SD cards have become necessary today due to the need to transfer data between devices. People need to share files, videos, and photos, among many other data types. The good news, SD cards are compatible with several devices, including Android phones, cameras, etc.

SD cards are, however, prone to damage, corruption, and accidental formatting, among many other uncertainties that lead to data loss. But what does it mean when your SD card is corrupted? We will show you some common signs indicating an SD card has been corrupted. You can also see a list of the best SD card recovery software tools here.

Signs of SD card corruption

No SD Card Detected

A corrupted SD card will not be detected by the windows PC, Android phone, digital camera, etc. you will insert the card in, but no sound comes out even with a long wait. Having an SD card with essential data can be so embarrassing, and you can’t get it detected by your device.

Connection Issues

Your SD card may have connection issues that make it undetectable only in some instances. If you have to reinsert the card for it to connect to the device and display your files, it is a corrupted card. This could be caused by physical damage or issues with the internal system of the card.

Read/Write Issues

This may occur while transferring files from the SD card. There should not be any read errors or messages when transferring files from the SD card, and you do not need to attempt the transfer several times to succeed. Any read or write issue encountered should be a cause for concern.

Missing Files

When dealing with a corrupted SD card, you will likely start missing files from it, even though you did not delete them yourself. When files go missing, it is usually just the tell sign that your SD card could get damaged or corrupted, and you cannot use it to store or recover stored data.

Windows Format Error

Windows format errors appear when there is a problem with your disk. You will constantly get reminders to format the disk in drive X before you can use it.

If you are dealing with an empty disk, you can format it. However, if the SD card has some files you do not want to lose, you may need to fix the problem to be able to reuse your data.

Unknown Files In SD

It feels strange to have unknown files on your SD card, especially if you have yet to share the disk with anyone else. When dealing with a corrupted disk, the unknown files with nonsensical names would be impossible to open. Corruption can cause unknown files to appear on your card.

Wrong Capacity

Wrong disk capacity is a clear sign that your SD card is corrupted. If, say, you have a 32 GB SD card, but the operating system displays 16 GB only instead, for instance, it is a clear sign that the card is corrupted.

Device Malfunction

When inserting a corrupted SD card in a device such as a laptop or Android phone, the device should be able to operate normally. However, if the device malfunctions, there is a problem with the SD card.

Slow Performance

Similarly, if your device begins to function more slowly than before inserting an SD card into it, the card is the cause of the slow performance and is definitely because it is corrupted. Also, it could be very slow to transfer files from a corrupted SD card to another.

Can A Corrupted SD Card Be Recovered?

Corrupted SD recovery is possible, especially when the card still appears in Disk Management. However, suppose the card is not showing up. In that case, you can try accessing it through some card reader and connecting it to another PC or use corrupted SD card recovery techniques to repair it and recover your data. We will show you some ways to recover a corrupted SD card.

How To Recover A Corrupted SD Card

Method 1: Change The Card Reader, And Adapter Or Try Another USB Port

This could be the easiest fix for an SD card you feel is corrupted. If your computer has multiple ports, try changing the card to a different port. Also, try using an additional adapter or card reader.

If you have tried all these fixes and your card still shows some of the signs we discussed above, the SD card must be corrupted and require a different fix.

Method 2: Change The Driver’s Letter

Your SD card may behave like a corrupted disk with a conflicting drive letter. Assign a different drive letter and check if the computer recognizes it afterward.

To change the drive letter, press Windows + X keys to open the Windows Disk Management. Once this is done, locate the SD card and right-click on it. Choose the “Change Drive Letter and Path” option and tap “Add,” then choose a new drive letter. Click Ok to save your changes.

Method 3: Use Data Recovery Software

The SD card may cause or result in the loss of data. That is why you may need to repair it and restore the files. Disk Drill supports many storage devices and can restore an SD card.

Download and install the software, connect the SD card to the PC, and launch Disk Drill. Select the SD card, tap “search for lost data,” and allow it to run a disk scan and recover files from a corrupted SD card.

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