How to Fix Corrupted Memory Card or Flash Drive

In my previous post on how to recover deleted files, one of my readers asked me if I could make an instruction on how to fix a corrupted Secure Digital Card or SD Card and Flash Drive. I searched for a solution how to fix the problem because I also wanted to know the solution.

And now I will share what I found. Solutions that I think may also work for you, but I will not guarantee that will work because it will depend on the damage of your SD Card.

This solution is free, you only need a computer running Windows or Mac and a card reader. Some PC/Laptops has a built in Card readers just give them a try if your SD card fits in the slot.

Read Also: How to erase or reformat write protected USB Disk or SD Card

How to Fix Corrupted SD Card and Flash Drive

Fixing a corrupted SD card or flash drive depends on the severity of the corruption, but there are several methods to try before giving up on your data. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to fix a corrupted SD card or flash drive:

1. Try the SD Card/Flash Drive on Another Device

Before attempting any complex fixes, try inserting the SD card or flash drive into another computer, device, or card reader. Sometimes the issue lies with the device or port rather than the SD card/flash drive itself.

2. Check the SD Card/Flash Drive for Physical Damage

Inspect the SD card or flash drive for any visible damage. If the card or drive is cracked, bent, or physically broken, data recovery might require professional services.

3. Use a Different USB Port or Adapter

Sometimes the problem isn’t with the card or drive but with the port or adapter. Try using a different USB port, or, if you’re using an SD card adapter, switch to a new adapter.

4. Use Disk Management (Windows)

Sometimes, the SD card or flash drive may not show up properly in File Explorer but can still be recognized by Disk Management.

Steps:

1. Press Windows + X and select Disk Management.
2. Look for the SD card or flash drive in the list of drives.
3. If it’s detected but shows as RAW, unallocated, or has no drive letter, you may need to:
   • Assign a new drive letter: Right-click the drive and select Change Drive Letter and Paths. Assign a new drive letter, and check if it appears in File Explorer.
   • Format the drive: If it’s showing as RAW or unallocated, right-click the drive and select Format (this will erase all data).

5. Run CHKDSK Command (Windows)

Windows has a built-in tool called CHKDSK that can check for file system errors and attempt to fix them.

Steps:

1. Connect your SD card or flash drive to the computer.
2. Open Command Prompt as an administrator. Press Windows + R, type cmd, and press Enter.
3. In the command prompt window, type the following command and press Enter: chkdsk [Drive Letter]: /f /r
   Replace [Drive Letter] with the actual letter of your SD card or flash drive (e.g., chkdsk E: /f /r).
4. Windows will scan the drive for errors and attempt to fix them. Wait for the process to complete.

If the corruption is minor, this might fix the SD card or flash drive without erasing data.

6. Use the Error Checking Tool (Windows)

Windows has a built-in Error Checking tool that can scan and repair file system errors on the SD card or flash drive.

Steps:

1. Insert the SD card or flash drive into your computer.
2. Open File Explorer and right-click on the drive.
3. Select Properties.
4. Go to the Tools tab and click Check under Error Checking.
5. Follow the prompts to allow Windows to check for and fix errors.

7. Reformat the SD Card or Flash Drive (Windows/macOS)

If other methods fail, you may need to format the SD card or flash drive. This will erase all data, so backup your files if possible before proceeding.

On Windows

1. Open File Explorer.
2. Right-click the SD card or flash drive and choose Format.
3. Select File System (FAT32 for smaller drives, exFAT or NTFS for larger drives).
4. Click Start to begin formatting.

On macOS

1. Open Disk Utility.
2. Select your SD card or flash drive from the sidebar.
3. Click the Erase tab.
4. Choose the appropriate File System (exFAT for cross-platform use or APFS for macOS-only use).
5. Click Erase.

After formatting, the SD card or flash drive should work normally, though data will be lost. You can try using data recovery software afterward to recover lost files (refer to recovery software in a section below).

8. Use DiskPart to Clean and Format the Drive (Windows)

If regular formatting doesn’t work, you can use the DiskPart utility in Windows to clean and reformat the drive.

Steps:

1. Open Command Prompt as an administrator.
2. Type diskpart and press Enter to launch DiskPart.
3. Type list disk and press Enter to see all connected drives.
4. Identify the disk number of the corrupted SD card or flash drive. Be cautious to select the correct disk.
5. Type select disk X (replace X with the number of the SD card or flash drive) and press Enter.
6. Type clean and press Enter (this will remove all partitions from the disk).
7. Type create partition primary and press Enter.
8. Type format fs=fat32 (or format fs=exfat for larger drives) and press Enter.
9. Type assign and press Enter to assign a new drive letter.

This method force-cleans the drive and creates a fresh partition, solving more complex issues.

9. Use Data Recovery Software

If your SD card or flash drive is still unreadable but contains valuable data, you may need to use data recovery software before formatting. These programs can recover files from corrupted or damaged drives.

Popular Data Recovery Software

• Recuva: A free, user-friendly tool for recovering deleted files.
• Disk Drill: Works on both Windows and macOS, with a free version offering up to 500MB of recovery.
• EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard: A powerful tool for recovering data from corrupted drives, with a free version that recovers up to 2GB.
• PhotoRec: Open-source software that can recover data from many storage devices.

Read: List of Best Free Data Recovery Software

Download and run one of these programs to scan your SD card or flash drive for recoverable data.

10. Check for SD Card Lock Switch (SD Card Only)

If you’re using an SD card, check the lock switch on the side of the card. If the switch is set to Lock, the card is write-protected and may prevent changes, including repairing or formatting.

11. Try SD Card Formatter Tool (SD Card Only)

If none of the above solutions work for an SD card, you can use the official SD Card Formatter Tool provided by the SD Association.

Steps:

1. Download the SD Card Formatter Tool from the SD Association website: https://www.sdcard.org/downloads/formatter/
2. Install and run the tool.
3. Select your SD card from the list of drives.
4. Click Format to repair the SD card.

This tool is specifically designed for SD cards and can fix issues that standard Windows or macOS formatting tools might not.

12. Use Professional Data Recovery Services

If your SD card or flash drive is severely damaged (e.g., physically broken, water damaged), your best option may be to consult a professional data recovery service. These services can often retrieve data from physically damaged drives, but they can be expensive.

Final Thought

• Start with simple solutions like checking the SD card or flash drive on another device, using CHKDSK or the Error Checking tool.
• Use data recovery software if you need to recover files before formatting.
• Reformat the drive as a last resort if it’s still not working.

Hopefully, this tutorial helps you to recover important files.