How to Unformat SD Card on Windows Computer (100% Work)

28.06.2025 Smith, Erin Comments Off

I took the SD card out of the camera and put it into my computer. Then, an error message popped up, stating “SD card is not formatted.” I formatted the card, and now, every single file on the SD card has vanished. Please, does anyone know how I can reverse the formatting of the SD card?

Mistakes as simple as accidentally formatting an SD card can lead to the loss of all your precious files. A number of users have experienced these regrettable situations and are looking for methods to undo the SD card formatting. Luckily, there are reliable ways to achieve this.

This article will walk you through the steps of unformatting SD card. We’ll also delve into the methods for recovering data from a formatted SD card. You’ll be introduced to a range of different approaches and be able to figure out which is the most effective for your situation. By the time you finish reading this guide, you’ll have the skills to recover data from your SD card without any hassle.

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Supports Windows 7/8/10/11 and Windows Server

Is It Possible to Unformat SD Card?

The answer is yes, but the likelihood of a successful unformatting varies. Success hinges on multiple elements, like the kind of formatting carried out and how much activity has occurred on the SD card subsequent to the formatting.

There are two main types of formatting: Quick format and Full format.

Full Format: Conversely, if you uncheck the Quick Format option during the formatting operation, it will be a Full format. When a full format is performed, the data is more thoroughly erased. Although in some cases, with specialized and powerful data recovery tools, there may be a slim chance of recovery, generally speaking, the files are much more likely to be irrecoverable compared to after a quick format. The process of scanning for bad sectors and overwriting data in a more comprehensive way makes it difficult to retrieve the original files.

Quick Format: If you select the Quick Format option during the formatting operation, a quick format will be carried out. Since the actual data on the SD card is not truly erased during a quick format, there is a relatively high chance of recovering the files. It is possible to retrieve the data that was previously on the card.

If you’ve accidentally formatted your SD card, it’s best to stop using it right away. When an SD card is formatted, the files aren’t erased immediately. Instead, the space where the files were stored is flagged as unusable for new data. But if you continue to use the memory card, new data might overwrite the lost files, making recovery extremely challenging.

How to Unformat SD Card Free?

There are various methods for data recovery, yet choosing the right one is of utmost importance. It serves as the key to retrieving data from an unformatted SD card. An inappropriate approach not only fails to recover the data but may also cause secondary damage to the data, making it impossible to restore forever.

Here, I will recommend four data recovery solutions. Certainly, the first one is the most highly recommended.

Method 1: Use the Magic Data Recovery

Magic Data Recovery is a top – tier professional data recovery software designed to assist you in retrieving data from diverse data loss situations. One of its key advantages is that when utilized to recover data from an SD card, it ensures that the data on the SD card remains intact while striving to restore the most comprehensive set of lost data. Here’s a step – by – step guide on how to use it to address the “Unformat SD Card” issue:

1. First, connect your SD card to a Windows computer via a card reader. Ensure that the Windows computer can successfully recognize the SD card. This connection is crucial for the subsequent data recovery process.

2. Next, click the button below to download Magic Data Recovery. This will enable you to obtain this powerful professional data recovery software.

Download Magic Data Recovery

Supports Windows 7/8/10/11 and Windows Server

3. Once the download is complete, install Magic Data Recovery on your computer. After the installation, launch the software. In the application interface, select your SD card as the drive to be scanned.

4. The scanning process may take a certain amount of time. The duration depends on factors such as the hardware configuration of your computer and the size of the SD card. Be patient during this period. Once the scanning is finished, all the lost files on the SD card will be displayed in the software interface.

5. Then, simply check the boxes next to the files you wish to recover. After selecting the desired files, click the “Recover” button. At this point, choose another drive on your computer to save the recovered files. It is important to save them to a different drive to avoid overwriting the original data.

6. Finally, after the recovery process is completed, you can access and check the recovered files in the designated save location to ensure that all the necessary data has been successfully retrieved.

