Solved: Why do my Files become Corrupted after Transferring to SD Card?

5 minutes read

Are your files and folders corrupt or missing after being moved to an SD card? This article will help you fix the issue. Read through all the DIY solutions listed below and choose the best method.

Gravatar Hamid Imtiaz
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Your Photos, videos, or other files would have gotten corrupted or missing in the SD, due to several reasons, here are a few common causes behind the issue.

  • SD card Corruption.
  • Interrupted Transfers
  • Faulty SD card
  • Incompatible File System
  • Corrupt Source Files

As a basic fix, try using a different SD card adapter or inserting the SD card on a different device to check for connectivity issues, if you don’t see any photos or videos.

The good news is that most of them fix the corrupt SD card or Recover data from it. Stop using the SD card right away and follow the upcoming section to retrieve files from SD card:

Solutions to Fix Files Being Corrupted after Transfer to SD Card

FIX 1: Run Diagnostics

Using Error Checking Tool and Chkdsk (Windows)

  • Insert the SD card.
  • Open File Explorer, right-click the SD card and select properties
choose properties on SD card
  • Tools > Check under Error Checking. Follow the prompts
check the SD card for errors

Once the scan is complete, check if SD card files are accessible.

Run CHKDSK (Windows)

  • Open Command Prompt as an administrator.
  • Type chkdsk X: /f (Replace X with your SD card letter) and hit Enter
type the chkdsk command to fix files become corrupted after transferring to SD card
  • Allow the tool to scan and repair errors or bad sectors on an SD card.

Disk Utility(macOS)

Open Disk Utility, select the SD card and click First Aid to repair it.

FIX 2: Update Drives

Files on the SD card can become corrupted due to connection issues or outdated drivers. Here’s how you can fix it

  • Open Device Manager
  • Expand Disk Drives, right-click your SD card reader, and select Update Driver.
update the disk drivers
  • Choose Search automatically for updated driver software.
click on search automatically for drivers
  • Once the updating is completed, try checking the SD card files on Explorer.

Fix 3: Delete Nomedia Files

Nomedia files are files stored on Android phone or SD card connected to an Android device. These Nomedia files make your data on SD card to be invisible. They are neither deleted nor corrupted.

  • Open File Explorer and unhide the hidden files.
  • Now you can see Nomedia files, select and delete them

If corruption persists, You will have to recover files before attempting further fixes. In case you don’t have the backup of the files on an SD card, you will have to use effective data recovery software to recover files from SD card.

Fix 4: Recover Files from Corrupt SD Card

For the best results, We suggest Remo Recover to retrieve data from SD card in a few simple clicks, the software is completely user-friendly and supports almost all file types and SD cards like SD, SDHC, and SDXC from major brands.

You can preview the recovered files before restoring them. Additionally, the tool offers 1GB of free data recovery. Download and Try Now!!

  • Download and install Remo Recover Software on your device.
  • Select the SD card and click on Scan.
choose the drive to recover SD files
  • The software will start a Quick Scan followed by a thorough Deep Scan.
  • Once Quickscan is done, click on the Dynamic Recovery View Option to view all the files recovered so far.
click on Dynamic Recovery View Option to see files recovered files from SD so far.
  • Double-click to preview any files from the SD card and click on the Recover Button to save it in your preferred location.
check the file preview of the SD with
  • Choose a destination location and click on OK to restore the SD card file.

Fix 4: Format the SD Card

If the above methods fail, formatting the SD card can resolve deeper issues. Backup your files first using recovery software, before proceeding:

  • Right-click the SD card in File Explorer.
  • Select Format and choose the file system (e.g., NTFS, exFAT).
  • Click Start.
format the SD card that has the corrupt files

Tips to Avoid Files Getting Deleted/Corrupted After Transferring to SD Card

Follow these suggestions to avoid issues like these in the future:

  • Always Eject: Avoid removing the SD card during file transfers, use the eject option before removing the SD card from the computer.
  • Avoid Overloading the SD Card: Leaving some free space helps prevent corruption and performance issues.
  • Use branded SD cards: Use high-quality SD cards from trusted brands to avoid corruption issues and SD card failures.
  • Regularly check for errors on SD card: Use built-in tools like CHKDSK (Windows) or First Aid (Mac) to ensure the card is functioning properly.

Conclusion

To Sum up, SD cards are super useful for transferring data from one device to another, However, issues like these can put your data at risk, with the right solutions you can recover all the files on your SD card. We hope this article can be of help to fix the problem and get back your data.

Gravatar Hamid Imtiaz

About the Author: Hamid Imtiaz

Hamid Imtiaz is the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at Remo Software, where he leads the charge in developing cutting-edge solutions in the fields of data recovery, data security, and data forensics. With a strong engineering background, Hamid has a keen eye for detail and a meticulous approach to his work. His expertise spans a wide…