How to Recover a Formatted SanDisk SD Card Using iCare Recovery Free

Formatting your SanDisk SD card by mistake doesn’t mean your data is gone forever. With the right recovery software like iCare Recovery Free, you can scan the card, preview recoverable files, and restore them safely before they’re overwritten.

Steps to Recover a Formatted SanDisk SD Card

1. Stop Using the Card

Immediately stop using the SanDisk SD card to prevent new data from overwriting the deleted files. Any new data written may make recovery impossible.

2. Connect the SD Card

Insert the formatted SD card into a card reader and connect it to your computer. Ensure it appears as a removable drive before proceeding.

3. Download and Install iCare Recovery Free

downloadDownload and install iCare Recovery Free on your computer. Avoid installing it directly on the SD card to reduce the risk of data overwriting.

4. Scan the SD Card

Launch the software, select your SanDisk SD card from the list, and start a deep scan to search for deleted files.select recovery mode

5. Preview and Select Files

After the scan is complete, preview the recoverable files. This helps confirm that your photos, videos, or documents haven’t been overwritten.preview found photo

6. Recover Files to a Safe Location

Select the files you want and click Recover. Save them to your computer’s internal storage or another external device, not the original SD card.

7. Back Up Recovered Data

Once recovery is complete, back up your files to a secure location such as a cloud drive or external hard disk to prevent future loss.

Important Considerations

  • Overwriting risk: New data written to the card can overwrite deleted files, making them impossible to recover.
  • Recovery chances: Some software tools estimate the likelihood of successful recovery for each file.
  • SanDisk RescuePro: Some cards come with a RescuePro license — check your packaging or SanDisk’s website.
  • Quick vs. Full Format: Quick formats are easier to recover from, but tools like iCare Recovery Free can often recover data even after a full format.

Also read: Sandisk sd card format recovery or how to recover formatted SD card

Final Thoughts

Acting quickly and using reliable recovery software greatly improves your chances of restoring lost data. iCare Recovery Free provides an easy, effective way to scan your formatted SanDisk SD card, preview recoverable files, and restore them safely.

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