How to Check SD Card Health on Windows [Safe & Efficient]

Updated by

Sherly 

Updated on May 07, 2024

Overview of checking SD card health on Windows: Checking the health of an SD card on Windows involves using built-in tools or third-party software to assess its condition, detect errors, and ensure optimal performance. Here's a general outline of the process: 1. **Connect the SD Card**: Insert the SD card into your computer's SD card reader or use a USB SD card reader if your computer doesn't have a built-in slot. 2. **Open File Explorer**: Click on the File Explorer icon in the taskbar or press `Win + E` to open it. 3. **Locate the SD Card**: In the left pane, under "This PC" or "Devices with Removable Storage," find the SD card's drive letter (e.g., E: or F:). 4. **Check Properties**: Right-click on the SD card and select "Properties." In the Properties window, go to the "Tools" tab. Here, you can perform two essential checks: - **Error Checking**: Click the "Check" button under the "Error Checking" section. Windows will scan the SD card for bad sectors and file system errors. If prompted, restart your computer to complete the process. - **Disk Management**: This won't directly check the card's health, but it can help in managing partitions or formatting the card. To access Disk Management, press `Win + X` and choose "Disk Management." Look for the SD card and check its status, such as "Healthy" or "Unallocated." 5. **Use Third-Party Tools**: - **CrystalDiskInfo**: This free software provides detailed information about the SD card's health, including S.M.A.R.T. (Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology) attributes. Download, install, and run the tool, then select the SD card from the list. - **HDDScan**: Another free utility that can perform surface scans to detect bad sectors and assess the SD card's health. 6. **Data Recovery Software**: If you suspect issues with the SD card, you might also want to use data recovery software like Recuva or tools Data Recovery Wizard to check for recoverable files before proceeding with any repairs. 7. **Format the SD Card**: If the SD card shows signs of corruption or poor health, you may need to format it. Be cautious, as this will erase all data. In File Explorer or Disk Management, right-click the SD card and choose "Format." Set the file system (usually FAT32 or exFAT) and click "OK." Remember that regularly checking your SD card's health can help prevent data loss and ensure reliable performance.

SD cards are highly valued by tech enthusiasts in modern times. Their compact size enables expanded digital storage, enabling you to store and access files on the go, particularly when dealing with large data files like high-resolution images and videos. Nobody wants to encounter an error message indicating that their SD card is in poor condition or malfunctioning. This article aims to teach you how to perform SD card health checks to avert SD card failure and safeguard against data loss. Firstly, understanding the significance of checking SD card health is crucial. If this article assists you in checking SD card health on Windows, please consider sharing it on your social media platforms.

Why Check SD Card Health on Windows

You might begin by wondering, "Why should I check the health of my SD card?" Well, put simply, if your files and data matter to you, it's worthwhile to ensure the storage devices holding them are functioning correctly. Over time, SD cards become more susceptible to problems like accessibility errors and file corruption. This is because standard SD cards utilize "flash memory." This type of memory offers advantages like efficient data writing and rewriting without mechanical components and lower power usage. However, it also comes with the risk of wear and potential issues over extended use.

See Also: How to Identify Fake SD Card by Running SD Card Speed Test

Unfortunately, the main downside is that flash memory has a finite lifespan. Eventually, your SD card will start to wear down, leading to malfunctions in most of its functions. But don't worry, it takes quite some time before this becomes a significant problem, so there's no need to panic and go buying piles of SD cards. What's important is to stay on top of your SD card's health to anticipate and avoid issues beforehand. That's where testing the health status of an SD card comes in, and why it's crucial.

Next, let's learn how to check SD card health in the following two ways.

"Check SD Card Health on Windows - 2 Safe Methods"

Verifying the health of an SD card on Windows PCs can be a straightforward process with the assistance of the right tools. This section outlines two methods to help check the SD card's health on Windows 11/10/8/7, Windows XP, or Windows Vista. Let's first explore the simpler approach.

