How to Restore Partition on SD Card [Full Guide]

In daily use, SD cards may suddenly experience partition loss. This situation seems serious, often causing concern that data has been permanently lost.

However, partition loss does not necessarily mean that data is destroyed. With the right methods, in most cases, the lost partition can be successfully recovered.

This article will introduce the common signs, possible causes, solutions, and preventative measures for SD card partition loss, helping you fully understand and address this issue.

An Overview of SD Card Partitions

SD cards are typically used to store device data and can also be divided into partitions to manage files. Next, we will introduce what an SD card partition is and how to tell if the partition is lost.

What Is an SD Card Partition?

An SD card partition refers to an independent storage area within the memory card, each area having its own file system and storage structure.

By partitioning the SD card, the system can manage data more effectively.

Signs Your SD Card Partition Is Lost

When an SD card’s partitions become corrupted or lost, the system often displays several noticeable signs of malfunction.

1. SD card not appearing in File Explorer.

If the SD card does not show up in File Explorer at all, this usually suggests that the card may lack a valid partition structure or that its partition table has been damaged.

2. SD card shown as Unallocated in Disk Management.

When the partition table is corrupted, Windows Disk Management cannot recognize the original partition layout and will display the entire SD card as Unallocated.

3. Various errors.

When you try to open the SD card, Windows prompts you to format it. In addition, it may also show the inaccessible drive error.

Why SD Card Partitions Get Lost

SD card partition loss is usually caused by a variety of factors. Understanding these causes will help you take the correct recovery measures.

Common causes include the following:

1. Accidental partition deletion: Deleting a partition accidentally can lead to its loss.
2. Bad sectors: When storage sectors are faulty, the system may be unable to detect the partition correctly.
3. Virus or malware attacks: Some malicious programs target storage devices, making partitions unreadable or hidden.
4. Improper use between devices: Frequently switching SD cards between a camera and a computer without properly ejecting them can also lead to partition loss.
5. File system corruption: Improper ejection, sudden power outages, or interrupted file transfers can damage the file system, resulting in partition loss.

How to Restore Partition on SD Card

Before attempting to recover an SD card partition, there are several important steps to prevent further data loss or corruption:

• Immediately stop using the SD card: Every new file written to it has the potential to overwrite lost data. Once overwritten, the original data is almost impossible to recover.
• Back up accessible data: If the SD card is still partially accessible, back up your SD card data first.
• Do not format the SD card: Formatting rebuilds the file system, overwriting existing partition information.
• Maintain a stable power supply: Keep the power supply stable during recovery, avoiding power outages or removing the card to prevent further data damage.
• Avoid using low-quality card readers or adapters: Inferior devices may cause read/write errors, worsening partition damage, and even lead to complete data loss.

Now, here are the methods to restore SD card to full capacity.

Method 1: Assign a Drive Letter Via Disk Management

If the SD card is recognized by the card reader and displayed in Disk Management, but the SD card partition is not visible in File Explorer, it may be because the partition has not been assigned a drive letter. Although it is hidden, the partition still exists.

To make the SD card partition recovery, you need to reassign a drive letter to it.

Here are the steps:

Step 1: Press Windows + X and select Disk Management.

Step 2: If the partition is healthy but lacks a letter, it might be visible there with a black bar or without a drive letter. Then, right-click your SD card’s partition and choose Change Drive Letter and Paths.

Step 3: Click Add, choose an available letter from the dropdown list, and click OK.

Now you can check in File Explorer whether the SD card partition appears and whether it is accessible.

Fixed: Cannot Create Partition on Unallocated Space Windows 10/11

Why you cannot create partition on unallocated space? This post analyzes possible causes of unallocated space cannot create partition and shares some fixes.

Read More

Method 2: Recover Partition via MiniTool Partition Wizard

If you want to recover files from your SD card, you’ll need a reliable and professional SD card data recovery tool. Here, I recommend MiniTool Partition Wizard.

It can not only help you recover partitions, but also recover hard drive data, delete/extend/resize partitions, convert MBR to GPT, and recover data from external hard drive.