Method 2: Restore From Backup or Cloud

If you’ve been diligent about backing up your SD card or have promptly synchronized its data to the cloud, consider yourself fortunate. Recovering your lost files becomes a significantly smoother process.

Recovering from Backup Images

If you have a backup image of your SD card, the first step is to identify the location where the backup is stored. This could be an external hard drive, a network – attached storage (NAS) device, or even a dedicated backup software’s storage location. Once located, use the corresponding backup software or utility to initiate the restoration process. For instance, if you used Windows Backup to create an image of your SD card, open the Windows Backup application, navigate to the restore section, and select the backup image relevant to your SD card. Follow the on – screen prompts to restore the data back to a new or reformatted SD card.

Recovering from the Cloud

In case you’ve been syncing your SD card data to a cloud service like Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive, accessing your files is relatively straightforward. Log in to your cloud service account through a web browser or the dedicated mobile/desktop application. Navigate to the folder or directory where your SD card data was synced. Select all the files you wish to recover and choose the option to download them. You can then transfer these downloaded files back to your SD card. Some cloud services also offer the option to directly restore data to a connected storage device if it’s recognized within their ecosystem. This method not only ensures that your precious memories, important documents, or work – related files are retrieved but also provides a convenient way to get your SD card back to its previous state.

Method 3: Using CMD (Command Prompt)

The Command Prompt (CMD) is a native tool in Windows that can assist you in recovering data from a formatted memory card. This approach is somewhat technical but can be highly effective. It is an ideal option for those who prefer not to depend on third – party software and wish to utilize the tools already present on their system.

Using CMD for data recovery entails running specific commands to examine the disk and retrieve lost files. Although it may seem a bit daunting initially, following the correct steps can make the process manageable. If you are comfortable with using command lines and desire a built – in solution, CMD can be a powerful method for unformatting an SD card and recovering your data.

Steps to Use CMD to Unformat an SD Card

1. Connect the SD card to your computer using a card reader.

2. Open the Command Prompt as an administrator. You can achieve this by typing “cmd” in the search bar. Then, right – click on “Command Prompt” and select “Run as administrator”.

3. Type chkdsk X: /f (replace X with the SD card’s drive letter) in the Command Prompt window. Press Enter and wait for the process to complete. The Command Prompt will scan and attempt to fix any errors on the SD card.

4. Type attrib –h –r –s /s /d X:. and press the Enter key on your keyboard. (Remember X signifies the SD card drive letter).

If CMD successfully unformats the SD card, it will recover all the lost data and save them in a new folder on the SD card.

Method 4: Contact Local Data Recovery Service Store

You can search for local data recovery stores or computer repair shops on Google Maps, and inquire whether they offer data recovery services, or you can directly visit the stores to find out.

Opting to reach out to a local data recovery service store comes with a plethora of significant drawbacks. First and foremost, the process of finding a trustworthy local service is extremely time – consuming. You have to sift through numerous directories, online platforms, and customer reviews just to shortlist potential stores, which could take days or even weeks, depending on your location.

Assessing the capabilities of the engineers and the integrity of the store is an uphill battle. It’s challenging to determine whether the technicians have the requisite skills and experience to handle your specific SD card data recovery scenario. Although most of these stores claim to operate under a “no – recovery, no – charge” policy, there are hidden risks. Inexperienced engineers might use incorrect handling methods or inappropriate techniques, leading to secondary damage to your data. This not only means you might not retrieve your data but could also exacerbate the situation, further diminishing the already meager prospects of successful recovery through alternative means.

Cost is another major factor. Local data recovery services are exorbitantly priced compared to data recovery software. The fees they levy are typically several times higher, and this substantial cost differential can be a significant deterrent, especially when there are no guarantees of a positive outcome.

