SanDisk Recovery Software for Windows and Mac

SanDisk SD cards are extremely popular storage devices that are used with all kinds of digital cameras and mobile devices. Losing your valuable images or videos from a card can be a big problem. Disk Drill offers efficient and effective SanDisk SD card recovery software with versions available for both Windows and Mac users. It will quickly get your files back with just a few clicks.
Free Download
for Windows
Free Download
for macOS
SanDisk Recovery Software for Windows and Mac

How Disk Drill Recovers Data From a SanDisk SD Card

Modern operating systems only remove logical access to files when they delete them. This makes them unavailable to the OS or any other applications running on the machine. But the files still physically exist on the SD card and data recovery software can get them back as long as they have not been overwritten.
Disk Drill uses powerful and sophisticated algorithms to scan your SD card to identify and restore deleted files. It recognizes over 400 different types of files and recovers data on all types of storage devices. The tool provides an intuitive interface that makes recovering data from your memory card simple and stress-free.

The two versions of Disk Drill have slight variations in the user interface, so we will give you step-by-step procedures for performing a SanDisk photo recovery on each operating system platform.
sandisk sd card recovery
Based on the way files are deleted from an SD card, you should stop using it as soon as you discover you have experienced data loss. Continuing to use the device runs the risk of overwriting the files you want to recover. Once they are overwritten they cannot be retrieved, so stop using the card immediately!

Steps for SanDisk memory card recovery on Windows

  1. Download and install Disk Drill for Windows on your computer. You will need to provide your Administrator’s password during installation.
  2. Connect the SD card to your machine either with a card reader or by attaching the device or camera that contains it.
  3. Launch Disk Drill and select the SD card from the disk list presented in the app’s main window.
  4. Click the Search for lost data button to start scanning the card for deleted data. A status bar shows you the progress of the scan which can be paused and resumed at any time.
  5. Preview the files that have been found on the SD card. Select the files you want to recover.
  6. Click the Recover button to perform the recovery. You will be prompted to enter a storage location at which to save the recovered files. Save the data to a folder on your computer, not to the SD card, to prevent accidentally overwriting the data you wish to recover.
sd card recovery software
The free trial version of Disk Drill for Windows allows users to recover up to 500 MB of data before upgrading to the Pro version of the tool.

Steps for SanDisk SD card recovery on Mac

  1. Download and install Disk Drill for Mac on your computer. You will need to provide your Administrator’s password during installation.
  2. Connect the SD card to your machine. Use the built-in card reader or attach the device that contains the card to your computer.
  3. Launch Disk Drill and select the SD card from the app’s disk list.
  4. Click the Recover button to start scanning the card for deleted data. Scanning progress will be displayed by a status bar and you can pause and resume the scan at any time.
  5. Preview the files that have been found on the SD card. Select the files you want to recover as well as a storage location at which to save them. Save the recovered data to a folder on your computer, not to the SD card, to prevent overwriting the data you wish to restore.
  6. Click the Recover button again to perform the recovery. Your files will soon be in the newly designated storage location.
sandisk memory card recovery
The free trial version of Disk Drill for Mac allows users to preview all recoverable files before making a financial commitment to the tool.

SanDisk memory card recovery without software

You have several alternative methods that may be able to retrieve your SD card’s data without using recovery software. Let’s take a look at your options.

Operating System resources

Both Windows and Mac users can take advantage of the facilities built into their operating systems that store recently deleted data. It’s always worth taking a look here when you are searching for deleted files.
  • sandisk data recovery
    To recover data from the Windows Recycle Bin before it is emptied, follow these steps:

    1. Open the Recycle Bin by clicking on its icon.
    2. Find the files you wish to restore. Note their original location, as this is where they will be restored.
    3. Click or tap on Restore to recover the photos.
  • find recently deleted files in the Trash
    Mac users can find recently deleted files in the Trash until its emptied with these steps:

    1. Open the Trash by clicking on its icon.
    2. Identify the photo you want to recover.
    3. Right-click on the item to select it and click Put Back. The file will be restored to its original location.

The Recently Deleted folder on the camera or device

Most digital cameras and mobile devices that make use of SanDisk SD cards have a recently deleted folder accessible through its user interface. These special folders work just like the Recycle Bin or Trash and temporarily store files that you have recently deleted from the device.

Getting your deleted files back may be as easy as locating the recently deleted folder and restoring them on the SD card. You certainly should check out this option before turning to data recovery software.

sandisk data recovery

Backup storage media

If you regularly back up your SD cards, which you should, you may be able to use the Mac’s Time Machine or Windows Backup and Restore to get your files back. You will need to connect the backup media to your machine and search for the desired files. You may have lost data your SanDisk SD card before you had a chance to back it up. In those cases, this method will not be useful.

