Accidental formatting of an SD card on Windows is perhaps more common than most people can imagine. Every month, thousands of users cry out on Reddit, Google, YouTube, and where else about what to do to retrieve decades' worth of lifetime memorabilia of personal importance whenever their SD card has been formatted.
Although data loss from a formatted SD card may appear the stuff of nightmares, there is no need to panic. In most cases, if you act promptly, your data can be recovered. This guide describes 3 reliable solutions for recovering files from a formatted SD card and gives useful tips to avoid such incidents in the future.
Can I Recover Data After the SD Card is Formatted?
Yes, data can be recovered from a formatted SD card. Formatting erases the file directory but doesn’t immediately wipe the data. Until new files overwrite the storage space, recovery tools can scan and restore your photos, videos, or documents. Stay calm and avoid using the SD card further—this increases your chances of successful recovery. Let’s get down to business.
How to Recover Formatted SD Card Data on Windows?
Method 1: Use Windows File Recovery (Free Built-In Tool)
It is a free Microsoft command-line tool designed to recover deleted or formatted files from storage devices.
Steps:
- Download the tool from the Microsoft Store.
2. Connect your SD card to your PC using a card reader.
3. Search for "File Recovery" from the Start menu and launch it as Administrator.
4. Run the recovery command:
Example: To recover JPEG files, PDFs and ZIPs from drive `E:` (SD card) to drive `D:`: winfr E: D: /x /y:JPEG,PDF,ZIP
5. Wait for the scan to finish. Recovered files will save to your destination drive.
Note: This method works well for users familiar with the command line interface.
Method 2: Recover data from computer backups
If you manually backed up your SD card data to your local backups or cloud storage, restore it directly.
Steps for Local Backups:
1. Open the folder where you stored the backup (e.g., Documents, Desktop).
2. Copy the files and paste them back to the SD card or a secure location.
Steps for Cloud Backups (OneDrive, Google Drive):
1. Log into your cloud account.
2. Locate the backup folder, select files, and download them.
3. Transfer the recovered data to your SD card or PC.
Method 3: Recover Data from Formatted SD Card with RecoveryFox AI
When restoring backups and using Windows built-in commands to retrieve data are unavailable, turning to specialized data recovery software is a fast and trusted way. In our experience, RecoveryFox AI offers a powerful data recovery solution. This AI-driven tool scans the formatted SD card sector by sector, reconstructing lost files and ensuring that data loss is minimized.
Why Choose RecoveryFox AI?
- User-Friendly Interface: No technical skills required.
- AI Scan Mode: AI-enabled scanning mode helps you recover hidden photos, videos, documents and more quickly and accurately.
- Free Preview: You can verify recoverable files before purchasing.
- 98% Successful Recovery Rate: Recover 500+ file formats with outstanding speed and efficiency.
Next, we will show the detailed steps on how to use RecoveryFox AI to retrieve data from the formatted SD card.
Step 1: Download RecoveryFox AI from the official website after connecting the SD card to your Windows PC.
Step 2: Run it as an administrator and select the affected drive in the main screen.
Step 3: It will switch on the Quick Scan mode to scan the removed data. When this is done, it goes directly into AI Scan, and you can pause it anytime to peek into the gathered file details.
Step 4: Clicking on “Recover” will bring up a dialog box for you to select a save location for the data you want to recover. We strongly recommend you to choose a different drive to store the recovered files.
Editor’s Tips: How to Protect SD Card from Formatting?
In daily life, it is necessary to protect the SD card from being formatted either for personal or business purposes. Based on our experience, we suggest you:
1. Enable Write Protection: Use the physical lock switch on the SD card to block accidental formatting.
2. Backup Regularly: Use cloud services or external drives to store duplicates of critical data.
3. Label Your SD Card: Add a note like “Do Not Format” to remind yourself and others.
4. Eject Safely: Always use the “Safely Remove Hardware” option before unplugging the card.
FAQ
Q1: What Happens When I Format an SD Card?
Formatting erases the file index, making data invisible. However, the actual files remain until overwritten.
Q2: Does Quick Format vs. Full Format Affect Recovery?
Quick Format: Only deletes the index. High recovery success.
Full Format: Overwrites data with zeros. Recovery is nearly impossible.
Q3: Can I Recover Data After Multiple Formattings?
It depends on whether new data has overwritten the old files. Use tools like RecoveryFox AI to scan immediately.
Conclusion
Accidentally formatting an SD card isn’t the end of your data. With tools like Windows backups, cloud storage, or specialized software like RecoveryFox AI, you can recover photos, videos, and documents efficiently. Act quickly, avoid using the card, and follow the steps above. For the best results, we recommend RecoveryFox AI—its AI-powered deep scan ensures you retrieve even long-lost files. With it, and you’ll never fear formatting again!