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Memory cards have become the most preferred media for storing and transferring data across PCs, cameras, tablets, and smartphones. However, several issues can damage your memory cards, such as the memory has an unsupported file system or memory card corruption and virus infection. There is a high chance these issues may lead to data loss from the memory card.
So, how do you prevent memory card damage? In this guide, we shared a few tips that will help you protect your memory card and the data stored on it.
1. Format the memory card
If you have a new memory card, it’s recommended to format the card immediately to prevent any corruption issues.
However, format the memory card on your smartphone or camera, not the computer. This is because it helps to ensure that the memory card is compatible with the device in which it is formatted.
2. Don’t use the same memory card on multiple devices
Using the same memory card on a smartphone, tablet, and camera is not recommended. This is because each device has its own file system. The file system of one device may not be compatible with another. Using one memory card on multiple devices may corrupt the stored data.
3. Eject the Memory Card Safely
One of the most common mistakes many users commit is abruptly pulling the memory card out of the device. Unfortunately, if you try removing the card from the device while it is still in use, it may lead to data loss or corruption.
So, always use the ‘safely remove’Â option to eject the memory card from the card reader. To remove the memory card from a smartphone, camera, or tablet, first switch off the device and then remove it.
4. Ensure not to use the full capacity of the memory card
It is not a good idea to use full capacity of the memory card to store the data. Because it can affect the performance of the storage device. So let the card fill up to 80% – 90% and then change it.
5. Use good-quality memory cards
Data can disappear easily from a low-cost non-branded memory card. So always use a trusted manufacturer’s memory card to store your valuable data. Cards manufactured by Lexar and SanDisk are highly trusted, but there are other good manufacturers as well – for example, Sony, Samsung, Transcend, etc.
6. Use a high-quality memory card reader
Try to buy a high-quality card reader, preferably from a trusted manufacturer. Never buy a local memory card reader to avoid any risk of data loss or corruption.
7. Keep memory cards stored safely
Ensure to store your memory cards in a good case. They could easily get scratched if they’re loosely kept in a pocket or inside a table drawer. That is not good, as it can make your memory card unreadable. Instead, use a dedicated memory card case to keep your card in tip-top shape.
8. Reformat the Memory Card After Every Import
Once you’ve saved at least two copies of your data backed up, make a habit of wiping and reformatting your memory card after every import. This will fix any errors or issues with the card and stop you from hitting delete. It also means you will not run into the uncertainty of clearing the memory card when you need space but not remembering whether you’ve saved the images.
9. Don’t shoot when the battery is low
If your device is running out of battery, don’t take the risk of shooting or recording photos or videos. This can cause data loss, so make sure your device is fully charged before shooting any photos or videos.
10. Stop using the memory card when you encounter errors
When your memory card shows errors, the worse you can do is to keep using it. However, doing so will increase the chances of corrupting your memory card. So, as soon as you see an error on your memory card, stop using it.
Don’t want to lose photos & videos on the Memory card – Know how to Recover them?
Whatsoever the cause of an inaccessible, unreadable, or corrupt memory card, you cannot let go of the valuable multimedia files stored in it.
If your memory card is not working properly, the first thing you need to do is to recover the data stored on it. Use the best memory card recovery software, like Stellar Photo Recovery software, to recover the multimedia files lost due to accidental formatting, virus infection, and corruption. This software can recover photos and videos from SDXC, SDHC, memory cards, microSD cards, USB Flash drives, etc.
The Bottom Line
Memory cards are amazing miniature pieces of technology. While there is no guarantee that you won’t run into a memory card issue, following these habits and tips will reduce such issues to a minimum and keep the memory cards functioning at peak performance. And, you can leverage Stellar Photo Recovery software to recover deleted photos and video files from your damaged/formatted/corrupted/inaccessible memory cards. Stellar Photo Recovery tool is available for Windows and Mac computers and recovers photos lost from all kinds of storage media.
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This content is brought to you by Ankit Raj
Photos provided by the author.
