[Answered] Does Formatting SD Card Delete Everything?

What does format SD card mean?

Formatting refers to the process of refreshing the file system utilized by your SD card. Essentially, it acts as a reset for the SD card, effectively resolving various issues.

So, does formatting an SD card delete everything? Obviously, formatting will inevitably delete all the existing data on your SD card. Please get an overview of two types of disk formatting: 

	Quick Format	Full Format
Features	Delete all files from a disk and generate a new file system for future use make the deleted space free space for new data	Wipe out all the existing data Rewrite each sector of the drive Rebuild the file system, volume label, and cluster size Scan the disk for bad sectors
✅ Pros	Save time Scan disk errors It’s relatively easy to recover data	Scan and fix detected disk errors Improve computer performance
❌ Cons	Cannot fix disk errors	Not suitable for SSD drives Time-consuming

Does Quick Format delete files? As shown in the above table, quick format only deletes the existing data and builds a new file system.

If your formatted SD data has not been overwritten by new files, it’s possible to recover data from SD cards after a quick format. On the other hand, if you perform a full format, your SD card data could be overwritten and irreparable.

Can you recover data from SD card after formatting?

So, can you recover data from SD card after formatting without backups?

Since not all users possess the prudence and foresight to make regular backups, the most time-saving and efficient way is to use professional SD card recovery software.

AOMEI FastRecovery is your second-to-none choice among all the eligible software because it is designed to recover data from formatted local hard drives like SD cards. Meanwhile, you can also use it to recover deleted & missing files from Sony, Sandisk, Kingston, Gigastone, and other brands of SD cards.

🔥 Bonus: If you only need to recover one file within 500 MB, you don’t have to pay for it because AOMEI FastRecovery can enable users to recover 500MB files freely.

Step 1. Connect the SD card to your Windows > install and run AOMEI FastRecovery > hover the mouse over the SD card saved deleted files before, and click Scan.

 

Step 2. AOMEI FastRecovery will automatically scan your SD card and display all recoverable files by Types (default) or Path, allowing you to sort across multiple options. 

🌟Tip: To narrow your search, click the Filter button to specify the data type. Or directly typethe file name or extension (.xlxs) in the search box.

Step 3. Preview and select the desired files, and click the “Recover” button. Please save your retrieved files in a new path instead of the original formatted SD card.

Useful tips to improve the chances of SD card data recovery

If you find yourself unfortunate enough to encounter data loss, please refer to the following tips to maximize the likelihood of successful data recovery.

Stop using the SD card: Every action performed on the SD card carries the risk of overwriting your data. At present, your data remains susceptible to being overwritten with new data, rendering your original data essentially unrecoverable.

Save retrieved data to another drive: It is essential to avoid recovering data from the SD card being used for the recovery process. Doing so not only increases the likelihood of overwriting the data you are trying to retrieve but also introduces the possibility of data corruption, further diminishing the chances of SD card recovery.

Create adisk backupof your SD card: If possible, create a byte-to-byte copy of the SD card and begin the data recovery process on the copied file instead. Restoring files from backups ensures the preservation of the original SD card, minimizing the potential for critical errors.

Adhering to these recommendations, particularly recovering from a copy of your SD card, can significantly contribute to the successful retrieval of your data.

Conclusion 

Does formatting SD card delete everything? Yes, formatting an SD card will delete all data and make it invisible. However, recovery rates vary with different methods. Quick format does not overwrite data, while full format overwrites data, making it nearly impossible to recover.

If you want to recover data after a quick format, try reliable data recovery software - AOMEI FastRecovery, with a higher success rate, 1000+ data types, two scanning modes, selective recovery, etc. What's more, it has a free edition that can recover data up to 500MB.