How to recover deleted pictures from sd card?

​Recovering deleted pictures from an SD card can be a stressful experience, especially when the images are important. Fortunately, there are multiple methods and tools that can help retrieve these lost files, depending on the circumstances and the type of damage or loss.

SD Card Data Loss

Before diving into recovery methods, it’s important to understand how data loss occurs on an SD card. There are a number of reasons why pictures might be deleted, including:

Accidental Deletion: Perhaps the most common cause, where users unintentionally delete files either directly from the card or from a device like a camera or smartphone.

Corruption: Corruption can happen due to improper ejection, power loss, or using the SD card in different devices without proper formatting.

Formatting: If the SD card has been formatted, all data, including photos, is erased, although recovery may still be possible.

Physical Damage: While physical damage can make the card unreadable, it’s possible to recover data in some cases by using specialized services.

Understanding these scenarios will help you choose the right recovery method and tools.

Important Considerations Before Starting the Recovery Process

Before you attempt to recover deleted pictures from your SD card, there are a few crucial points to keep in mind:

Stop Using the Card Immediately: Once you realize that files have been deleted or the card is corrupted, stop using it immediately. Continuing to write new data can overwrite the deleted files, making recovery much more difficult or even impossible.

Check for Physical Damage: Inspect the SD card for any signs of physical damage like cracks, bent pins, or water exposure. If there is visible damage, using software recovery tools might not work, and professional data recovery services may be required.

Backup Other Data First: If you’re still able to access part of the data on your SD card, make sure to back it up to another storage medium (e.g., a computer, external hard drive, or cloud storage). This helps preserve any intact files while focusing on the recovery process for the deleted photos.

Step 1: Choose the Right Data Recovery Software

Panda Assistant supports a wide array of file types, including images, videos, documents, and audio files. It is effective in recovering files that have been accidentally deleted, lost due to formatting, or corrupted by system failures, virus attacks, or other unexpected events. The tool provides two scanning modes: a quick scan for recently deleted files and a deep scan for more comprehensive file recovery, including those lost over longer periods or due to deeper corruption.

One of the standout features of Panda Assistant is its ability to preview recovered files before finalizing the restoration process. This ensures that users can verify the integrity of their files before saving them. Additionally, Panda Assistant supports multiple file systems, including NTFS, FAT32. and exFAT, making it versatile for use with different devices.

Step 2: Connect Your SD Card to Your Computer

To begin the recovery process, you’ll need to connect your SD card to your computer. This can be done using either a built-in card reader or an external card reader. Ensure that the card is properly inserted into the reader and that it’s recognized by your computer before proceeding.

Built-In Card Reader: Many laptops and desktop computers come with a built-in SD card slot, making it easy to insert your SD card and begin the recovery process. If your computer has a built-in reader, simply insert the SD card and ensure it appears in your file explorer.

External Card Reader: If your computer doesn’t have an SD card slot, you can use an external card reader. Insert your SD card into the reader, then plug the reader into a USB port on your computer. Make sure the card is properly recognized.

Mac Users: For macOS users, the SD card should automatically show up as an external drive in the Finder window once inserted into the computer.

Step 3: Install and Launch the Recovery Tool

After choosing your recovery software, download and install it on your computer. Most recovery tools will have easy installation processes that involve following on-screen instructions. Once installed, open the application.

Here’s how to launch the tool based on your chosen software:

Panda Data Recovery: Open the program and select the SD card from the list of available drives. The program will scan the drive for any deleted files.

Recuva: Start the program and choose the SD card as the location to scan. Select “Pictures” as the file type to focus the scan on photo recovery.

Disk Drill: Open the tool, select your SD card, and initiate a scan. Disk Drill will also display available options for scanning, including Quick Scan or Deep Scan.

EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard: Select the SD card from the drive list, choose the file types you want to recover, and initiate the scan.

PhotoRec: Open the terminal (for macOS or Linux) or the command prompt (for Windows) and navigate to the PhotoRec folder. Run the program and follow the prompts to recover your deleted files.

Step 4: Scan the SD Card for Deleted Photos

Once you’ve selected your SD card as the target device for recovery, the next step is to scan the card for deleted files. This process may take a few minutes, depending on the size of the SD card and the recovery tool you are using.

Quick Scan vs. Deep Scan

Most recovery tools offer a choice between a quick scan and a deep scan. The quick scan is faster but less thorough, while a deep scan will take more time but is more likely to find files that have been deleted for a longer period of time or files that are more deeply hidden.

Quick Scan: This will check for recently deleted files that may still be accessible in the card’s file system.

Deep Scan: This performs a more thorough search, scanning the SD card sector by sector and recovering files that may have been lost or overwritten.

Choose the scan that best fits your needs. If the quick scan doesn’t yield results, you can always run a deep scan afterward.

Step 5: Preview and Select the Files to Recover

After the scan completes, the software will display a list of recoverable files. Most tools allow you to preview the deleted images before selecting them for recovery. Look through the previewed files and choose the photos you want to restore.

Sorting and Filtering Options: Many tools let you sort files by file type, size, and date, making it easier to find the photos you’re looking for. Some recovery programs also have a “filter” feature to show only image files.

Step 6: Recover the Photos

Once you’ve selected the photos you want to recover, the next step is to recover them to a safe location.

Important: Do not recover the files directly to the SD card from which you are recovering them. Doing so can overwrite existing files and lead to data loss. Instead, recover the files to your computer’s hard drive or an external storage device.

Step 7: Check the Recovered Photos

After the recovery process is complete, navigate to the folder where you saved the recovered images. Open the files to check their integrity and quality. If the photos are corrupted or cannot be opened, you might need to try other recovery tools or consult a professional data recovery service.

Step 8: Backup Your Photos

Once you’ve recovered your deleted photos, it’s important to back them up to avoid future data loss. Consider creating a backup on a cloud storage service, an external hard drive, or another secure medium. Regular backups can save you from the stress of losing precious photos again in the future.

Step 9: Prevent Future Data Loss

To avoid the risk of losing data again, consider taking the following preventive measures:

Eject the SD Card Properly: Always use the proper ejection procedure before removing your SD card from a device. This will minimize the risk of file corruption.

Use Trusted Software: Avoid using untrusted software or third-party apps that might corrupt your SD card.

Format Your SD Card Regularly: If you’re using the card on multiple devices, formatting it regularly can help avoid issues like corruption or compatibility problems.

Keep a Backup: Regularly backup your photos and important files to an external device or cloud storage.