Memory Card

SD Card & Memory Card Data Recovery

SD, microSD, CompactFlash or CFexpress card unreadable? Our Swiss laboratory recovers your photos, videos and documents with a free diagnosis in 3 hours — even from the most damaged cards.

Free diagnosis in 3 hours
Direct NAND chip reading
Monolithic cards supported
24/7 emergency service
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Free diagnosis Quote within 3 hours Your data stays in Switzerland

How do we recover data from a damaged memory card?

Memory card data recovery involves extracting files stored in NAND Flash chips, even when the card is corrupted, physically broken or undetected. SD, microSD, CompactFlash and CFexpress cards are used in cameras, drones, smartphones and dashcams — each format presents specific technical challenges that our engineers master.

At our laboratory in Ins, Switzerland, we use specialised tools to access the memory chip contents directly, bypassing the controller. When necessary, we desolder the NAND chips and read them individually. For monolithic cards (a single moulded block), we solder directly onto the circuit board to bypass the controller.

Since 2006, SOS Data Recovery has processed over 11,300 media for more than 8,000 clients. Our pricing model charges 80% of the cost only if your data is recovered. We are CyberSafe certified and CyberSafe partner and rated 4.5/5 on Avis Vérifiés (249+ reviews).

What failures affect memory cards?

Recognise one of these situations? Contact us for a free diagnosis in 3 hours.

Corruption

Why is your memory card corrupted or unreadable?

The card displays read errors, files are inaccessible or the file system is corrupted. Our specialised tools rebuild the data structure and recover your files.

Physical

What to do if your SD card is broken or cracked?

Bent contact, cracked or broken card. Our engineers desolder the memory chips and read them directly, bypassing the physical damage.

Water / moisture

How to recover a card dropped in water?

Card dropped in water, exposed to rain or prolonged moisture. NAND chips often survive water damage — we desolder them and read their contents after drying and cleaning.

Formatting

How to recover an accidentally formatted card?

Accidental formatting in the camera or computer. Do not write anything to the card to maximise recovery chances. Our tools rebuild the allocation table.

Reader

Why is your card no longer detected?

The card reader or device no longer recognises the card. This issue is often linked to the internal controller. Direct NAND chip reading bypasses this failure.

Overwritten

Can overwritten or infected data be recovered?

Files partially overwritten by new data or malware infection. The faster the intervention, the higher the recovery chances. Stop using the card immediately.

How does data recovery work?

From free diagnosis to secure delivery — a transparent 4-step process, entirely performed in our Swiss laboratory.

01

Free diagnosis within 3 hours

Send your media by secure post, drop it at one of our 30 collection points across Switzerland, or bring it directly to our laboratory in Ins. Our team performs a full analysis within 3 hours of receipt — free and with no commitment.

02

Transparent quote before any work

You receive a detailed quote outlining the type of failure, recovery chances and exact cost. You approve before any work begins. Full payment on success — only attempt costs are charged if recovery fails.

03

Recovery under ISO 5 laminar flow

Our technicians work under ISO 5 certified laminar flow with specialised tools (PC-3000). Your data never leaves our CyberSafe-certified and CyberSafe partner Swiss laboratory. Duration: 2 to 10 business days depending on complexity.

04

Secure delivery of your data

Your recovered data is delivered on a new encrypted drive, or via secure download according to your preference. Original media can be destroyed on request to guarantee confidentiality.

Did you know?
A standard SD card supports between 10,000 and 100,000 write cycles. Removing the card from a camera without switching it off first can corrupt the file allocation table and make all your photos inaccessible. This is because the camera continuously writes EXIF metadata and updates the FAT table — an abrupt interruption leaves these structures in an inconsistent state, making all contents invisible to any reader.
What should you absolutely avoid?
Never continue taking photos or recording videos on a failing card — each new write potentially overwrites sectors containing your existing files, drastically reducing recovery chances. Do not use consumer recovery software on a physically damaged card: repeated access can worsen the damage. Remove the card and hand it to a specialist.
Is memory card recovery always possible?
Memory card data recovery is not always possible. Data overwritten by new writes is permanently lost. A physically cracked or shattered NAND chip renders data inaccessible. Encryption enabled without the decryption key prevents any usable reading. This is why it is essential to entrust your card to a specialised laboratory at the first sign of failure.
Available 24/7

Need urgent data recovery?

Critical data loss on a memory card — our on-call team responds urgently, including weekends and public holidays. Diagnosis in 3 hours vs. 24–48 hours with most providers.