How to Recover Data from SD Card Without Formatting in 7 Ways?

Mobile phones, particularly Android phones, often rely on SD cards or micro SD cards for additional storage capacity. It's also a convenient and efficient method for data transfer purposes. However, there's always the concern of losing data due to various reasons. SD cards can be vulnerable to damage from numerous internal and external factors. This article will outline 13 methods to recover data from an SD card without formatting.

Firstly, if your phone with an additional SD card displays any of the following behaviors, it might indicate that your SD card is corrupted:

1. ?Some files on the SD card are mysteriously missing.
2. ?Error messages indicate that the SD card's data is inaccessible.
3. ?The SD card is labeled as corrupted in Storage settings.
4. ⏱️It takes a long time to access data from the SD card.

Or if your SD card displays incorrect size, you can fix it by utilizing your computer with the solutions provided on this page.

Lost Data? Recover SD Card Without Formatting [3 Methods]

Dealing with a malfunctioning SD card often leads to worsened conditions. And if you do need to format it (for instance, in case of severe virus infections), all the data on your disk will be erased. Hence, we strongly advise against formatting the SD card before retrieving your data.

1. Recover Data from SD Card Recovery Software [Windows and Mac]

None of us want to endure data loss, especially when we urgently require those files. Relax, there's still a chance to recover deleted data from SD cards without formatting by using tools like Data Recovery Wizard. If you accidentally lose crucial data from your SD card, you don't need to format the card and lose everything. This tool is available for both Windows and Mac users. Choose accordingly if needed.

Here's a video tutorial for you to learn how to recover deleted files from an SD card if you use our risk-free data recovery tool: Recover Deleted Files from SD Card.

Recovering data from SD cards without formatting is not a complex task, encompassing various file types such as photos, documents, and videos. Let us guide you through the process:

Step 1. Select the SD card to scan Translation: Step 1. Choose the SD card to scan

1. Download and install the tool "Data Recovery Wizard" on your Windows PC. 2. Connect your SanDisk/Lexar/Transcend SD card to the computer in the correct manner. 3. Open the SD card recovery software and select "SD Card Recovery" from the left panel. All connected drives will be displayed here. Choose your SD card and click "Scan".

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Step 2. Check for scan results Translation: Step 2. Examine the scan results

• Wait for the scanning process to finish.
• Select one or several file types to display, such as Pictures or Videos.
• Click "Preview" to verify if they are the desired files.

Step 3. Recover SD Card Data

• Preview the recovered files and click "Recover."
• Select a different location to save the recovered files rather than the original SD card.

2. Recover Data from SD Card using File History on Windows [Without Formatting]

Windows File History is an integrated backup feature that can copy files from the Desktop, OneDrive, Documents, Music, Pictures, and Videos folders to your preferred drives. If you have activated this option, you can utilize File History to recover your SD card without formatting it.

Step 1. Click the Search button and enter file history.

Step 2. From the search results, select "Restore personal files".

Step 3. Select and preview the files you want to restore.

Step 4. Tap the green "Restore" button.

3. SD Card Data Recovery Using Data Recovery Services

Can I recover deleted photos from the SD card successfully? This question might be the top concern for most users. If you can't restore erased data from SD cards using File History, try utilizing data recovery services.

It can also help you recover vital data from servers, hard disks, SSDs, and other storage devices.

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• Repair damaged RAID structures, unbootable Windows OS, and corrupted virtual disk files
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• Fix disks that have become protected by GPT partitions

Learn 4 different methods to repair a damaged SD card without formatting. Before proceeding, don't forget to bookmark this article by sharing it on Facebook, Twitter, or other social networking sites.

How to Repair a Corrupted SD Card Without Formatting [4 Methods]

You can repair your corrupted SD card without formatting it by following the 4 methods outlined below. Make sure to approach each step carefully.

1. Repair a Corrupted SD Card Without Formatting Using CMD

Restoring deleted files from SD cards using Command Prompt (CMD) is not practical. It is, however, one of the frequently utilized SD card repair tools. The reason lies in the fact that CMD doesn't actually recover deleted files; it only locates the concealed information for various purposes.

Using CMD or Command Prompt to prevent formatting is a great idea. Here are the steps you should follow:

Step 1. First, use a compatible card reader to connect the SD card to the Windows computer.

