Easily Recover Formatted SD Card on Windows 11, 10, 8, 7

Can You Recover Formatted SD Card?

So what happens when you format an SD card? Formatting an SD card is a process that prepares the card for use by erasing its file system and creating a new one. The processdoesn’t immediately delete the data stored on the card, instead it marks the space as "available" for new data. As a result, you are not allowed to access your files such as photos, videos, documents, etc by normal methods. However, they are still on the SD card until being overwritten by new data.

Can you recover a formatted SD card? Yes, you can recover a formatted SD card! As long as the data hasn’t been overwritten, there’s a high chance of recovering your lost photos and files. Next, we will take you through all methods to help recover files from a formatted SD card.

How to Recover Data from Formatted SD Card (Windows)?

While losing data by formatting SD card can be very disappointing, recovery is often possible if you act quickly and use the proper method. Here are two commonly-used tools to help you recover lost files after format in Windows.

Method 1. Recover Formatted SD Card by Winfr Command

The Winfr (Windows File Recovery) is a command-line tool available for Windows 10 and later versions. Developed by Microsoft, it is a free tool designed to recover deleted or lost files from local storage device (including internal drives, external drives, SD card and USB flash devices). It supports NTFS, exFAT and FAT file systems, making it suitable for most SD cards.

Winfr can recover files from formatted, corrupted, or accidentally deleted storage devices. It comes with multiple modes, including "Regular" and "Extensive" to locate lost files. Take a look at their difference and choose a proper mode for your situation (from https://support.microsoft.com/).

Steps to Recover Formatted SD Card Using Winfr

Step 1: Install Winfr app: Go to the Microsoft Store and search for Windows File Recovery. Download and install the tool on your computer.

Step 2: Open Command Prompt as Administrator: Press “Windows + S”, type “Command Prompt”, and select “Run as Administrator”. Then a command prompt window will open.

Step 3: Run the Winfr Command: use the following syntax to recover files from the formatted SD card:

Example Command: winfr H:D:\test /extensive

This command will scan the SD card (“H:”) in extensive mode and recover all files, saving them to the `D:` drive folder named text.

Step 4: Wait for the Recovery Process to Complete: Winfr will scan the SD card and display the files it finds. Once the scan is complete, the recovered files will be saved to the destination drive you specified.

Finally, you can navigate to the destination drive (e.g., “D:”) and open the folder to access your recovered files.

Method 2. Recover Formatted SD Card by MyRecover

Using the Winfr command-line tool is an effective way to recover data from a formatted SD card. By following the steps above, you can restore lost files and save them to a safe location. If it doesn’t work in your actual situation, or it is not enough user-friendly for you, consider using other recovery software like MyRecover.

MyRecover is a user-friendly data recovery software designed to help you recover lost files from formatted SD cards with just a few clicksin all Windows operating system including Server. It supports a wide range of file types and offers a simple interface, making it ideal for both beginners and advanced users.

MyRecover

Best Free Data Recovery Software

• User-Friendly Interface: Easy to navigate, even for non-technical users.
• Wide File Support: Recover photos, videos, documents, and more from formatted SD cards.
• Broad Device Support: Recover data from SD cards, USB drives, internal/external hard drives, SSDs, memory cards, and other removable media.
• Versatile Recovery Scenarios: Accidental deletion, emptied Recycle Bin, formatted drives, virus attacks, system crashes, and over 500 other data loss scenarios.
• Quick and Deep Scan Modes: Quick scan for recently deleted files or a deep scan for more complex recovery tasks.
• Safe and Reliable: Recover Data securely without causing any further damage to the SD card.

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Windows 11/10/8/7 & Server

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Steps to Recover Formatted SD Card Using MyRecover

Step 1: Download and install MyRecover on your computer by following the on-screen instructions.

Step 2: launch MyRecover and select the SD Cardfrom the right disk list. Click “Scan” to begin the scanning process.

Step 3: MyRecover will perform a “Quick Scan” to locate recently deleted filesby default. If the Quick Scan doesn’t find your files, proceed with a “Deep Scan” for a more thorough search.

Step 4: Wait for the scan to complete. This may take some time depending on the size of the SD card.

Step 5: Once the scan is complete, MyRecover will display a list of recoverable files. Select the files you want to recover and click “Recover”.

To unlock “Preview” functionandpreview recoverable files before restoring them, please upgrade to advanced editions: either Professional or Technican.

Step 6: Choose a destination folder on your computer or an external drive to save the recovered files.

Bonus Tips: Recover Data from Formatted SD Card on Mac or Android?

The above content covers how to recover formatted SD card in Windows. If you are looking for solutions to restore SD card data after format on Mac or Android device. Check this section now.

For Mac Users

To recover files from formatted SD card on Mac computer, you can use the Time Machine tool. Time Machine is a built-in backup feature on macOS that automatically backs up your files, including those on external drives like SD cards, to an external storage device. If you’ve used Time Machine to back up your SD card before formatting it, you can easily restore your lost data.

1. Click the “Time Machine” icon in the menu bar and select “Enter Time Machine”.

2. Navigate to your SD card folder. And use the timeline on the right side of the screen to browse through backups.

3. Select the files or folders you want to recover.

4. Click “Restore” to save them to their original location or a new folder.

If it fails to recover files from formatted SD card or you did not previously back up your SD card data using Time Machine, then consider using 3rd party data recovery software.

For Android Users

To retrieve data from a formatted SD card on your Android phone without a computer, you can use apps like DiskDigger, which scans for and allows you to recover photos and potentially other files.

Final Thoughts

Recovering data from a formatted SD card is possible with the right tools and methods. For Windows users, Winfr (Windows File Recovery) is a free command-line tool that can recover files from formatted, corrupted, or deleted SD cards, though it requires some technical knowledge. Alternatively, MyRecover offers a user-friendly interface, supporting quick and deep scans to restore lost files from SD cards, USB drives, hard drives, and more.

For Mac users, Time Machine can restore data if backups were made beforehand, while Android users can try apps like DiskDigger for mobile recovery. Always stop using the SD card immediately after formatting to prevent overwriting and ensure higher recovery success. If software solutions fail, professional data recovery services are a reliable option.