{"id":38063,"date":"2021-12-23T12:29:50","date_gmt":"2021-12-23T12:29:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/?p=38063"},"modified":"2021-12-23T12:29:50","modified_gmt":"2021-12-23T12:29:50","slug":"how-to-recover-lost-dir-files-from-sd-card","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/recover-lost-dir-files.html","title":{"rendered":"How to Recover Lost Dir Files from SD Card"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Many Android users may have noticed a mysterious folder called LOST.DIR on your SD card. On opening, the directory seems to contain nothing but weird numbers files that do not even open.<\/p>\r\n<div class=\"alert alert-info\" role=\"alert\">Some go on to delete the folder, believing it to be a virus, but that\u2019s not true. LOST.DIR is a system-created directory for storing files that couldn\u2019t be saved properly and can be used to recover them. How? Let\u2019s find out.<\/div>\r\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"what_is_the_lostdir_folder_on_an_sd_card\"><\/span>What Is the LOST.DIR Folder on an SD Card?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p>The thing about SD cards is that they are not permanent components of your phone. They can be taken out whenever you like, and the smartphone\u2019s operating system has to find a way to deal with it. That is where the LOST.DIR comes in.<\/p>\r\n<p>Any time the SD card is abruptly pulled out, or the phone shuts down improperly, some files are unable to be saved. The next time the Android system boots up, it tries to recover these files. They are then stored in a dedicated folder named LOST.DIR, allowing the user to restore them.<\/p>\r\n<div class=\"alert alert-secondary\" role=\"alert\">However, restoring them is easier said than done. There is no direct method to get those files back, or a handy button to tap to convert them instantly. In this article we will go over the other methods of restoring these files.<\/div>\r\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"reasons_why_you_can_lose_lostdir_folder_in_android\"><\/span>Reasons why you can Lose LOST.DIR Folder in Android<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li>&#x274c; <b>Deletion: <\/b>Most people don\u2019t know what the LOST.DIR folder is for. You may either think that it is a virus, or some useless folder taking up space. Either way, it is common for people to deliberately delete the directory in order to clean up their SD cards.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>&#x1f4bd; <b>Formatting: <\/b>Often, you may <a href=\"\/howto\/recover-formatted-sd.html\">format an SD card<\/a>, accidentally deleting the LOST.DIR folder. While people do copy over their important files before formatting, few ever remember to check this directory too.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>&#x1f4be; <b>Corruption: <\/b>Constantly pulling out the SD card without properly ejecting it can cause <a href=\"\/howto\/fix-corrupted-sd-card.html\">data corruption<\/a> and other issues. It is possible for the LOST.DIR folder to get corrupted, making all the files contained in it inaccessible.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"how_to_recover_lostdir_files_on_an_android_sd_card\"><\/span>How to Recover LOST.DIR files on an Android SD card<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p>To recover files from the LOST.DIR folder of your SD card, your first need to connect it with a computer. Many PCs and laptops come with built-in card readers these days, and you can just slot the card into them to access the data. Otherwise, you must get an external card reader.<\/p>\r\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"recover_lostdir_files_on_sd_card_with_data_recovery_software\"><\/span>Recover LOST.DIR files on SD Card with Data Recovery Software<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p>The best way to <a href=\"\/recover-deleted-files.html\">recover deleted files<\/a> from any kind of storage media is to use a dedicated data recovery tool. Scanning your SD card with a data recovery application reveals all the lost or deleted data, and allows you to recover it.<\/p>\r\n<div class=\"alert alert-info\" role=\"alert\">For this guide, we will demonstrate the process using Disk Drill. You can use <a href=\"\/howto\/top-5-data-recovery-software-windows.html\">any other data recovery app<\/a> as well. Disk Drill is just the easiest to use tool that works across platforms, allowing you to recover data on both Windows and Mac operating systems with its free version.<\/div>\r\n<ol>\r\n\t<li>Begin with <a href=\"\/download.html\">downloading Disk Drill<\/a> and installing it on your computer.