SD Card
Can't access the data on your memory card? At DataHelp we specialise in recovering data from all kinds of cards, including microSD, CompactFlash and XQD. Whatever the damage or manufacturer, our specialists will help you get your data back.
We recover photos, videos and documents from SD, microSD and CF cards — after accidental deletion or formatting as well as physical damage. Monolithic cards are read directly on the memory chip's contact pads — microsoldering work our lab does in-house.
Pricing
Indicative prices by damage type
| Type of damage | Price |
|---|---|
| Software issues | |
Deleted Data Accidentally deleted files | from €69 |
Formatting Formatted flash drive or card | from €69 |
Corrupted File System Drive or card unreadable, asks to be formatted | from €99 |
| Hardware issues | |
Broken Connector Mechanically damaged USB connector | from €69 |
Damaged NAND Chips Unreadable blocks, chip-off recovery | from €169 |
Faulty Controller Flash drive not recognised, wrong capacity | from €329 |
Monolithic Chip (microSD) Integrated chip, more complex recovery | from €399 |
Prices are indicative. The final price is set after diagnostics, based on the actual condition of the device.
Common faults at a glance
Software failures
| Damage | Cause and symptoms |
|---|---|
| Data deleted by the user |
|
| Formatting |
|
| Damaged file system |
|
Hardware failures
| Damage | Cause and symptoms |
|---|---|
| Faulty memory controller |
|
| Faulty memory blocks |
|
Why is data recovery from memory cards so complex?
Memory cards store data in flash memory, which fails in much the same way as USB flash drives and SSDs. The most common fault is a failed controller – the chip whose algorithm decides where each piece of data is physically stored in the memory cells. That algorithm is the key to putting the data back together correctly, which is why recovery is so computationally demanding.
Memory cells can only be rewritten a limited number of times, and worn cells produce read errors that have to be dealt with during recovery. On top of that, the data has to be reconstructed from the contents of the entire card, which calls for plenty of storage space and proper laboratory equipment.
Data must always be reconstructed from a full image of the card – working with just part of it is not possible. With a 128 GB card, for example, we process the entire 128 GB image, which takes considerable computing power as well as time for a thorough analysis.
To find and rebuild the files you need, we work with storage space many times larger than the card itself, so that the data can be processed and reconstructed safely and in full. If your card has suddenly stopped working, a controller failure is the most likely cause – a job for a laboratory with specialised equipment for flash memory reconstruction.
SD card types and capacities
SD stands for <strong>Secure Digital</strong>. The SD format is the most widely used type of memory card today. It comes in several generations and sizes that differ in capacity and speed.
SD card generations by capacity
- •SD (SDSC) – original standard, capacity 8 MB to 2 GB
- •SDHC – High Capacity, capacity 4 GB to 32 GB
- •SDXC – eXtended Capacity, capacity 64 GB to 2 TB
- •SDUC – Ultra Capacity, capacity up to 128 TB (theoretically)
Size variants
- •Standard SD – dimensions 32 × 24 × 2.1 mm (cameras, camcorders)
- •miniSD – smaller variant, no longer used today
- •microSD – smallest, dimensions 15 × 11 × 1 mm (smartphones, drones, GoPro)
With a plastic adapter, microSD cards can be used in devices with a standard SD card slot.
Other types of memory cards we recover
CompactFlash (CF) – professional cameras
CFexpress – high-speed cards for video
XQD – professional DSLR and mirrorless
Memory Stick – Sony devices
xD-Picture Card – older Olympus/Fujifilm
MMC – MultiMediaCard, predecessor to SD
SD card speed classes
Card speed is especially important for video recording and burst shooting. Cards carry various markings that indicate the minimum write speed.
Speed Class (C)
The number in the circle indicates the minimum write speed in MB/s.
- Class 2 – min. 2 MB/s
- Class 4 – min. 4 MB/s
- Class 6 – min. 6 MB/s
- Class 10 – min. 10 MB/s
UHS Speed Class (U)
Ultra High Speed – the number inside the U indicates tens of MB/s.
- U1 – min. 10 MB/s
- U3 – min. 30 MB/s
UHS-I: max 104 MB/s, UHS-II: max 312 MB/s, UHS-III: max 624 MB/s
Video Speed Class (V)
Designed for video – the number is the minimum write speed in MB/s.
- V6 – min. 6 MB/s (SD video)
- V10 – min. 10 MB/s (Full HD)
- V30 – min. 30 MB/s (4K video)
- V60 – min. 60 MB/s (8K video)
- V90 – min. 90 MB/s (8K RAW)
SD card lifespan and proper care
An SD card contains flash memory – an array of cells that can be rewritten individually. Data is written electrically into memory blocks and stays there even without power.
Each memory cell has a limited lifespan – a typical modern card withstands around 500–3,000 write cycles per cell. To spread the wear evenly, the card’s controller uses a Flash Translation Layer (FTL) that distributes writes across all cells.
SD cards are not designed for long-term archiving. Left unused for a long time (roughly ten years), the memory cells can gradually lose their charge and the data may become unreadable. For archiving, we recommend regular backups to more than one medium.
