Losing files from your SD card can be extremely frustrating. As someone who relies on my SD cards to store important photos, videos, and documents, I know the sinking feeling when you realize something is missing or corrupted. Thankfully, SD card recovery software can help you get those files back.
After testing numerous data recovery solutions, I’ve found a few that stand out above the rest for SD card file recovery. In this article, I’ll share my picks for the best SD card recovery software, as well as tips for using them effectively.
1. Disk Drill
Disk Drill is my top recommendation for DIY SD card recovery. It’s packed with powerful data recovery features, yet easy enough for anyone to use.
Some key advantages:
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Recovers all file types – Disk Drill can rescue documents, media, archives, and more from SD cards. It supports over 200 file formats.
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Has different scanning modes – You can choose a Quick scan for faster, surface-level results or a Deep scan for more in-depth searching.
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Previews files before recovery – With Disk Drill’s “Recovery Vault”, you can preview photos, videos, and documents to check their integrity first.
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Retrieves data after formatting – Even if you’ve accidentally reformatted the SD card, Disk Drill can pull forgotten files from the blank space.
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Supports all storage devices – In addition to SD cards, Disk Drill can recover lost data from hard drives, USB sticks, smartphones, and more.
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Free and paid versions – Disk Drill is free for basic scanning and recovery up to 500MB. Upgrades unlock unlimited data recovery and advanced tools.
With an intuitive interface, strong scanning abilities, and reliable restoration of deleted files, Disk Drill is my go-to recommendation for DIY SD card recovery.
2. Stellar Data Recovery
Stellar Data Recovery is another powerful piece of data recovery software with advanced capabilities for SD cards.
Some of the key features:
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Deep scan available – Like Disk Drill, Stellar offers Quick and Deep scanning modes to dig deeper and find more lost files.
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Photo, video, and audio recovery – It has optimized routines for recovering common media formats like JPEGs, MP4s, and MP3s.
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Creates image files – You can create disk images to preserve the SD card’s structure and contents during data recovery.
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Recovers from formatted cards – Even if the SD card was reformatted, Stellar can pull residual data from the “blank” space.
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24/7 support – Stellar Data Recovery offers round-the-clock technical support in case any issues come up.
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Free and paid versions – The free edition allows basic photo, video, and document recovery. Paid upgrades enable full scanning and unlimited data recovery.
For powerful scanning and data recovery capabilities tailored to multimedia files, Stellar Data Recovery is a top choice. The deep scanning is ideal for pulling erased files from SD cards.
3. Recuva
Recuva earned a spot on my list for its sheer ease of use for recovering files from SD cards. Developed by Piriform, Recuva has a simple wizard-based interface that’s great for beginners.
Key advantages:
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Wizard guides process – Using simple menus and prompts, Recuva walks you through each step of finding and restoring lost files.
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Fast standard scan – It offers a quick initial scan to easily retrieve recently deleted files.
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Deep scan available – An advanced deep scan digs much further to find older erased data.
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Pinpoints recoverable files – Recuva rates and highlights the files it can likely recover based on overwrite status.
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Secure file wiping – For permanently deleting confidential data, Recuva has a secure overwrite tool.
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Free version available – The free edition provides basic recovery capabilities with no limits. Paid Pro version adds features like automatic updates.
For quick and easy SD card recovery, Recuva hits the mark with its intuitive wizard interface and powerful scanning modes. It’s a top choice for restoring accidentally deleted files.
4. DiskInternals Undelete
For my last recommendation, I chose DiskInternals Undelete for its outstanding performance recovering lost data from SD cards and other media.
Here are some of its best features:
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Robust SD card recovery – Undelete excels at recovering files from SD cards, flash drives, HDDs, and more. Supports most file systems.
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Recovers all file types – Undelete can restore images, videos, music, documents, archives, and any other files.
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Preview before recovery – The preview tool lets you view deleted files before attempting data recovery.
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No root required – DiskInternals Undelete doesn’t require admin or root access to scan storage and pull lost data.
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Free trial available – The software is free to use for up to 1GB of recovery before needing to purchase a license.
With powerful file recovery capabilities, an intuitive interface, and effective undelete features, DiskInternals Undelete is a great choice for both personal and professional use. The free trial makes it easy to test out before buying.
How to Use SD Card Recovery Software Effectively
To maximize your chances of restoring lost files through SD card recovery software, keep these tips in mind:
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Don’t overwrite the card – Once files are deleted, avoid saving anything new to the SD card. Overwriting can make data unrecoverable.
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Scan sooner than later – Run data recovery tools as soon as possible after data loss. Deleted files get harder to recover over time.
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Try multiple tools – If one program can’t find your lost files, try a different piece of recovery software for better results.
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Pick Deep scan mode – For retrieving older deleted data, always choose the Deep or Advanced scan option when available.
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Save to another drive – When restoring recovered files, save them onto another device like your computer rather than the SD card.
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Look in unlikely places – SD card recovery tools can rescue files even from unexpected places like free space and partitions.
With the right software and careful data handling, you stand an excellent chance of getting lost pictures, videos, documents, and other important files back after accidental deletion from your SD card.
