How to Recover Formatted SD Card: 5 Top Methods
A feeling of foreboding sets in when you realize you’ve accidentally formatted SD card. If you’ve found yourself in this position, your first thought would be whether you can recover formatted SD card. Since the retrieval of important files would be your first priority we must tell you the fortunate news that yes, it’s possible. This guide shares the formatting process of SD cards and 5 tested recovery techniques that work for users on both Windows and Mac operating systems. So, let’s get your memory card back!
Part 1: What Happens if You Accidentally Format an SD Card?
In an accidentally formatted SD card, computers establish file systems such as NTFS or exFAT to permit data storage organization. Windows/Mac requires this step particularly for new drives or those that show file system corruption. Users of Windows/Mac can select between the two format types: Quick and Full.
Quick format builds a new filesystem with file pointer removal while keeping original data invisible. So, you can easily recover formatted SD card. Whereas the Full format operation destroys all data by cleaning every sector and verifies bad sections, thus rendering data permanently inaccessible.
Part 2: How to Recover Data From Formatted SD Card?
The only way to recover data from formatted SD card on Windows/Mac is if you’ve got a backup or through a specialized SD card recovery software. Here’s how to recover photos/videos from formatted SD card in 5 ways:
Way 1: Use SD Card Recovery Software (Windows & Mac)
If you’ve performed a quick format of your memory card, then a formatted SD card recovery tool like 4DDiG Data Recovery will be of great help. This tool can function on both Windows and Mac in case you have no backup of your memory card. Besides, it can recover SD card after format, accidental deletion, corruption, virus attack, system crash, etc. Here are more of this amazing tool’s functions:
– This retrieval app supports numerous memory card types, e.g. SDHC, microSD, SDXC and more.
– This software can extract 2000+ file types including RAW files, pics, videos, images, archives, audio, etc.
– It supports the latest Windows 11 and macOS Sequoia.
– This data extractor tool offers high success in retrieving files from memory cards.
– No technical knowledge required.
Here’s how to recover photos/videos from formatted SD card with this tool:
Step 1: Connect your memory card to your computer for access. Then, install and execute the formatted SD card recovery tool on the same PC. Choose the card from the tool’s interface.
Step 2: Pick the file types you wish to retrieve. Then, hit “Scan Selected File Types.” Let the tool run and recover data from formatted SD card. Once it does it all, examine the recovered files.
Step 3: Hit “Recover” to shift the extracted memory card files to your computer or cloud drive.
Way 2: Use the Command Prompt Tool (Windows Only)
In case your files are hidden in the memory card, but not completely removed from it, you can recover data from formatted SD card with CMD. It allows you to unhide attributes of hidden files so they can be revealed. Here’s how to do that:
Step 1: Connect your SD card to your Windows computer for access. Then, type “cmd” in the Windows search field. Execute “Command Prompt” with admin privileges.
Step 2: Type the following commands. Hit “Enter” after each one:
– chkdsk [drive letter]: /f (Here replace [drive letter] with your SD card’s letter).
– attrib -h -r -s /s /d e:\*.*
Step 3: Wait for the process to complete. Then, check if your files are restored.
Way 3: Check Windows Backup (Windows Only)
By default, Windows doesn’t back up external devices like a memory card. However, if you’ve included your card’s backup in Windows Backup and Restore, you can retrieve your accidentally formatted SD card. To do so:
Step 1: Input “con” in the Windows search field. Then, execute “Control Panel.”
Step 2: Head to “System and Maintenance.” Then, select “Backup and Restore (Windows 7).”
Step 3: Choose “Restore my files.” Next, click “Browse for files” or “Browse for folders” to pick your SD card backup.
Step 4: Choose where to restore. Either “Original location” or “Another location.”
Step 5: If asked, select “Copy and Replace,” “Don’t copy,” or ‘Keep both files.” Wait for the process to finish.
Way 4: Use Time Machine (Mac Only)
Time Machine is the same as Windows Backup and Restore to recover files from formatted SD card, but on Mac. But you’ve got to manually place your memory card backup in Time Machine by including it in the exclusion list and then removing it from there. Only then can you recover files from formatted SD card Mac. The Time Machine creates copies of files on an external drive, from where you can restore them to your Mac. Here’s how to do that:
Step 1: Connect your memory card to your Mac for access. Then, tap the “Time Machine” icon in the Apple menu bar. Choose “Browse Time Machine Backups.”
Step 2: Head to your SD card’s folder and use the arrows to go back in time. Select the backed up files that are erased. Hit “Restore.”
Way 5: Utilize Terminal (Mac Only)
Like CMD on Windows, you can use the Terminal to recover files from formatted SD card on Mac. This tool will retrieve files from the SD card that are hidden. Here’s how to recover photos/videos from formatted SD card on Mac with Terminal:
Step 1: Open the Utilities folder. Then, choose “Terminal.”
Step 2: Use the cd command to access your SD card.
Type the following command. Hit “Return” afterward:
– mv filename ../ (Here replace filename with your memory card’s hidden file name).
Step 3: Type quit to exit Terminal.
Extended Part: How to Solve the “SD Card Won’t Format” Error?
If you try to format your SD card and receive a “Windows was unable to complete the format,” error, you won’t be able to access your data. The error message could also display “Do not format the drive immediately.”
So, to fix it, first, use data retrieval software like 4DDiG Data Recovery to extract the files from the memory card. Once your data is safe, you can format the drive to fix the error. For a step-by-step guide for this procedure, check out Windows Was Unable to Complete the Format [8 Fixes 2025].
Final Words
Realizing you’ve formatted your SD card by mistake can be quite unsettling. can be stressful. But you can recover SD card after format. However, you must first know the difference between quick and full formats, as it affects your chances of retrieving data. Whether on Windows or Mac, methods like CMD, Terminal, Windows Backup, and Time Machine can help recover formatted SD card. But for the best results, especially without backups, a tool like 4DDiG Data Recovery is highly recommended. It offers selective scanning for file types, offers a preview and high recovery rate, supports various file types, and is easy to use.
