Help PLEASE HELP: Can my broken/corrupted files be saved from my microSD card?

[av2009]

Hi, I'm new to Android Forums and am not very tech-savvy, so please bear with me.

I have an older Android prepaid smartphone (LG Optimus Exceed). I used the file manager app that came pre-installed on my phone to move folders of pictures, videos, audio clips, music, etc. from my internal SD card to my external microSD card. Instead of copying and pasting, I selected the "move to" option. After doing so, I visited my Gallery and found several hundred pictures with broken image icons. The images were unable to be viewed, and video/music/audio files were unable to be played. It displayed an error message stating "unsupported file." I checked my microSD card, and the folders were showing up in the external SD, but the files were not there. I hooked my phone up to my computer using a USB cord to see if I could figure something out; again, the folders were there, but the files were not. When I unplugged my phone and checked the file manager app, both the folders and the files had disappeared and several more images that were already saved to the external SD card became broken. There were so many pictures, videos, songs, and audio clips of memories with my family, and, now, they're just gone. I am devastated!!! If anyone has any information of how to retrieve these files, or if there is no hope and they are just gone forever, please let me know.

 

[Crashdamage]

Your SD card has probably failed. This is not unusual, they're not terribly reliable. If you did not have a backup copy on a computer or cloud storage, then unfortunately the files are likely gone. Sorry.

But even if they appear to be gone there's still a slim chance you may be able to recover them by putting the SD card in a laptop or PC with a card slot or USB card reader and using Recuva software:

https://www.piriform.com/recuva

From now on, remember: Backups, backups, backups!

 

[av2009]

Crashdamage, thank you so much for the information. Using Recuva, I was able to recover many of the files that I had originally thought were gone forever. I lost a lot, but, fortunately, I was able to save a lot, too. I also purchased a new micro SD card and have learned more about backups. Hopefully, I will have better luck with this card and will be more responsible with my data in the future. Thanks again for your help!!!