Corrupt, snapped, demanding a format, or just not reading? We recover photos, videos and files from SD, microSD and CF cards of every make — SanDisk, Samsung, Lexar and more — out of cameras, phones, drones and dashcams. Snapped cards and monolithic microSDs included.
$ bdr diagnose /dev/sdb → Device: SanDisk Extreme (128 GB, SDXC) → Status: CORRUPT — card asks to be formatted → Client: confidential · Wallsend NE1 3DY $ bdr engineer-working → Read-only image: taken · card untouched → File system: rebuilt from image → Photos + video: carved · CR3 + MP4 $ bdr verify → ✓ RAW photos — 2,140 files → ✓ video clips — 318 files → ✓ card recovered — memories back
If your camera, phone or computer says the memory card is corrupt, needs formatting or has an error, stop using it — don’t format it, and don’t take another photo. Every new write can overwrite the photos and videos still sitting on the card. Don’t run repair tools or chkdsk, and if a microSD has snapped, keep both pieces. The sooner the card is set aside, the more we recover.
From a card that asks to be formatted to a snapped microSD, these are the memory card failures we recover from most — corruption, controller, physical and worn-out cards.
We recover every make and type of memory card — SD, microSD and CompactFlash, current and old, standard and monolithic. The brand rarely decides whether your photos can be saved.
SD, SDHC, SDXC · microSD, microSDHC, microSDXC · CompactFlash, CFexpress, CFast and XQD · Sony Memory Stick · MMC and xD · from cameras, phones, drones, dashcams and CCTV.
Memory card recovery means reading the card without writing to it, then rebuilding your photos and videos from a copy. A corrupt card we image and rebuild; a dead or snapped card we read the memory from directly.
Tell us what happened — corrupt, not reading, snapped, formatted by mistake. We diagnose the fault and send a written quote, usually inside 48 hours.
For a card that still reads, we take a read-only image straight away, so your original card is never written to and the data is preserved.
Where the card’s not detected, we repair the contacts or work around the controller to reach the memory inside.
For a dead, snapped or monolithic card we expose the internal contacts, or remove the chip, and read the NAND flash directly. This work needs 50% of the fee upfront.
We rebuild the file system from the image and recover your files — and where the structure’s gone, we carve the photos and videos straight out of the data.
We check the recovered photos and videos actually open and the files are complete before any of it comes back to you.
We return your data on a fresh drive, or you can download it free for recoveries up to 75GB.
Every make of memory card — SanDisk, Samsung, Lexar and the others — recovered by rebuilding corrupt cards and reading dead, snapped and monolithic ones directly, to bring your photos and videos back.
Tell us what happened and we’ll get back to you, usually within a working day.
We’ll be in touch shortly. If it’s urgent, call 0191 406 1051.
One fixed price to recover a single memory card — with a free diagnostic and a quote in writing before any work starts.
A handful of recent memory card recoveries across corruption, dead controllers, snapped cards and water damage. Identifying details removed, every result verified.
The card was pulled mid-write and the file system was corrupt. We imaged it read-only, rebuilt it and recovered every photo and video.
There was nothing to desolder, so we exposed the internal contacts and read the memory directly, recovering all the photos.
The controller had failed. We read the NAND chips directly and recovered the full shoot.
The flash was worn from constant overwriting. We read the surviving cells and recovered the footage that mattered.
Water had reached the contacts but the memory survived. We cleaned and dried it and recovered nearly all the holiday photos.
Nothing new had been written, so the photos were still there. We carved them straight out and returned the lot.
Real client stories from our two-decade testimonial archive.
Two months ago I my Canon 2d Digital Camera fell and broke. The camera card seemed intact but when I connected it to my Macbook it did not read it. I took card into the Cribbs Causeway Jessops to get them to try and read pictures from card but they are could not read it on their photo machine. I was recommended to Newcastle Data Recovery by Jessops. They got the data back of all photos on card, many thanks for your speedy service.
I needed some help with a sd card recovery after our camera got knocked into a stream by the kids. While the camera was insured, I was devastated to think we had lost all of the holiday pictures and of our wedding. I tried some data recovery software but it didn’t really work so I took the plunge to find a file recovery expert. I am so lucky I found Newcastle Data Recovery, who restored pretty much all of it to a USB stick for me.
Send the device in for its free diagnostic and tell us briefly what happened; an engineer reviews it and confirms your exact quote in writing before anything starts.
Getting your data back begins with getting the device to us. Pack it up safely, pop your contact details inside, and send it over — once we’ve run the free diagnostic, we’ll confirm your exact price in writing before any work starts.
Posting it? A tracked, insured service is what we’d recommend. Rather drop it in? You’re welcome Monday to Friday, 9am to 5:30pm — just package the device up as above first.
Want a bit more detail first? Fill in the form with more about your issue and an engineer will review it and send you a custom quote.
We’ll be in touch shortly. If it’s urgent, call 0191 406 1051.
The things people most often ask us about recovering a memory card.
Usually, yes — it’s the most common card we see. When a card reads as corrupt or asks to be formatted, the photos and videos are almost always still on it; it’s the file system that’s damaged. We image the card, rebuild it and recover your files. Don’t format it.
Often, yes. A card that comes up as not recognised, no card, or 0 bytes has usually lost its controller, while the memory holding your photos stays intact. On a monolithic card we tap the internal contacts, read the memory directly and recover the data.
Often, yes — provided the memory chip itself isn’t shattered. A microSD is a single sealed chip, so there’s nothing to unplug: we expose the internal contacts and wire into them to read the memory directly. Keep both halves if it’s snapped.
Probably not. Unlike SSDs, memory cards don’t usually wipe data when you delete or format, so a quick in-camera format leaves the photos in place until something overwrites them. Stop taking photos on the card immediately and contact us — the sooner we see it, the better the chance.
Recovering a single memory card is a flat £250 + VAT, and we start with a free diagnostic and a written quote. If the card’s corrupt and needs rebuilding, or is dead or snapped and needs chip-level work, we take 50% of the fee upfront — so most jobs stay no fix, no fee.
On most jobs, yes. For rebuilding a corrupt card or chip-level work on a dead one we take a 50% deposit upfront and the rest is only due if we recover your data — so if we can’t, you’re not left with the full bill.
Every make and type — SanDisk, Samsung, Lexar, Kingston, Sony and the rest, in SD, microSD, CompactFlash, CFexpress, XQD and Memory Stick. The brand rarely changes whether the data is recoverable.
If it’s not simply the little lock switch on the side of an SD card, a write-protected card is usually protecting failing memory or firmware. The data’s still readable. Bring it to us and we’ll image it as it stands and recover your files before it deteriorates further.
For a simple deletion it can sometimes work, but for a corrupt, unrecognised or physically damaged card, software can’t help and writing to the card can overwrite your photos for good. If the card matters, stop and let us image it first.
Corrupt-card and deletion jobs are usually done in 2 to 3 working days. A dead, snapped or monolithic card needing chip-level work runs a little longer, 3 to 4 working days, according to the card. The free diagnostic normally lands inside 48 hours, and pressing cases can often be moved up.
Drop it off at our Newcastle location Monday to Friday, 9am to 5:30pm, or post it to us fully insured. Package the card in a small box or a padded envelope so it can’t be crushed, seal it, and put your name, address, phone number and email inside so we can book it in. We’ll run the free diagnostic and send a written quote before any work begins.
A free diagnostic, a fixed £250 + VAT per card, and no fix no fee on most jobs — every make of SD, microSD and CF card recovered, photos and videos and all. Begin your recovery today.