How to Restore a Corrupted SD Card: Fixing and Recovering Data

Imagine you've recently returned from a mind-blowing vacation with your loved ones, and when you try to edit all of the amazing photos you took, you get greeted by a "your SD card is corrupted" message. Panic sets in, and you're looking for ways to reverse the damage and get your card up and running again.

Today, we'll teach you how to restore a corrupted SD card based on specific scenarios and symptoms. We'll also discuss how to recover files from a corrupted SD card and avoid potential data loss.

Signs: Your SD Card Is Corrupted

You should look for signs to determine whether your SD card is corrupted. Here are some of the most common ones:

• 🚨You cannot access your files — the most common and obvious sign of SD card corruption is the inability to access the files stored in the said location.
• 🧩Some files are missing from your SD card — when you access the card's content, some files may be missing from the collection, which is another common sign of corruption.
• 🐌Performance changes — if your SD card is slower than before, you should check for corruption signs and other symptoms.
• ❗Error messages — your device may tell you there's an issue with your SD card and that you cannot use it normally.

How to Confirm Your SD Card Is Corrupted

Check out the table below if you're unsure whether your SD card is corrupted. We'll present causes, symptoms, and solutions to help you navigate the journey.

How to Recover Data From a Corrupted SD Card

Before you start repairing your corrupted SD card, performing data recovery is crucial. Some of the solutions we'll mention below will wipe away everything from your card, so make sure to recover everything before proceeding. We've prepared a couple of solutions you can choose from depending on your preferences and style.

Recover Broken SD Card Data Via Data Recovery Software

The most reliable method for recovering valuable information is downloading a third-party recovery software for SD cards like Wondershare Recoverit. This solution has advanced technologies and systems that will scan your drive deeply and repair everything that has been lost.

It has a 20-year work history in the recovery field, with over 35 patented recovery technologies. Thanks to these advanced tools and scanners, the program has a 95% success rate, meaning you'll most likely get your data back from a broken SD card.

Head to the official Wondershare Recoverit website, download the tool to your desktop, and follow these steps to learn how to recover your SD card files:

1. Open the app and click on the Hard Drives and Locations option.
2. Select your corrupted SD card from the available list.

   

3. After selecting the card, the program will automatically start scanning it. In the next window, you can view and pause the process.

   

4. Once Recover it completes the scanning process, preview the recovered files and select the ones to save. Click the Recover button.

   

5. Choose where to save the files.

It'll only take a few minutes to get your files to a safe destination.

Retrieve Files From SD Card That Is Corrupted With Windows File Recovery

Windows File Recovery is a tool created to deal with simple recovery tasks. For instance, if you've recently lost your files due to a corrupted SD card, this program can help you get the valuables back in minutes.

However, Windows File Recovery isn't intuitive and beginner-friendly since it's a command-line tool. You won't have a graphical user interface to track the progress and view the recovered files. Nonetheless, let's check out how to use the tool:

1. Download and install Windows File Recovery from the Microsoft Store.

   

2. Next, open Command Prompt and select Run as Administrator.

   

3. Type the winfr command and press Enter.

   

4. Next, type the winfr C: D: /n .docx command and Press Enter. Replace C: and D: drives with your SD and destination drive letters. Add specifiers after n , such as file types, to search for specific files, such as jpeg, png, docx, and more.

   

Once Windows File Recovery finishes recovering, you can check the destination folder and view whether all files have been recovered.

Recover Data From Corrupted SD cards from Backups

If you have a backup solution, it may be the most convenient way to recover files from your corrupted SD card. You must transfer your files from one location to another and complete the recovery process.

The guide will depend on the backup you use, so you should read official tutorials to learn how to recover your valuables. We'll present a solution for Google Drive to give you an idea of the backup recovery process:

1. Open Google Drive on your device.
2. Select the files you wish to retrieve.
3. Click on the three dots from the top bar.

   

4. Select Download from the drop-down menu.

   

5. Choose a destination.

Recover Files From a Corrupted SD Card Via Recovery Service

Your SD card may be severely damaged, leading to corruption and other accessibility issues. In such cases, the best solution is to send your corrupted SD card to professional recovery services and let them work their magic.

They'll thoroughly examine the card and extract as much as possible from it. You can also opt for this solution if you don't want to DIY the recovery process.

How to Restore (Fix) a Corrupted SD Card

You can jump to the recovery process once you've recovered and backed up your data. We'll present the most effective solutions below.

Restore Corrupted SD Card Using CHKDSK

CHKDSK is a command line tool for detecting and resolving potential issues with your drives and storage units, such as SD cards. Although it may initially seem overwhelming, running CHKDSK to save corrupted sd cards is easy. All you have to do is follow the steps below for a smooth journey.

