Recover Deleted Files from SD Card Not in Recycle Bin [Without or With Software]

User Case

Why Didn't My Deleted Files from SD Card Go to the Recycle Bin?

When you delete files from an SD card, they do not go to the Recycle Bin—and this is by design.The Recycle Bin only works for files deleted from internal storage. If you delete files from external storage devices, such as SD cards or USB flash drives, those files are permanently deleted immediately and bypass the Recycle Bin entirely.

• Why This Happens?

The Recycle Bin is managed by the operating system on the internal drive, and only monitors locations it controls directly.SD cards and USB drives are considered removable media, and Windows assumes that deletions from these devices are intentional and don’t require temporary storage.

• What It Means for You?

Once a file is deleted from an SD card, it's not easily recoverable from Recycle Bin.

• Where Do Deleted Files Go If They Are Not in the Recycle Bin?

Deleted files from SD cards or external drives do not go anywhere visible. They stay hidden on the device until they are overwritten.

Recover Deleted Files from a SD Card without Software?[Only Windows 10 & 11]

If you’ve accidentally deleted files from an SD card and want to recover them without installing any third-party software, Windows File Recovery is your go-to option. It’s a free tool provided by Microsoft that works through Command Prompt.

What You’ll Need:

A Windows 10 (version 2004 or later) or Windows 11 computer

Your SD card connected to the computer

Some basic command-line input

Step 1: Go to the Microsoft Store. Search Windows File Recovery, click “Download” to get the installer, and follow the on-screen instruction to install it on your computer.

Step 2: Connect your SD card to the computer using either an available SD card slot or a card reader. Open File Explorer and find the drive letter (e.g., H:).

Step 3: Press Win+X, select Command Prompt (Admin). If you are using Windows 11, select Terminal (Admin).

Step 4: Run this basic command: winfr H: D: /regular /n *.jpg /n *.png

Follow the on-screen instructions and wait for the recovery process to complete. Once it reaches 100%, directly press "Y" to open the folder where your recovered files are saved.

For users running Windows 10/11, Windows File Recovery offers a reliable, software-free way to retrieve deleted SD card files even if they were not sent to the Recycle Bin.

How to Recover SD Card Deleted Files Not in Recycle Bin in All Windows OS

While Windows File Recovery is a powerful free solution, it comes with a few limitations: ☹️only works on Windows 10 version 2004 and later; ☹️requires command-line input, which can be confusing or error-prone, ☹️doesn’t offer preview before recovery.

If you're using an older version of Windows (like Windows 7, 8, or early Windows 10), or if you prefer a simple and visual interface to recover deleted files from SD card not in Recycle Bin, you can try a professional data recovery tool like MyRecover. It is beginner-friendly yet powerful, supporting all Windows versions(7,8.1,8,10,11 and Server 2025,2022,2019,2016,2012) and works with SD cards, USB drives, HDDs, SSDs, and more.

★Key Features:

Supports 1000+ file types, including photos, videos, documents, audio files, emails, archives, and more

Works in 500+ data loss scenarios: accidental deletion, formatting, RAW drive, system crash, virus attack, partition loss, etc.

File preview before recovery: Instantly preview deleted photos, videos, documents, and more so you can selectively recover exactly what you need.

Fast scanning with high recovery success rate: Combines Quick Scan and Deep Scan technologies to locate lost files efficiently, ensuring a high recovery rate even in complex situations.

Recover data from FAT32, exFAT, NTFS, ReFS and even Ext4 drive, ideal for SD cards, USB flash drives, HDDs, SSDs, and Linux-formatted disks.

Just a few clicks, no technical knowledge required: Designed for all users, MyRecover’s clean and intuitive interface makes file recovery as easy as navigating a folder. 

Step 1: Download and install the software. Once installed, launch the program.

MyRecover

Recover anything, from any scenario — in just a few clicks.

Try it Free
Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7& Server

Step 2: On the main screen, select your SD card, then click "Scan". MyRecover will automatically start a "Quick Scan" or a "Deep Scan" based on the drive status to search for deleted or lost files.

Step3: After scanning, browse through the results, or use the "Search bar" or "Filter feature" to quickly locate specific file types. Preview your files and select what you want to recover (photos, videos, documents, etc.).

Step 4: Click the "Recover" button and choose a different drive (not the SD card) to save your recovered files safely.

When the recovery is finished, a mini summary window will pop out to notify how many files have been recovered successfully and where you can access them now.

Conclusion

When you delete files from an SD card, USB flash drive, or other removable media, they don’t go to the Recycle Bin. That means you’ll need to take alternative recovery measures to recover deleted files from SD card not in Recycle Bin. If you prefer not to use third-party software, the Windows File Recovery command-line tool is a viable option provided you're using Windows 10 version 2004 or later.

However, if you’re on an older Windows version, or simply want a more intuitive, user-friendly experience, you can rely on MyRecover. It supports all versions of Windows, and offers a faster, easier, and visual recovery process, perfect for all users, no technical skills required. Moreover, it comes with more advanced functions like recovering data from computer that won’t boot.