It's handy to store files on an SD card as an extension of storage space on our mobile phones and computers. However, it is easily corrupted because of multiple reasons, like physical damages, operation interruptions, power loss, etc. In this situation, the data you stored on the SD card will get lost, which is universal currently. In order to rescue the loss, we've explained how to recover files from a corrupted SD card. You can try the methods below.
When your SD card is corrupted, there are some signals you can find.
Yes, it is possible to restore data from a corrupted SD card, but it depends on the the severity of the damage. If there are severe physical damages, the data recovery will be more challenging. On the contrary, if there is only minor corruption like system bugs, you are very likely to extract your data from the card and repair it.
Anyway, don't put all the eggs in one basket. Please back up your important data in different locations. When your SD card is corrupted, you can restore your data from another device or drive. Even though your SD card is damaged seriously and the data cannot be recovered, you won't lose all your data.
When faced with a corrupted SD card, the priority is to recover valuable files and documents stored within. Therefore, we'll talk about how to recover data from damaged SD cards with 3 methods. You can select the most suitable one to restore your data.
If your SD card is slightly corrupted, you can utilize the SD card recovery software - Samsung Data Recovery, to retrieve files. This software can display all your files stored on the SD card on the interface and allow you to select the content you want to recover. What's more, this program is also effective in recovering deleted files from SD cards, including deleted photos, videos, music, and documents.
- Support almost all micro SD cards.
- Extract your current files like e-books, songs, MP4 files, images, etc., from your SD card without effort.
- Scan your SD card completely to find deleted files without rooting.
- Easily transfer files from SD cards to a computer.
- The data recovery of Android devices is supported.
Download the SD card recovery software.
Step 1: Download and install the recovery program on your computer, and click "Android Recovery" > "SD Card Recovery".
Step 2: Insert your SD card into the computer, and then choose your card and click "Next" on the interface.
Step 3: Choose a file type, and select the content you want. Next, click "Recover" to save your files on your computer.
Learn more: Fast Back Up Android to SD Card via 4 Reliable Approaches
Windows File Recovery is a tool to help users recover different files from internal hard drives and external storage devices. You can use it to recover media data from your damaged SD card. It is available to download on the Microsoft Store, but it only works on Windows PCs.
Step 1: Install Windows File Recovery on your PC, and plug your SD card into your PC with a card reader.
Step 2: Press "Windows" and "X" to open Windows Terminal (Admin), and then click "Yes" if prompted.
Step 3: Input "diskpart" and click "Enter", then type "list disk" and tap "Enter". It will show a list of your drives, including your SD card.
Step 5: Find your SD card, and write down the disk number of your SD card. Then type "exit".
Step 6: Next, type the command: winfr <source_drive>[:<source_path>] <destination_drive>[:<destination_path>] [/mode <mode>] [/flags]. Then replace <source_drive> with the disk number that you wrote down just now, and change <destination_drive> into the drive letter of your SD card (don't use the same SD card as the source). For instance, your can type: winfr D: E: /mode default.
Step 7: Press "Enter" to begin the recovery. Then your files will be moved from the corrupted SD card to another drive on your computer.
If you have backed up your SD card to your computer, Google Drive, Dropbox, or other cloud servers, you don't need to restore files from the card anymore. As long as you locate the backup on your computer or log in to the cloud account, you can access your files directly. This is the most effective and simplest way.
Maybe you like: Can the photos on an iPhone be moved to an SD card? Let's read this guide.
After recovering your data from your corrupted SD card, please consider repairing your micro SD card.
When your card reader is broken or damaged, you will fail to access your SD card on your device. Please use a new SD card reader to connect your microSD card to your computer. By the way, please make sure the reader is compatible with your SD card and computer.
As your SD card driver on your computer is outdated or goes wrong, your SD card will not be detected or recognized on your PC. In this case, you need to update the SD card driver on your computer.
Step 1: Open "This PC" and select "Manage" on the top menu.
Step 2: Tap "Device Manager" > "Disk Drives". Then right-click the SD card and choose "Update Driver".
Step 3: On the new popup window, please tap "Search automatically for drivers" to start the update process. Once done, please access your SD card again.
See also: Move WhatsApp to SD Card: Safely Change Storage Location of WhatsApp
When an SD card is corrupted, its drive letter may get lost. If you want to fix the card, you need to set a new drive letter manually. Follow the steps below to fix your SD card.
Step 1: Press the keys of "Windows" and "X", and opt for "Disk Management".
Step 2: Locate your SD card and right-click it. Then choose "Change Drive Letter and Paths..."
Step 3: Click "Add" to set a new letter for your SD card. Once done, click "OK" and check your SD card.
Formatting your SD card is another effective way to repair the corruption issue. However, if you haven't restored your files from the SD card, you will lose all data after formatting the SD card. In general, you can format an SD card on a computer.
Step 1: Link your SD card to your computer, and then double-click "This PC".
Step 2: Right-click your microSD card, and choose "Format...". Finally, click "Start" to format your SD card.
CHKDSK, short for "Check Disk", is a program on Windows PC to check hard disk drives or solid-state drives. It can be used to repair external storage devices like SD cards. But please note that this tool can repair the corruption resulted from temporary file system errors. That is, it cannot fix those physical damages or serious corruption.
Step 1: Connect your corrupted SD card to your Windows PC as usual, and press "Windows" and "X". Then choose "Windows Terminal (Admin)".
Step 2: Type "disk list" and click "Enter". Then search for your SD card and note down the disk number. Next, type "exit" and press "Enter".
Step 3: Type "chkdsk F: /R" and replace "F" with your SD card letter. Then wait for the program to fix your SD card.
Q1: Can a corrupted SD card still work?
Yes, it can work to some extent, but its corruption may lead to data loss and data inaccessibity. Please repair the SD card or purchase a new one.
Q2: What is the lifespan of an SD card?
In general, the lifespan of an SD card is up to 10 years, but it depends on the usage, quality, and environment. If you frequently transfer your files between an SD card and your device, which will shorten the lifespan of the card.
Q3: How can I protect my SD card from corruption?
To avoid the card corruption, you can:
When your SD card is corrupted, you can use the methods in this guide to recover your data from the card first, and then fix the card with those repair methods. If your microSD card is slightly corrupted, you can use the recovery tool - Samsung Data Recovery, to restore your data from the external memory to your computer with ease. This program is also good at recovering deleted files from SD cards.
Related Articles
How Do I Move Music from Phone to SD Card? Easy Music Transfer
Effectively Recover Deleted Videos from SD Card [2 Proven Methods]
OnePlus Data Recovery Guide: 4 Methods to Recover Deleted Files on OnePlus
How to Recover Deleted App Data on Android Phone | Regain App Data
Android Data Recovery on Mac: A Full List with 7 Reliable Tools
SIM Card Data Recovery: Recover SIM Card Data on Android (3 Tips)
Sophie Green, Chief Editor of Samsung-messages-backup website, has been focusing on the realm of Android Recovery, Android Transfer (Backup), Android Device Tips, Phone Clean, and Phone Transfer technologies. Recognized contributions on leading platforms attest to her esteemed expertise and reliability.
Copyright © samsung-messages-backup.com All Rights Reserved.
