Complete Guide: How to Recover Corrupted Images on PC and Android Step by Step

Have you ever encountered the dreaded file corruption or unsupported format message when trying to open an image on your PC, Android, USB flash drive, or external drive? This situation is often frustrating, especially when it comes to personal photos, irreplaceable memories, or images important to your work. The problem is common: we try to view or retrieve images stored on a medium, and the file refuses to open, displaying an error that often seems definitive.

Fortunately, there are multiple methods and tools to recover, repair or view damaged images., whether they are JPEG/JPG, PNG, GIF, TIFF or other files, whether they are stored on the device's internal memory, SD cards, hard drives, USB, or have reached us after downloading a corrupted file.

Common causes of damaged or corrupted images

Before tackling any recovery process, it is vital to understand what can cause digital image corruption:

Errors during file transfer (power interruptions, premature disconnection of the card or USB memory, etc.).
Abrupt removal of SD cards or external devices without safely ejecting.
Improper formatting of storage media (cards, disks, USB).
Bad sectors or errors on the hard drive, SD card, or USB memory stick.
Malware or virus infection, which can corrupt files or modify headers.
software problems, such as file system errors, camera failures, or bugs in the photos application.
Lack of RAM or problems freeing resources on the device.
Incompatible file format or corrupted downloaded image from the Internet.
Physical wear and tear of the supports (aging, shocks, extreme environments, humidity).

How to identify a damaged or corrupted image

The most common symptoms of a damaged image include:

Unable to open the file, either in standard viewers or in image editors.
Read errors: "File corruption," "This image cannot be opened," "Unsupported format."
Incomplete, pixelated, half-loaded images, gray areas, or distorted colors.
The file is listed as sized but shows zero bytes when downloaded or moved.
Thumbnail disappears or displays in black.

Getting Started: Preventive Measures and Basic Actions

Before making drastic decisions, Apply these preventive tips and initial actions:

Do not save or overwrite files on the affected drive. to avoid worsening corruption or losing recoverable data.
Make a copy of all the media (card, disk, folder) before any recovery attempt.
Try opening the image in different image viewers, devices, or computers. Sometimes the standard viewer doesn't support automatic error correction.
Check for backups in the cloud (Google Photos, Dropbox, OneDrive, iCloud) or on older devices.

Manual solutions to repair corrupted images in Windows

Run CHKDSK to repair errors on physical media

The command CHKDSK It is essential if we suspect that corruption comes from defective sectors in the unit:

Connect the device (disk, USB, SD) to the PC.
Identify the assigned letter (for example, E:).
Opens DCM as administrator in Windows.
Write chkdsk E: / f / r / x (replace E with your drive letter) and press Enter.
Wait for the system to repair bad sectors and recover accessible files.

Once finished, try opening the images. If the damage was physical (sector errors), some files will be readable again.

Use the SFC /scannow tool to repair system files

Windows may experience internal errors that prevent the display of images even if they are not damaged. The command sfc / scannow It will check and repair system files, allowing you to rule out software problems.

Open CMD as administrator.
Introduce sfc / scannow and wait for it to finish.

Use disk error checking tools

From the Windows File Explorer:

Right click on the affected drive.
Select “Properties” > “Tools” > “Check”.
Click “Analyze Drive.”

Windows may fix system errors that affect access to graphics files.

How to repair damaged JPEG, JPG, PNG, GIF, and other formats

Most digital images are in JPEG/JPG or PNG formatsThese files may have damaged headers, compression data, or metadata. Specific solutions are presented here:

Convert the image to another format: Simply converting a corrupt JPG to PNG, BMP, TIFF, or vice versa, sometimes forces the conversion software to “skip” the errors and reconstruct the image.
Rename the file extension: Change .jpeg to .jpg or .png, and vice versa, to see if the image is read correctly.
Try opening the image in web browsers (Chrome, Edge, Firefox): Dragging the image into the browser may force it to display even if the Windows viewer fails.
Use alternative programs such as Photoshop, GIMP, IrfanView or XnView.

Online tools to convert or repair damaged images

If the above options don't work, there are web services that can help you:

Online Converter allows you to convert images to different formats and, in doing so, can “clean” corrupted metadata.
OfficeRecovery: Offers online repair of damaged JPEG images (https://online.officerecovery.com/pixrecovery/). Simply upload the damaged photo and download the repaired file.

Note: Most of these tools have limited free features, and depending on the level of damage, you may need a paid version.

Desktop programs to repair or recover images

There are specialized recovery and repair tools with a higher success rate, especially for severely damaged files or when the damage affects the internal structure of the file.

EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard: Recover and repair damaged images (JPEG, PNG, GIF, TIFF and more) from disks, SD, USB, internal memory, etc. Download EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard
Wondershare Repairit: Specializes in repairing corrupted photos using artificial intelligence, both online and in desktop versions. It allows you to repair multiple images (JPEG, PNG, TIFF, RAW, CRW, etc.) at once and offers advanced options for severely damaged images.
iMyFone UltraRepair: Fixes pixelated, blurry, or non-opening images and supports bulk processing of files in different image formats.
Stellar Photo RecoverySpecializes in restoring photos and videos from SD cards, USB drives, external drives, and Android devices. Ideal for advanced recovery after physical damage.

