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Solved: SD card damaged. Try reformatting it.

Wondershare Recoverit Authors

Jan 15, 2024 • Filed to: SD Card Solutions • Proven solutions

Q1: encountered the error "SD card is damaged. Try reformatting it"?
"I am using SD cards for a while now, as it is a great technology for users to store data but I am upset because of an issue which I encountered recently. The issue is that whenever I put my SD card in my mobile I see a notification with an error that says "SD card damaged. Try reformatting it" I don't know what it means because I was using this card for a very long period. I do not know how to solve this problem. I have my really important stuff inside and can't lose it"

The SD card is certainly the most used data storage device. It is widely used all around the world. SD cards store significant data from its users. So it is understandable that the error "SD card damaged. Try reformatting it" will give you a lot of stress. Once you have seen this error don't try to insert this card again and again because it may reduce the chances of repairing it. Still, there is no need to worry about this issue, it is fixable. In this guide, you will be given some causes of this problem so you will know how this problem occurs. Once we are done with that you will be shown some easy and quick remedies for this issue. No need to worry, you will be able to recover your SD card in no time.

Part 1: What are the causes of the error message "SD card is damaged, try reformatting it"

This particular issue of receiving the error "SD card damaged, try reformatting it" is usually, but it also has some causes like every other problem. There are a few causes that are listed below:


Part 2: Effective solutions to "SD card damaged. Try formatting it"

Where there is a problem, there is a solution. The same goes for this error, but for your ease create a back-up of your data in-case you face this situation. There are some solutions to this issue that are not hectic to try, instead, they are just short for the user's ease. Some effective solutions to the problem of "SD card damaged. Try reformatting it" are elaborated down:

Way 1: Try a different card reader or device

Before jumping to any other solutions to this error "SD card damaged. Try reformatting it", try this way because it is the most simple and short way of getting rid of the problem. This is a really basic solution in nature where you just have to try a different card reader or device. Your card reader and device may be having any fault, and you end up repairing the card. So, first, try changing your card reader and device by these short steps:

Step 1: turn off your device/ take out your card reader.

Step 2: remove the SD card.

insert sd card

Step 3: Insert the card in another device or card reader.

Way 2: Check SD card errors and repair

Your windows are versatile enough to check the error if it exists or not. You can check SD card properties in window explorer and can repair it from there. Only you have to follow these steps:

Step 1: Open your window explorer, right-click the removable disk option which has your SD card.

Step 2: Now choose the option of "properties"

window properties

Step 3: Further, open the tab of tools.

Step 4: now click the "check" option in the "error checking" section.

tools check

Step 5: complete the scan process.

Step 6: turn off your computer, put the card in your device, and check if the issue still exists.

Way 3: Check SD card using command prompt

In this way, you need your computer again to resolve the issue of error "SD card damaged. Try reformatting it", the command prompt is designed to scan and see if there are any issues with your SD card, and further, it is also responsible for repairing it. All you have to do is turn on your computer and insert the SD card first. Then follow these steps

Step 1: connect the damaged SD card to your computer.

Step 2: Click on "start"

Step 3: no go the option of "All programs"

Step 4: After that open "accessories" and then "command prompt"

Step 5: In the dialog opened, you have a command line where you have to type and run: chkdsk [SD card drive letter]: /r/f

chkdsk command

Step 6: put the card back in your device and see if the error "SD card damaged. Try reformatting it" persists.

Way 4: Disable and enable SD card again in Device Manager.

If you have tried the above methods and still are stuck on the error "SD card damaged, try formatting it" then try this another easy step where you just have to enable and disable SD card again in the device manager using your computer. Follow these steps after connecting your SD card with the computer:

Step 1: Connect your SD card with the computer.

Step 2: Open the device manager.

Step 3: right-click on the option "SD card" and select "disable"

device manager

Step 4: now wait for a while.

Step 5: After waiting for a minute click "enable"

Step 6: Restart your computer now.


Part 3: Format SD card and rescue data from damaged SD card from Recoverit

So, if you have tried all the methods above and the problem is stubborn enough to stay. You don't want your important data to be wasted. You surely want it to be recovered as soon as possible so without hesitating use the recoverit data recovery software. Now it is time for you to format the SD card and rescue data from the damaged SD card using recoverit.

Recoverit data recovery

Recoverit is an astonishing data recovery software. It is more reliable than any other software. It is a free software to rescue the data from your SD card, no matter if it is corrupt or damaged. It helps you get back all your valuable documents, emails, photos, videos, and audio files, quickly and easily from a laptop, recycle bin/trash, internal hard drive, external storage media, and even a crashed computer. Recoverit Ultimate even helps you recover fragmented video and repair corrupt/broken/damaged video. Recoverit data recovery software is the best source to get you out of this dilemma.

Key features

Steps to recover data from damaged SD card by recoverit data recovery:

First of all, you need to download the recoverit data recovery software to cherish its uses. We can take recovering your video as an example of how amazingly this software does it work. Once you are done with that follow the given steps below:

Step 1: Launch the software to recover your data.

recoverit location

Step 2: secondly, you have to select the location of the file you have to recover and press "start" to move forward.

Step 3: After you have selected the location, now press the "recover" button to scan.

recoverit recover

Step 4: wait for the scan to be completed.

Step 5: after your data is deeply scanned, it is time for you to preview your rescued data, preview some recoverable videos.

recoverit preview

Advanced video recovery function of recoverit

Video files are different from any other type of data. Sometimes, you might find the video corruption after the preview using the software. Don't worry from now on. If so, Recoverit reminds and works for you with patented technology. Recoverit Data Recovery Ultimate supports the Advanced Video Recovery feature. It scans, gathers, and matches the fragments of your corrupt videos, and thus ensures most of your videos are recovered from DSLR, Digital cameras, Drones, Action Cameras, camcorders, SD card, PC, HDD, or any other source.

All you have to do is just click "advanced video recovery"

advance recoverit

Steps to Repair Corrupted Video with Recoverit

Moreover, Corrupt Video Repair is another powerful feature of Recoverit for repairing corrupt, broken, or damaged MOV, MP4, M2TS, MKV, MTS, 3GP, AVI, and FLV file formats. It supports two repair modes. Quick repair is to repair various video errors. The advanced repair can repair your corrupt videos by analyzing the data and technology of the sample video shot by the same device.

Step 1: Add your corrupted videos
Launch the application on your computer. To repair your corrupted video files, you can add them by clicking the "Add Video" button.

add videos

Step 2: Repair your videos
As soon as you have added all the corrupted videos, click on the "Repair" button to start the video repair process.

scan videos

Step 3: Preview the videos
It will take some time to repair and once it has finished the repair process, a reminder showing info of successful fix will pop up on the screen. Press "OK" to close the operation.

preview videos

Step 4: Advance mode for severely corrupted video (optional)
If the videos are severely corrupted and not repaired successfully, please go to the advanced repair mode. Just choose the "Add Sample video to repair" option.

video repair

Then add a sample video and repair it now.

add sample video

Step 5: Save repaired video
The advance repair will perform the repairing process and prompt a success message when the process is completely done. Now, you can play these videos and you will not see any error on the screen.

save videos path

Recoverit author

Eleanor Reed

staff Editor

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