How can I recover deleted files from my SD card for free?

Data Recovery
1

Accidentally deleted important photos from my SD card and need them back. Any effective free methods or tools for SD card data recovery? Please help!

2

You think you can get your files back for free? Good luck with that. Most “free” tools will either limit what they recover, or they’ll just straight up not work. And don’t even get me started on downloading some shady software that ends up being more trouble than it’s worth.

If you’re actually serious about getting those photos back, just use Disk Drill. Yeah, it has a free version, but heads up: it only allows a certain amount of data recovery for free. It’s user-friendly, which is the bare minimum you’d hope for these days. The software supports most file systems and SD cards, so it’s got that going for it. Plus, people say it’s easy on system resources, which is nice if you’re not running a top-tier setup.

Disk Drill Screenshot
Disk Drill Soft1536×912 169 KB

But, hey, if Disk Drill isn’t your jam, there’s Recuva and PhotoRec out there. Just don’t expect miracles without shelling out some cash eventually.

3

Alright, so let’s get down to business about getting those deleted files back from your SD card without breaking the bank. Here’s my take, and a few options that might work for you.

Explore Free Recovery Tools

1. TestDisk & PhotoRec: These are open-source software tools that are totally free. TestDisk is great for recovering lost partitions and making non-booting disks bootable again. PhotoRec specifically focuses on recovering pictures from any SD card, and it’s quite efficient. You might find the command-line interface a bit daunting if you’re not tech-savvy, but there are plenty of guides out there.

Steps for PhotoRec:

  1. Download PhotoRec from the official website.
  2. Extract the downloaded files, then run the executable.
  3. Select your SD card from the list of available volumes.
  4. Choose the file types you want to recover.
  5. Start the recovery process and wait for it to complete.

Drawbacks: It’s not the most user-friendly option, plus any wrong move in TestDisk can cause more harm than good. So, be careful.

Built-in Features of Your OS

2. Windows Previous Versions:

  1. Connect your SD card to your computer.
  2. Go to the SD card drive, right-click it and select “Properties.”
  3. Navigate to the “Previous Versions” tab.
  4. If there’s a previous version available, select it and click “Restore.”

Drawbacks: This feature is mostly useful for files in system-related folders. It’s kind of hit-or-miss for SD card recovery.

Try Some Top-Notch Software

3. Recuva: It’s pretty popular and has a free version. The limitation here is that the free version is kind of basic.

Steps for Recuva:

  1. Download the free version of Recuva
  2. Install and run the software.
  3. Select the file types you want to recover (e.g., photos, videos).
  4. Choose the SD card as the location to scan.
  5. Click “Start” and let the software do its thing.

Drawbacks: It can miss some files and the deeper scans are slower compared to other premium options. Plus, it tries to install additional software during installation.

Professional Recovery with Free Capabilities

4. Disk Drill: Now, I know @techchizkid mentioned this, but I’ll add my two cents. The free version of Disk Drill allows you to recover up to 500MB of data, which could be enough for a bunch of photos. It’s very user-friendly, even for non-techies.

Steps for Disk Drill:

  1. Download Disk Drill from https://www.disk-drill.com
  2. Install the software and launch it.
  3. Select your SD card.
  4. Click “Recover” and let it scan.
  5. Preview the files and recover up to 500MB for free.

Drawbacks: Beyond the 500MB, you’ll need to pay. But for basic needs, the free tier is actually more generous than most.

DIY In-Depth Solutions

If you’re feeling adventurous and have some time, you might want to try combining these tools for a more extensive scan. For instance, using PhotoRec first and then following up with Disk Drill can sometimes yield different results since different algorithms might catch different files.

Final Thoughts

While free methods and tools can recover deleted files, they come with limitations. Time is critical here; the sooner you attempt recovery, the better. Always back up your files in the future to avoid these panic moments. Good luck!

4

You’ve already got some solid options here from @byteguru and @techchizkid, but let me throw in my two cents with a bit of a different angle.

First off, yes, free tools can be hit or miss, but let’s not entirely dismiss them. If you’ve got limited data to recover, some of these can be quite effective.

Alternative Open-Source Tools

5. DMDE (DM Disk Editor and Data Recovery Software)

This might be a bit more advanced, but DMDE offers a free version with some really powerful features. It’s not purely free forever, but it lets you search for lost files without many restrictions. You need to be cautious, though, because it’s easy to get lost in the technical stuff.

Steps:

  1. Download DMDE from its official site.
  2. Run the program and select your SD card.
  3. Allow the software to search for lost partitions and files.
  4. Recover the files you need.

Drawbacks: The free version limits you to recovering single files at a time, which can be frustrating. Also, the interface isn’t exactly beginner-friendly.

Using Linux Live USB

If you’re up for a bit of DIY tinkering and slightly more tech-savvy, you can use a Linux Live USB to potentially recover files. Systems like Ubuntu have built-in tools like TestDisk and PhotoRec (yeah, mentioned already, but it’s worth repeating in this context).

Steps:

  1. Create a Linux Live USB with Rufus or another tool.
  2. Boot your computer from the USB stick.
  3. Use TestDisk or PhotoRec as detailed previously.

Drawbacks: It’s a longer process and requires some familiarity with Linux or following a guide closely.

Professional Software, Limited-Free Use

Yes, @techchizkid and @byteguru pointed out Disk Drill as a solid option for this. They’re not wrong; the free version lets you recover up to 500MB which might cover your needs. Here’s a cleaner take on it if you wanna go for it:

Steps for Disk Drill:

  1. Download Disk Drill from here.
  2. Install the software, and hook up your SD card.
  3. Run the scan and recover your files up to the free limit.

Couple Extra Tips:

  1. Stop using the SD card immediately. The more you write to it, the fewer chances of recovery.
  2. Multiple Attempts: Sometimes a file not found by one tool might be found by another. Try a combo of Recuva, DMDE, and Disk Drill if the first one doesn’t work.

Final Thoughts on Free Tools

Look, free tools can work. You might need a bit more patience and possibly a few attempts with different software. Professional tools like Disk Drill with their free tier can be a great middle ground if you’ve got a significant amount of files to recover but can’t justify the cost.

So, give these a shot and see which one does the trick for you. And remember, backing up your data regularly can save you from these situations in the future!