Accidental Format? Master Format Photo Recovery in 5 Simple Steps

How to Recover Photos After Formatting An SD Card?

If you have formatted an SD card, external hard drive, or other device that contains photos by accident, please stop using it until you find a way to recover. You may ask, Is it possible to recover photos from a formatted device? How to recover photos after formatting? Don’t worry, you will find answers here.

What Happens When You Format An SD Card?

As a matter of fact, it depends on the operation when you format the SD Card. First of all, you have to know the difference between quick format and full format.

• A Quick Format, which is the default option in Windows and most cameras, deletes the file table, not all these files. So, you can recover photos from a formatted SD card if you use a quick format.
• A Full Format deletes the file table, scans the entire drive for bad sectors, and writes zeros to every sector, effectively erasing the data for good. It costs much more time to perform. Thus, the format photo recovery might be impossible if you perform a full format.

Thus, quick format doesn't immediately erase the data. It removes the file table, which makes the operating system unable to find your photos, but these photos are still physically there. It will mark these spaces "available" for new information. Full format makes it not possible to perform the format photo recovery.

Preparing for a Successful Photo Recovery

Isolate the card immediately to prevent any changes if you perform a quick format, like a camera taking a new photo or a computer saving a temporary file, risk losing your files permanently. This preparation phase is what separates a successful recovery story from a tragic one.

The moment you realize the mistake, your first instinct should be to power down the device.

• If you formatted the card in your camera, turn the camera off.
• If it’s in a card reader connected to your computer, safely eject the reader or, if unsure, unplug it.

Best Format Photo Recovery App - MyRecover

With the card safely isolated, the next decision is selecting your recovery tool. The market is flooded with options, from free utilities to professional-grade software. When looking for a reliable format photo recovery app, consider factors like:

Extensive file system support. The supported file systems, like FAT32, exFAT, NTFS, etc.

Support all photo formats, like JPG/JPEG/JPE, PNG, TIF/TIFF, HEVC/HEIC/HEIF, GIF, PSD, SVG, ARW, X3F, etc.

User-friendly interface. You can easily recover files from the interface even for a newbie.

Highest recovery rate. The 99% recovery rate helps you to recover files easily and quickly.

Quick scan and deep scan. The data recovery software scans files quickly and deeply to recover every possible file.

Flexible options. MyRecover provides a free version and paid versions for you to recover files easily according to your different demands.

Fortunately, MyRecover is such a professional data recovery software that meets all the above requirements. Besides, it simplifies what could be a technically daunting task and makes it straightforward: connect, scan, preview, and recover. Thus, it’s worth trying to recover photos from a formatted SD card, external hard drive, etc.

How to recover photos from an SD card after formatting with MyRecover, check the following steps:

1. Connect the SD card or other formatted device that you want to recover photos from. Launch MyRecover after installing it.

2. Tap Format Recovery, find your formatted SD card, and hit Scan.

3. It will use a deep scan to find all files that need recovering, and hit OK when done.

4. Find your photos and preview to ensure they are intact. Then choose these photos, and hit Recover.

5. Choose a safe location to save these recovered photos, and hit Select Folder.

Tips:✎...

You can recover unlimited files as you like.

Previewing files before recovery is very helpful to find the correct files.

Besides, you can filter these photos by file type, path, filename, and file size.

If you need to recover files from unlimited computers, MyRecover Technician is your best shot.

Once the recovery process is complete, navigate to this location and open a few files to confirm they are working correctly. Only after you have verified that your photos are fully restored should you consider reformatting the SD card again (in the device you plan to use it in) to ensure a clean file system for future use.

Tips for Preventing Future Data Loss

After going through the stress of data recovery, you'll be highly motivated to avoid a repeat performance. Establishing simple, consistent habits can save you from future headaches.

• The golden rule of data management is the 3-2-1 Backup Rule: have at least three total copies of your data, two of which are on different mediums (e.g., internal drive and external drive), and one copy off-site (e.g., cloud storage).
• Regular Backups and Safe Ejection. Make it a ritual to back up your photos immediately after a photoshoot or a trip. Use an external hard drive or a cloud service like Google Photos, iCloud, or Dropbox. Furthermore, always eject your SD card safely from your computer. Use the "Safely Remove Hardware" feature on Windows or the "Eject" command on Mac before physically unplugging the card reader.
• Store them in a protective case, keep them away from moisture and extreme temperatures, and avoid touching the gold contacts.

FAQs on Format Photo Recovery

Can I recover photos after formatting an SD card?

A: Yes, recovery is often possible if you act fast. Formatting (especially a Quick Format) removes the file index but not the actual data. Your photos remain until overwritten by new files. A specialized recovery app like MyRecover can scan the card and reconstruct your lost images.

What is the best format photo recovery app?

A: The best app depends on your needs. MyRecover is a strong choice for its user-friendly interface and powerful deep scan. Other good options include Stellar Photo Recovery, Disk Drill, and the free software Recuva. Look for an app that lets you preview files before recovering them.

How long does the photo recovery process usually take?

A: The time needed varies greatly. A quick scan on a small card may take minutes, while a deep scan on a large, high-capacity card can take hours. Your card reader and computer speed also affect the duration. Patience is key for a thorough scan.

Can I recover photos from an SD card that was formatted and then used again?

A: Your chances are much lower. Recovery depends on how much new data was saved. A few new pictures might allow partial recovery, but extensively using the card afterward likely overwrote your original photos, making them lost. This is why immediate action is critical.

Why shouldn't I save the recovered photos back onto the original SD card?

A: This is a critical mistake. Saving recovered files back to the same card risks overwriting the deleted photos you're still trying to recover, potentially corrupting them permanently. Always save your recovered photos to a different, safe location like your computer's hard drive.

My SD card is physically damaged. Can I still recover photos from it?

A: If the card is physically damaged (cracked, water-logged, etc.), consumer software will not work. Your only option is a professional data recovery service, which can be very expensive and is typically only considered for irreplaceable data.

Conclusion

Until now, a format photo recovery can be performed quickly, and recover photos easily from your formatted SD card, external hard drive, or other devices. Besides, if you need to recover files from an NTFS hard drive, a RAW partition, or a corrupted SD Card, MyRecover can also help.