Backup storage media

Disk Drill is Advanced SanDisk SD Card Recovery Software

Disk Drill has several outstanding features that make it your best choice in SanDisk photo recovery software.
  • Sophisticated scanning technology
    Sophisticated scanning technology
    Scanning algorithms are at the heart of data recovery software and their quality will determine the ability to recover your lost files. Disk Drill has quick and deep scanning options that can interrogate your disk on the sector level to reconstruct deleted files based on their signatures. Scans can be paused and restarted for convenient recovery.
  • Support for over 400 filetypes
    Support for over 400 filetypes
    Disk Drill can identify and reconstruct data in over 400 different file types. This includes all major image and video formats as well as many lesser-known but important types of files.
  • Works with all types of digital storage devices
    Works with all types of digital storage devices
    SanDisk SD cards are not the only type of storage device that Disk Drill supports. Other devices include:
    • All types of SD, SDHC, and micro SD cards;
    • CF Cards;
    • Internal and external HDD and SSD drives;
    • Digital cameras from manufacturers such as Pentax, Nikon, and Canon;
    • Flash drive and USB memory sticks.
  • User-friendly interface
    User-friendly interface
    When you sit down to recover lost photos from an SD card, the last thing you need is a complicated command-line interface. The developers at Disk Drill understand this and have provided an intuitive interface that allows users with any level of computing experience to successfully recover their data with just a few clicks. The simplicity of the interface hides the advanced technology that gets your data back.
  • Free additional data protection tools
    Free additional data protection tools
    Disk Drill’s Recovery Vault acts as an extension of the Trash or Recycle Bin and enables users to configure specific files and folders for extra protection against accidental deletion. Files sent to the vault can be quickly recovered without requiring a full data recovery to be performed. The tool also offers users a way to create byte-level backups that can be used to recover deleted data from storage devices that are showing signs of potential failure.
  • Flexible scanning options
    Flexible scanning options
    Disk Drill lets you choose to run a quick or deep scan to address your specific data loss scenario. You can also let the program run all of its recovery algorithms in the optimal order. Scans can be paused and resumed at any point giving you the ability to recover your data at your convenience.

Tips for a Successful SanDisk SD Card Recovery

Here are some tips give you a better chance of a successful SD card recovery.
  • Stop using the device
    Stop using the device
    Stop using the card as soon as you realize data loss has occurred. Overwriting deleted data eliminates the possibility that Disk Drill can recover it. Once it’s overwritten it’s gone forever, so remove the card or stop using the device until recovery is complete.
  • Avoid physical damage
    Avoid physical damage
    Take care when handling the card to avoid physically damaging it and making it impossible for data recovery software to restore your lost files.
  • Restore to a different device
    Restore to a different device
    Recover the card’s data to your computer or an external drive. Don’t restore the data to the SD card as you may inadvertently overwrite the data you wish to recover.

Keeping Your SanDisk SD Card Data Safe

SD cards are small devices that are normally not made to withstand much physical abuse. If you value the images on your card, why not take some simple steps to protect it?
Don’t carry the card around in your pocket or bag unless it’s in a protective case. Most cards are sold in one and you should use it. Keep it dry and away from high temperatures or direct sunlight.
Watch out when sharing the card and letting it be used in other devices or computers. This is a good way to pick up a virus or malware infection and can result in lost data and other system problems.
And think twice before deleting data or formatting a card to make sure it’s really what you want to do. A few extra seconds verifying your activity can save a lot of time later.

A Word About Corrupted Cards

You might not be able to see the data on your SanDisk SD card because it is corrupted. You can try these fixes for a corrupted or unreadable SD card.


  • A message like "Please insert disk into drive E:" indicates that the card is not being read by the reader. Try a different reader to verify whether the reader or card is having the problem. You should also make sure that the device supports the type of card you are trying to read.
  • The card may not be named. You can resolve this issue by simply assigning the card a drive letter or name.
  • Use operating system utilities to scan the card and attempt a repair. On Windows systems this will be chkdsk and on Mac you will use Disk Utility. A nice overview of the process can be found at this page.

Disk Drill is the most reliable method of recovering deleted files from a SanDisk SD card. Download the tool today to see how it can help you recover from any type of data loss scenario and get back your valuable data with a few simple clicks!

Disk Drill 4
Free Download
  • REQUIREMENTS
    Windows 7 SP1+, 44 MB
    Use Disk Drill 2.x for Windows XP & Vista
  • AVERAGE USER RANK
    4.6 by 106 users
    Submit your review
  • NEWEST RELEASE
    Version 4.0.533, released on 11th Aug, 2020
Related Articles
  • 10+ Million
    TOTAL DOWNLOADS
  • 500,000+
    PRO CLIENTS
  • BUSINESS & HOME USERS
    in 150+ countries

How Disk Drill serves other users

  • Sybren Arnoldus‏
    Sybren Arnoldus‏
    We have all been there... Disk Drill saves the day!
  • softonic.com
    softonic.com
    «Are you looking for a software to help you recover data or files? Disk Drill for Windows analyzes your PC in order to rescue all those files you have eliminated, or that you have just lost. This versatile program is capable of restoring up to 200 types of files.» by Daniel Cáceres
Used by world famous companies