How to Recover Deleted Files from SD Card Using CMD

daniel-dincht
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Oops, accidentally deleted important files from your SD card? Don’t panic — it happens to everyone! The good news is that with just a few simple commands, you can recover those lost files right from your Windows computer using CMD. In this guide, I’ll walk you through how to recover deleted files from SD card using CMD with step-by-step instructions and easy-to-follow Windows File Recovery Commands. No tech jargon or complicated tools — just straightforward steps anyone can follow. Whether you’re trying to rescue photos, documents, or videos, I’ve got you covered. Plus, I’ll share some tips to make the process smoother and what to do if the command line feels tricky. Ready to bring your files back to life? Let’s dive in!

What Is Windows File Recovery (WinFR)?

Winfr is a free command-line utility developed by microsoft to recover deleted or lost files. It supports NTFS, FAT, exFAT, and ReFS file systems and can recover data from HDDs, SSDs, USB drives, and of course—SD cards. Whether files were deleted accidentally or lost due to corruption or formatting, Winfr offers multiple recovery modes and filtering options to get them back.

Basic Syntax + Step-by-Step Guide

Syntax

winfr source-drive: destination-folder [/mode] [/n filename] [/y:filetype]

Steps to Recover Deleted Files from an SD Card

Step 1: Insert your SD card into your computer and note the assigned drive letter (e.g., E:).
Step 2: Create a folder (e.g., D:\Recovered) where recovered files will be saved.
Step 3: Open Command Prompt as administrator (Search > CMD > right-click > Run as administrator).
Step 4: Run the recovery command:

winfr E: D:\Recovered /regular /n *.jpg

Step 5: Press Y when prompted to begin the scan and recovery.

Parameter description
  • The /regular mode performs a standard scan and is ideal for recovering recently deleted files that haven’t been overwritten yet.
  • The /segment mode scans file record segments and works only with NTFS drives. It’s especially helpful for recovering files deleted a while ago.
  • The /signature mode conducts a deep scan based on file types and is more suitable for FAT or exFAT drives, such as SD cards and USB sticks.
  • The /n parameter lets you specify a file name or a wildcard pattern to target specific files, like *.docx or report.xlsx.
  • The /y: parameter is used in signature mode to define which file types to scan for—for example, /y:jpg,docx to recover JPEG images and Word documents.

⚠️ Never save recovered files back to the same SD card, or you risk overwriting the data permanently.

Common Examples of Winfr for SD Card Recovery

Using the WinFR (Windows File Recovery) command-line tool, you can target specific file types, folders, or recovery modes to bring back deleted data from your SD card. Below are practical examples with step-by-step explanations to help you understand what each command does and when to use it.

Example 1. Recover All Word Documents

winfr E: D:\Recovery /regular /n *.docx


Explanation: This command tells Windows File Recovery to scan drive E: (your SD card) using the regular mode, which works best for recently deleted files. The /n *.docx parameter searches for all Word documents. The recovered files will be saved in D:\Recovery.

Use this when: You accidentally deleted a Word file and noticed it quickly.

Example 2. Deep Scan All Image Files from an SD Card

winfr E: D:\Recovery /signature /y:jpg,png

Explanation: This performs a deep scan using signature mode, which doesn’t rely on the file system metadata. Instead, it looks for known file patterns (signatures), making it effective even on FAT32/exFAT-formatted SD cards like those in cameras. The /y:jpg,png specifies you’re looking for JPEG and PNG images.

Use this when: Your SD card was formatted or corrupted, and you need to retrieve photos.

Example 3. Recover a Specific File by Name

winfr E: D:\Recovery /regular /n vacation.xlsx

Explanation: If you remember the exact name of the lost file (in this case, vacation.xlsx), this command pinpoints and recovers just that file. It’s fast and efficient, especially if you’re not searching a large batch of files.

Use this when: You need only one lost file and know its name.

Example 4. Recover PDFs from a Specific Folder on the SD Card

winfr E: D:\Recovery /segment /n \Docs\*.pdf

Explanation: This example uses segment mode, which recovers files using file record segments on NTFS drives. It searches inside a folder named Docs for all .pdf files.

Use this when: You’re recovering documents from an NTFS-formatted SD card, and you know the folder they were stored in.

