How to Recover Deleted Files from SD Card without Software

Can you Recover deleted files from SD Card without software?

Yes, it’s possible to recover deleted files from an SD card without software, but it depends on a few factors. If the files are deleted but not overwritten, there are manual methods, like using system utilities or checking the Recycle Bin if the card was accessed on a computer. Some operating systems offer native recovery options that can sometimes retrieve lost files.

Additionally, you could try connecting the SD card to another device and checking if the files are accessible, as the files might still be intact but hidden due to system errors. However, without software, recovery chances can be limited, especially if the files are permanently deleted or corrupted. You can try data recovery with Windows built-in features first. If it doesn’t work, resorting to third-party data recovery software would be the last resort.

How to recover deleted files from SD Card without software

Here's a guide on how to recover deleted files from an SD card without using software. If you act quickly, there's a good chance you can retrieve your files through these simple methods.

Method 1. Check for Hidden Files on your SD card

Sometimes, files appear deleted but are just hidden. Use this method to make hidden files visible:

Insert the SD card into your computer.

Step 1. Open the file explorer and navigate to your SD card.

Step 2. Go to the “View” tab and select “Options”, then click on “Change folder and search options”.

Step 3. In the “Folder Options” window, go to the “View” tab and enable “Show hidden files, folders, and drives”.

Step 4. Press “Apply” and “OK”. Hidden files, if any, should now appear.

Method 2. Use the Command Prompt to recover files

If your files are still missing, try using the Command Prompt, a built-in tool in Windows that can help recover deleted files on your SD card:

Step 1. Connect the SD card to your computer.

Step 2. Press Win + R to open the Run dialog box, type cmd, and hit Enter to open Command Prompt.

Step 3. In Command Prompt, type chkdsk C: /f /r (replace "C" with the drive letter of your SD card) and press Enter.

Step 4. Next, type ATTRIB -H -R -S /S /D C:*.* and press Enter. This command will remove any hidden, read-only, or system attributes that might prevent access to your files.

Step 5. Check your SD card for recovered files, usually restored in a new folder.

Method 3. Restore from a Previous Backup

Recovering deleted files from an SD card is straightforward if you have a prior backup. Follow these steps:

Step 1. Find the device or storage location where your SD card's files were previously backed up. This could be on cloud services like Google Drive or OneDrive, or on external drives or your computer.

Step 2. Insert your SD card into your device. Access the backup location and copy the files back to the card. For cloud backups, download the files directly to your device or SD card.

Step 3. If you used backup software like AOMEI Backupper, launch the program, select the backup, and restore the files to the SD card.

Method 4. Check the Recycle Bin (If files were deleted on Windows)

If the SD card was connected to a Windows PC when files were deleted, there’s a chance they might be in the Recycle Bin:

Step 1. Open the Recycle Bin on your desktop.

Step 2. Look for your deleted files.

Step 3. If found, right-click and choose “Restore” to return them to their original location on your SD card.

Bonus tip: Quickly recover deleted files from SD Card with 3-rd software

To efficiently recover deleted files from an SD card, it's best to use dedicated data recovery software designed for SD cards. AOMEI FastRecovery offers a comprehensive solution for retrieving lost photos, videos, and audio files from SD cards that have been deleted, damaged, or corrupted, all while preserving original dates and file names. It supports a wide range of SD card types, including SDHC, SDXC, memory sticks, miniSD, microSD, and others, as well as external hard drives. In addition to recovery from deletion, it can also handle:

✍ Data recovery after formatting hard drives.

✍ Restoring files from SD cards affected by virus attacks.

✍ Recovering hidden photos.

AOMEI FastRecovery is compatible with various SD card brands, including SanDisk, Sony, PNY, Panasonic, Crucial, Transcend, and more. Simply follow these steps to recover your deleted files from an SD card:

Step 1. Install and launch AOMEI FastRecovery. Choose the exact partition or disk where your data is lost and click Scan.

Step 2. Then, the recovery tool starts to scan and search. lt will execute the “Quickly Scan" first to find your deleted data fast, and then execute the “Deep Scan" for searching other lost data.

Step 3. Once the scan is completed, all deleted files, recycle bins and other missing files will be displayed. Please select the file you would like to recover and then click "Recover".

Step 4. Then, select a folder path to save your recovered files.

Step 5. Wait patiently for this process of recovery to end.

Conclusion

Recovering deleted files from an SD card without software is indeed possible but comes with limitations. Manual methods can be effective, especially if the data hasn’t been overwritten or corrupted. However, these techniques require quick action and might not guarantee success in all scenarios.

For a more reliable and comprehensive recovery solution, leveraging third-party software like AOMEI FastRecovery is often the best option. Whether caused by accidental deletion, formatting, or system errors, AOMEI FastRecovery ensures a higher chance of retrieving your valuable data.