Step 2. Press the Windows and R keys together to open the "Run" dialog box.

Step 3. Type CMD and select "OK".

Step 4. Wait until the Command Prompt window appears.

Step 5. Select "Run as administrator."

Step 6. Type chkdsk g: /r and replace the "g" with the SD card's drive letter.

2. Assign a New Drive Letter to the SD Card

When Windows encounters a drive letter conflict and fails to recognize an externally connected accessible disk, the SD card might appear to be corrupted. In such cases, assigning a new, unique drive letter to the SD card can assist Windows in repairing the SD card.

Step 1. Insert the SD card into your computer and open Disk Management.

Step 2. Right-click on the SD card and select "Change drive letter and paths..." from the context menu.

Step 3. Change the card's drive letter.

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3. Update SD Card Driver to Recover SD Card Without Formatting

Drivers are essential for every connected device to function correctly on your computer. They are designed to establish communication between the device and your operating system. If they are outdated, corrupted, or missing, you will not be able to use or access your SD card properly.

You can follow these instructions to update your drivers or reinstall them if they are faulty or missing:

Step 1. Connect the infected SD card to your computer and right-click on This PC/My Computer. Select "Manage."

Step 2. Expand "Disk drives" under "Device Manager."

Step 3. Right-click on the SD card and select "Update Driver."

Step 4. Choose "Search automatically for updated driver software" and wait for the process to complete.

The next time you start up your computer, Windows will automatically install the most recent driver for your SD card.

4. Try the PowerShell's Diskpart Command without Formatting

This PowerShell method updates the state of your SD card, but it might result in data loss. Make sure to back up your files and recover them beforehand.

To rectify the corruption and remove the read-only attribute from the SD card using DiskPart, follow these steps:

Step 1. Begin by right-clicking and selecting Windows PowerShell. Click "Yes" when the User Account Control (UAC) prompt appears.

Step 2. Type the command diskpart.

Step 3. Enter the command list volume.

Step 4. Input "select volume 3". Replace "3" with the actual volume name of your SD card.

Step 5. Enter the command attributes disk clear readonly. The read-only attribute will be removed once you do this.

Why Does SD Card Keep Asking to Format

Improper usage, malware infections, accumulation of bad sectors, manufacturing defects, and physical damage are among the most common causes of SD card corruption. Consequently, the SD card continually prompts for formatting to address the corruption. There are additional reasons:

• The card's file system might become corrupted if a file transfer is interrupted, which would require formatting the card.
• A power failure or removing the card during a transfer can cause the SD card to request formatting.
• If the memory card was previously used on a device with a different operating system than the one you're currently using, you might need to format it.

In conclusion

When you format an SD card, all your data is erased during the process, but any unusable segments, such as bad sectors, are hidden to prevent file writing. While formatting can resolve many issues, some users might hesitate due to the risk of losing their data. Try the 7 solutions on this page and promptly recover your data with the tool Data Recovery Wizard!

"Recover SD Card Without Formatting" FAQs

Here are 4 additional questions regarding the recovery of an SD card without formatting. You can find the answers here.

**1. How can I recover my damaged SD card without formatting it?**

A corrupted SD card can be repaired on a Windows computer using the 'chkdsk' command, or its corruption can be rectified by recovering the data with a tool like Data Recovery Wizard and then reformating it.

**2. How do I retrieve data from an SD card that requires formatting?**

By using the tool Data Recovery Wizard, you can recover files from a memory card without formatting it.

1. Install and download the tool, Data Recovery Wizard. 2. Connect the SD card that needs formatting to your computer. 3. Open the application and scan your SD card. 4. Select the files you wish to recover and click the Recover button. 5. Choose the desired folder, then click OK.

3. Can you access an SD card without formatting it?

Utilizing the chkdsk command is a straightforward method to repair a corrupted Android SD card without the need for formatting. When employed with suitable options, it can automatically rectify both logical and physical issues on your SD card. In this scenario, we will use the parameter /r along with chkdsk to mend the infected SD card.

4. What happens if I don't format my SD card?

Your device might still function normally without formatting the SD card, but issues could persist. Corrupted files may become irrecoverable, and you could experience difficulties in storing new files, slower performance, and a risk of data loss.