Example 5. Recover Multiple File Types at Once

winfr E: D:\Recovery /regular /n *.docx /n *.pptx /n *.xlsx

Explanation: This command combines multiple search patterns in one run. It recovers Word documents, PowerPoint presentations, and Excel spreadsheets using regular mode, helping you get back all essential Office files in one go.

Use this when: You deleted several types of Office documents and want to recover them together.

Always recover to a different destination drive (like D:\) to avoid overwriting data on your SD card (E:). These examples make Winfr a flexible and powerful tool for recovering deleted files—whether it’s a single document or an entire batch of photos and spreadsheets.

Alternative Recovery Option: Try WinfrGUI

If using the WinFR command feels complicated or you run into errors, don’t worry — there’s an easier way. WinfrGUI is a free, user-friendly graphical tool built on the same powerful recovery engine. It lets you recover deleted files from SD cards, USB drives, and hard disks with just a few clicks, no command-line knowledge required.

How to use WinfrGUI:
  • Download WinfrGUI on your Windows PC and install it according to the instructions.
  • Launch the program and select your SD card from the list of available drives.
  • Click Scan to start searching for recoverable files.
  • Once the scan finishes, preview the files found and select those you want to recover.
  • Click Recover and save the files to a safe location (ideally on a different drive).
Download WinfrGUI Free
Why choose WinfrGUI?
  • Designed for beginners — no technical skills needed to recover your data quickly and safely.
  • Supports a wide range of file types, including photos, documents, and videos.
  • Completely free for personal use, with no hidden charges.

Common Issues and Things to Watch Out For

Q1: What should I do if no files are found after scanning?

If your scan returns no files, it might be because the search was too narrow or the files were deleted a long time ago. Try using /segment or /signature recovery modes for a deeper scan, and relax filename filters (e.g., use *.docx instead of a specific filename) to increase your chances.

Q2: Why is the recovery process so slow?

Recovery can take a long time on large SD cards or when using broad search parameters. To speed things up, narrow your scan by specifying file types like *.jpg or specific folders, and use /regular mode for recent deletions, as it’s faster than deep scans.

Q3: Why do recovered files have missing or garbled file names?

This is common when using deep scan modes like /signature that don’t preserve original file names or folder structures. Don’t worry — even if the file names are lost, the file contents are usually intact and can be opened normally.

Q4: What if CMD doesn’t detect my SD card?

If the SD card doesn’t show up in the command prompt tool, it may not be properly connected or recognized by Windows. Check if it’s visible in File Explorer, try reinserting it, or use a different USB port or card reader to troubleshoot.

Q5: What can I do if recovered files won’t open?

Files that won’t open could be partially overwritten or corrupted. You can try using file repair tools designed for the specific file type (e.g., Office repair tools for documents or image repair software) to restore them. Also, always save recovered files to a different drive to prevent overwriting.

Q6: How can I avoid data loss when recovering files?

To protect your data, avoid writing new files to the SD card before recovery, recover files to a separate storage device, and run scans with carefully chosen parameters to maximize recovery success.

To enhance your file recovery and system troubleshooting skills, here are some useful Windows commands that work well alongside Windows File Recovery (WinFR) for keeping your system healthy and managing files effectively:

  • robocopy – Use robocopy to quickly copy large volumes of data or back up your recovered files to a safe location with minimal risk of interruption.
  • chkdsk – Run chkdsk to scan your SD card or other drives for file system errors or bad sectors that might be causing file corruption or preventing recovery.
  • attrib – Sometimes files are not deleted but marked hidden or system-protected. Use attrib to reveal these files before assuming they’re lost.
  • sfc /scannow – This command scans and repairs corrupted or missing Windows system files, ensuring your PC is stable before or after recovery procedures.

Conclusion

Learning how to recover deleted files from SD card using CMD empowers you to retrieve lost data without expensive software or tech support. With Microsoft’s Winfr tool, you get a powerful, flexible recovery solution right in your operating system. Use the correct parameters, follow the step-by-step guide, and act quickly before deleted files are overwritten. If the command line feels overwhelming or unsuccessful, WinfrGUI provides a reliable alternative with a modern interface and robust recovery capabilities. Keep both options in your toolkit to stay prepared for future data loss emergencies.

🔗 Also Read: How to Recover Deleted Files from External Hard Drive Using CMD