Decrypt SD Card After Phone Death

TL;DR

If your phone died while encrypting an SD card, recovery is very difficult and often impossible without the original phone. However, you can try connecting it to a computer to see if it’s recognised, and attempt data recovery tools. The success rate depends on how much of the encryption process completed before the power loss.

Understanding the Problem

When you encrypt an SD card on your phone, the encryption keys are usually tied to the device’s hardware and operating system. If the phone dies mid-encryption, these keys may be inaccessible. The card will likely appear as unreadable.

Steps to Attempt Recovery

1. Check if Your Computer Recognises the SD Card:
• Insert the SD card into an SD card reader connected to your computer (Windows, Mac, or Linux).
• Windows: Open File Explorer. Does the card appear as a drive? If so, note its drive letter (e.g., D:, E:).
• Mac: Does it mount on the desktop? Check Disk Utility (Applications > Utilities) to see if it’s listed.
• Linux: Open your file manager. Does it appear as a mounted device? Use lsblk in the terminal to list block devices and identify the SD card.
2. Attempt Data Recovery Software (If Recognised):

Even if the card isn’t fully accessible, data recovery software might be able to salvage some files. Be aware that this is not guaranteed.

• Windows: Recuva, TestDisk/PhotoRec are popular options. Download and install one of these programs. Run a deep scan on the SD card drive letter.
• Mac: Disk Drill, EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac. Download and install one of these programs. Select the SD card and run a scan.
• Linux: TestDisk/PhotoRec (available in most distributions’ package managers). Use the command line to select the SD card device and perform a recovery scan. Example:

  sudo photorec /dev/sdb1

  (Replace /dev/sdb1 with your actual SD card device.)

3. Check for Partial Encryption:

If the computer recognises some files but not others, it’s possible that only part of the encryption process completed. Data recovery software may be more successful in this case.

4. Consider Professional Data Recovery Services:

If the data is critical and you’re unable to recover it yourself, a professional data recovery service might have specialized tools and techniques. This can be expensive.

5. Android Specific Considerations (If Applicable):
• Some Android phones store encryption keys in a specific partition on the SD card itself. If your phone used this method, there’s a very small chance data recovery software might find these keys. However, this is rare and requires advanced knowledge.

Important Notes

• Do not format the SD card: Formatting will erase any remaining data and reduce your chances of recovery.
• Avoid writing to the SD card: Any new data written to the card could overwrite recoverable files.
• Success is not guaranteed: The outcome depends on how much encryption was completed, the type of encryption used, and the condition of the SD card.