Corrupted SD Card Recovery in 2025
If your SD card isn’t functioning properly, displaying errors, or not being recognized by your device, you might think it’s corrupted. But exactly how do you know if SD card is corrupted? What are the warning signs, and more importantly, can you fix a corrupted SD card on Windows 10/11? In this guide, we’ll answer these queries and show you tested solutions to fix corrupted SD card , as well as how to safely rescue your data from it!
Part 1: How Do You Know If an SD Card Is Corrupted?
If you’re thinking, “How do you know if SD card is corrupted,” it’s not like the card will flash a big neon ‘CORRUPTED’ sign at you. But it does start displaying weird or out of the norm symptoms.
- Card Not Detected: Your phone, camera, or computer doesn’t recognize the SD card.
- Transfer Errors: Problems happen when copying or moving files to or from the card.
- Missing Files: Some files vanish even though you didn’t remove them.
- Format Problems: You get messages to format the card, or formatting doesn’t function.
- Wrong Storage Size: You buy a 32GB card, but your computer shows it’s only 16GB.
- Very Slow Speed: Trying to move files feels like watching paint dry.
- File Errors: You try to open a file or folder and get hit by corrupted or unreadable pop-ups.
- Corrupted Files: Files look broken, won’t open, or show errors.
Part 2: How to Recover Data From a Corrupted SD Card Easily?
If your SD card displays any of the symptoms mentioned earlier that indicate corruption, you must go for corrupt SD card recovery before you fix it. Stop using the memory card at once. The earlier you act, the better, so you won’t lose the data permanently.
Then, use a specialized SD card recovery tool to extract all your crucial files from the card. One reliable option is 4DDiG Data Recovery, which excels at recovering lost, corrupted, formatted or deleted data from all types of memory cards. Here’s what more this tool brings to the table:
- Offers recovery of 2000 or more file types from SD cards, such as images, audio, video, and documents.
- This tool provides a preview for recovered files by their type and path.
- This app supports various kinds of SD cards like SDHC, SDXC, and microSD.
- Fully compatible with Windows and Mac, with a free version available exclusively for Windows users.
- No technical knowledge required.
Follow the instructions beneath to use this tool for corrupt SD card recovery:
Step 1: Download, install, and execute the memory card recovery tool on your computer. Then, connect your corrupted card to the PC.
Step 2: Choose your SD card once it’s detected by the tool. Pick the file types you wish to recover. Then, hit “Scan.”
Step 3: Once the tool finds your desired data, pause or stop the scan. Preview the recovered files. You can also adjust filter tags to find the files by their size, modified date, etc.
Step 4: Next, select the files. Tap “Recover” to move them to a secure location on your computer or cloud drive.
Part 3: Proven Methods to Fix a Corrupted SD Card
If you’re wondering, “Can you fix a corrupted SD card,” the answer depends on whether the card has logical errors or is physically damaged. Here’s how to repair corrupted SD memory card based on different situations with 8 proven methods:
Fix 1: Perform Basic Checks
If your SanDisk SD card is corrupted, first perform basic checks. This is to rule out physical damage, write-protection lock, and issues in the card reader, which might be the problem, and you believe the card is corrupted. Here’s what to do:
- Check for Physical Damage: First, grab the SD card and really eyeball it. Any cracks? Scratches? Maybe the casing is bent? Flip the card over and peek at the little metal bits. If they’re all corroded or damaged, you’ve got a problem.
- Disable the Write-Protect Lock: Check the side of the SD card for a small switch. Make sure it’s in the “up” or unlocked position. If that little tab’s flipped down, your card’s on write-protection.
- Try Another Card Reader: Sometimes the issue is with the card reader, not the SD card. Try a different reader or test the card on another device, like a camera or computer. If an external reader works, your built-in one may need repair.
Fix 2: Repair SD Card Using CHKDSK
You can fix corrupted SD card with CHDKSK, a Windows-embedded utility. If the card is still readable, yet missing the files due to corruption, CHKDSK can scan it for logical errors. These errors can range from bad sectors to lost clusters or a damaged file system. Here’s how to repair corrupted SD memory card with CHKDSK:
Step 1: Type “cmd” in the Windows search field on the desktop. Next, execute “Command Prompt.”
Step 2: Type in the following command. Hit “Enter” afterward:
- chkdsk [place the SD letter here]: /x /r (x dismounts the card for repairs, /r locates bad sectors and retrieves readable data from them. While /f fix errors in the SD card).
Step 3: Wait for CHKDSK to repair your corrupted memory card.
Fix 3: Scan and Remove Viruses
Sometimes a virus can tinker with your SD card, corrupting it as a result. But if it’s detected by your system, you can remove the corruption by installing and executing an antivirus program like Norton, McAfee, or Avast on your PC. Then, connect the memory card and run a scan from any of these anti-virus software to remove the virus.
