[Update]SD Card Corrupted/Formatting Files Recovery

How to recover corrupted files on an SD card?

Corrupted files on an SD card are one of those problems that feel small at first—until you realize the photos, videos, or documents on that card might be irreplaceable. This issue doesn’t only affect photographers or Android users; it can happen to anyone who relies on SD cards for storage, backups, or daily data transfer.

In this article, we’ll break down why SD card file corruption happens, how to identify the real cause, and—most importantly—how to recover corrupted files on an SD card safely and effectively. Instead of repeating generic advice, this guide digs deeper into the mechanics of corruption and offers three practical recovery methods, including one using professional-grade recovery software from our own website.

What’s Really Going Wrong?

When files become corrupted on an SD card, the data is rarely “gone” instantly. In most cases, the file structure, allocation table, or logical addressing is damaged, while the raw data blocks still exist. This is why recovery is often possible—if you act correctly.

Common causes include:

• Unsafe ejection from cameras, phones, or computers
• Power loss during read/write operations
• File system incompatibility between devices
• Bad sectors caused by aging flash memory
• Virus or malware attacks on shared cards
• Formatting errors or interrupted formatting

The key mistake many users make is continuing to use the SD card after corruption appears. Every new write operation risks overwriting recoverable data. The solutions below are designed to minimize risk while maximizing recovery success.

Method 1: Recover Corrupted SD Card Files Using Data Recovery Software (Recommended)

When files appear unreadable, show as zero bytes, or refuse to open, software-level recovery is often the most reliable approach. A professional recovery tool can bypass file system errors and scan the SD card at the sector level, reconstructing corrupted files from residual data fragments.

The iDatapp Data Recovery software is specifically designed for scenarios like SD card corruption. Instead of relying on directory entries alone, it performs deep scans to locate recoverable photos, videos, documents, and other file types—even if the SD card prompts you to format it.

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Why this method works well:

It doesn’t depend on the SD card’s damaged file index. As long as the memory cells haven’t been physically destroyed, recovery chances remain high.

Steps to recover corrupted files using iDatapp Data Recovery:

• Stop using the SD card immediately after corruption is detected.
• Remove the SD card and connect it to a computer using a reliable card reader.

1.Download and install iDatapp Data Recovery

2.Launch the software and select the SD card Recovery as the target drive.

3.Click Start Scan to detect corrupted or inaccessible files.

4.Preview recoverable files to verify integrity.

5.Recover selected files to a different storage location (never back to the same SD card).

Tips:

• Avoid formatting before scanning, even if prompted.
• Recovery success depends on how much new data was written after corruption.
• Always save recovered files to a separate drive.

Method 2: Repair File System Errors Using Built-in System Tools (Non-Destructive)

Not all SD card corruption is severe. Sometimes the problem lies in logical file system errors—incorrect file pointers, damaged indexes, or invalid directory entries. In these cases, system repair tools can restore file access without extracting data elsewhere.

Operating systems like Windows and macOS include built-in disk repair utilities that can fix common SD card file system issues.

Why this method works:

If corruption is limited to metadata rather than actual file content, repairing the file system can make corrupted files readable again.

Steps to repair an SD card using system tools:

1.Insert the SD card into your computer via a card reader.

2.On Windows:

• Open “This PC”
• Right-click the SD card → Properties → Tools → Check

3.On macOS:

• Open Disk Utility
• Select the SD card → First Aid → Run

4.Allow the system to scan and repair detected errors.

5.Safely eject the SD card and reinsert it to check file accessibility.

Important notes:

• This method may rename corrupted files or move them to recovery folders.
• It cannot rebuild severely damaged multimedia files.
• If repair fails, stop and switch to recovery software immediately.

Method 3: Manually Extract Data by Rebuilding Files from Raw Copies

For advanced users, manual recovery techniques can sometimes salvage partially corrupted files—especially images and videos. This method involves copying raw data from the SD card and attempting file reconstruction using file headers and codecs.

Why this method works (in limited cases):

Some corrupted files still contain intact data streams but broken headers. Rebuilding or re-encoding them can restore usability.

Steps for manual recovery:

1. Create a full disk image of the SD card using a read-only tool.
2. Work only on the disk image, not the original SD card.
3. For photos: attempt header repair by copying headers from intact files of the same device.
4. For videos: use re-muxing tools to rebuild the container format.
5. Test recovered files in multiple media players.

Important notes:

• This method is time-consuming and not guaranteed.
• It requires technical knowledge of file formats.
• It’s best used for small numbers of high-value files.

SD Card Corruption on Android Phones After System Crashes

SD card corruption frequently occurs on Android phones, especially after system crashes, forced reboots, rooting errors, or sudden battery drain. Many users encounter a situation where the phone reports: “SD card damaged” or “SD card needs formatting.” At this point, panic leads many to format the card—permanently complicating recovery.

In Android ecosystems, SD cards are tightly integrated with system processes. When the phone crashes during app data writing (camera apps, WhatsApp, screen recorders), file allocation tables can desynchronize. Even worse, some Android updates or custom ROM flashes rewrite mount permissions, making previously accessible data appear corrupted.

This issue becomes more serious when the SD card stores app-related data, encrypted folders, or camera directories used by OEM-specific frameworks (Samsung, Xiaomi, OPPO, etc.). Standard file transfer methods often fail because the phone itself can no longer mount the card correctly.

Related: Recover SD card data from Samsung Galaxy.

In such scenarios, removing the SD card and connecting it directly to a computer is critical. Instead of attempting repeated mounts on the phone—which increases corruption risk—professional recovery tools designed for mixed Android storage structures provide a safer solution.

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Products available on idatapp.com are built with mobile storage logic in mind, allowing recovery not only from standalone SD cards but also from SD cards previously used as adoptable or portable storage on Android devices. These tools recognize fragmented multimedia data, app-generated caches, and camera-specific encoding structures.

Beyond SD card recovery, similar system-level issues often lead to internal phone data loss, including photos disappearing after updates, system crashes erasing videos, or accidental deletion during storage cleanup. In such cases, specialized Android recovery solutions from the same platform can extract data directly from the phone, even when the system is unstable or partially inaccessible.

The key lesson: SD card corruption rarely happens in isolation. It’s often a symptom of broader system instability—and choosing the right recovery path early makes all the difference.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

Recovering corrupted files on an SD card is often possible if you act quickly and choose the right method. Whether using professional recovery software, system repair tools, or advanced manual techniques, understanding the cause of corruption is the first step toward successful recovery. Avoid panic, stop using the card immediately, and follow a structured recovery approach to protect your data.