SD Card
Have inaccessible data on a memory card? At DataHelp we specialize in data recovery from various card types, including MicroSD, Compact Flash, and XQD. Regardless of the nature of damage or manufacturer, our specialists will help you recover your data.
Did your memory card get damaged?
At DataHelp we specialize in data recovery from MicroSD cards, as well as other types of SD cards. If your card stopped working, data is inaccessible or damaged, we offer professional data recovery from damaged memory cards. We work with a wide range of brands, such as Kingston, SanDisk, Samsung, ADATA, Transcend, Toshiba, Lexar, Sony and others.
Our services also include quick recovery of deleted data from memory cards used in digital cameras. In case of data loss, we recommend immediately turning off the device and not using the card further to prevent permanent data damage. Any DIY repair attempts can lead to irreversible data loss.
Our laboratory is equipped with top technologies that allow us to physically access damaged chips and reconstruct data even from the most complicated cases. Each card has its specific controller chip and memory blocks that require expert analysis.
We offer memory card diagnostics for €45 (European pickup included) and you only pay for recovered data. If you need data recovery from memory cards, contact us. We'll perform diagnostics and suggest the most suitable procedure for recovering your data.
Overview of common failures:
Software Failures
| Damage | Cause and symptoms |
|---|---|
| User deleted data |
|
| 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?
Data recovery from memory cards is a complex process due to flash memory technology, which is prone to failures similar to USB drives, flash drives, or SSD drives. The most common cause of failure is controller chip malfunction, which contains the algorithm for data management in memory cells. This algorithm is key to proper data reconstruction, making the recovery process computationally intensive.
Besides chip failure, data recovery from memory cards is also complex due to limited memory cell lifespan, which have a set number of writes. A fundamental problem is data reconstruction from the entire memory media file, which requires large data space and laboratory technical equipment.
When recovering data from memory cards, it's essential that you cannot work with only part of the memory media – it's necessary to process its complete image. This means that for example with a 128 GB memory card, you need to work with the entire 128 GB file, which requires not only high computing power but also enough time for detailed analysis.
To effectively search and recover needed data, you must have data space that is many times larger than the card's capacity itself. This space allows safe processing and data reconstruction in full scope. If your memory card stopped working, it's likely a controller chip failure. In such case, it's necessary to use professional data recovery services that have top equipment for flash memory data reconstruction.
SD Card Types and Capacities
SD abbreviation comes from English <strong>Secure Digital</strong>. SD format is the most widely used type of memory cards today. It exists 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)
MicroSD cards can be used in devices with standard SD card slot using a plastic adapter.
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
SD card speed is crucial especially for video recording and sequential photography. You'll find various markings on cards that indicate minimum write speed.
Speed Class (C)
Number in circle indicates 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, number in 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, number = 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
Inside an SD card is flash memory – an array of cells that are individually rewritable. Digital information can be electrically programmed into individual memory blocks, which remains stored even without power.
Each memory cell's lifespan is limited – generally stated around 100,000 rewrite cycles. For even wear, a hardware layer called FTL (Flash Translation Layer) is present on the card, which ensures distribution of writes across all cells.
SD cards are not intended for long-term data archiving. During long-term inactivity (approximately 10 years), electrons can escape from memory cells and data can become unreadable. For archiving, we recommend regular backup to multiple media.
How to extend SD card lifespan
- •Safe removal – always use 'Safely Remove' function or turn off device before removing card
- •Format in device – format card directly in camera, not in computer
- •Quality brands – buy cards from reputable manufacturers (SanDisk, Samsung, Kingston)
- •Protection from elements – protect card from extreme temperatures, moisture, and static electricity
- •Regular backup – copy data from card after each important photo session
How to proceed when SD card fails?
1
Stop using the card
If the card reports an error, requests formatting, or photos are inaccessible, remove it from the device immediately. Further use or formatting attempts can irreversibly damage data.
2
Don't try DIY solutions
Common data recovery programs can only help with deleted files. For hardware failures (faulty controller, damaged cells), they're ineffective and can make the situation worse. MicroSD cards with monolithic chips require specialized equipment.
3
Contact us for diagnostics
Send us the memory card for diagnostics (€45 European pickup). We'll determine the type and extent of damage and tell you the chance of successful recovery and exact price. You only pay for successful data recovery.
Tip for photographers: If you lost photos from vacation or an important event, we recommend reading our article about how and where to preventively back up 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 after memory card failure
Remove the card from the camera/phone immediately — continued shooting overwrites recoverable photos.
Store the card in a dry, static-free container; do not bend the card.
If the card is physically damaged, collect all fragments — even broken microSD can be recovered via chip-off.
Do not format the card, even if Windows / the camera prompts you — formatting erases the directory.
SD card repair vs. data recovery
Memory cards, especially microSD, are typically monolithic — the NAND memory and controller are fused into a single chip. This makes repair impossible and chip-off recovery extremely demanding. We do not repair SD cards; we extract data and return it on a medium of your choice.
For standard full-size SD cards, we can sometimes swap the controller board if the NAND is intact. For monolithic microSD with a damaged controller, we use specialised adapters and direct NAND reading on 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 storage — the internal wear-leveling state is compromised and the card is at end-of-life.
Do not keep using a failing memory card
If your memory card triggers errors — "card error" in the camera, "unreadable" in the computer, wrong capacity, or unexpectedly empty — stop using it immediately. The most common reason for permanent data loss is continued shooting or file copying on top of the failing card.
Never use chkdsk, fsck or third-party repair utilities on a 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, Nikon Z series) and XQD (used in Nikon D5, D850).
Our recovery workflow includes chip-off for monolithic microSD (very common with SanDisk, Samsung), controller transplants for standard SD cards, and firmware-level reconstruction for cards that appear completely dead. We maintain an inventory of common SD controllers for comparison and transplant.
Our team has over 35 years of combined industry experience. Typical success rates: 90% for logical damage (accidental format, deletion), 60–70% for controller failures, 40–50% for physically broken cards with intact NAND.
Frequently asked questions — SD card recovery
Diagnostics are free. Standard SD/microSD logical recovery from €69. Chip-off / monolithic from €329. Physically broken cards: individual quote from €399. No data = no fee beyond the €45 pickup.
In most cases yes, if you have not written anything to the card after formatting. Formatting (quick format) only clears the directory, not the actual photo data. The photos remain on the NAND until overwritten by new shooting. Stop using the card immediately and send it to us.
In many cases yes, if the NAND chip itself is intact. microSD cards are monolithic — even if the plastic casing is broken, the underlying silicon can be recovered via chip-off. Send us all fragments (including any detached bits). Broken corners or connector damage does not necessarily destroy the data.
Diagnostics 24–48 hours after we receive the card. Standard cases 3–7 days. Chip-off and complex cases 1–3 weeks. For photographers with urgent deadlines we offer express processing within 48–72 hours for an additional fee.
Related guides
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