The waiting period for data recovery with local services is notoriously long. You could be left in limbo for days or weeks without any updates on the status of your SD card. This lack of timeliness can be a massive inconvenience, especially if you urgently need the data for work, crucial projects, or personal matters.

Another concerning aspect is the potential exposure of your personal sensitive information. When you entrust your SD card to a local data recovery service, the engineers handling it will have access to all the data stored on it. This includes personal photos, financial documents, private messages, and other sensitive information. There’s no foolproof way to ensure that this information won’t be seen or misused by the engineers. Even if the store has a privacy policy in place, there’s always a risk of human error or unethical behavior. Given these numerous downsides, it’s essential to thoroughly consider all aspects before choosing a local data recovery service store over other available options.

Crucial Advice Regarding Fix an Unformattable SD Card

Halt Usage of the SD Card Immediately

The instant you discover that your SD card has been accidentally formatted or is presenting issues that could potentially lead to data loss, cease using it without delay. When an SD card is formatted, the operating system merely marks the space where files were previously stored as available for new data. However, the actual data remains on the card until it gets overwritten. Any new writing operation, such as taking additional photos if the card is in a camera, saving new files, or even running disk – checking utilities that might attempt to write to the card, can overwrite the lost data. This overwriting makes data recovery extremely arduous, if not impossible. Thus, physically remove the SD card from the device it is inserted in (like a camera or a mobile phone) to prevent any involuntary data – writing actions.

Never Save the Recovered Files Back to the Same SD Card

When using a third – party data recovery tool, never save the recovered files back to the same SD card during the recovering process.

Saving the recovered files to the very SD card from which you are trying to recover data can lead to overwriting of the remaining lost data. Since the SD card has already experienced data loss, and during the recovery process, the data is in a vulnerable state. If new data (the recovered files) is written back to the same card, there’s a high probability that it will overwrite the areas where other lost files might still be present in a recoverable state. This can significantly reduce the chances of fully recovering all the original data. It is always recommended to choose an external storage device, like an external hard drive, a USB flash drive, or a cloud storage location to save the recovered files.

Backup the Recovered Data Promptly

Once you have successfully retrieved data from the formatted SD card, do not assume that your task is complete. Immediately back up the recovered data to a secondary storage device, such as an external hard drive, another SD card, or a cloud storage service. This ensures that in the event of any unforeseen problems with the original SD card in the future (such as physical damage or further software glitches), your data remains secure. Additionally, forming a habit of regularly backing up your data can effectively prevent similar data – loss headaches in the future.

Download Magic Data Recovery

Supports Windows 7/8/10/11 and Windows Server

FAQ

Q1. How to fix an unformattable SD card?

If you have already lost data from your current SD card, the first thing you need to do is use Magic Data Recovery to scan your SD card. After the scan is completed, recover the data to an external storage device or another partition. Then, you can format the SD card to resolve the issue of an "unformat SD card".

Q2. How do I format my SD card back to normal?

Right - click "This PC" on your desktop. In the right - click menu, click "Manage" to open Computer Management. Then, in the Computer Management window, click "Disk Management". In Disk Management, you can select your drive. Right - click the drive you've selected and choose "Format..." to format it.

Q3. Can SD card format be recovered?

Whether data on a formatted SD card can be recovered largely hinges on the formatting method employed, specifically whether it was a Quick Format or a Full Format. Data that has been quick - formatted can typically be fully restored, with a success rate of nearly 100%. In contrast, when it comes to data formatted using the full - format option, the outcome depends on the degree of data destruction. Generally, the difficulty of recovering such data is extremely high. Since the vast majority of users utilize the quick format function, the likelihood of successfully recovering data after formatting is relatively high.

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Smith, Erin

Erin Smith is recognized as one of the most professional writers at Amagicsoft. She has continually honed her writing skills over the past 10 years and helped millions of readers solve their tech problems.

How to Unformat SD Card on Windows Computer (100% Work)

Is It Possible to Unformat SD Card?