How to backup & restore SD memory card data on android mobile phone PC - 4 ways
Last updated on Nov 28, 2023
How to backup SD card/micro SD card on android phone or computer/Google drive? (Healthy sd card or corrupted sd card?) This article will show you different ways for free sd card backups.
Quick Navi
2 Situations to Backup Data from an SD Card for Smartphone before formatting on Android:
1. Backup data from healthy memory card (when the sd card is still working properly) - 3 ways -> read here
You may use SD card backup software for Android or copy data from SD card to computer, or any cloud service to backup an SD memory card when the card still works normally before formatting or factory resetting android phone. [illustrated later]
2. Backup data from deleted/inaccessible SD memory card (card is damaged or files deleted) - 1 way -> read here
You need to use SD card recovery software to do the job if you want to backup the SD because it is corrupted/reports errors/becomes inaccessible.
Method #1 - SD Memory Card Backup for Android Phone without computer
There are a lot of backup&restore memery card apps or backup software for SD card backup online.
1. Backup SD card to Google Drive (best memory card backup restore app)
Google Drive provides online service for SD card backup, so you can use it to backup SD card data for android mobile. We would recommend you backup everything (including your phone media files together with phone contacts, notes, app data etc.) on your phone to Google drive when you need to reset your phone or format your phone.
Google Drive: https://www.google.com/drive/
Restore SD Card Data from Google Drive to Android Phone
2. Backup SD card to other cloud services
There are many other online cloud services, which enable you to backup SD card photos/videos/data to cloud.
Other free clould backup: (Google Drive offers 15GB free space)
- Mega (20GB free)
- Workdrive (20GB free)
- Sync.com (5GB free)
- IDrive (5GB free)
- Nextcloud
- Dropbox (2GB free)
Advantage – Backup everything including applications efficiently
Disadvantage – Some backup tools are not free, or some need a paid service
Method #2 - Backup sd card data from phone to usb/hdd using OTG without computer
Copy sd card data and paste to flash drive by OTG cable for Android without computer
An OTG shall be applied in the solution for backup memory card data to external usb or flash drive without computer. You may buy one from your favorite stores since it is cost efficient for future use.
Video - how to move phone data to pendrive using OTG
Method #3- Backup Mobile Phone SD Card Data to Computer (copy and paste)
The easiest way to backup data from an SD card of mobile phone to computer is to use a card adaptor or card reader.
Solution:
1. Connect
Connect the SD card to your computer via a card reader/USB cable, after which PC will recognize it as a removable device.
2. Copy & paste
Open SD memory card on computer and copy all data you need to backup and then paste it to your computer’s disk.
Copy sd card data and paste to computer
Advantage – Easy to handle and100% free
Disadvantage – It is not able to backup applications installed on Android phone SD card.
How do I backup my SD card so I can format it? - 3 ways
- Backup files from memory card to free cloud drives such as Google G Drive without computer => Read details here
- Back up files in memory card to a computer by copy and paste and then format memory card safely
- How to backup data on sd card before formatting? How do I save my photos before formatting my SD card => Save photos from inaccessible sd card with iCare Pro free from computer and then format sd card
Also read: how to format sd card without losing data
Method #4 - Backup deleted/inaccessible Data from SD Card
Can you backup data from a corrupted SD card for mobile phone? How to backup data if deleted from external mobile sd card? The following guide would show you how to move data from damaged memory card to anywhere else.
Solution:
When users are asking 'How to backup my old data which are deleted from my memory card from my phone' deleted files can be backup with special tool or when SD memory card says error messages, not readable/accessible, you can use iCare Data Recovery Pro Free Edition to backup deleted files or recover files from SD card. iCare Recovery Pro is able to recover 1GB data from any corrupted memory card for free of charge.
Free Memory Card Recovery
Download iCare Data Recovery Pro Free to recover files from mobile phone camera memory card including photos, videos, music...
Backup data from corrupted sd card with iCare Pro
FAQs
Question: How to backup sd card to laptop/computer
Answer: You may insert the sd card to the sd card slot if the laptop host a memory card slot. A following image shows you how to insert sd card to laptop via card reader to get microSD card inserted to laptop easily.
Open sd card and copy all files to computer for backup.
