Summary: Have you lost files like photos, videos, documents, etc. from your external SD memory card? You wish to get back the deleted data but don’t have any idea about it. Don’t Fret! This guide will teach you how to recover deleted files from SD card on Android phone/tablet. So, just keep reading it until the deleted/lost files get recovered.
Free Download Trial Version/Buy Now Recover (Android) Tool To Recover Deleted Files From SD Card On Phone/Tablet
![]() *Trial version | ![]() |
Many users insert external SD cards on their Android devices to increase storage space. They save files in it but sometimes the files stored on the card get deleted or disappeared due to some reasons.
There could be various reasons. Some of the common reasons behind it are.
Additional Reading: Photos/Video File Recovery From LOST.DIR/SD Card On Android
Common Reasons For The Deletion Of Files From SD Card On Android
The data can be deleted from Android phones or tablets due to several causes. But here I have discussed some of the common reasons.
- When your microSD card gets corrupted. Corruption can take place due to malware or virus infection.
- Accidental deletion – If you accidentally tap on the wrong file that you don’t want to delete.
- If you format your SD card without backing up files.
- Physical damage can also result in data loss or disappearance. Physical damage can occur due to exposing the card to rain, and keeping it in a dust/dirty place.
- Software issues may occur due to improper or incorrect ejection of card from the laptop/computer. Or due to a sudden electrical power surge/interruption.
- Availability of bad sector.
- As well as normal wear and tear can result in card malfunction.
So, these are some of the common causes behind the loss/deletion/disappearance of the files from memory cards.
Now, let us look at a practical example shared by an Android user.
Additional Reading: How To Recover Deleted or Lost Videos On Android Phone
Practical Example: A User Is Asking Help To Recover Data From SD Card
Hi folks,
I got this 16G sdcard that from one day to another it stopped being recognized saying “blank card or has unsupported file system”
Besides the data, I had some applications installed on it.
I did tried to recover with a software, but even the software only can recognize space is occupied, but can’t see it.
Anyone have any possible tip to share?
Thanks
Source: XDA Developer Forums
Like this, there are lots of users whose data has been deleted or disappeared from their Android device and they are finding solutions to retrieve deleted/missing/lost files from Android tablet’s or phone’s SD card. And since you have landed on this page or are going through this post, I know you are also one of them.
So, now we will discuss the methods to retrieve deleted files from SD memory card on Android phones/tablets.
Additional Reading: [Quick Tips] How To Unlock Android SIM Card
1: Retrieve Lost/Deleted Data From Android SD Card Via Third Party Software
Recover (Android) is a professional data recovery tool that easily retrieves lost/disappeared files from SD card on Android phone or tablet. For this, you don’t need any backup files.
Android SD Card Data Recovery allows you to recover different types of files such as images, videos, documents, music, audio, and more. You don’t need any technical knowledge to use this as it is very easy and user-friendly to use.
It supports almost all brands of cards such as MicroSD, MiniSD, SDHC, SDXC and Android phones and tablets such as Samsung, LG, Oppo, OnePlus, Huawei, Realme, Xiaomi, Asus, Google Pixel, Vivo, Sony, HTC, ZTE, Moto, etc.
![]() *Trial version | ![]() |
This program allows you to get back microSD card data that have been deleted/erased due to different scenarios such as virus or malware infection, water damage, accidental deletion, etc.
You can preview the files in the software’s preview screen which will help you to select the correct file and this will save your time. It supports both internal storage data recovery as well as external SD card data recovery.
Note: Once you know that your Android’s SD card data has been erased, then don’t add any new files on your phone’s card as it will overwrite the existing data and hence you lose the chance of successful data recovery.
Here, follow the complete guide to recover deleted files from Android SD card without backup using Recover (Android) tool.
You Might Also Like:
- How To Fix Vertical or Horizontal Lines On Android Phone
- [Fixed] Ghost Touch Problem On Android Phone
- 12 Methods To Fix “Invalid SIM Card” Error on Android
- How To Recover Deleted Call History/Call Logs From Android
2: Look For SD Card Data Backup In Computer/External Drive
Some users keep the backup on a computer or other external drives. So, if you have also transferred the files of SD memory card to your computer or external drive like a pen drive before the data get erased, hence you can easily restore the lost files.
If you have created a backup to your computer then to restore it you need to simply connect your Android device to your computer using a USB cable. After this, open the folder on your PC where you have saved the files, select the data and then copy and paste them to your Android phone/tablet’s internal or SD card storage.
