How to Recover Files From SanDisk SD Card After Accidental Deletion?

User case: Need SanDisk file recovery!

Many users like to store files on portable storage devices like SD cards, as it makes managing and organizing files, such as photos or videos, more convenient. However, videos stored on SD cards can be lost for various reasons. Besides accidental deletion, common causes include formatting, partition corruption, physical damage, and virus attacks.

When files are deleted from an SD card or lost while using devices like computers, cameras, or smartphones, they don’t go to the recycle bin or trash. This means recovering them directly from those folders isn’t possible. So, is it possible to recover deleted or lost files from an SD card?

Yes, it is possible to recover deleted files from an SD card, but the success rate largely depends on how the SD card is used after the data loss. When files are deleted, they aren’t immediately erased. Instead, the storage space they occupy is marked as available for new data. If new data overwrites this space, recovery becomes difficult or even impossible.

How to recover files from SanDisk SD card?

This section provides 3 ways for SanDisk file recovery. These are helpful for the SD card data loss due to accidental deletion, formatting, virus attack, or even SD card corruption.

Fix 1. Perform SanDisk card recovery with a tool

SD cards store important files such as photos, videos, and documents, but data loss can easily occur for various reasons. To maximize your chances of recovering lost data from an SD card, it's best to use a reliable data recovery program like AOMEI FastRecovery. There are a few key reasons for this: first, once lost files are overwritten, they cannot be recovered. Data recovery software can help retrieve files before this happens. Second, such programs offer powerful features to handle various scenarios that cause SD card data loss, including accidental deletion, formatting, virus or malware attacks, corruption, damage, RAW file system errors, or recognition issues.

Functions of AOMEI FastRecovery: ✔ Recover deleted or lost files from HDD, USB flash drive, SD card and various storage devices. ✔ Retrieve Word, Excel, PPT, photos, videos, audio, emails, zipped files, and over 1000 other file types. ✔ Keep the original format of recovered files. ✔ Search for target Word files by typing the file name during the scan, or wait for automatic discovery with Quick Scan and Deep Scan. ✔ Supports NTFS, exFAT, FAT32 and ReFS file systems. ✔ Compatible with Windows Server and Windows 7, 8, 10, 11 64-bit and 32-bit.

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

Step 2. Then, the recovery tool start to scan and search. lt will execute the “Quickly Scan" first for finding 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 recovering ends.

Fix 2. Recover SanDisk card file with Windows File Recovery

Before the recovery process, you need to check the file system of your SD card. Insert your SD card into computer > Click on This PC > Locate and right-click on the SD card > Select Properties to view it in the File System section.

Step 1. Search for Windows File Recovery in the Microsoft Store and click Get to install it on your PC.

Step 2. Search for the program in the Windows search box, and click it > Click Run as administrator.

Step 3. Choose a suitable mode to recover your MP4 files based on the File System you just check.

File system	Circumstances	Recommended mode
NTFS	Deleted recently	Default
NTFS	Deleted a while ago	Segment, followed by Signature
NTFS	After formatting a disk	Segment, followed by Signature
NTFS	A corrupted disk	Segment, followed by Signature
FAT and exFAT	Any	Extensive

Step 4. Follow the prompts to enter the correct command line, such as winfr D: E: extensive /n *paper* > Click Y to continue.

Switches	Definition	Supported mode(s)
/n	Filter the scan range: scans for a specific file with its file name/path/type, etc.	All
/y:	Recover specific extension groups.	Signature
/k	Recovers system files.	NTFS Segment​​​​​
/u	Recovers undeleted files, for example, from the Recycle Bin.	NTFS Segment

Step 5. Follow the prompts to enter the correct command line, such as winfr D: E: extensive /n *paper* > Click Y to continue.

Note: The destination drive of the recovered photos or videos should not be your SD card. You can save the recovered videos to anywhere else and move them to the SD card later.

Fix 3. Recover data from a corrupted SD card

As CHKDSK will cause permanent data loss file fixing the device error, so make sure that you recover data from the corrupted SD card first. And you need to unplug the SD card from the electronic device, insert it into a card reader, and connect it to a working computer running Windows.

Step 1. Open the Search box, type “cmd”, locate Command Prompt, right-click it and choose “Run as administrator.”

Step 2. In Command Prompt window, type “chkdsk g: /f” and hit “Enter”.

In the command, "d" represents the drive letter of the partition on the SD card. If you don't know the drive letter allocated to the SD card partition, you can use Disk Management to find the drive based on its capacity or something else and remember the drive letter.

Conclusion

In conclusion, this passage comprehensively introduces how to recover files from SanDisk SD card.  If you lost files from your SanDisk SD card, there are definitely 3 ways to recover them, even if the loss was due to accidental deletion, formatting, or other issues. It is suggested to act quickly and avoid using the card until you’ve attempted recovery, as new data can overwrite the lost files.

Using reliable recovery tools like AOMEI FastRecovery or Windows File Recovery can help you retrieve your important files with ease. Just remember to save the recovered files to a different location to avoid any further data loss. With the right approach, you can maximize your chances of success in recovering your data.