Recovering Lost Data: How to Easily Unformat Your SD Card

Have you ever mistakenly formatted your SD card and thought your precious files were gone forever? You're not alone. Formatting is a common operation, but it's also one of the leading causes of accidental data loss. Whether it’s a camera SD card, Android phone storage, or a drone memory chip—when disaster strikes, the panic is real.

Fortunately, the process to unformat SD card is not as complicated as it may seem. Thanks to tools like iBeesoft Data Recovery, you can often recover files lost to accidental formatting without needing advanced technical skills.

In this blog post, we’ll explain what formatting does, explore why unformatting is possible, and walk you through several proven methods to get your data back.

What Happens When You Format an SD Card?

Before diving into recovery methods, it's important to understand what formatting actually does.

When you format an SD card:

The file system (like FAT32 or exFAT) is reset.

File indexes (metadata) are wiped, making it appear empty.

Actual files aren't instantly erased—instead, their locations are marked as "available space."

That means your files still exist—at least until they’re overwritten by new data.

So if you formatted your SD card accidentally, the first and most critical rule is:

Stop using the card immediately!

Don’t save new photos, videos, or documents to it. Every new file risks overwriting your old data.

Why It's Possible to "Unformat" an SD Card

You can’t technically “unformat” a card in the traditional sense—there’s no undo button. However, data recovery software can scan the sectors of your SD card and piece together previously deleted data that hasn't yet been overwritten.

If you used a Quick Format, your chances are high. If it was a Full Format, recovery becomes much harder—but not impossible.

Let’s now look at how you can retrieve your data.

Method 1: Unformat SD Card Using iBeesoft Data Recovery (Windows & Mac)

The iBeesoft Unformat SD Card Tool is a specialized recovery solution designed to retrieve lost files from formatted, corrupted, or unreadable SD cards.

Features:

Works with all SD card brands (SanDisk, Lexar, Samsung, Kingston, etc.)

Supports recovery of photos, videos, documents, and more.

Available for Windows and macOS.

Allows preview of files before restoring.

Steps to Use:

Download and Install iBeesoft Data Recovery

Visit the official site and install the software on your computer.

Connect Your SD Card

Use a card reader or USB adapter and plug the SD card into your PC or Mac.

Launch the Software and Select Your Card

Open the program, select your SD card from the device list, and start scanning.

Preview and Recover

The scan will list recoverable files. Preview the ones you need and save them to a secure location (NOT the same SD card).

💡 Tip: Always save recovered files to a different disk to avoid overwriting data still being recovered.

Method 2: Use CMD to Recover Files from a Formatted SD Card (Windows)

If you prefer not to use third-party software, Windows includes a command-line option that might help in very limited situations.

Steps:

Open Command Prompt as Administrator.

Type:

bash

CopyEdit

chkdsk E: /f

(Replace "E:" with your SD card’s drive letter)

Then try:

bash

CopyEdit

attrib -h -r -s /s /d E:\*.*

This method is useful if files were hidden due to corruption rather than deletion, but not ideal for formatted card recovery. For full recovery, iBeesoft or similar tools are more effective.

Method 3: Recover from Formatted SD Card on Android

If the SD card was formatted in your Android device, you can try Android-specific recovery tools—especially if the phone isn’t rooted.

Using a File Recovery App:

Install File Recovery - Photo Recovery from Google Play Store.

Launch the app and allow storage access.

Choose the SD card location and scan.

Preview and recover your lost files.

⚠️ Some apps may require root access for deep recovery. If you’re not comfortable rooting your device, connect your phone to a PC and use iBeesoft instead.

Method 4: Contacting a Professional Data Recovery Service

If your SD card is physically damaged or none of the software tools work, it might be time to call the pros.

What to Expect:

Mail-in service or local lab evaluation.

Diagnosis fees may apply.

Success rates vary based on the damage.

Services can be expensive—but may be the only option for critical data.

Make sure to choose certified services with transparent pricing and reviews.

Common Causes of SD Card Formatting

Understanding why SD cards get formatted can help prevent future issues. Here are some common scenarios:

Accidental Clicks: Tapping “Format” instead of “Eject” or “Open” on devices.

Camera Errors: DSLRs or GoPros sometimes ask to format due to file system issues.

Corruption: A corrupted card may refuse to read and request formatting.

Compatibility: New phones or cameras might require formatting to a supported system.

Virus Attacks: Malware can corrupt data and render cards unreadable.

Best Practices to Prevent Data Loss

While tools like iBeesoft are powerful, it’s better to avoid data loss altogether. Here are a few tips:

Backup Frequently: Use cloud or external drives for automatic backups.

Safely Remove Hardware: Always eject SD cards properly from devices.

Use Reliable Brands: Cheap SD cards are more prone to corruption.

Avoid Low Battery Transfers: Don’t copy files when your device is low on power.

Format in the Device: Always format SD cards in the device where you plan to use them.

iBeesoft vs Other Tools: Why Choose iBeesoft?

There are many data recovery tools on the market, but few combine power and ease of use like iBeesoft.

Feature

iBeesoft

Recuva

EaseUS

Platform Support

Windows & Mac

Windows only

Windows & Mac

File Type Coverage

1000+ file types

Limited

Broad

SD Card Compatibility

All major brands

Partial

All major brands

Free Recovery Limit

Up to 2GB

Limited

500MB

Customer Support

24/7

No

Business Hours

Real-Life Use Case: A Photographer’s Recovery Story

Sarah, a travel photographer, formatted her 128GB SD card by accident before transferring her trip photos. A quick Google search led her to iBeesoft. Within 30 minutes, she had all 1,452 images recovered.

"It felt like a miracle. I honestly thought I’d lost everything from my Iceland trip. iBeesoft saved my portfolio!"

Her advice? "Never panic, stop using the card, and use a trusted recovery tool immediately."

Final Thoughts

Accidentally formatting your SD card is frustrating, but it's not the end of the world. With tools like iBeesoft Unformat SD Card Tool, recovery is more accessible than ever—even for non-technical users.

Just remember:

Don’t save new files to a formatted card.

Use professional tools for scanning and recovery.

Act quickly for the best chance of full restoration.

No matter what kind of files you’ve lost, there’s a good chance they can still be recovered—if you use the right tools at the right time.

Need to recover your files right now?

Get started with iBeesoft’s Free SD Card Recovery Tool and take the first step toward restoring your data.