Data Recovery ProDeleted photos on an SD card can usually be recovered on Windows. Stop using the card, scan it read-only, and save what you find to your PC, never back to the card.
Deleting a photo, or a quick format, only clears the card's index. The photo stays on the card until something new is written over it. Data Recovery Pro reads the deleted entries back with their names and folders, then reads every block of the card to find photos the index no longer lists.
The Windows version is in early access. It scans the same cards in the same way as the Mac version, with two differences: HEIC photos can't be previewed yet, and RAW photos are previewed from the small JPEG the camera stores inside them.
What to expect
| What happened | Chance |
|---|---|
| Photos deleted, card not used since | High |
| Card quick-formatted in the camera or in Windows | High |
| Long video clips | Varies often partly damaged |
| New photos taken on the card since | Low anything overwritten is gone |
The ratings are a rough guide. We haven't measured recovery rates.
Recover them in four steps
- Stop using the card or driveDon't take more photos, copy files to it or format it. Every new file can overwrite one you want back.
- Connect it to your PC and open Data Recovery ProUse the PC's card slot or a USB reader. If Windows asks to format the card, click Cancel. Click Yes when Windows asks for permission, so it can read the card directly.
- Scan and previewThe quick scan takes seconds; the deep scan reads every block. Files appear as they are found, each marked intact, partly damaged or not checked, so you see what can be recovered before you decide.
- Recover to your PCChoose the files you want and save them to a folder on your PC or another drive, never back to the card. You only pay if you choose to recover more than the free allowance.
Before you start
If Windows says You need to format the disk before you can use it, click Cancel. Formatting writes a new index over the old one. More about that prompt.
Windows may also show Windows protected your PC when you open the installer, because the early-access version isn't signed yet. What to do.
Questions
Can I recover photos after formatting the card?
Usually, if it was a quick format, which is what cameras and Windows do by default. A full format that overwrites the card erases the photos for good.
The card doesn't show up in File Explorer.
It may still show up in Data Recovery Pro, which reads the card directly rather than through File Explorer. If it isn't listed at all.
Are my photos uploaded anywhere?
No. The scan and the recovery happen on your computer, and your files and file names never touch our servers.