How to extend SD card lifespan
- •Safe removal – always use ‘Safely Remove’ or switch the device off before taking the card out
- •Format in the device – format the card in the camera itself, not on a computer
- •Quality brands – buy cards from reputable manufacturers (SanDisk, Samsung, Kingston)
- •Protection from the elements – keep the card away from extreme temperatures, moisture and static electricity
- •Regular backups – copy the data off the card after every important shoot
Three steps to getting your data back
1
Stop using the card
If the card reports an error, asks to be formatted or the photos are inaccessible, remove it from the device immediately. Further use or attempts to format it can damage the data irreversibly.
2
Don't try DIY fixes
Off-the-shelf data recovery software can only help with deleted files. For hardware failures (faulty controller, damaged cells) it is ineffective and can make things worse. microSD cards with monolithic chips require specialised equipment.
3
Register your case for a free assessment
Send the memory card yourself or drop it off in Prague. Optional insured DPD pickup costs €45. We assess the damage and send you a binding quote. Recovery starts only after your approval.
Tip for photographers: If you've lost photos from a holiday or an important event, read our article on how and where to back up your photos.
Supported memory card types
| Form factors | SD, SDHC, SDXC, SDUC (full-size), microSD, microSDHC, microSDXC, miniSD (legacy), CompactFlash Type I/II, CFexpress Type A/B, XQD, Memory Stick (Pro Duo) |
|---|---|
| Brands | SanDisk, Kingston, Samsung, ADATA, Transcend, Sony, Lexar, Toshiba, PNY, Delkin, ProGrade Digital, Angelbird |
| Construction | Standard (NAND + controller), monolithic (common in microSD), encrypted cards |
| File systems | FAT32, exFAT (most cards), NTFS (larger cards), HFS+/APFS (Mac-formatted), ext4 (Linux-formatted) |
What to do if your memory card fails
Remove the card from the camera/phone immediately — continued shooting overwrites recoverable photos.
Store the card in a dry, anti-static container; do not bend it.
If the card is physically damaged, do not try to fix it yourself — bent contacts or a cracked casing can often be dealt with in the lab. A microSD card broken into pieces, however, cannot be recovered.
Do not format the card, even if Windows or the camera prompts you to — formatting erases the directory.
SD card repair vs. data recovery
Memory cards, especially microSD cards, are usually monolithic — the NAND memory and controller are combined in a single chip. This makes repair impossible and chip-off recovery extremely demanding. We do not repair SD cards; we extract the data and return it on whichever medium you prefer.
For standard full-size SD cards, we can sometimes swap the controller board if the NAND is intact. For monolithic microSD cards with a damaged controller, we use specialised adapters and read the NAND directly with chip-level tools (PC-3000 Flash, Rusolut Visual NAND Reconstructor).
After recovery, the original card is physically destroyed or returned without data. We never return cards for continued use — the internal wear-levelling state is compromised and the card has reached the end of its life.
Do not keep using a failing memory card
If your memory card shows errors — "card error" on the camera, "unreadable" on the computer, the wrong capacity, or it suddenly appears empty — stop using it immediately. The most common cause of permanent data loss is carrying on shooting or copying files to the failing card.
Never use chkdsk, fsck or third-party repair utilities on an SD card with important data. These tools assume a healthy device and can mark whole clusters as bad, hiding recoverable photos or videos permanently.
Why choose DataHelp for SD card recovery?
Memory card recovery is particularly important for photographers, videographers and content creators who may have years of irreplaceable footage on a single card. We have specialised equipment for all card types, including CFexpress Type A/B (used in Sony Alpha and Nikon Z series cameras) and XQD (used in the Nikon D5 and D850).
Our recovery workflow includes chip-off for monolithic microSD cards (very common with SanDisk and Samsung), controller transplants for standard SD cards and firmware-level reconstruction for cards that appear completely dead. We keep a stock of common SD controllers for comparison and transplants.
Our team has more than 35 years of experience (since 1990). Typical success rates: 90% for logical damage (accidental format, deletion), 60–70% for controller failures, 40–50% for physically damaged cards with intact NAND.
Frequently asked questions — SD card recovery
Logical recovery from SD and microSD cards starts from €69. Damaged memory chips (chip-off) from €169, a faulty controller from €329 and monolithic chips (most microSD cards) from €399. Other physical damage requires an individual quote. No Data, No Fee: if no data is recovered, there is no recovery fee (the optional €45 pickup fee is non-refundable).
In most cases yes, if you have not written anything to the card since formatting. Formatting (a quick format) only clears the directory, not the actual photo data. The photos stay on the NAND until new shots overwrite them. Stop using the card immediately and send it to us.
Unfortunately not. A microSD card is a single monolithic chip — once it has snapped, the memory inside is destroyed and the data cannot be recovered. Other physical damage is a different story: bent or dirty contacts, or a cracked casing on a standard SD card with the memory chip intact, can often be dealt with. Send the card in for a free assessment.
Diagnostics take 24–48 hours from when we receive the card. Standard recovery takes 3–14 days depending on the damage. For urgent cases we offer Priority (24–72 hours) and Express (12–48 hours) for a surcharge; EcoHelp (4–6 weeks) is available at a reduced price. For photographers with tight deadlines, Express is usually the right choice.
Need to recover data from a USB flash drive or memory card?
Request a free case assessment or contact us for more information.
Related guides
Useful reading before or after data recovery
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