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Stop using the SD card immediately. Do not take more photos, copy files to it, format it again, or save recovered files back onto it. New writes can overwrite data that recovery software might still retrieve.
For a card that the computer detects and whose files were deleted, try TestDisk first because it can preserve names and folders when filesystem metadata survives. If the card was reformatted, its filesystem is corrupted, or TestDisk cannot find the files, use PhotoRec to carve file contents from the entire partition. If the card is not reliably detected, is physically damaged, or holds irreplaceable data, stop experimenting and seek professional recovery.
What determines whether recovery is possible
Recovery depends mainly on whether the old file data has been overwritten. A quick format removes the file listings while leaving underlying data on the card in some cases. The SD Association’s formatter manual explains that quick formatting deletes files while the data remains and may be retrieved with recovery software. “May” is important: a quick format does not guarantee that every file can be restored, and the manual describes formatting for future card use rather than recovering an affected card.
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There is no reliable success percentage for SD-card recovery. A scan can find many files, a few files, or nothing, depending on overwriting, filesystem damage, file fragmentation, and the condition of the flash memory.
Prepare the card and a safe destination
1. Stop all writes
- Remove the card from the camera, phone, drone, or other device.
- Do not format, initialize, repair, or “clean” it when the operating system offers to do so.
- Do not save recovered files, logs, or temporary exports to the card being scanned.
CGSecurity recommends recovering to another destination medium, or at minimum to another filesystem. A separate internal drive, external drive, or network location can serve as the destination if it has enough free space.
2. Make sure the destination has room
PhotoRec may recover more data than expected, including duplicate or partially recognizable files. Check available space before starting and choose a destination that is not the affected card. If your computer has only one drive with enough capacity, create a destination folder on that drive; the essential rule is that the output must not be written to the SD card itself.
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3. Connect the card without repeatedly reconnecting it
Use the computer’s built-in reader when it works. CGSecurity’s PhotoRec FAQ describes using a USB card reader for a memory card that was used in a phone. A reader is useful when the computer cannot otherwise access the card, but it is not required when the built-in slot detects it reliably.
If the card repeatedly disappears, reports the wrong capacity, becomes unusually hot, or shows signs of physical damage, stop repeated scans. Continued power cycles and retries can make a failing card less stable; irreplaceable data is a better candidate for professional recovery.
Choose the right recovery route
| Situation | Preferred tool | What it tries to recover | Names and folders | Destination requirement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The card is detected, files were deleted, and the filesystem is readable enough to inspect | TestDisk undelete | Deleted entries on supported filesystems: FAT12, FAT16, FAT32, exFAT, NTFS, and ext2 | Can preserve original names and directory structure when filesystem metadata remains | Use a separate drive or filesystem for copied files |
| The filesystem is corrupted, the card was reformatted, or TestDisk finds no usable entries | PhotoRec | File contents found by signatures across the partition | Does not restore original filenames or folders; files normally require manual sorting | Use a separate destination with enough free space |
| The card is not reliably detected, is physically damaged, or the data cannot be replaced | Professional recovery service | Specialist diagnosis and hardware-level work may be required | Results vary; no success rate or price is guaranteed | Stop repeated software attempts before escalation |
TestDisk is the filesystem-aware choice when the directory information still exists. PhotoRec is signature-based carving: it looks for recognizable file patterns even when the directory structure is damaged. Because the two tools use different methods, trying PhotoRec after an unsuccessful TestDisk pass is reasonable, provided the card is stable and you continue writing results elsewhere.
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Recover deleted files with TestDisk
TestDisk 7.2 is the principal version identified in CGSecurity’s documentation (project overview dated February 22, 2024). Labels can change in later releases, so read each screen carefully and verify the current version before use. TestDisk is free and open-source according to CGSecurity.
Step 1: Start TestDisk and create a log
- Launch TestDisk with the card connected. On systems that require elevated access to read a physical disk, allow the program to run with the necessary permissions.
- At the opening screen, choose the option to create a log unless you have a specific reason not to. The log is written to the computer, not to the SD card, when you use the normal configuration.
- Select the physical disk that matches the SD card’s capacity. Do not select your computer’s system drive by mistake.
Capacity is the safest identifying clue. If the card is not listed or its capacity is wildly incorrect, do not guess at a disk and continue; treat that as an unstable-detection case.
Step 2: Analyze the partition
- Choose Analyse to inspect the partition layout.
- Accept the detected partition structure when it matches the card’s known layout. If TestDisk shows no credible partition, do not create a new one merely to make the card appear usable; creating or writing a partition can overwrite information.
- Continue to the partition that contains the missing files and open the advanced filesystem options.
Step 3: Open the undelete view
- In the advanced menu, select Undelete for the supported filesystem.
- Let TestDisk list deleted entries. The result depends on intact filesystem metadata; an empty list does not prove that the file contents are gone.
- Use the selection controls to mark files or directories you want to copy. Preview names and paths where available so you do not copy unrelated system entries.
Step 4: Copy to another location
- Choose the copy command shown by TestDisk.
- Navigate to a folder on a different drive or filesystem. Do not select the SD card, even if it appears to have free space.
- Confirm the destination and wait for copying to finish. Keep the card connected and avoid opening it in another application during the operation.
When metadata is still available, this route can retain original names and directory structure, making the recovered set easier to verify. If TestDisk reports read errors, stops repeatedly, or cannot list useful entries, do not “repair” the card and then retry; move to PhotoRec only if the card remains stable, or escalate to a professional service.
