Ways to Recover Permanently Deleted Photos From SD Cards

Everyone loves clicking photos, but retaining them for a longer duration is challenging. However, SD cards come in handy to store your valuable memories to cherish them anytime. But what if it corrupts? Or worse, what if you transfer/store all your photos on your SD card, and it deletes them?

You can lose your photos from your SD card despite taking a backup. Some scenarios for data deletion or loss from SD card include:

• Accidental deletion
• Unintentional formatting of SD card
• Virus or malware attack on the SD card
• Downloading unsecured applications
• Power outage during photo transfer
• Sudden power-off of the camera while transferring photos to the device/system
• Removing the SD card from the device while the photo transfer is taking place
• Continuously storing images regardless of full memory warnings

We cannot undo the loss, but we can surely help you recover. So instead of panicking, stay with us to learn some of the most effective and free methods to recover your photos and other essential files. 

How to Recover Permanently Deleted (Lost) Photos from SD Card: Windows, Mac, Android, and iPhone? Here are some constructive and free options to help you recover your deleted photos from your device. 

ONE: Recover Deleted Photos From SD Cards Using Windows File Recovery

The inbuilt Windows feature, Windows File Recovery, can be your go-to solution to retrieve your deleted photos from your SD card. It uses regular, extensive, segment, and signature scanning modes to scan your disk. Moreover, it is compatible with numerous file systems like NTFS, ReFS, FAT, and exFAT. Using Windows File Recovery, you can quickly recover lost/deleted photos and files from memory cards, HDD, SSD, and USB drives. Click here to know more about How to use Windows File Recovery

You must use the following Windows File Recovery command and common syntax to recover your photos:

winfr source-drive: destination-drive: [/mode] [/switches]

• /regular mode: Supports non-corrupt NTFS drives only.
• /extensive mode: Supports all file systems.
• /n: Specify scanning by a file name/path/type or wildcards.
• /y: Recovers special extensions (separated by commas).

Steps To Recover Photos:

1. Visit the Microsoft Store to download and install the Windows File Recovery.

2. After installing, connect your SD Card (having the deleted files) to your PC. 

3. Once your system recognizes the SD Card, right-click the external drive > Select Properties to check the file system.

4. Now depending on your file system and loss scenarios, decide on the command mode and switches.

Suppose you need to recover the Workshop folder from F: drive to the recovery folder on E: drive. In this case, you must enter the below-given command:

Winfr F: E: /regular /n Workshop

However, remember to enter the backslash() at the end of your folder.

Note: Ensure cloning your drive before starting the photo recovery process.

TWO: Retrieve Deleted Photos from SD Card in Mac Via Time Machine:

Now recover your deleted photos from your SD Card for free through Mac using its inbuilt feature, Time Machine. Follow the below-mentioned straightforward steps:

Steps To Recover Photos:

1. Connect the external hard drive (used to back up the deleted SD card photos) to the Time machine with Mac.

2. Now tap the Apple Menu > Visit System preferences > Click Time Machine.

3. Now check the Show Time Machine in the menu bar and tap the Enter Time Machine option (from the Menu bar).

4. Finally, search and select the deleted/lost photos you want to recover and click Restore.

Note: To recover photos from the Time Machine feature, you must have a backup of your deleted photos beforehand. 

Three: Retrieve Your Deleted SD Card Photos in Android Using Google Photos:

With the help of Google Photos, you can recover your deleted photos from your SD Card free on Android devices. Just follow the below-mentioned quick steps:

Steps To Recover Photos:

1. Open the Google Photos app. 

2. Now tap Library > Select Bin and scroll and search the pictures that got deleted accidentally.

3. Select the deleted images that you want to recover

4. Finally, click Restore (at the screen’s bottom) to save the recovered photos on your device

Note: Google Photos helps if you have made a backup before the accidental deletion. Additionally, your deleted backup remains in the Google Photos app only for 60 days. After that, you cannot recover it.

Four: Recover the Deleted and Lost Photos in iPhone Via iCloud:

Recover your deleted and lost photos from the SD Card free from your iPhone using its built-in feature, iCloud. You must use the steps given below for a speedy recovery:

Steps To Recover Photos:

1. Visit iCloud.com and log in using your username and password.

2. After logging in, open the webpage and select Photos.

3. Now select the Recently Deleted album.

4. Search and choose the photos you want to retrieve and tap Restore. The selected image will return to the photo albums. Moreover, it will restore on your iPhone once you sync it with the iCloud service. 

