for Android. It delivers on that promise with an extremely simple interface. Just launch the app, tap on the storage location like an SD card, tap Scan, and it will find deleted files. Use filters or search if needed, select the files, and tap Recover to get them back.
In addition to simplicity, Undeleter can recover a wide array of file types including photos, videos, documents, archives, audio, and more. Both internal storage and external SD cards are supported.
Undeleter is free to download and scan with. To actually recover files, you need to make an in-app purchase to unlock the full version. But overall, if you want quick, easy SD card file recovery, Undeleter delivers.
4. Dumpster – Photo & Video Restore
Dumpster is designed specifically for recovering lost photos, videos, and image files from Android devices and SD cards. It can’t recover other file types like documents.
The app provides a simple interface for selecting the storage to scan, previewing recoverable files, and restoring them. Built-in gallery features let you view restored images and watch restored videos.
One advantage of Dumpster is speed. It can scan an SD card for recoverable media faster than many competitors. So if you only need to get back lost photos or videos, Dumpster is a good choice.
Dumpster’s standard version is free but limited to recovering only 25 files. Upgrading to the Pro monthly subscription provides unlimited recovery capability plus additional features.
5. PhoneRescue for Android
PhoneRescue is one of the most advanced data recovery apps for Android. It deep scans SD cards and internal storage to find maximum recoverable files. Advanced user can even attempt recovery from formatted or corrupted cards.
PhoneRescue can recover almost all file types: photos, videos, audio, documents, archives, messages, contacts, and more. File preview makes it easy to find exactly what you’re looking for.
It provides filters to drill into different file types in the scan results. Custom filters can also be created. Users can also pause scans and resume them later if needed.
The major downside to PhoneRescue is cost. It’s one of the most expensive recovery apps for Android. But if you need to maximize your chances of getting lost files back from an SD card, even damaged ones, it’s worth considering.
Tips for Using File Recovery Apps Effectively
To improve your chances of successfully restoring lost files from an SD card using Android data recovery apps, follow these tips:
- Don’t save any new data to the card after deleting files. This overwrites deleted data making it harder to recover.
- Don’t attempt to format or repartition the card prior to recovery.
- Use a card reader to connect the SD card directly to a computer for scanning rather than your Android device if possible.
- Root your Android device to grant recovery apps access to root partitions on external and internal storage.
- Carefully read app instructions to understand the recovery process before starting.
- Start with a quick or basic scan first, then opt for a deep scan if the quick scan fails to find files.
- Preview files before recovering to avoid wasting storage space on unwanted files.
Closing Thoughts
Losing files on your Android’s SD card can be annoying and disruptive. Fortunately, data recovery apps offer a good chance of getting those files back if you act quickly before they get overwritten. The apps we covered provide simple and effective solutions to recover deleted photos, videos, documents, and other lost files.
Which app you choose depends on your specific needs. DiskDigger and Undeleter offer easy free file recovery. EaseUS MobiSaver provides full-featured robust recovery capabilities. And PhoneRescue is the most advanced option for potentially recovering files even from badly damaged cards.
Just remember to use recovery apps soon after data loss, don’t overwrite the card, and preview scans carefully. With the right software, you stand an excellent chance of restoring your lost files and getting your Android’s SD card back to full working order.
