How to Recover Deleted Camera Photos From an SD Card

Updated on Oct 17, 2026 | by Qiling

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Preserve the Camera Card
Before You Scan
Scan Camera Photos on Windows
Check Full-Resolution Files
Frequently Asked Questions

Deleted camera photos may remain recoverable until new shots reuse their space. Turn off the camera and remove the card rather than taking test photos to see whether the problem persists.

Preserve the Camera Card

Confirm the images are not simply in another DCIM folder or on a second card. Cameras can split photos among folders or slots, and some capture JPG and RAW versions separately.

If the camera shows a card error, use a reliable reader on Windows and check that the card reports its expected capacity. A card that is not detected or disconnects repeatedly needs a different approach.

Before You Scan

Avoid formatting the card in either the camera or Windows. Do not run camera repair functions or save new shots on it before you have copies.

Prepare an output disk large enough for recovered images. Note the camera's file format, such as JPG, CR3, NEF, or another RAW extension.

Scan Camera Photos on Windows

Qiling Deep Data Recovery can scan an accessible Windows drive for files that are no longer visible. The steps below use the mode that fits this case; scan results are possibilities, not a guarantee of intact recovery.

Step 1. Remove and Connect the Card

Power off the camera, remove the card, and connect it through a working reader. If Windows offers to format it, cancel.

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Step 2. Choose USB/SD Scan

Choose USB/SD Scan for a readable memory card. If it was deliberately formatted in the camera, Format Scan may be a more specific first pass.

Step 3. Identify the Camera Card

Select the card by its capacity and label. If two cards are connected, unplug the unrelated one to avoid scanning the wrong device.

Step 4. Preview Photos by Type

Filter for JPG and the camera's RAW extension. Preview images where supported and do not mistake a thumbnail for proof that a full-resolution original is intact.

Step 5. Save Photos to Another Disk

Click Recover for selected images and choose the PC's separate output drive. Check full-size photos before using the card again.

Check Full-Resolution Files

Open several recovered JPGs and RAW files in appropriate viewers. A thumbnail can survive when the underlying full-size data is damaged.

Keep both the recovered files and any intact originals. Resume using the card only after a backup exists, and replace it if errors recur.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I take a few test photos before recovery?

Avoid it. New images may overwrite the deleted photos.

Why does the scan show JPG but not camera RAW?

Check the camera's actual RAW extension and filter settings; some cameras record JPG only.

Can a thumbnail be recovered when the photo is not?

Yes. A thumbnail may remain even when the full-resolution image is incomplete.