In today’s digital era, SD cards are widely used as a storage solution by various professionals, including photographers and videographers. SD cards are mainly known for their convenience, reliability, and durability. However, despite these features, you may sometimes encounter corruption or data loss issues on your SD cards. There are several reasons, ranging from improper ejection to formatting errors, why your SD card gets corrupted.
Fortunately, several quick fixes and photo recovery methods are available that you can try to resolve the issue. In this article, we’ll explore the best practices for preventing SD card corruption and photo loss. We’ll also introduce a professional photo recovery tool that helps you recover lost files and retrieve your valuable memories with ease. So let’s get started!
Common Causes of SD Card Corruption and Photo Loss
Before diving into adequate repair methods to fix your corrupt SD card and SD card recovery, try understanding the common reasons for the same. Here are a few of them:
- Improper Ejection: Removing your SD card improperly can result in incomplete write processes, causing corruption issues.
- Sudden Power Failures: Unexpected shutdowns or sudden power failures during data transfer or while using the SD card can cause unreadable files.
- Physical Damage: If your SD card is physically damaged, whether due to mishandling or wear and tear, it increases the chances of data failure.
- Virus or Malware Attacks: Malicious programs like viruses or malware can damage SD cards or corrupt files stored on them.
- Overuse or Ageing: SD cards have a finite lifespan. Continuous usage for a long time can introduce data corruption.
How do I Prevent SD Card Corruption and Photo Loss?
Photo loss can be emotionally and professionally devastating. If you have even found your SD card in a corrupt state or encountered data loss issues on it, don’t worry. Go with the following workarounds one-by-one to fix such issues:
Method 01: Always Safely Eject the SD Card
One of the best practices to avoid SD card-related issues is to safely eject it from devices. Whether you are transferring files to a computer or camera, always use the “Safely Remove Hardware” option while ejecting it. This ensures that all ongoing read/write processes are properly completed before removal.
Note: Removing the card forcefully without the safe eject option can interrupt data transfer and lead to corruption or file loss.
Method 02: Use Quality SD Cards
Not all SD cards offer the same reliability. Make sure you are investing in a reliable and trusted SD card brand like SanDisk, Samsung, or Kingston. Cheap or counterfeit cards often use inferior components and are more prone to failure.
Here are key points that you must check while buying SD cards:
- Check for waterproof, shockproof, and temperature-resistant labels.
- Verify capacity claims with reliable benchmarks.
- Always buy from authorised resellers to ensure you’re getting a genuine product.
Method 03: Format the SD Card Properly
Formatting the SD card properly helps you to remove hidden errors and clutter. This also helps in removing corrupted files, clearing unnecessary data, and fixing file system errors. However, it is good to format your SD card only after creating a proper backup of all important files. To format your SD card:
- Connect your SD card to your computer using a card reader.
- Launch File Explorer (Windows) or Finder (Mac).
- Right-click on the SD card and select Format.
- Choose the file system (exFAT or FAT32), then select Quick Format.
- Click Start and confirm the action (when prompted).
- Wait for the process to complete, then safely eject the card from your device.
Method 04: Protect Against Malware And Viruses
Malicious programs like viruses or malware are also one of the main reasons for SD card corruption and data loss. These harmful threats can infect the card when it is connected to unsecured devices or networks. To protect your SD card from such attacks, it’s important to install a reliable antivirus software on your computer or smartphone.
Scan your device regularly using these antivirus tools. This can help you detect and eliminate threats easily. Additionally, avoid connecting your SD card to unknown or infected systems. Taking these precautions will greatly reduce the chances of data corruption or loss.
How to Recover Photos Lost/Deleted from Corrupted SD Cards?
Having a corrupt SD Card not only hampers your work but also sometimes causes data loss issues on it. Losing important files, especially your important photos from your SD card, can put you in trouble. Fortunately, There are several methods available online that you can try when it comes to photo recovery. Stellar Photo Recovery is an all-in-one photo recovery software which allows you to recover photos lost due to multiple reasons, including photos, videos, documents, and many more.
In addition to photos, the Stellar Photo Recovery tool allows you to restore deleted video and audio files of various file formats. The software is available in multiple versions, varying in features and prices. This photo recovery software allows you to restore multimedia files deleted from SD cards, USB drives, external storage devices, and more.
Here’s how to recover photos lost from a corrupt SD card using the Stellar Photo Recovery software:
Step 1: Download and install the Stellar Photo Recovery tool on your Windows PC/Mac. Also, connect your corrupt SD card where your deleted photos were earlier stored into your computer using a card reader.
Step 2: Launch the software and from the homepage, select Photos (or the type of file you want to restore) and click Next.
Step 3: Select your SD card from the list of available drives and click Scan to initiate the scanning process.
Step 4: Once the scan is complete, preview the recoverable photos and select the ones you want to restore. Click on “Recover” to save them to a secure location on your computer.
Tip: Avoid saving recovered files back onto the same SD card to prevent overwriting or further damage.
Final Thoughts
SD cards are valuable storage devices that allow you to capture, store, and share memories. However, they are not immune to corruption and data loss issues. By adopting best practices like safely ejecting cards, creating backups, etc., you can protect your memories from unexpected disasters. Moreover, if you encounter photo loss issues on your corrupt SD card, you can use third-party photo recovery software like Stellar Photo Recovery to restore your files.
Whether you accidentally deleted files, formatted the card, or faced corruption, Stellar’s advanced recovery engine can help you retrieve your precious memories without stress or hassle. Stay cautious, stay prepared, and never lose a photo again.