<div class=\"relative bottom download__block\">\r\n            <div class=\"d-flex align-center download__block__inner\">\r\n                <div class=\"download__block__image-wrapper\">\r\n                <div class=\"download__block__image\">\r\n                    <img src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/sidebar-ban-96.png\" srcset=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/sidebar-ban-2x-1.png 2x\" alt=\"Disk Drill\" width=\"96\" height=\"96\">        \r\n                <\/div>\r\n                <\/div>\r\n                <div class=\"download__block__announce\">\r\n                    <b>download-block-title<\/b><br>\r\n                    download-block-text\r\n                <\/div>\r\n                <div class=\"download__block__action\">\r\n                    <a href=\"\/\/download.html\" data-href-mac=\/\/disk-drill-mac.html data-href-win=\/\/disk-drill-win.html class=\"button button-green btn-md osreplace\">\r\n<svg width=\"16\" height=\"16\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\r\n<path d=\"M11.9546 7.293C11.8736 7.114 11.6956 7 11.4996 7H9.49957V0.5C9.49957 0.224 9.27557 0 8.99957 0H6.99957C6.72357 0 6.49957 0.224 6.49957 0.5V7H4.49957C4.30357 7 4.12557 7.115 4.04457 7.293C3.96257 7.472 3.99457 7.681 4.12357 7.829L7.62357 11.829C7.71857 11.938 7.85557 12 7.99957 12C8.14357 12 8.28057 11.937 8.37557 11.829L11.8756 7.829C12.0056 7.682 12.0356 7.472 11.9546 7.293Z\" fill=\"white\"\/>\r\n<path d=\"M13.5 11V14H2.5V11H0.5V15C0.5 15.553 0.948 16 1.5 16H14.5C15.053 16 15.5 15.553 15.5 15V11H13.5Z\" fill=\"white\"\/>\r\n<\/svg>\r\ndownload-block-button-text\r\n<\/a>\r\n                <\/div>\r\n            <\/div>\r\n        <\/div><\/li>\r\n\t<li>If you haven\u2019t yet, connect your SD card to the computer. You can use a built-in card reader or an external USB card reader to do the same. Once that is done, open Disk Drill to view all the drives of your PC. Select the one representing your SD card (recognizable by its size) and hit <b>Search for lost data<\/b>.<img class=\"border-gray border-radius-10 aligncenter wp-image-36487 size-full\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/15-Disk-Drill-Main-Screen.png\" alt=\"Disk Drill Main Screen\" width=\"1352\" height=\"898\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/15-Disk-Drill-Main-Screen.png 1352w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/15-Disk-Drill-Main-Screen-300x199.png 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/15-Disk-Drill-Main-Screen-500x332.png 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/15-Disk-Drill-Main-Screen-768x510.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1352px) 100vw, 1352px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>The software will scan the entire SD card, not just the LOST.DIR folder to find files that were deleted recently. The graphical breakdown will inform you of the progress, though you can select <b>Review found items<\/b> to view the files themselves.<img class=\"border-gray border-radius-10 aligncenter wp-image-36488 size-full\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/16-Disk-Drill-Scanning.png\" alt=\"Disk Drill Scanning\" width=\"1354\" height=\"898\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/16-Disk-Drill-Scanning.png 1354w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/16-Disk-Drill-Scanning-300x199.png 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/16-Disk-Drill-Scanning-500x332.png 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/16-Disk-Drill-Scanning-768x509.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1354px) 100vw, 1354px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>All files are organized by their folders, along with their file types. You can browse through the list or search for specific file names from the search bar on the top.<img class=\"border-gray border-radius-10 aligncenter wp-image-36489 size-full\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/17-Disk-Drill-Review-Found-Items.png\" alt=\"Disk Drill Review Found Items\" width=\"1351\" height=\"899\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/17-Disk-Drill-Review-Found-Items.png 1351w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/17-Disk-Drill-Review-Found-Items-300x200.png 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/17-Disk-Drill-Review-Found-Items-500x333.png 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/17-Disk-Drill-Review-Found-Items-768x511.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1351px) 100vw, 1351px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Found images can be previewed before recovering them. Simply hover your mouse over image files and select the eye icon to view a preview of that picture.<img class=\"border-gray border-radius-10 aligncenter wp-image-36490 size-full\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/18-Disk-Drill-Preview-Hover.png\" alt=\"Disk Drill Preview Hover\" width=\"1052\" height=\"138\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/18-Disk-Drill-Preview-Hover.png 1052w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/18-Disk-Drill-Preview-Hover-300x39.png 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/18-Disk-Drill-Preview-Hover-500x66.png 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/18-Disk-Drill-Preview-Hover-768x101.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1052px) 100vw, 1052px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>After you have decided which files to keep, select them all and use the <b>Recover <\/b>button. Now choose a destination folder to store the recovered files. Try not to use the SD card itself, as that may overwrite some of the files yet to be restored.