After a quick format, data "remains on the drive and can be recovered with special data restore programs", as SysDev Laboratories on quick vs full format explains. A quick scan reads the remaining file table and is fast for deleted files. A deep or signature scan ignores the file system and carves files by their headers, useful when your card is RAW or reformatted. Treat your first recovery attempt as your best one.
Remove the card from your camera, dash cam, drone or phone, and prevent programs from saving new data to it. Recovery software reads the card and saves recovered files to a separate drive on your PC. Use a card reader for direct, low-level access instead of connecting your camera or phone over USB.
| Tool | Best for | Deep/RAW scan | Free recovery | Preview |
|---|
| SoftOrbits Flash Drive Recovery | Simple FAT32 USB/SD/camera cards | Yes | Scan & preview only | Yes |
| Disk Drill | Deep scan & camera RAW | Yes | ~100 MB | Yes |
| PhotoRec | Free, badly damaged/RAW cards | Yes | Unlimited | No |
| EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard | Beginner-friendly all-rounder | Yes | 2 GB | Limited |
| Remo Recover | Camera photo/video with folders | Yes | Limited | Yes |
| Recuva | Simple recently-deleted files | Partial | Yes | Yes |
| Wondershare Recoverit | Broad RAW/video coverage | Yes | 100 MB | Yes |
| DiskInternals Uneraser | Budget non-subscription undelete | Yes | Preview only | Yes |
The 8 best SD and microSD recovery tools, reviewed
1. SoftOrbits Flash Drive Recovery: best simple local tool for FAT32 cards
For accidentally formatted cards or deleted photo folders,
Flash Drive Recovery is our simplest, affordable choice. You can run a quick or deep scan on your Windows 11 or 10 PC. Its FAT32 and NTFS support covers most cameras and dash cams.
The SourceForge listing describes it as straightforward to use. In our testing, results varied with card damage. Follow the USB flash drive recovery guide for a deleted folder on a USB stick, or the steps to recover a formatted SD card after an accidental format.
Automatic card detection when connected; simple, fast interface
Preview files before saving
One-time license, fully local operation, no cloud upload
Recovers from USB sticks, SD/microSD and camera cards without reformatting
Inconsistent results on severely damaged or RAW cards
Limited RAW signature carving compared with the strongest programs here
Saving files requires a license; the trial scans and previews only
Windows 11 / 10Essai gratuit, sans inscription 2. Disk Drill: best deep scan and camera RAW
Disk Drill leads on difficult recoveries and reads exFAT, FAT and NTFS. Users on
Trustpilot report successful recoveries alongside complaints about files that previewed correctly but would not open after purchase. We placed it behind our simpler first choice because of its small free recovery allowance.
Best preview on this list and a clean interface
Strong on accidental deletion and formatted but readable cards
Deep scan recognises around 400 signatures, including camera RAW formats
Expect to pay for recovery beyond the small free allowance
Preview does not always mean a recovered file will open
External-card scans can be slow
3. PhotoRec: best free and unlimited for badly damaged cards
PhotoRec ignores the file system and carves by signature, making it a strong choice for badly damaged, RAW or reformatted cards. Photographers on
Fstoppers describe sorting recovered files named recup_0001.jpg and up. Its companion project is documented on
CGSecurity.
100% free and open-source, with unlimited recovery
Works on RAW and reformatted cards
Supports a huge range of file types
Original filenames and folder structure are lost
Clunky, near-CLI interface can be intimidating
No useful preview before recovery
4. EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard: friendliest mainstream all-rounder
With EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard, the
free version recovers up to 2 GB. Verified reviewers on
Capterra praise its simplicity but report a paywall after a long scan.
Beginner-friendly interface and fast scanning
Generous free recovery allowance
Effective on common deletions and formats, with no upload
Expensive for a one-time recovery job
Long scans on large drives
5. Remo Recover: solid camera photo and video, priced high
Remo Recover shows folders during scanning, so you can find a particular shoot. Many users on
Trustpilot report that it works as promised; community threads also describe renamed or corrupted recovered files.
Clear view of the original folder structure
Broad card and camera support
Pricey for what it delivers
Very limited free version
Weak RAW-file results, including the file problems reported above
6. Recuva: fine for simple, fails on RAW
Use Recuva for recently deleted files when your card still mounts with a drive letter. A user on the
CCleaner community received an "unable to determine file system type" error on a RAW SanDisk card: Recuva cannot scan a card with no visible partition.
Good for simple deletion recovery
Familiar Piriform interface
Fails on RAW or corrupted cards with no drive letter
Unreliable file-health "Status" column
Weak on camera RAW and video
7. Wondershare Recoverit: capable but check the reviews
Complaint sites such as
PissedConsumer contain many failed-recovery and refund-refusal reports about Wondershare Recoverit. Happier users on
Trustpilot call it fast and easy.
Broad device and file-format coverage
Recovers RAW SD cards and video in many cases
Low aggregate trust on complaint sites
Reports of corrupted recovered files
Billing complaints and AI-only support
Read its current refund policy and recent reviews before choosing Wondershare Recoverit.
8. DiskInternals Uneraser: budget non-subscription undelete
Reviews of DiskInternals Uneraser on
Sitejabber are mixed. Some users report files that previewed correctly but would not open after payment.
Affordable, non-subscription purchase
Preview before purchase, with 150+ file types
PowerSearch deep scan recovers from formatted cards
Dated interface for a paid program
Preview can overstate recoverability; some refund complaints
Preview carefully before paying for a one-off undelete job.
Recovering a card that asks to be formatted or shows as RAW
TL;DRIf Windows says the card "needs to be formatted," do not format it. Run a deep scan first; the data is usually intact under a damaged file system.
The message "you need to format the disk before you can use it," or RAW status with no file system, almost always points to damaged FAT32 or exFAT. Avoid clicking Format. The guide to a corrupted SD card explains this failure.
The ADATA flash drive recovery guide covers the RAW-card procedure step by step. For a USB stick, the USB repair tools comparison covers choosing between repair and recovery.
Recovering photos after an in-camera format (and camera RAW)
TL;DRPhotos formatted in-camera are usually recoverable if you stop shooting immediately. Choose camera-RAW support and connect the card through a reader.
"I formatted my memory card by mistake and lost my photos. Is there any way I can recover them?" The user who asked this on the Tom's Hardware forum later recovered 522 files.
In-camera formatting is a quick format, so recovery depends on how much you have shot since formatting and whether the program supports your camera's RAW format. Some cameras, notably certain Sony models, use a more destructive format that resets the card's wear-leveling and makes recovery much harder.
Free vs paid: how much you really recover for free
TL;DR"Free" usually covers scanning and previewing, with a limit on saving files. Check the recovery cap before choosing, and use the available free preview before paying.
How to choose SD memory card recovery software for your situation
TL;DRMatch your choice to the failure and your needs: simple deletion, deep RAW carving, unlimited free recovery or an easy interface.
For simple FAT32 recovery, SoftOrbits Flash Drive Recovery is our pick. After saving your recovered files to a spare USB stick, encrypt usb drive to protect them against theft.