Android-Specific Methods: Steps to Recover and Repair Corrupted Photos

Clear cache and data of the gallery or camera app

Sometimes, photo display issues on Android are caused by corrupted caches or bad temporary dataTo reset the app:

Go to Settings > Apps > Camera (or Gallery).
Tap on “Storage & Cache.”
Clear app cache and data.

This will remove temporary information that could prevent images from loading correctly.

Reinstall or update the gallery app

Updating the app can fix compatibility errors or bugs that prevent damaged images from being displayed.

Try with third-party applications

Some alternative gallery viewers can read images that the standard gallery does not recognize.

Recover damaged photos from cloud backup

If you have automatic syncing enabled, go to Google Photos, OneDrive, Dropbox, or any other cloud service. From there, you can restore images to your device or download the original version from your browser.

Convert damaged images to another format using mobile apps

There are applications on Google Play like Image Converter, Image Converter Pro o Photo Repair which allow you to select the corrupted image and convert it to another format, which often makes it readable.

Tools for recovering deleted or damaged photos on Android

EaseUS MobiSaver: Recover and repair photos, videos, contacts, and files directly from internal or SD memory. Supports JPG, PNG, GIF, BMP, TIFF, MP4, and other formats.
DiskDigger: Allows you to search for and restore lost or unusable images, even if the phone has not been rooted.
dr.fone – RecoverExtract and restore photos from devices with damaged screens, frozen devices, formatted devices, or devices with system errors. Compatible with many models and brands.

Solutions if your phone is broken or unresponsive

If your phone screen is broken or unresponsive to touch, you can try:

Connect your mobile to your PC via USB and transfer photos from the DCIM folder. If USB debugging was enabled, the computer will recognize the device as external storage.
Using OTG cable with USB mouse: Connect a mouse to navigate your phone if the touch mouse doesn't work, allowing you to copy files to the cloud or your PC.
Remove the SD card and insert it into another mobile phone or card reader to recover the photos if they were saved there.
Recover images from WhatsApp backup: When you install WhatsApp on a new device, you can restore your backup and retrieve any images you've received or sent.

Recovery strategies when there is no backup

In cases where there is no previous backup and basic methods fail, consider the following options:

Try advanced PC recovery software (EaseUS Data Recovery, Stellar, iMyFone, Wondershare, etc.)
Contact professional data recovery services, especially if there is physical damage to the memory or device.
Ask contacts, friends, or family to resend photos if you've shared them previously.

Key tips to avoid image and data corruption

Make frequent backups to cloud services and, if possible, in several physical locations (hard drive, PC, pendrive).
Safely remove SD and USB cards to avoid writing and reading errors.
Keep your antivirus updated to prevent infections.
Do not edit images directly from the SD card: Copy photos to your PC first before editing.
Avoid disconnecting devices during file transfers.
Organize your files on different partitions or media to minimize risks.
Periodically check the status of your storage devices and replace them if they show signs of failure (noise, slowness, errors).
Set up automatic backups to Google Photos, Dropbox, OneDrive, or other services.
Don't store all your files only on the phone or SD; distribute them across multiple devices or clouds.

Frequently Asked Questions About Recovering Corrupted Images

Can all damaged photos be recovered? Not always: it depends on the level of corruption. Files with zero size or unrecoverable containers can rarely be restored. If the header and core data are intact, recovery is possible.
Is it safe to use online software? Generally yes, but avoid uploading confidential or private images to free web services. Prefer locally installed software for sensitive data.
Which formats are most susceptible to corruption? JPEG and RAW files are often corrupted by transfer interruptions, while PNG and GIF files can become unreadable if there are errors in the metadata or header.
What to do if the image is partially visible? Try extracting the visible portion and resaving it with a graphical editor. Sometimes, corruption only affects the end of the file.

Recommended resources and tools

Online Converter (https://www.online-convert.com/)
OfficeRecovery PixRecovery (https://online.officerecovery.com/pixrecovery/)
EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard (https://es.easeus.com/data-recovery-software/data-recovery-wizard.html)
EaseUS Fixo Photo Repair (https://es.easeus.com/reparar-archivos/reparar-fotos-corruptas.html)
iMyFone UltraRepair (https://es.imyfone.com/repair-file/repair-damaged-images-on-pc/)
Wondershare Repairit (https://recoverit.wondershare.es/photo-repair/fix-corrupted-photos-on-android.html)
Stellar Photo Recovery (https://www.stellarinfo.com/photo-recovery-software.php)
DiskDigger for Android (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.defianttech.diskdigger)
Image Converter app (Google Play)

Recovering damaged images is a process that requires patience, experimentation with different methods, and sometimes the use of specific tools. Prevention, backup, and responsible use of storage media are always the best strategies to avoid losing photographic memories and important files. When recovery is possible, the solutions described here will help you step by step bring your damaged images back to life on both PC and Android, increasing the chances of success even in the most complex scenarios.

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