How to Unformat an SD Card on Mac and Windows 11/10
In our fast-paced, digital society, we rely heavily on portable devices to capture and store our most treasured memories. The SD card is one of the most versatile devices used for this purpose. From digital cameras to smartphones, the SD card is a crucial component that facilitates the storage of our precious data. However, it's not uncommon to accidentally or intentionally format the SD card, leading to the loss of valuable data. This can be a frustrating and stressful experience, but the good news is that undo format memory card is possible. So, please sit back, relax, and read on as we explore how to unformat SD card in Windows 11/10 and Mac successfully!
- Quick Navigation
- Part 1. What is Unformat SD Card
- Part 2. Can I Memory Card Unformat?
- Part 3. How to Unformat SD Card in Windows 10/11 and Mac
- Part 4. Tips to Avoid Data Loss by Accidentally Formatting a Memory Card
- Part 5. Frequently Asked Questions
What is Unformat SD Card
When we say "formatting" a device, it means wiping out all the data and preparing it for new data storage. However, sometimes we may accidentally format our SD cards, losing valuable photos, videos, or other files. So, Unformat memory card means reversing the erasure of files due to formatting.
Can I Memory Card Unformat?
When you format an SD card, the system removes the files' entries from the file system index but not the actual data. It appears they have disappeared because they are no longer accessible through the index, but the data is still on the card until it gets overwritten by new files.
Therefore, if you accidentally format your SD card, it's crucial to stop using it immediately to avoid overwriting the old data. Then, use the method below to unformat SD card on Mac or Windows PC to regain its saved files. The sooner this procedure is initiated, the higher the chance of restoring most, if not all, of your files.
How to Unformat SD Card in Windows 10/11 and Mac
Losing files and important data can be a nerve-wracking experience, especially if you accidentally formatted your memory card. However, the good news is that there might still be hope for SD card unformat, albeit quite challenging. While it's not guaranteed that you'll be able to recover all of your files, it's always worth a try before giving up.
Ways 1. Unformat SD Card Free by CMD
- Hit the "Start" key on your keyboard and type "CMD."
- Find "Command Prompt. app" and click to run as administrator.
- Enter "chkdsk #:/f" in the opened window and press Enter. (# is the disk symbol of your SD card)
- After completing the progress, enter "attrib -h -r -s /s /d #:*.* " and press Enter again.
- Finally, reopen your memory card to check for missing items.
- Pros:
- It's a built-in program for Windows PCs and is free to use without installation. This way can also help you recover permanently deleted files using CMD.
- Cons:
- It doesn't work in all cases and can't unformat SD card on Mac.
Ways 2. Use Format Recovery Software
Compared with CMD, professional software has a special algorithm for formatting recovery to help you retrieve lost data better. For this, you can try iBeesoft Data Recovery, which not only has powerful recovery capabilities but also can automatically repair damaged files.
Your Safe & Effective SD Card Recovery Tool
- It supports unformat and unerase more than 500 file types. Like, photos, videos, audio, documents, archives, emails, etc.
- This tool work on almost all SD/CF/XD/MMC/SM/MS cards, Smart card,s, and other storage drives.
- Fully compatible unformat SD card on Mac and Windows 11/10/7/8/XP/Vista.
- Place your microSD card into a suitable adapter or card reader, and connect it to your computer.
- Download and install the correct iBeesoft Data Recovery version according to your system.
- After running it, move the mouse over the area where your memory card is displayed and click the "Scan" button that appears.
- When progress is complete, you will see all the items found on your SD card. You can use the preview to check them.
- Select the files you need and click "Recover" to save them.
- Pros:
- If you have not saved new data after formatting, you can almost 100% retrieve your lost files.
- Cons:
- Does not support Linux
Ways 3. Undo Format SD Card with Data Recovery Service
If the above unformat SD card methods fail, you may need to extract the formatted files by data recovery services. They are designed to help individuals and companies retrieve lost items, no matter how badly damaged. With their state-of-the-art technology and highly-skilled technicians, they can get your disappeared files from any device. Generally, you can use the following steps to obtain this service:
- Find a provider near you by searching.
- Reach out to the chosen provider for initial consultation.
- Following instructions, you must send your memory card to their lab.
- Once they receive the device, the technicians will perform a more in-depth analysis to determine precisely what's wrong and how best to recover the data. Then, they'll give you a quote for the job.
- If you agree to their quote, They'll start the SD card unformat process. This may take anywhere from a couple of days to a few weeks, depending on the severity of the problem.
- Once they have recovered the data, they will usually save it on a new device and send it back to you, such as an external hard drive or via secure cloud storage.
- After the process, the damaged device, if not physically destroyed during the recovery process, will typically be sent back to you.
- Pros:
- Even if your memory card is physically damaged, it is still possible for this service to help you get back the data it saved.
- Cons:
- You must pay expensive fees, and privacy leaks may occur.
If you strictly follow the steps for unformat memory card, the above solutions will help you. The provided that your data is not overwritten or uses low-level formatting. However, these are ultimately only remedial measures. So follow the tips below to prevent such a tragedy from happening again.
