How to Recover Data from a Micro SD Card

Micro SD Card vs SD Card (The Difference)

What is a micro SD card? A micro SD card, also known as a TransFlash or microSD card, is a type of removable flash memory card used for storing data. It is the smallest among all memory cards in terms of dimensions. What is an SD card? An SD card, short for Secure Digital card, is a proprietary non-volatile memory card format developed by the SD Card Association (SDA). It is designed for use in portable devices. What's the difference between them? The primary distinction lies in their physical size. A standard SD card measures 32mm x 24mm x 1.4mm, while a micro SD card has significantly smaller dimensions at 15mm x 11mm x 1mm. This makes micro SD cards more suitable for compact devices where space is limited.

Also read: TF Card VS SD Card

Despite their various appearances, capacities, and denominations, they are essentially slim, lightweight data storage devices. Their specific form factor renders them ideal for removable storage in compact devices, greatly enhancing the convenience of our daily lives. However, occasionally, issues may arise where your micro SD card or SD card becomes corrupted, leading to unexpected data loss. Let's consider an example:

"Last week, I visited my friend and her newborn baby. I captured numerous photographs of the baby on my micro SD card. However, upon returning home and connecting the card to my computer, I encountered an issue where the card wouldn't open. This error has rendered all the files on the card inaccessible. If anyone has any solutions or advice on how to address this, kindly share."

How Can I Recover My Micro SD Card Data (Recommended)?

如今，大多数数字设备都使用micro SD卡和SD卡来扩展存储容量。因此，用户可以在设备上保存图片、视频文件、音乐文件等。这种微型存储设备在全世界的用户中越来越受欢迎。然而，随着其广泛应用，意外的数据丢失灾难时常发生。即使你采取了所有预防措施避免事故，但有一天它仍可能发生。在这种情况下，micro SD卡恢复软件对于挽救包含重要信息的数据至关重要。这里我们推荐你使用Data Recovery Wizard——一个可靠的数据恢复工具，它提供了一个从micro SD卡恢复数据的绝佳方法。它有许多亮点：

• It recovers deleted, formatted, corrupted or lost data.
• It also restores pictures, images, photos, videos from Micro Secure Digital card. (Supports over 1000 types of file formats)
• It features a wizard-like interface, enabling you to easily recover files from an external hard drive or a micro SD memory card.
• It is compatible with all major brands, including SanDisk, Kingston, PNY, Lexar, Transcend, PQI, and more.

Also read: Top 10 SD Card Recovery Software

Now, you can follow the video and the detailed steps to recover data from a micro SD card.

Step 1. Select the SD card to scan First, insert the SD card into your computer's SD card reader or use an external SD card reader if necessary. Then, follow these steps: 1. Launch a reliable data recovery software, such as tools Data Recovery Wizard, Disk Drill, or Recuva. 2. Upon opening the software, you'll see a list of available drives on your system, including the SD card. 3. Identify your SD card from the list. It might be labeled as "SD Card," "Memory Card," or by its specific brand name and capacity. 4. Click on the SD card to select it. 5. Once selected, click on the "Start" or "Scan" button to initiate the scanning process. The software will now scan the SD card for lost files. Note: Depending on the size of the SD card and the depth of the scan, this process may take some time.

1. Download and install the tool "Data Recovery Wizard" on your Windows PC. 2. Connect your SanDisk/Lexar/Transcend SD card to the computer using the correct method. 3. Open the SD card recovery software. All connected drives will be displayed here. Select your SD card and click "Scan".

Step 2. Check for scan results

1. Wait for the scanning process to finish. 2. Click "Filter" and select one or several file types to display, such as Pictures, Word, Excel, PDF, Videos, etc. 3. Click "Preview" to verify if they are the desired files.

Step 3. Recover SD Card Data

1. Select the desired files and click "Recover." 2. Choose a different location to save the recovered files, other than the original SD card.

Can a Micro SD Card Become Damaged or Corrupted?

The answer is undoubtedly Yes. Any device is susceptible to malfunction, and this includes SD, micro SD, mini SD, or any other type of memory card. Signs that a micro SD card or SD card might be faulty, corrupted, or damaged can include the following symptoms:

• You received miscellaneous error messages, such as "memory card error" or "corrupt memory card."
• Files are missing. Most of the photos or other files on your SD card are absent.
• It is not recognizable. It displays "no media" in Windows Disk Management or is not visible at all.
• Black display in the camera. You won't be able to perform any operations on your camera.
• Unknown files appear on the SD card. These might result from a virus infection.

If your SD card or micro SD card exhibits any of these symptoms, you can tell that your SD card or Micro SD card is failing. You need to take action to address the issue with your micro SD card.

How to Repair a Damaged SD Card Without Losing Data

Before discussing the solutions, let's first understand the reasons behind the issue. Why does your micro SD card become faulty? The causes of memory card corruption leading to the aforementioned symptoms are:

• Sudden removal of the memory card from your camera, computer, or smartphone during data transfer or read/write operation
• Accidental deletion of all data (music, photos, videos) from the memory card
• Virus infection or presence of bad sectors on the memory card
• Using the same memory card across multiple devices
• Other unidentified reasons

To repair your corrupted SD card, I have eight solutions in store. It's recommended that SD card users attempt these troubleshooting methods sequentially, depending on the extent of the damage.

Also read: 8 Ways to Repair Corrupted/Damaged SD Card

• Replace the card reader, adapter, or USB port
• Run the Windows Repair Tool
• Change the drive letter assigned to the SD card
• Execute CHKDSK to detect and fix bad sectors on the SD card
• Reinstall the SD card driver
• Format a RAW SD card
• Format a SD card with reduced capacity
• Create a new partition on the unallocated space of the SD card

Once you've resolved your issue, remember the following tips to safeguard your micro SD card and SD card:

• Backup your SD card data beforehand
• Avoid removing the memory card while powering on/off your camera or other devices
• Do not remove the memory card while saving or viewing images
• Don't take or view new photos when the battery is low
• Never switch your SD card while the camera is turned on.

Conclusion

Regardless of whether you've lost data from a corrupted SD card or a formatted microSD card, you can always retrieve your data with the assistance of data recovery software. Firstly, cease using the card and remove it from your camera or phone. Next, locate a computer, download and install the data recovery software, and proceed to recover your data. To prevent data loss, it's advisable to regularly back up your files, be it daily, weekly, or monthly. This way, you can ensure that your data is always recoverable, no matter the situation.