Note: iCloud is an excellent option for recovering your deleted photos. However, you must have a backup of the deleted photos before their deletion to restore them in case of loss.

Using the options listed above, you can quickly recover your photos and other deleted files from your SD card on any device for free. However, you must have a backup of your files before their deletion. 

Suppose your SD card is formatted before you can take a cloud backup. In this case, you can blindly rely on a professional third-party tool like the Wise Data Recovery software for a seamless recovery of your essential files and photos. So let us look deeper to gain insights into this beautiful application.

Wise Data Recovery: Recovering Lost Photos Seamlessly 

Wise Data Recovery is one of the safest software to help you recover deleted photos, videos, emails, words, text, documents, and more from any data loss scenario. The Wise Data Recovery software uses its Deep Scan features to trace and recover even permanently deleted photos and files.

Instead, its advanced mechanism effectively collects data from local drives, USB drives, flash drives, external drives, mobile phones, SD cards, MP3 players, and all removable devices.

Stay tuned to check out its other beautiful features if you are fascinated already. 

Why Is Wise Data Recovery the Best Recovery Tool

Wise Data Recovery is an excellent solution to recover your permanently deleted and lost photos and important files. Some of its prime features worth mentioning are:

1. Recovers files in all data loss situations: 

Wise Data Recovery helps recover photos and other crucial files in all data loss situations, including disk formatting, accidental/permanent deletion, unexpected system crash, etc.

2. Recovers data from multiple devices:

Now you can recover your data (lost) from any device, including SSD, HDD, external hard disks, floppy disks, memory cards, digital cameras, etc. In addition, it supports data recovery from file systems like FAT, NTFS, HFSX, HFS, HFS+, Ext 2, and Ext 3.

3. Recovers almost all file types:

Wise Data Recovery app recovers permanently deleted and lost files from over a thousand file types. It includes documents, graphics, audio, video, email, and other archive files.

4. Recovers data with an accelerated scanning speed:

You can trace the missing files using the Quick Scan mode within seconds. You can also type keywords for recovery file types to narrow the search results.

5. Available in portable version:

This software is available in a portable version, so you can use it without even installing it. Download the program on one PC and move it to a flash drive. Now run the program on any PC having missing files by inserting this flash drive. 

6. Compatible with Windows versions:

Wise Data Recovery software works perfectly fine on all Windows operating systems like Windows XP and above, including Windows 11 and 10 (32-bit and 64-bit).

How to Recover Photos Using Wise Data Recovery

Use the steps provided below to recover the deleted photos or other essential files through the Wise Data Recovery software:

Step 1: Launch the Wise Data Recovery app:

Firstly, you must launch the app on your Windows device. If you have not used it before, please click here to download the latest version of Wise Data Recovery.

Step 2: Search the drive: 

Now on the app’s main screen, select the drop-down menu. Search and select the hard disk drive where you lost your data. 

Note: You can scan the common file formats classified into different categories using the Input Keywords.

Step 3: Scan the selected drive: 

After selecting the drive you want, Wise Data Recovery starts scanning automatically. You can also pause and stop the scanning at any time by clicking the button Pause and Stop.

Step 4: Recover selected files:

That’s it. Pick the photos you need to recover and click the green-colored Recover button. You may save the recovered files and photos on your system or other storage devices.

Frequently Asked Questions 

1. Can I recover photos from an SD card without the software?

Regrettably, if you do not have a backup of your deleted photos, you cannot recover them without software. 

2. Is it safe to use a data recovery software?

Yes. You can use a virus-free program like Wise Data Recovery to retrieve your lost photos and other essential files safely.

3. For how long does a deleted file remain in the Trash on iPhone? 

In iPhone, deleted photos remain in the Photos album until 40 days before their permanent deletion. 

Wrapping Up

Permanently losing your precious photos is emotionally damaging. But you need not grieve over it and surrender to your emotions anymore. Instead, you can use the Wise Data Recovery application for a quick and effective solution. It is user-friendly, and its advanced mechanism scans your system to recover your photos even if your files are permanently deleted or your SD card is formatted.