1. Open Command Prompt as an Administrator.

   

2. Type the chkdsk X: /r command and press Enter. Change X with the letter on your SD card.

   

After completing these steps, the program may take a while to discover and restore SD card issues. You should ensure your device has power and won't shut down during the process.

Restore a Damaged SD Card By Assigning a New SD Card Letter

Sometimes, the only issue with your corrupted SD card is the letter it carries, and you can change it in just a few clicks to give your storage unit a new life. We'll present a detailed guide for this solution below.

1. Right-click on the Start menu and select Disk Management.

   

2. Find your SD card from the available options and right-click on it.
3. Select Change Drive Letter and Paths from the drop-down menu.

   

4. Assign a new letter to your SD card.

After this, you can try to access your SD card and see whether you've resolved the issue.

Fix Corrupted SD Card Using ATTRIB

If you've noticed that some of your files are missing from the corrupted SD card, we advise running the ATTRIB command. This command line will unhide potentially hidden data from your SD card.

The card may not be corrupted at all; instead, you may have lost some files randomly, which is when this solution comes in handy. Here's how to do it:

1. Open Command Prompt as an Administrator.
2. Type the attrib -h -r -s /s /d d:\*.* command and press Enter. Replace d: with the letter of your SD card.

   

The letters from the command will delete all attributes your files have, causing them to resurface and reappear on your SD card. After running the ATTRIB command, we advise you to restart your computer. Once it turns on, you can open the SD card folder and check for missing files.

Recover Damaged SD Card By Formatting Your SD Card

Formatting your SD card will wipe away everything stored on it, giving it a clean slate and a new beginning. This may be the most efficient corrupted SD card repair method since it eliminates all dangers from the device and makes it as good as new. Below, we'll present the easiest way to format your SD card.

1. Right-click on the Start button and select Disk Management.

   

2. Detect your SD card from the available options and right-click on it.
3. Click the Format button from the drop-down menu.

   

4. Select the format type you want.

   

5. Choose whether you want to perform a quick format or a full format

   the quick format will delete all of your data

   the full format will delete all your data and overwrite it, making data recovery impossible.

6. Click OK to finish the process.

After formatting your corrupted SD card, it should work like you've just purchased it.

Restore Corrupted SD Card By Scanning the Card for Viruses

Viruses can be your SD card's worst enemies. Once they enter your system, they can create chaos and eat away your valuable data. As soon as you notice something's wrong with your SD card, we advise you to check for viruses and eliminate all threats if possible.

You'll need a powerful antivirus solution to do this. If you already have a third-party solution, you can follow its comprehensive guides and tutorials to learn how to scan your SD card. If not, you can use Windows' built-in virus protection tool, and we'll show you how to do it below.

1. Open Start on your device and search for Virus and Threat Protection. Open the first option, as presented in the image below.

   

2. Next, click on Scan Options in the next window.

   

3. Select Customized Scan and choose your SD card as the destination.

   

After completing these steps, the program automatically scans and removes potential enemies from your SD card.

Retrieve Damaged SD Card With Windows Repair Tool

Windows has a built-in repair tool to help you deal with minor corruption issues and get your SD card up and running again. Although not very powerful, it's still a solid solution if your SD card is in the beginning stages of corruption. You can check out how to use it below:

1. Open File Explorer on your device.
2. Right-click on your SD card and select Properties from the drop-down menu.

   

3. In the next window, head to the Tools tab.
4. Click on the Check button.

   

Once you complete these steps, the program will scan and repair all potential issues.

How to Prevent SD Card Corruption

As you can see, having a corrupted SD card is stressful, causing more harm than good. We advise you to take preventative measures and keep your storage unit healthy and happy. You can check out some tips on how to prevent SD card corruption below.

• 💁Handle it with care — you should always handle your SD card with care to avoid potential physical damage, corruption, and data loss.
• 🔍Scan for viruses — viruses are your card's worst enemies, so you should scan your device occasionally to ensure you don't catch one.
• 🙆Use appropriate formats — SD cards won't handle using inappropriate file systems, so check what your card needs before clicking the format button.
• 📥Backup your data — always have a backup of your important files to prepare yourself for the worst-case scenarios.

Conclusion

Seeing that your SD card is corrupted can be nerve-racking, which is why we're here to help. We've presented ways to determine whether the card is corrupted. Before you jump into the solutions, we advise you to recover files from your card using powerful methods like Wondershare Recoverit. Then, you can check out the best solutions and ensure a smooth restore journey.