Disk corruption among other challenges you might be facing with your SD card are also common elsewhere. It might not only mean that you are using the wrong card, but it might also be as a result of many factors working together. 

Did you know that many people will ask you to format your SD card especially when you are facing disk corruption challenges? Do not try it if you are not ready to lose all your data. 

Regardless of the cause, which we will also discuss a little, there are many ways to get the problem fixed. In this article, we will focus on the top 5 SD card data recovery tools that you can use to fix a corrupted SD card even without formatting.

Causes of Data Loss in SD Cards

There are many possible causes of data loss in SD cards other than disk corruption. Some of these include:

  • Accidental deletion
  • Physical damage to the disk
  • Interrupted connection
  • Poor ejection protocols 
  • Power failure 

How We Rank SD Card Repair Tools

Our ranking of the top 5 SD card repair tools is based on deep technical analysis and review of user feedback. We consider the following key factors to make sure we are recommending only the best tools for you. 

  • Features
  • Complexity
  • Compatibility
  • Price 

1. Disk Drill by Cleverfiles

Disk Drill is a top-rated software for Windows and Mac that supports data recovery from a wide range of devices. Other than being a tool to fix corrupted SD cards, the tool can perform multiple other tasks including full scan of corrupted cards and data recovery from multiple data loss scenarios. 

The software is built with an advanced scanning algorithm that will help you access even SD cards that are no longer accessible by other tools. 

On the other hand, users are looking for tools with utmost ease of accessibility to make their run time experience memorable. You want a software you can easily and quickly navigate to get your lost data back without having to learn a few tech skills. 

Also, you should consider the cost of repairing your SD card. Recovering corrupted SD cards should not be so expensive. However, even if you are dealing with the most expensive set of your files, a good software for corrupt disk recovery should not come at the cost that requires you to break a bank. Plus, you should also be able to get some free offers to check the viability of your recovery options before getting a premium version of the tools you choose. 

And, you may not have known that a few tools might end up ruining your original SD card! Yes! With Disk Drill, the process will end up safely preserving the integrity of your SD card and data. These among other factors are some of the reasons why many people choose Disk Drill developed by Cleverfiles. Below are some of the key features of this software to remember.

  • Easy to use
  • Free version available
  • Quick and deep scan available
  • Windows and Mac devices supported
  • A wide range of file systems supported
  • Corrupted and failing SD card repair 
  • Premium version only $89

2. Windows Error Checking

This is an in-built Windows SD memory card recovery tool for testing and scanning errors in SD cards, external and internal hard drives. The feature makes it easier to scan and repair corrupted SD cards. 

Since the tool is built in Windows properties, it cannot be downloaded. Below is how to access the tool.

  • Connect your SD card to the PC
  • Tap +E keys to launch Windows Explorer
  • Choose “This PC” from the pane on the left
  • Right-click on the SD card and choose “Properties”
  • Navigate to the tools tab and choose the “Check” option appearing under the error checking section
  • Tap “Scan drive” to initiate the scanning process

You will be able to repair the SD card with this process. Below are some of the notable features that make this tool a top solution.

  • Scan and fix corrupted SD cards
  • Check and fix SD file errors
  • Free for all uses
  • Supports all Windows versions

3. SanDisk RescuePRO

This tool is built to recover images, videos, documents, among other file systems. It comes in three versions – standard, deluxe, and deluxe commercial. The standard version recovers up to 256 GB SD cards, Deluxe up to 1 TB SD cards, and Deluxe commercial up to 1 TB and can also be used for commercial purposes.

Some of the key features you get from this tool include:

  • SD card imaging 
  • Official endorsement by SanDisk
  • Recovery for all RAW image file formats 
  • Standard version is $39.99 while DeluxePro is $59.99

4. TestDisk

This is an opensource tool for recovering lost SD card file systems. If you were trying to partition your SD card for instance and ended up with zero accessible partitions instead, TestDisk will come in handy. The tool is completely free, but can be a little intimidating with an unfriendly user-interface though. The tool ships together with PhotoRec, another useful data recovery tool. Key features include:

  • Portable and lightweight 
  • Open-source and completely free

5. Repair SD Card

Android users continue to grow worldwide. That is why we classify this Android SD card repair tool among the top five. If you are using an SD card on Android and want to repair corruption issues, this is the best tool to use. 

It comes with a streamlined interface that makes your journey seamless. Although its performance cannot match that of PC tools like Disk Drill, it comes really handy when you are looking for a solution you can implement on-the-go from your Android. Key features include:

  • Android support 
  • Simple and easy to use UI
  • Scans internal storage of your Android
  • Free to download

Conclusion 

There are so many software solutions claiming to repair corrupted SD cards today. Before you choose one, review our list of top five and consider your budget, robust features, and user-friendliness. While you need an affordable tool, it should be easy to use and offer best results in terms of success rates.