Free & Easy | How to Recover Formatted Sony SD Cards

Help! Can You Recover a Sony Formatted SD Card?

Did you accidentally format your Sony SD card or accidentally delete files? Do you back up regularly? If not, you might think that all is over and you won’t be able to recover your data. But that’s not the case. Fortunately, it is completely possible to recover deleted photos from Sony camera.

Because formatting essentially prepares the card for new data by erasing all existing information. But that doesn’t mean your data is completely lost. The files are still there; they are just marked as free space, waiting to be overwritten by new data. So, after formatting an SD card on your camera, the data is still on the memory card, you just can’t access it.

Therefore, after formatting a Sony SD card, you should stop using the SD card immediately after formatting to prevent your data from being overwritten and take action as soon as possible. In this article, we will tell you 2 easy and free ways to recover formatted Sony SD cards.

How to Recover Formatted Sony SD Card (2 Methods)

You can recover formatted Sony SD cards using both Sony data recovery software like MyRecover and CMD Prompt. Whichever you choose, the key is to act quickly before you take more photos with your camera or SD card. If this method fails to recover your data, consider using a third-party tool that can easily recover photos from formatted SD card.

1. Recover Data from Formatted Sony SD Card with MyRecover

The most effective and easy way to recover files from Sony formatted SD card by using the best Sony digital camera recovery software - MyRecover. With a simple interface and operating procedure, you can recover your deleted photos in just 3 steps and with a high success rate. 

MyRecover allows you to recover 500MB of data from a formatted Sony camera SD card for free. So, try to download it and recover formatted Sony SD card effortlessly.

Step 1. Select the location and start scanning

Connect the Sony formatted SD card to your PC. Run the MyRecover and hover over the SD card and click Scan to begin the scanning process.

Step 2. Filter and preview photos

It will run a Quick & Deep Scan to search all your lost/deleted pictures from the Sony SD card. During the scanning process, you can also preview or filter your needed data according to Files Type, Size, Date, etc.

• Name: Type the filenames of your desired files to narrow the search area.
• Date modified: Set the date (today, yesterday, last 7/30 days, and so on) according to your situation.
• Size: Filter the file size (<128KB, 128KB~1MB, 1MB~ 512MB, etc) based on your needs.

Step 3. Recover deleted photos

Select the photos you need to recover and click Recover X Files. Always save recovered photos in different locations.

2. Recover Formatted Sony SD Card Using Command Prompt

For users who prefer not to use photo recovery software, the Command Prompt (CMD) can be an alternative method to recover deleted photos from a formatted Sony camera SD card. Here’s how to perform Sony camera format recovery free using CMD.

Notes:✎...

This method may not be suitable for beginners. If you find it complicated, we recommend that you try a third-party tool with a user-friendly interface.

Step 1. Insert the Sony SD card into your computer using a memory card reader. Press Win + R, type "cmd", and hit Enter to open the Command Prompt and choose Run as administrator.

Step 2. In the command prompt window, type chkdsk X: /f and hit Enter. Replace X with the drive letter of your Sony SD card.

Step 3. Type “attrib -H -R -S /S /D G:\*.*and hit Enter. (G is the drive letter of your Sony  SD card).

Additional Tips to Increase Sony SD Card Recovery Success Rate

Recovering data from a Sony SD card can be tricky, but following these tips can greatly increase your success rate. To maximize your chances of recovering data from a Sony SD card, follow these steps:

1️⃣ Avoid overwriting: Do not use or format the SD card after losing data, as the lost files will be overwritten by new data, resulting in permanently deleted files.

2️⃣ Avoid deleting files using a camera: Deleting files via a camera may overwrite data, making SD card format recovery impossible.

3️⃣ Always make a backup: Back up your data regularly to avoid complete loss in the event of an SD card failure. Free backup software for Windows like AOMEI Backupper Standard can help you.

4️⃣ Install the reliable software on another device: Use a PC to install the Sony SD card recovery software, not the affected SD card.

5️⃣ Proper formatting: Before using an SD card on your device, format it properly to ensure it functions optimally. Choose a quick format during use so you can easily undo quick format.

6️⃣ Use a high-quality card reader: A good card reader ensures reliable data transfer and reduces the risk of corruption.

7️⃣ Limit cross-device use: Using the same SD card on multiple devices can lead to file system conflicts and data loss.

8️⃣ Store in a dry place: Keep your SD card in a dry environment to prevent malfunctions due to moisture.

9️⃣ Monitor the battery level: Do not operate the SD card if the device's battery is low as power fluctuations may cause errors.

Closing Words

Accidentally formatting your Sony SD card doesn't mean your data is lost forever. Using the 2 methods we've provided, you should be able to recover a formatted Sony SD card. As long as you act before your photos are overwritten by new files. The best way is to use the Sony formatted SD card tool - MyRecover, which can recover permanently deleted photos.

Remember to act quickly and avoid using the SD card to increase your chances of a successful recovery. Download MyRecover for free and give it a try!

FAQs on Sony Camera SD Card Format Recovery

1. How to Recover Formatted Sony SD Card?

• Connect the SD card to your PC using a card reader.
• Launch MyRecover software on your PC.
• Scan the device to find your lost or deleted photos.
• Preview the photos and click "Recover X Files" to perform Sony SD card recovery easily.

2. Can You Unformat an SD Card?

Yes, you can unformat SD card with reliable data recovery tool like MyRecover. The key is to avoid saving any new data on it to prevent the formatted data from being overwritten.

3. Can You Fix a Corrupted SD Card by Formatting It?

Formatting can be a drastic but effective way to fix a corrupted SD card. It replaces a faulty partition table with a new one and recreates a damaged file system, but it will erase all existing data on the card.

4. How to Restore Data from an Unrecognized Sony SD Card?

If your computer doesn’t recognize the Sony SD card, it might still contain files that are just hidden. To locate these hidden files, follow these steps:

• Open File Explorer on your computer and search for the unrecognized SD card.
• Choose the View tab from the Menu bar.
• Check the box for "Show hidden files, folders, and drives."
• Close File Explorer. The hidden files should now be visible on the SD card.