Extra Tip: Fix SD Card Problems On Android Phone/Tablet
Sometimes users encounter different types of errors and issues while using SD cards on their smartphones. For example, it does not get recognized, corrupted, insufficient storage space, card detection problem, etc. So, below learn how to fix these SD Card problems on Android phones or tablets.
Problem 1 – Corrupted SD Card
If there is any drastic problem on your SD memory card then your device might send you the error message “SD card has been corrupted”. To fix this, you need to follow the below tips.
Tip 1: Restart Your Android Device
If may be possible that you are getting this error due to some glitches in your SD card. Just restart your Android phone or tablet and let the card load again.
Tip 2: Run CHKDSK Command
You can fix this by running the CHKDSK command.
- Connect your card to the computer via card reader/USB drives.
- On your computer, Go to Start menu, type CMD in search and open Command Prompt as Administrator.
- In command prompt, type chkdsk F: /f /r /x and press Enter. (F: is the drive letter of corrupted SD card, you can replace it with your drive letter)
- This will check and fix the corrupted card.
Tip 4: Scan The SD Card With An Anti-Virus Software
If your SD card gets corrupted due to a virus or malware in your device then you should scan the device with an anti-virus tool. For this, connect your phone to your computer and select to scan it with anti-virus software. This will remove the virus from your SD card itself.
Tip 4: Format Your SD Card
You can also format the card to solve the Android SD card corruption issue. But remember that this will erase all the existing files from it.
Here, follow the steps to format the card:
Step 1: With the help of USB cable connect your phone to your PC.
Step 2: Then right click on your SD card icon and select the format option to format it.
Step 3: Now, choose a formatting option and hit on “Start” button to begin the process.
Step 4: When it gets formatted then you can use it as a new memory card.
Additional Reading: How To Recover Voice Recordings/Audio Files On Samsung
Problem 2 – SD Card Detecting Problem
Sometimes your SD memory card does not get recognized by your Android device, in this case, you need to follow some tips to fix it. They are as follows:
Tip 1: Remove the SD Card And Mount It Again
If your memory card is not getting detected then just remove it from your phone and then after a few minutes re-insert it back and check whether the issue is resolved or not.
Tip 2: Ensure Your Device Supports SD Card
You should first make sure that the SD card is compatible with your device or not. If the card type is old and your phone model is new then you could encounter compatibility problems.
Tip 3: Make Sure Your SD Card Is Not Damage
It may be possible that your memory card slot, your phone or your SD card is physically damaged. You can confirm it by checking the slot and inserting the SD card into another phone to check if it is detecting on another phone or not.
Additional Reading: How To Recover Deleted Music/Songs From Android
Problem 3 – Insufficient Storage Or Not Enough Storage Space On SD Card
Some users have complained that they have sufficient storage space on their SD card but still they get “not enough storage” or “insufficient storage” error prompt on their device. To fix this problem you can try the below tips.
Tip 1: Restart Your Android Device
The easiest method to solve this error is by restarting the device. Doing this will load the SD card again on your phone and may recognize the space available in the card.
Tip 2: Clear Some Space From SD Card
If your external storage is filled with many items then you can delete some unwanted data or you can move specific files from external storage to phone’s internal storage.
For this, you need to simply cut and paste the pictures and media data the usual way.
Alternatively, navigate to the app’s settings on your handset to move the app data. If you wish to clear the cache and data of the app then you can easily do it from here.
Tip 3: Format The SD Card
You can also solve this error by formatting the SD card. To format it, navigate to card settings and unmount it and see the available space. Then hit on Format option and then wait for a few minutes to format the SD card completely.
Conclusion
Now, you know how you can recover deleted files from SD card on Android phone or tablet. If you have created a backup on your PC or other external drives then you can easily restore them on your phone but if you don’t then you should try Recover (Android) software.
Many users have used this tool and it really worked. So, I hope Android SD Card Recovery tool will also help you to rescue lost, missing or erased contents from SD cards.

Wan to know About Me. Well, I have experince of almost 11 years in writing topics related to Android and other tech. Previously, I used to write Blogs for the company where I was working earlier. Now, I love to write tips, tricks, fixes for errors, data recovery solutions, and more related to Android for my own Website. Besides that, I love to travel and explore places, watch movies and play online games.