How to Recover Data From a Formatted SD Card - Mac & Windows

Scenarios like this one happen too often. You may have recently formatted your SD card and noticed that all your files are missing. The formatting process will wipe away everything on your card, which may be a stressful and overwhelming scenario.

You're probably here because you're looking for the best ways to recover data from formatted SD cards, and we're here to help. This guide will present all the possible Windows and Mac methods to get your SD card files back quickly and efficiently. Without further ado, let's jump into the guide.

Can I Recover Data From a Formatted SD Card?

Recovery success will depend on the type of formatting process you choose. For instance, the Quick Format on Windows or Erase on Mac devices will not overwrite the data stored on the card. Instead, this process will rewrite your data as 0s and 1s, making data recovery possible.

On the other hand, Full or Most Secure formats will overwrite everything on the drive, significantly decreasing the recovery chances. Your data will be hidden behind rows of 0s and 1s, so the recovery solution may be unable to dig that deep and reach your files.

We'll present two tables below to help you discover how efficient different recovery methods are in the aforementioned formatting scenarios.

For Windows:

For Mac:

As you can see, the recovery index depends on the type of recovery solution you use for your experience, which is why we advise you to use universal solutions and watch your experience transform.

Recover Files From Formatted SD Cards With Recovery Software (Mac & Windows)

Recovering files from a formatted SD card can be a pain in the neck, which is why you should always opt for the most powerful solutions available.

The most efficient and beginner-friendly way to recover files from a formatted SD card on Mac and Windows devices is using a designated third-party software solution like Wondershare Recoverit. This tool can recover any file type from most data loss scenarios.

It has been in the game for over 20 years and currently possesses over 35 patented recovery technologies, proving its reliability and trustworthiness.

The best part is that the tool utilizes advanced security mechanisms to protect all valuables during recovery. You can get your sensitive files back without worrying about threats or attacks.

Wondershare Recoverit is truly a wizard in the recovery world. We advise you to download the tool to your desktop device, connect your SD card, and follow the steps below.

The guides for Mac and Windows are the same, but the user interface differs slightly. We'll present a general guide to help you navigate the experience.

1. Open the app and click on the Hard Drives and Locations option from the main menu.
2. Select your formatted SD card under External Devices.

   

3. As soon as you select the card, the program starts scanning. In this window, you can enable the deep scan, track the progress, and pause the process.

   

4. Filter your files by their type, size, and name for easier access.

   

5. Once the scanning is complete, preview the files and select the ones you wish to save. Click the Recover button.

   

6. Choose where to save the files.

   

As you can see, the program is easy to use, and you'll get your data back in no time.

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Recover Data From a Formatted SD Card in Windows Without Software

Below are the best methods you can try to recover data from a formatted SD card on a Windows device.

Recover Formatted SD Card Using Windows Backup

Windows provides a built-in backup feature you can use to create copies of your files and preserve them in case things go sideways. If you've enabled this feature, follow the steps below to retrieve your SD card files.

1. Open the Control Panel program on your Windows device.

   

2. Next, click on the Backup and Restore (Windows 7) option.

   

3. Once you enter, click the Restore My Files button at the bottom.

   

After completing these steps, your files will appear on your desktop.

Note: Backup and Restore (Windows 7) works on Windows 10 and 11 devices.

Recover a Formatted SD Card Using Chkdsk

CHKDSK is a Windows utility that allows you to check the state of your storage devices and help you regain access to your data.

The tool isn't primarily used for file recovery but can help you fix bad sectors hiding your important files. You can check out this guide to learn how to run the utility and fix potential issues:

1. Search for Command Prompt and select Run as Administrator from the Start menu.

   

2. Next, run the chkdsk /f /x command. Replace the * with the letter of your SD card and press Enter.

   

After completing these steps, the utility may take a few minutes to scan for errors and repair potential issues. Try accessing your SD card after running the chkdsk command to see whether the data has been restored.