Method 1: Check SD Card Health on Windows using Partition Master Tool

tools Partition Master is a professional SD card health checker for all Windows users. It can assess the SD card's health status by displaying any bad sectors on it. Moreover, its well-organized and user-friendly interface makes it effortless to use, even for beginners. Simply download the tool and follow the instructions below to verify if your SD card is genuine and in good condition.

Step 1. Launch tools Partition Master. Right-click the hard drive that you want to check and choose "Surface Test".

Step 2. The operation will be performed immediately, and all bad sectors will be marked in red.

Upon completion, you'll get detailed SD card health test results. If the status is good, continue using the SD card. If not (with many bad sectors on the SD card), back up your crucial data beforehand.

What can Partition Master tools do to resolve SD card issues? Let's continue reading to find out.

To help resolve SD card issues, Partition Master can do a lot, such as:

• Clone SD card
• Repair bad sectors on SD card
• Format SD card on Windows 10
• Merge/split partitions on an SD card
• Check file system errors on SD card
• Run SD or micro SD card speed test to identify fake SD/microSD cards

To check SD card health on Windows or perform an SD card speed test on Windows PCs, download the tool Partition Master to try.

Way 2. Check SD Card Health on Windows using Command Prompt - Difficult

Command Prompt is also a utility that can check the status of an SD card. However, CMD is better suited for experienced users since users need to type commands during the checking process. So, for those without much computing experience, Method 1 is a better option.

Here's how to use CMD to check the health of an SD card on Windows:

Step 1. Press the Windows icon key + R to open a Run dialog box. In this window, type "cmd" and select "Command Prompt."

Step 2. Type "wmic" in the CMD window.

Step 3. Next, type "diskdrive get status" and press "Enter."

Here it is translated into English:

Here are the translations for the given text:
• If your SD card is healthy, CMD will display "OK."
• If your SD card is unhealthy and about to fail soon, CMD will show "Pred Fail."

In this article, we provide 2 methods to help you check your SD card's health. If you'd like to learn more methods and information, you can watch the video below.

Likewise, back up your crucial data on your SD card when CMD warns you that the SD card is about to fail. Additionally, if you want to gather more information such as Power On Hours, SD Card Serial Number, and so on, you'll need to utilize a tool like Partition Master. This utility can also assist in checking the health status of SSDs, HDDs, or external hard drives. Explore the links below for further information:

Conclusion

Tools sincerely hopes that you now understand the importance of regularly checking your SD card's health to ensure the long-term safety of your crucial files and documents. You've also learned how to test SD card health. CMD is a dependable option for experienced users, whereas Tools Partition Master is the ideal choice regardless of your computing experience. When performing an SD card health check with Tools Partition Master, you can do so with ease, as it offers a more comprehensive test result compared to CMD. It even allows you to test the SD card's speed on a Windows PC and verify if your SD card is genuine. Download this tool to effectively manage your SD card.

"Check SD Card Health Windows FAQs" translates to "Check SD Card Health in Windows Frequently Asked Questions."

Now that you know how to check SD card health on Windows, this section might be helpful if you have any other queries regarding today's topic.

**1. How do I check the health of my microSD card?**

Windows includes built-in tools to check for file system errors on a microSD card.

Step 1. Open File Explorer and right-click on your microSD card.

Step 2. From there, you can run a health check scan on your micro SD card, which will diagnose and correct any errors.

2. How to check micro SD card health on Android?

What you need to do is download a reliable SD card health detection tool on your Android phone. For instance, you can use SD Insight. Install this Android app on your device and utilize its sector testing function to assess the condition of your memory card.

3. How to check SD card health on Mac?

On a Mac, you'll need Disk Utility to check the health status of an SD card.

Step 1. Open 'Finder' and select 'Applications' to access it.

Step 2. Choose 'Disk Utility' from the 'Utilities' tab.

Step 3. Insert the SD card into a reader, then open Disk Utility and select the appropriate drive (labeled with your SD card's name).

Step 4. Choose 'First Aid' to scan your SD card and address any issues found.