Fix 4: Assign a New Drive Letter
In case your SD card appears on Disk Management but not on File Explorer, it could be because of a drive letter conflict. This will prevent access to the card, and you might believe that the SanDisk SD card is corrupted. So, you can assign a new letter to your memory card to troubleshoot the corruption. Here’s how to repair damaged SD card by giving a new drive letter to the card:
Step 1: Right-click the “Start” button on the Windows desktop. Next, execute “Disk Management.”
Step 2: Right-click the corrupted SD card. Choose “Change Drive Letter and Paths.” Next, hit “Add.”
Step 3: Pick a letter for your SD card from the drop-down. Then, check the mark “Assign the following drive letter.” Hit “OK.”
Fix 5: Update or Reinstall SD Card Drivers
Obsolete or corrupted SD card reader drivers can also give an illusion that the SanDisk SD card is corrupted. Thus, you’ll need to update the driver. If that doesn’t do the job, then reinstall it. Here’s how to repair damaged SD card by updating/reinstalling the memory card drivers:
Update the SD Card Driver:
Step 1: Right-click the “Start” button on the Windows desktop. Next, execute “Device Manager.”
Step 2: Tap “Disk drives” to extend it. Next, right-click on the corrupted memory card reader driver. Select “Update driver.”
Reinstall the SD Card Driver:
Step 1: Right-click the “Start” button on the Windows desktop. Next, execute “Device Manager.”
Step 2: Tap “Disk drives” to extend it. Next, right-click on the corrupted memory card reader driver.
Step 3: Click “Uninstall device.”
Fix 6: Remove Hidden/Read-Only Attributes using CMD
If you can’t access the files on your SD card, they might not be corrupted, but concealed from view. In such a case, you can employ the Windows-embedded ATTRIB command to remove the read-only attributes from your memory card. Here’s how to repair corrupted SD memory card by unhiding its files:
Step 1: Type “cmd” in the Windows search field on the desktop. Next, execute “Command Prompt.”
Step 2: Type in the following command. Hit “Enter” afterward:
- attrib -h -r -s /s /d [place the SD card letter here]:\ *.*
Fix 7: Use the Hardware and Devices Troubleshooter
Employ the Windows-embedded Hardware and Devices Troubleshooter if your SD card has hardware corruption. It will scan and list the problems that you can troubleshoot later on. Here’s how to repair damaged SD card with the Hardware and Devices Troubleshooter:
Step 1: Type “Windows + R” in the Windows search field on the desktop. This will execute “Run.”
Step 2: Type in “msdt.exe -id DeviceDiagnostic.” Hit “OK.” Then, click “Next” on the pop-up. This will execute the Troubleshooter.
Fix 8: Format Your SD Card
Formatting a memory card can fix its corrupted file system and boost its performance by clearing unnecessary files and damaged data. It can also repair RAW cards by setting them to FAT32, making them usable again. Here’s how to format a memory card:
Step 1: Connect your corrupted memory card to your computer for access. Open “File Explorer.”
Step 2: Tap “This PC.” Right-click your corrupted SD card. Then, select “Format.”
Step 3: Choose your desired file system, e.g., FAT32. Untick “Quick Format.” Tap “Start.”
Fix 9: Replace the Card With a New One
In case your SD card is severely corrupted or physically damaged and beyond repair, then you’ll have to replace it with a new one. But always choose a credible memory card manufacturer such as SanDisk.
Part 4: Tips to Keep Your SD Cards Safe and Healthy
Even if you repair a corrupted card, there’s no guarantee that the corruption won’t come back. Besides, the more severely corrupted a card is, you won’t be able to employ file retrieval tools yourself.
So, you’ll have to turn to professional data recovery services that are going to cost you an arm and a leg. However, you can avoid this predicament by taking some counter measures to maintain the safety and health of your memory cards. Here’s how to do that:
- Handle & Store Properly: Hold cards by the edges, avoid bending or touching metal contacts, and keep them safe from heat, moisture, and dust. Use protective or waterproof cases for storage.
- Usage & Care: Format cards in the camera before use, eject safely, avoid deleting files directly on the camera, keep some free space, and clean contacts gently. Use card readers instead of connecting cameras directly.
- Data Safety: Back up files quickly using the 3-2-1 rule (3 copies, 2 media types, 1 offsite).
- Other Tips: Use trustworthy brands, replace worn-out cards, label them for easy tracking, update device firmware, and securely wipe data before disposal.
Conclusion
We’ve explained your queries, “How do you know if SD card is corrupted,” and “Can you fix a corrupted SD card,” to the best of our knowledge in the post above. SD card corruption can materialize in many ways, from missing files and slow transfers to device errors and write protection issues.
While some problems can be fixed through basic checks, CHKDSK, virus scans, driver updates, unhiding files, or formatting, severely damaged cards may need replacement. But before you apply any solution to fix corrupted SD card, rescue your data first from the card using a credible tool like 4DDiG Data Recovery.
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