Tips to Avoid Data Loss by Accidentally Formatting a Memory Card
Accidental formatting of an SD card may lead to losing important data. Here are some tips to avoid this:
- 📤 Regular Backups: Back up your essential data on a separate device or cloud storage. This precaution ensures you'll have another copy elsewhere, even if your card is accidentally formatted.
- ✏️ Write-Protected Switch: Some memory cards come with a write-protected switch. Enable this feature when you're not saving data. This prevents new data from being written or existing data from being deleted or formatted.
- 🔍 Double-Check Before Formatting: Always double-check the content of the SD card before you format it. Make sure you have backed up all critical data beforehand.
- 💗 Handle with Care: Be careful when handling memory cards. Don't eject or insert them when your device is operating. Also, avoid touching the connections with your fingers to prevent static electricity, which could potentially damage the card.
- ⚙️ Regular Updates and Checks: Regularly update and run antivirus programs on your device to prevent malware. Run error-checking tools occasionally to identify potential issues with your SD card before it's too late.
Remember, accidents can still happen despite all precautions. So, the most crucial tip is the regular backup. It might take time, but it can save you from a lot of trouble in the future.
Part 7. Frequently Asked Questions
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Formatting a card will erase all the data stored on it, making it appear as if they've been permanently lost. However, in many cases, they are still stored in the original location and just marked as "empty." So you can still unformat SD card to get the data back before new data overwrites the old files. But remember that certain types of formatting, such as low-level formatting, will completely wipe the data and make it unrecoverable.
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Yes, you can use the system's built-in tools to reformat. But, to avoid data loss, please transfer data to other drives before formatting. In case of access is denied, you can also use format recovery software to extract files from it before performing this operation.
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Yes, when you format an SD card, the space containing the files is marked as available for new data. However, until new data writes over that space, the original files are still technically present. So, you can potentially be recovered using specialized data recovery software.
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There can be numerous reasons why an SD card isn't working properly, including corrupted files, faults with the card reader or device, or even physical damage to the card. Fortunately, there are some strategies to fix an SD card without formatting it, which helps preserve your data:
Change the connection: Sometimes, the problem lies not with the card but with the card reader or adapter. Try using a different card reader or inserting the SD card into another device to see if it works.
- Check the lock slider: Some SD cards have a physical lock switch that can prevent files from being accessed or written to. If your SD card has one, make sure it is in the unlocked position.
- Update the card reader driver: From your device's Device Manager (on Windows), locate the memory card reader and check if driver updates are available.
- Repair with built-in tools: You may use built-in tools in the Windows and MacOS operating systems to fix the SD card. In Windows PC, open 'My Computer' or 'This PC' on Windows and locate the SD card. Right-click on the card's icon and select 'Properties.' Under the 'Tools' tab, select 'Check' (or 'Error-checking' in older versions of Windows). On MacOS, open Disk Utility, select the memory card from the left list of drives, and click 'First Aid.'
- Use Command Prompt: Open it > type chkdsk *: /f /r. "*" is the drive letter of your card.
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If your card is read-only and you want to format it, you can try the following methods:
- Check the physical lock switch: Some microSD cards have a physical lock switch on the side. Ensure that the lock switch is in the unlocked position. If it is locked, you won't be able to format or write data to the card.
- Remove Protection: There are many ways to remove SD card read-only. For this, please click here to remove write protection from USB on Windows PC or Mac.
If the above methods don't work and the microSD card remains read-only, it may indicate a hardware issue with the card, and it might be best to consider replacing it.
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This is dependent entirely on the overwriting situation of each card. In most cases where you do not have too much overwriting done, you can recover overwritten files on SD card successfully using third-party software.
It's important to note that even with professional assistance, the success of recovering overwritten files is not guaranteed. The chances of recovery decrease significantly with each subsequent write operation on the same storage areas.
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Losing access to your memory card can be a significant headache, mainly if it contains important data like photos, videos, or documents. While the situation may seem dire at first, there are several methods you can try to retrieve any saved information from your inaccessible memory card. One option is to use Windows or Mac data recovery software to help locate deleted or inaccessible files and restore them to your device. You could also try using a different card reader or connecting the memory card directly to your computer to see if that makes a difference. It's important to remember that there is no guarantee that these methods will work, but they're worth a shot if you're desperate to get your hands on your saved data.
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If it is a built-in memory card, then any computer-based program cannot help you because the new version of Android does not allow them to obtain Root permission to scan the device. But don't worry. You can search for the Android SD Card Recovery app on Google Play to solve this problem. If it is an external SD card, you can use this SD card recovery software for Mac or Windows to help you regain lost photos, videos, or other files after formatting.
Conclusion
Have you ever accidentally formatted your SD card and lost all of your precious photos and videos? Don't panic, and there is still hope. Unformatting an SD card may seem impossible, but you can recover the valuable data you thought was lost forever with the right ways and patience. Whether due to a faulty camera or a simple human error, formatting a memory card can be a frustrating experience. The first step in undo formatting SD card is to stop using it and avoid saving any new data immediately. Then, follow the steps provided in this blog to start the process. It just takes a moment to unformat an SD card and breathe new life into your cherished memories.