[Solved]Recover Photos from Corrupted SD Card on Android Phone

How to Recover Photos from a Corrupted SD Card on an Android Phone?

A corrupted SD card can feel like a small disaster—especially when it’s full of irreplaceable photos. One moment your Android phone is working fine, the next it says “SD card damaged”, “SD card not recognized”, or simply refuses to open your images. Before you panic or format anything, it’s important to understand why SD card corruption happens, what not to do, and which recovery methods actually work.

This guide doesn’t recycle the same tired advice you’ve seen elsewhere. Instead, it breaks down the problem logically, explains how Android handles SD card storage, and walks you through three proven recovery methods, including one that uses professional recovery software from our own website. The goal is simple: get your photos back safely, with minimal risk.

Why SD Cards Get Corrupted on Android?

SD card corruption rarely happens without a cause. Android phones rely on a delicate relationship between hardware, file systems, and power management. When that relationship breaks, data becomes unreadable—even if it still physically exists on the card.

Common causes include:

• Removing the SD card without unmounting it
• Sudden phone shutdowns or battery drain during photo transfer
• Malware or buggy apps writing invalid data
• Using the same SD card across multiple devices
• File system errors (FAT32/exFAT inconsistencies)

Here’s the critical thing many articles miss: corruption does not always mean data loss. In most cases, your photos are still on the SD card. The problem is that Android can no longer interpret the file structure correctly. Recovery, therefore, is about reading data without making the damage worse.

Before we jump into solutions, one rule matters above all others:

Do not format the SD card until recovery is complete.

Formatting often destroys recovery chances—or at least makes them far more complicated.

How to Choose the Right Recovery Method?

Not all corruption scenarios are equal. Some SD cards fail logically (software-level errors), while others suffer physical degradation. The methods below are arranged from lowest risk to highest recovery power, so you can stop as soon as your photos are successfully restored.

We’ll cover:

• Android-based repair using read-only access
• Manual PC-assisted extraction without formatting
• Professional SD card photo recovery using dedicated software

Each method is explained in depth, followed by step-by-step instructions and practical tips.

Method 1: Use Android’s Built-in Access to Copy Photos (Low-Risk Attempt)

Best for: SD cards that show error messages but are still partially readable

Risk level: Very low

Success rate: Moderate

Sometimes, a “corrupted” SD card is only partially damaged. Android may fail to index it properly, but individual files can still be accessed through a file manager. This method focuses on copying photos without repairing or modifying the card.

Instead of trying to “fix” the SD card inside Android, you treat it as a fragile, read-only source and extract what you can. This approach works surprisingly often, especially when corruption is caused by improper ejection or minor file table errors.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1.Restart your Android phone (clears temporary mount errors).

2.Enable Airplane Mode to prevent background apps from accessing the SD card.

3.Open a trusted file manager (system file manager is preferred).

4.Navigate to:

SD Card → DCIM → Camera and other photo folders.

5.Long-press photos and copy, not move, them to:

• Internal storage, or
• Cloud storage (Google Drive, etc.)

6.Stop immediately if copying freezes or fails repeatedly.

Important Notes

• Never move files—always copy.
• Avoid opening photos repeatedly; previewing can trigger read errors.
• If folders appear but photos don’t open, move to Method 2 or 3.

Method 2: Recover Photos via a Computer Without Formatting the SD Card

Best for: SD cards unreadable on Android but detected by a computer

Risk level: Low to medium

Success rate: Medium to high

When Android refuses to cooperate, a computer often has better tolerance for file system errors. Windows and macOS use different disk-reading mechanisms and may still access data that Android can’t.

This method avoids formatting and focuses on manual extraction using stable power and controlled access—two things Android phones aren’t great at during corruption scenarios.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1.Power off your Android phone.

2.Remove the SD card carefully.

3.Insert it into a computer using a USB card reader (avoid cheap adapters).

4.If prompted to format:

• Click Cancel immediately.

5.Open “This PC” (Windows) or “Disk Utility” (macOS).

6.If the card appears:

• Browse folders manually.
• Copy photo folders to your computer’s hard drive.

7.If file copying stalls:

• Copy in smaller batches (5–10 photos at a time).

Notes

• Do not run disk repair tools yet.
• Avoid CHKDSK or “First Aid” before recovery.
• If the card shows RAW format or zero capacity, stop and move to Method 3.

This method often succeeds where Android fails—but it still relies on the file system being partially intact.

Method 3: Recover Photos Using iDATAPP SD Card Data Recovery Software (Most Effective)

Best for: Heavily corrupted SD cards, RAW format, unreadable photos

Risk level: Controlled and safe

Success rate: High

When manual access fails, the only reliable solution is deep-level SD card photo recovery. This is where professional software becomes essential—not for repairing the card, but for rebuilding photos directly from raw data.

The recommended solution here is iDATAPP Data Recovery, designed to extract photos from corrupted, unreadable, or damaged SD cards without relying on the original file system.

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Why This Method Works

Instead of reading folders, the software scans the SD card sector by sector, identifying photo file signatures (JPG, PNG, HEIC, etc.). Even if the SD card appears empty or asks to be formatted, the underlying image data can often still be reconstructed.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1.Remove the SD card from your Android phone.

2.Connect it to a computer using a card reader.

3.Install and launch iDATAPP Data Recovery and click SD Card Recovery

4.Select Scan Disk

5.After the scan is complete, all image files stored on the SD card will be listed.

Tip: This powerful data recovery tool can also repair damaged SD cards and recover data from them.

Notes

• Previewing confirms photo integrity before recovery.
• Do not interrupt the scan once started.
• This method works even if the SD card shows as “unformatted.”

What Not to Do When an SD Card Is Corrupted

Many recovery failures happen because users make mistakes early. Avoid these at all costs:

• Formatting the SD card “to fix errors”
• Repeatedly reinserting the card into the phone
• Installing random “SD repair” apps
• Writing new data to the SD card

Every write operation reduces the chance of successful photo recovery.

How to Prevent SD Card Corruption in the Future

Once your photos are safe, prevention becomes the next priority.

Smart habits include:

• Always unmount SD cards before removal
• Avoid cheap or fake SD cards
• Don’t use one SD card across too many devices
• Keep at least 10–15% free space
• Back up photos automatically to cloud storage

An SD card is not permanent storage—it’s a temporary container. Treat it accordingly.

FAQs

Conclusion

Recovering photos from a corrupted SD card on an Android phone is absolutely possible if you act carefully. Start with low-risk extraction, escalate to computer access, and rely on professional recovery software when needed. Patience matters more than speed.