Recover a Formatted SD Card Using File History

File History is a built-in program that will automatically store your files on a different device, allowing you to access them in case things go downhill. If you've enabled this option, consider yourself lucky since you can recover your important files with ease. Here's how to do it:

1. Open Settings on your device.

   

2. Head to Update and Security>Backup.

   

3. In the Backup section, select More Options.

   

4. Click the Restore Files from a Current Backup button.

   

5. Select the files you want to save and click the green Restore icon.

   

After completing these steps, the files will appear in their original locations.

Recover Data From a Formatted SD Card on Mac Without Software

If you're a Mac user, follow these guides to recover data from a formatted SD card on your desktop device.

Recover a Formatted SD Card Using a Time Machine

Time Machine is an excellent way to backup and preserve your valuable data. If you've saved some of your SD card files to the Time Machine, follow these steps to learn how to recover them:

1. Click on the Time Machine icon from the top bar, as presented in the image below.
2. Select Enter Time Machine from the drop-down menu.

   

3. Select the files you want to save and click the Restore button.

   

As you can see, using Time Machine to restore your valuables is quick and simple.

Recover Formatted SD Cards Using Terminal

The Terminal application allows you to control your Mac experience entirely. You can repair and recover your SD card using the appropriate commands. However, the tool doesn't have the power to recover files from a formatted SD card, so you'll need a helping hand.

For instance, you can install Photorec for free on your Mac and run it through the Terminal for the best experience. Here's how to do it:

1. Open Terminal on your device and type the sudo ./photorec command. Press Return.

   

2. Next, click on your formatted SD card from the available options. Click Proceed.

   

3. Click on Search to start scanning for lost data.

   

4. Choose between Free and Whole scanning types.

   

5. Select a destination where you want to save the recovered files.

   

6. You can track the scanning progress in the next window.

   

After scanning, the program will save all your lost files in the destination folder you chose.

Recover Formatted SD Card Using iCloud

iCloud is a platform that will preserve all the uploaded files on a cloud server that doesn't depend on a physical device. If you've backed up your valuables, follow this guide to retrieve files from a formatted SD card:

1. Head to icloud.com and log into your account.
2. Go to iCloud Drive and select the file you wish to retrieve.
3. Click on the three dots next to the file and select Download a Copy from the drop-down menu.

   

4. Choose where to save the file.

And just like that, you'll have your lost files back.

Bonus: Why You Need to & How to Format SD Card on Windows and Mac

You may wonder whether formatting your SD card is necessary, and we'll present a couple of scenarios that require you to perform this action. Don't forget to retrieve your data before the process to prevent potential data loss.

• File system compatibility – formatting an SD card will make it compatible with your device so you can store your favorite memories on the device. You'll perform this action on new cards or on cards that experience file system errors.
• Remove viruses – if your card gets attacked by viruses or malware, the best solution is to format it and make it as good as new.
• Improve performance – your card's performance will decrease over time due to normal wear and tear. You can get the card back to its original state by formatting it.

You can check out the guides below to learn how to format your SD card.

How do you format an SD card on Windows?

Follow this guide to learn how to format an SD card on a Windows device:

1. Insert your SD card into your computer and open the File Explorer.
2. Right-click on the SD card and select Format from the drop-down menu.

   

3. Select the preferred file system.

   

4. Tick the Quick Format box to perform a quick format, or untick it for a full format.

   

5. Click the Start button to finish.

   

How do you format an SD card on a Mac?

Follow this guide to learn how to format your SD card on a Mac:

1. Connect your card to the Mac device.
2. Next, open Disk Utility.

   

3. Click on your SD card and select Erase.

   

4. Choose the file system from the drop-down window.

   

5. Click the Erase button again.

   

Conclusion

Losing your data after formatting the SD card can be stressful, which is why we're here to help. Today, we've presented the best ways to recover your valuables from Windows and Mac devices, such as using a professional recovery software solution, File History, Windows Backup, iCloud, Time Machine, and more. With these solutions, you'll surely get your valuables back and put an end to this stressful scenario.