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Carve files from a damaged or reformatted card with PhotoRec
PhotoRec is included with the CGSecurity project and supports memory cards such as Secure Digital. It scans the partition for known file signatures rather than rebuilding the original directory tree. That makes it useful when corruption or reformatting has removed the filesystem information that TestDisk needs.
Step 1: Select the physical card
- Launch PhotoRec with the SD card connected.
- Select the physical disk whose capacity matches the card, then select the partition that held the files. If the partition table is damaged, PhotoRec can also work from the whole-disk view offered by the program; choose the option that corresponds to the media you intend to scan.
Step 2: Limit file types when appropriate
- Open File Opt before scanning if you know what you need, such as JPEG photos, common camera video formats, or office documents.
- Disable unrelated signatures to reduce clutter and destination-space use. If you are unsure which formats were present, leave the relevant defaults enabled rather than excluding types you may need.
Step 3: Choose the filesystem scope
- Start the search and choose the filesystem family requested by PhotoRec. FAT, exFAT, and NTFS cards normally use the option for filesystems other than ext2/ext3/ext4; follow the on-screen wording for the version installed.
- Choose Free when you want to search unallocated space for deleted files and the filesystem itself is still usable.
- Choose Whole when the filesystem is corrupted, the card was reformatted, or the free-space search does not find what you need. A whole-partition scan takes longer but examines more of the available area.
Step 4: Select a separate destination
- Browse to a folder on another drive or filesystem.
- Confirm the destination with PhotoRec’s on-screen command. Never select the SD card as the output path.
- Allow the scan to complete when possible. You can inspect the destination during or after the scan, but do not move recovered files back onto the card.
PhotoRec normally creates numbered folders and generic names because it does not recover the original directory structure. Sort the results on the destination drive by extension, timestamp, size, and image preview. Keep the original carved files until you have verified that copies open correctly.
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Original organization is usually lost
Signature-based carving recognizes file contents, not the camera’s folder names or the filesystem’s original filename records. Expect to rename and regroup files manually. Timestamps may reflect recovery activity or incomplete metadata rather than the moment a photo was taken, so use embedded camera metadata when it is available.
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Fragmented videos may not play
Some cameras store a video in multiple fragments. CGSecurity notes that data-recovery tools, including PhotoRec, expect non-fragmented files. A scan can therefore find a video file or fragments that remain unreadable in a media player. Do not interpret the presence of a recovered filename or a large file size as proof that the video is complete and playable.
Partial files are possible
If later data writes overwrote part of an old file, PhotoRec may recover only the untouched portion. Images can show visual corruption; documents may open with missing sections; videos may stop at the point where overwritten blocks begin. Preserve these files for possible specialist analysis instead of repeatedly rescanning and writing more data to the card.
What to do when the card is not detected
Try one controlled connection change
If the computer does not see the card, disconnect it once and try a compatible reader or another USB port. A phone-used card may require a USB card reader, as described in CGSecurity’s FAQ. Avoid a cycle of many readers, operating systems, and repair utilities if the card is physically damaged or keeps vanishing.
Do not accept an automatic format prompt
Windows or another operating system may report that the card must be formatted before it can be used. Cancel that prompt. Formatting changes the media and can destroy filesystem information that TestDisk or PhotoRec might otherwise use.
Escalate when the data is irreplaceable
Professional recovery is the safer route when the card is not reliably detected, shows physical damage, or contains the only copy of important files. Do not choose a provider based on an assumed success rate or a guaranteed price; the available technical references establish no universal percentage, fee, or outcome. Tell the service what happened, including whether the card was formatted, and disclose every recovery attempt already made.
Verify recovered files before you reuse the card
- Open a representative sample of photos, videos, documents, and archives from the separate destination.
- Check large files from different parts of the scan, not only the first few results.
- For photos, zoom into several images and look for missing blocks or broken sections.
- For videos, play from start to finish when possible; a file that opens but stops early may be incomplete.
- Keep at least one untouched copy of the recovered set before renaming, editing, or deduplicating it.
Only after you have secured the files should you decide whether the SD card is suitable for reuse. The formatter versions identified by the SD Association were Formatter 5.0.4 for Windows and 5.0.3 for Mac when indexed; those version numbers are time-sensitive. The formatter is intended to prepare cards for future use, not to recover files from the affected card.
Quick Recap
Common mistakes and their consequences
- Taking more photos after deletion: new camera data can occupy blocks that contained the deleted files.
- Saving recovery output to the same card: recovered files can overwrite unrecovered data.
- Formatting again to “fix” corruption: another format changes the filesystem and may remove information needed by undelete tools.
- Choosing the wrong physical disk: recovery software can scan an unrelated drive, wasting time and creating confusion about the results.
- Expecting PhotoRec to restore folders: carving returns contents with generic names, so manual organization is normal.
- Assuming every recovered video will play: fragmentation and overwritten blocks can leave videos incomplete.
- Repeating scans on an unstable card: intermittent detection or physical failure is a reason to stop and escalate, not to keep reconnecting indefinitely.
A practical decision checklist
- The card is no longer being used in a camera, phone, or computer.
- A destination drive or filesystem with adequate free space is ready.
- The card is detected consistently and its capacity looks correct.
- TestDisk is the first attempt when deleted entries and the filesystem are readable.
- PhotoRec is reserved for corrupted, reformatted, or TestDisk-unrecoverable cases.
- Recovered output is written somewhere other than the SD card.
- Important files are opened and checked before the card is formatted for future use.
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