In this guide, you will find out effective methods and tools for how to recover formateted photos from Canon cameras. Even if you've never backed up your data, you'll discover actionable techniques to recover photos from Canon cameras after a format fast, safely, and without data loss.
I just format everything on my Canon SD card but there is important picture and video so can I recover it back and how to recover it?
Hey, I have an Cannon EOS r100 and I formated the SD card by mistake, I really like the Christmas photosthis past yearthat i took and I would like to know if I could recover the Canon camera photosafter formatting. I use a Lexar SDHC 633x/95MB/s 32GB.
Canon is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of digital imaging equipment. Renowned for their exceptional image quality, advanced autofocus systems, and user-friendly designs, Canon cameras, ranging from compact PowerShot models to high-end EOS DSLR and mirrorless series, are trusted by beginners, enthusiasts, and professional photographers alike.
But even the most reliable camera can’t prevent accidental data loss. So, can photos be recovered after formatting a Canon camera? Yes, in most cases, formatted photos can be recovered from Canon camera.
When you format your Canon camera SD card, the system usually just clears the file index, not the actual data. Unless new files have overwritten the old ones, your original photos are still physically stored and can be retrieved using specialized photo recovery software. To help you get those precious memories back from formatted SD card in camera, here are two effective methods—one for users comfortable with command-line tools, and one for those who prefer a simpler, user-friendly interface.
Before attempting any recovery, it’s crucial to take one immediate step: Remove the formatted SD card from your Canon camera as soon as possible, since continuing to use the camera, even turning it on, taking new photos, or navigating menus, can write new data to the SD card, which may permanently overwrite the formatted photos you’re trying to recover.
Step 1. Turn Off the Camera Completely: Press and hold the power button to turn off your Canon camera. Wait a few seconds to ensure all internal processes stop. Never remove the SD card while the camera is still on or writing data.
Step 2. Open the Memory Card Compartment: Locate the SD card compartment. On most Canon cameras, it’s found on the side (for DSLRs/mirrorless) or bottom (for compact models), often near the battery slot. Slide the latch or push the compartment door open gently.
Step 3. Eject the SD Card: Gently press the SD card inward. You’ll hear or feel a soft click.Release it, and the card will partially pop out. Carefully pull the card out without forcing or bending it.
Once the SD card is safely removed from your Canon camera, you have to safely connect the SD card to a working computer. Prepare a card reader, insert the SD card firmly and evenly into the reader slot,don’t force it.
Windows File Recovery is a free utility developed by Microsoft that allows advanced users to recover deleted or formatted files using Command Prompt. It works on Windows 10 version 2004 and above.
Step 1. Go to the Microsoft Store and search for "Windows File Recovery," then download andinstall it.
Step 2. Press "Win+ X" and select "Command Prompt (Admin)" Windows 10 or "Windows Terminal (Admin)" Windows 11.
Step 3. Suppose your SD card is drive H: and you want to save recovered photos to D:, enter the command: winfr H: D: /regular /n *.jpg /n *.png
If the regular mode fails, please use "extensive" mode which is perfect for recovering files which are deleted a while ago, or from formatted, corrupted drive. This mode will take a longer time, but find more files.
winfr H: D: /extensive/n *.jpg /n *.png
Step 4. Press Y to continue when prompted, and let the scan complete. The recovered files will be saved in a recovery folder on your D: drive.
If you're not quite familar with using complex commandsto recover files, or you prefer a faster and more intuitive recovery experience, MyRecover is a FREE yet powerful data recovery alternative. It’s designed for both beginners and professionals to recover lost files from formatted, deleted, or corrupted drives, including SD cards from Canon cameras.
Easy-to-use interface with step-by-step guidance throughout the entire recovery process, even for beginners with no technical experience.
Supports photo recovery of RAW Canon formats (CR2, CR3), JPG/JPEG/JPE, PNG, TIF/TIFF, HEVC/HEIC/HEIF, GIF, PSD, SVG, ARW, X3F, and more common or professional image file types.
Performs an in-depth sector-by-sector scan to recover lost photos from heavily formatted, corrupted, or inaccessible memory cards with high success rates.
Compatible with all major SD card brands and file systems, including exFAT, FAT32, NTFS, and ReFS, and even supports data recovery from Linux-based Ext2/3/4 file systems.
Step 1. Download the freeware and install it on your computer.
Best Free Windows Data Recovery Software. Cover 500+ Data Loss Scenarios.
Step 2. Launch MyRecover and the software will list all available drives. Choose your SD card and click "Scan."
Step 3. This software will initiate a "quick scan" for recently deleted data and "deep scan" for formatted or corrupted data. If you need a "deep scan" after "quick scan", you can manually choose the mode in the bottom left corner.
Step 4. After scanning, browse through thefiles on the card. You can use the "filter" or "search" feature to quickly locate allfound images.
MyRecover Professional allows you to preview photos before recovery, ensuring you only restore what you need.
Step 5. Select the files you want to recover and click "Recover" to save them to a different drive.
Step 6. Once the recovery process finishes, you’ll receive a notification detailing how many files were successfully recovered and where they’ve been saved for quick and convenient access.
Just click the blue path link or "Browse" button, you can immediately access and check all recovered formatted photos from Canon camera.
After confirming that your lost photos have been successfully recovered and safely stored on your computer, it’s time to transfer them back to your Canon camera for regular use.
1. Copy the recovered photos from your computer to the appropriate folder on the SD card (usually the DCIM folder, or create a new one if needed).
2. Double-check the file structure and formats to make sure your camera can recognize the images without any issues.
3. Safely eject the SD card from your computer once the transfer is complete.
4. Insert the SD card into your Canon camera and turn it on to ensure the photos are accessible and display correctly.
📺Video Tutorial for your preference:
Accidentally formatting your Canon SD card doesn’t have to mean your memories are lost forever. With the Windows File Recovery or MyRecover, you can successfully recover formatted photos from Canon cameras. Whether you prefer a command-line method or a user-friendly tool like MyRecover,you mustact quickly and avoid adding any new data to the SD card.
Whether you're recovering holiday snapshots or professional shoots, MyRecover makes the process smooth and stress-free. What’s more, it is also able to recover data from SSD, HDD, USB flash drive, CD/DVD, game console drives, music/video players and more.