It offers a robust function called “Partition Recovery” for SD card partitions, allowing you to restore lost partitions that were removed due to accidental deletion, virus infections, etc.

MiniTool Partition Wizard DemoClick to Download100%Clean & Safe

Step 1: Launch MiniTool Partition Wizard to its main interface. Then right-click the SD card and choose Partition Recovery.

Step 2: In the window that appears, you will notice three available scan ranges. Choose a scanning range and click Next to continue.

• To scan the entire SD card, please select the Full Disk option.
• If you only want to scan the free space on your SD card, select Unallocated Space.
• To scan particular sectors only, please choose the Specified Range option.

Step 3: Now you can see two scanning methods and choose one to scan. Then click Next.

• Quick Scan: It works best for recovering continuous lost or deleted partitions. When this tool detects such a partition, it will skip to the end of it and continue scanning for any other missing or deleted partitions.
• Full Scan: If Quick Scan doesn’t locate the lost partitions, try using Full Scan, which examines every sector within the scan range you selected.

Step 4: This will list all partitions found after the scan is complete. To determine if these partitions contain the files you need, double-click on the partition to see the directory structure.

Step 5: Once you’ve verified that the displayed partitions are the ones you need, close the Partition Explorer window and select all the necessary partitions (both the current and the recovered ones). Any partitions left unchecked will be removed. After that, click Finish.

Step 6: Now you can preview that the selected disk contains the partitions you just checked. Click the Apply > Yes button to finish the recovery process.

After restoring the partition, you need to assign a drive letter to this partition.

Note: If the Partition Recovery function fails to recover the partition, please try to use the Data Recovery function to recover important data in the SD card.

How to Recover Data from SmartBuy SD Card? [Full Guide]

Are you looking for a SmartBuy SD card data recovery? Now, you come to the right place. This post shows you how to recover data from SmartBuy SD card in detail.

Read More

Method 3: Scan for Virus

When a computer is infected with a virus, malware can attack storage devices (such as your SD card), potentially leading to inaccessible partitions or file system corruption.

At this time, you need to scan your computer for viruses. Here are the steps:

Step 1: Click Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Security> Virus & threat protection.

Step 2: Click on Scan options under Current threats.

Step 3: Select the desired scan type and click Scan now.

• Quick scan: Checks common locations where malware is often found.
• Full scan: Checks every single file and folder on your entire system, which may take a long time.
• Custom scan: Allows you to select specific folders or drives to scan.
• Microsoft Defender Offline scan: Reboots your PC and runs a scan before Windows starts, which is effective for hard-to-remove malware.

Method 4: Repair SD Card

The CHKDSK command can scan for and repair file system errors and bad sectors.

Step 1: Type Command Prompt in the search box and choose Run as an administrator.

Step 2: In the new pop-up window, type the command chkdsk X: /f /r and press Enter (replace X with your SD card’s drive letter).

• /f – fix errors it detected
• /r – locate bad sectors on the SD card and try to recover readable information from them

Wait for the process to complete. If the errors are fixable, the partition might become accessible again.

Tips for Preventing Partition Loss

To prevent the loss of the SD card partition, you can start with the following tips:

1. Back up SD card data regularly: Back up important files to your computer, cloud storage, or other storage devices, and recover SD card data even if the partition is lost.
2. Safely remove and insert SD cards: Use the Safely Remove Hardware feature and do not pull out the SD card directly to avoid file system damage.
3. Prevent virus and malware infections: Install reliable antivirus software to protect your computer or device from viruses.
4. Avoid interruptions during file transfer: A sudden power outage or system crash during data transfer may damage the SD card’s partition.
5. Regularly check and repair SD cards: Use the system’s own tools or third-party software to check the health status of the SD card and fix errors in a timely manner.
6. Use high-quality memory cards: Choose SD cards from well-known brands to avoid partition loss caused by hardware failures on low-quality cards.

Restore Partition on SD Card FAQ

Bottom Line

This article explains what an SD card partition is, common signs of a lost SD card partition, and four methods for restoring the partition.

If you have any questions or suggestions while using MiniTool Partition Wizard, you can contact us via [email protected] for further assistance.