Why the Quick Format Still Holds Your Photos
A quick format only rebuilds the file system table; the data blocks remain untouched, making recovery possible.
Stop Using the Card – First Critical Step
Do not write any new files to the formatted SD card. Every write operation can overwrite the sectors that still contain your lost images.
Choose the Right Scan Mode
RecoverHelper runs a Deep Scan by default, which includes a Quick Scan followed by signature carving. For SD cards, the Carving Only mode is ideal because the card uses FAT/exFAT and filenames are not preserved.
Recover to a Different Drive for Safety
The software opens the source card in read‑only mode and blocks same‑drive output. Always select a separate USB drive or folder on another disk as the recovery destination.
Free JPG/PNG Recovery and Full Access to All Formats
Immediately recover JPG and PNG photos at full quality without any signup. After pairing the free mobile app, RecoverHelper also restores RAW, HEIC, video, audio, documents and archives – all at no cost.