Losing data from a SanDisk memory card due to accidental deletion can be a really frustrating ordeal, but there are effective ways to retrieve lost files and address card issues. This guide focuses on tools for quickly and safely recovering data from a SanDisk memory card on Windows, and solving the corruption issues.
SanDisk is a world-renowned brand of storage devices, renowned for the high performance and reliability of its memory cards, which are widely used in devices such as mobile phones, cameras, and drones. When you accidentally deleting a cherished photo from a SanDisk memory card can be a desperate situation, as unlike deleting from a mobile phone or computer—where features like the Recycle Bin allow for recovery—this isn’t the case here.
In that case, you may wonder: can I retrieve deleted photos from a SanDisk memory card? The answer is absolutely yes—with right methods or tools. This article will explore two professional recovery tools for recovering data from SanDisk memory card both for advanced users and beginners.
But before diving into SanDisk data recovery, it’s important to understand what typically causes data loss in the first place. Understanding what went wrong can help you prevent future incidents. Some common causes include:
The two free SanDisk data recovery software mentioned below can cover all the above data loss scenarios. Don’t hesitate—follow these steps to retrieve your data.
As mentioned above, you cannot directly recover data from features like "Recycle Bin" on SanDisk memory card. Therefore, you can connect the SanDisk memory card to your computer using a card reader, and then use professional data recovery tools to retrieve the lost data.
Windows File Recovery is a command-line tool provided by Microsoft for restoring lost files. It works well if the data hasn’t been overwritten yet. It can scan the SanDisk card for recoverable files and attempt to restore them based on the Windows File Recovery command you entered.
Step 1. Download and install Windows File Recovery from the official Microsoft channel on your computer.
Step 2. Connect your SanDisk memory card to your computer.
Step 3. Launch Windows File Recovery and run it as administrator.
Step 4. Type the command "winfr F: E: /regular" and press "Enter". Replace the drive letters "F" (the source drive letter) and "E" (the destination drive letter) with your actual drive letters.
"Regular" indicates a quick scan. If you want a more comprehensive scan for lost data, you can switch to "Extensive" mode, which will take more time to perform a deep scan and find more files.
If you want to recover a specific file, file type, or folder, you can add a filter command after the basic command. For example, if you want to recover photo files from your SanDisk card, you can enter the following command "winfr H: D: /extensive /n *.png".
When the process is finished, press "y" to check the recovered files in the destination folder.
If you prefer not to use command-line tools, the professional data recovery tool MyRecover is surely what you’re looking for. Similar to how Windows File Recovery works, it can scan for and recover lost files from SD cards, USB drives, HDDs, SSDs, camera memory cards and more devices. Here are the standout features of MyRecover.
✅No Command Line Needed – Simple GUI (graphical interface) for easy file recovery.
✅500+ Devices Support – Recover files from all types of devices like SSD, HDD, USB flash drive, SD card, cameras and more.
✅Handle 500+ Data Loss Scenarios - Recover from deleted or formatted partition, emptied Recycle Bin, system crash, virus attack, etc.
✅Supports over 1,000 File Types – Including documents, photos, videos, audio, archives, and Outlook data files.
✅OS Compatibility – Work not only on Windows 11 /10, but also on Windows 8.1/ 8/ 7 and all Servers.
4 Steps to Recover Data from SanDisk Memory Card
Step 1. Download and install MyRecover on your computer from secure channel. Insert your SanDisk memory card into your computer.
Step 2. Select the SanDisk memory card drive to scan for lost data and click "Scan".
Step 3. Choose the files you wish to recover from the recoverable lists and click "Recover". If you are recovering files from formatted SD card, you can still use "Deep Scan" feature to find more fragmented file clues.
Step 4. Select a different location (not the SanDisk memory card) to save the recovered files.
Once the process is completed, the message "Files have been recovered successfully" will pop up. You can click the designated folder to access and check them.
Sometimes, data loss can also be caused by issues with the storage device itself, such as a SanDisk card crash. You can first use the methods mentioned above to recover the data and save the recovered files to a secure location, then repair the crashed SanDisk memory card.
A bad card reader or USB port can prevent a SanDisk card from being recognized by Windows, which may lead you to mistakenly think that the SanDisk card itself is faulty. Try using a different card reader or USB port, or check if the SD card works properly on another device.
CHKDSK command is a built-in Windows utility that checks for file system errors and tries to fix them. It repairs logical error on the card, making data accessible again. Here's how:
Step 1. Open "Command Prompt" and run it as asministrator.
Step 2. Type the following command "chkdsk G: /f /r" and press "Enter" to start the process.
Wait for the command to complete the scan and repair. After the scan, check if your files are now accessible.
Formatting is indeed one of the most effective ways to repair a crashed SanDisk card, but it will also erase all data on the card in the process. It reconfigures the file system, making the card reusable once again. Try this only after SanDisk card recovery.
Step 1. Press "Win +X" and select "Disk Management".
Step 2. Select the SanDisk card drive and right click on it, then choose "Format".
Step 3. Tick the "Perform a quick format" option and click "OK" to start the process.
By this point, it’s believed that you’ve gained a clear understanding of how to recover data from a SanDisk card and how to fix a crashed one. Whether you choose command-line tool Windows File Recovery, or GUI tools like MyRecover, there’s a strong chance you can get your files back — especially if you act quickly.
And if you’re looking to meet advanced needs like preview before restoration, and unlimited file recovery quota, MyRecover’s Professional version takes the hassle out of data retrieval—making it a worthwhile upgrade for anyone who values their data.
