How to Recover Deleted Files from a Micro SD Card in 4 Steps

Accidentally deleted some files from your micro SD card? Or perhaps your micro SD card got corrupted, and any attempt at accessing your data is a bust. No matter the cause, lost data is of no benefit to you, and you’re probably wondering if there’s any way to get it back.

Well, there is. You can recover files from a micro SD card with relatively no difficulty. However, the way you approach recovery is important to avoid further data loss. We’ll show you the optimal steps to take so you don’t risk losing the same data you’re trying to recover.

How to Recover Data from Micro SD Card

Using data recovery software is your best bet to perform micro SD card recovery. Micro SD cards are typically formatted with a FAT32 or exFAT file system, neither of which supports the Recycle Bin feature we all know and love. This means, whenever you delete a file from a micro SD card, it’s deleted ‘permanently’. We use the word permanently loosely because while there’s no immediate way to restore micro SD card data natively, it is still possible with third-party recovery software.

In this guide, we will use Disk Drill for micro SD data recovery and Recuva as an alternative data recovery freeware. If you’re dealing with a broken micro SD, we’ll also teach you how to consult a professional data recovery service.

Method 1:Use Professional Data Recovery Tool

Your chances of recovering data from a micro SD card heavily depend on the data recovery software you use. Inadequate recovery solutions produce inadequate results. So, to give yourself the best chance of success, we recommend Disk Drill.

Disk Drill supports a wide range of memory cards, including micro SD cards of various brands. It uses an all-in-one scanner to find as much data on your micro SD card as possible, even if it’s RAW. For those recovering videos shot by cameras or drones, the Advanced Camera Recovery component is advantageous for its ability to reconstruct fragmented video files.

If your micro SD is damaged or failing, it is unpredictable and may stop working during recovery. Therefore, in these cases, we recommend you use Disk Drill’s byte-to-byte backup feature which allows you to make and scan a full image of your micro SD card to keep the original data intact. And, if you don’t have time to recover the data now, you can save the scan and finish microSD card recovery at a later time.

To create a byte-to-byte backup of your Micro SD Card using Disk Drill, simply follow the steps below:

1. Download, install and open Disk Drill. On the left side navigation menu, go to Byte-to-byte Backup under the Extra tools tab.
2. Select your micro SD Card on the list of drives available. Then, click the Byte-to-byte Backup button on the upper right corner of your window.
3. Name your backup file and select where you want Disk Drill to save it. Once done, click OK.

After you have successfully created your backup, you can safely recover your data from SD card.

1. In Disk Drill’s main window, select the micro SD card that you want to recover data from. If you’re recovering from the backup image, use the Assign disk image option to add it as a scannable option. Click on the Search for lost data button.
2. Choose the scan you wish to perform. Universal Scan searches for all possible files, while Advanced Camera Recovery primarily focuses on fragmented video, audio, and image files shot by supported cameras.
3. Click Review found items to explore what Disk Drill found. Alternatively, if you’re only looking for a specific format (i.e. videos), click one of the colored file formats to filter the results.
4. Preview and select the files to recover from the memory card. Results can be filtered by file type, size, and last modified date. When ready, click Recover.
5. Select a location where recovered files from the micro SD card will be stored. Remember not to choose somewhere on the same micro SD card you’re recovering the data from, as this will corrupt the data. After recovering the files, you can move them to any location you like.

Disk Drill lets you recover up to 100 MB for free, which is generally enough to recover important files or see what the software is capable of. Even so, its backup and disk monitoring features are completely free, as is the ability to scan storage media and preview its recoverable contents.

Method 2:Use Free Data Recovery Software

Recuva is a completely free micro SD card data recovery tool and a usable alternative to Disk Drill when the micro SD card is in a healthy state. It’s useful for quick recovery from basic data loss scenarios, like accidental file deletion. However, it’s not intended for more complex recovery cases, like when a drive’s file system becomes corrupted and reads as RAW, as it lacks the ability to recover data by unique file signature.

If you’re not prepared to pay for a professional tool, Recuva is worth giving it a shot; just try to manage your expectations.

Here’s a quick and easy step-by-step guide on micro SD file recovery with Recuva:

1. Download Recuva from the CCleaner website. Then, open the setup file and follow the instructions to successfully install the app.
2. Connect your memory card to your computer using a memory card reader or a memory card slot if available. Then, open Recuva.
3. Click Next on the overview.
4. Keep All files selected, then click Next. Alternatively, if you’re only recovering a particular type of files, choose the respective option instead.
5. Select the On my media card or iPod option, then click Next.
6. Click Start. You can enable a Deep Scan if you wish, but we’d suggest running one only if the basic scan fails to produce the results you need.
7. Select the files you wish to recover, then click Recover.
8. Choose where you want to store the recovered files. Note that this must be on a separate storage device, otherwise you risk corrupting the same data you’re trying to recover. When ready, click OK.

Method 3:Use Android Data Recovery Software

Given that micro SD cards are regularly used in Android devices as expandable storage, there may be times when you need to recover data from them. Now, you do have some options for recovering the data on a PC. If the micro SD card was used for extended storage, you can connect the device to a Mac and use Disk Drill to recover the data directly from the card while it’s in the phone. Or, you could remove the card, connect it to a PC, and scan it that way as well.

In this method, we’re going to present you with an option that lets you recover data using only your Android device. Keep in mind, however, that your Android device must be rooted in order to get complete results.

1. Install DiskDigger to your Android device.
2. Choose the scan you wish to perform. For this example, we’re going with Search for lost photos.
3. Select the files that you want to recover. When ready, click Recover.
4. Choose where the recovered files will be stored. If you have a cloud application installed (Google Drive, Dropbox, etc.), it’s recommended you store them there.

Method 4:Use Data Recovery Services

Data recovery software is great, and in most cases, it’s all you need to get your data back. However, it’s not suited for physically damaged micro SD cards or any others that are completely undetected by your system. In instances like these, your only reliable option is to lean on a data recovery service.

The typical recovery service begins with a free phone call and a quick cost evaluation. Even if your micro SD card is physically damaged, it might be possible to recover it. After the consultation, all you have to do is to ship the faulty micro SD card to the service provider. Their experts will try to clone your micro SD card and recover the data.

Using a data recovery service gives you the absolute best chance of recovering the data on that micro SD card, as recovery is handled by a professional with access to industry-grade equipment. Yes, it will be costlier than using software, but it remains the only option in some cases. Look for data recovery services that offer a ‘No data, no charge’ policy to make sure you only need to pay if something of value was recovered.

Common Micro SD Card Issues and Fixes

There are several suspects behind micro SD card data deletion. Interestingly, there are some frequent micro SD card issues that have quick and actionable hacks. Most of these fixes are implementable straight from your PC. Have a go at them:

Conclusion

Recovering deleted files from any SD card can be challenging. Many users forget to back up their data. Small mistakes such as deleting files or formatting the card can lead to the loss of precious memories or all-important documents.

Suppose you find yourself using different storage devices all the time. In that case, it is essential to have a recovery tool like Disk Drill around. With Disk Drill, you can rest easy even if you suddenly have problems with your micro SD cards and retrieve your data quickly.

Did you run into any difficulties with recovering your data? Or maybe you’d like to share your data loss situation and how you overcame it. Either way, leave us a comment below – we’d love to hear from you.

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