<img class=\"border-gray border-radius-10 aligncenter wp-image-36491 size-full\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/19-Disk-Drill-Recovery-Destination-1024x591-1.png\" alt=\"Disk Drill Recovery Destination\" width=\"1024\" height=\"591\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/19-Disk-Drill-Recovery-Destination-1024x591-1.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/19-Disk-Drill-Recovery-Destination-1024x591-1-300x173.png 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/19-Disk-Drill-Recovery-Destination-1024x591-1-500x289.png 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/19-Disk-Drill-Recovery-Destination-1024x591-1-768x443.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"recover_files_using_lostdir_adding_filename_extension\"><\/span>Recover files using LOST.DIR (Adding Filename Extension)<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p>This is more of a hit-and-miss method. The idea behind it is simple; each file in the LOST.DIR is actually a temporary backup of data that failed to save properly. It is possible that some of them can be opened correctly, provided you use the right type of application.<\/p>\r\n<p>To this end, you must go into the directory and rename each file to various file extensions (.jpg, .txt, etc.) Sometimes, this might make the file readable, allowing you to open and view its contents and copy it to a secure location. Usually, such files are pictures, so changing them to .jpg does the trick.<\/p>\r\n<p class=\"alert alert-info\">Of course, this method is only suitable if the number of files in the LOST.DIR is low, as manually renaming each and every file can take time.<\/p>\r\n<ol>\r\n\t<li>First, locate the File Manager app on your Android phone.<img class=\"border-gray border-radius-10 aligncenter wp-image-38109\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/1-File-Manager-225x500.jpg\" alt=\"1 File Manager\" width=\"203\" height=\"450\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/1-File-Manager-225x500.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/1-File-Manager-135x300.jpg 135w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/1-File-Manager-768x1707.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/1-File-Manager-691x1536.jpg 691w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/1-File-Manager-scaled.jpg 922w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 203px) 100vw, 203px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Opening this app shows you the contents of your phone\u2019s storage, both internal and external. You can toggle between them a drop-down menu on the left. Switch to the SD card and scroll down to find the LOST.DIR folder.<img class=\"border-gray border-radius-10 aligncenter wp-image-38110\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/2-SD-Card-225x500.jpg\" alt=\"SD Card\" width=\"203\" height=\"450\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/2-SD-Card-225x500.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/2-SD-Card-135x300.jpg 135w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/2-SD-Card-768x1707.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/2-SD-Card-691x1536.jpg 691w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/2-SD-Card-scaled.jpg 922w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 203px) 100vw, 203px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>This directory will contain a bunch of files named with serial numbers and without a file extension. They cannot be opened by any app directly, so we need to rename them.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Select one of these files and tap the <b>Rename<\/b> option.<img class=\"border-gray border-radius-10 aligncenter wp-image-38130\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/3-LOST-DIR-225x500.jpg\" alt=\"lost dir recovery\" width=\"203\" height=\"450\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/3-LOST-DIR-225x500.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/3-LOST-DIR-135x300.jpg 135w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/3-LOST-DIR-768x1707.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/3-LOST-DIR-691x1536.jpg 691w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/3-LOST-DIR-scaled.jpg 922w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 203px) 100vw, 203px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>You don\u2019t need to change the name; just append a .jpg at the end. While you can try this with other extensions too, image files tend to give a higher success rate.<img class=\"border-gray border-radius-10 aligncenter wp-image-38131\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/5-Rename-225x500.jpg\" alt=\"lost.dir recovery\" width=\"203\" height=\"450\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/5-Rename-225x500.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/5-Rename-135x300.jpg 135w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/5-Rename-768x1707.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/5-Rename-691x1536.jpg 691w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/5-Rename-scaled.jpg 922w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 203px) 100vw, 203px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>You will be warned that changing the file extension can make the file unreadable, which isn\u2019t a concern for these files. Select <b>OK <\/b>to proceed.<img class=\"border-gray border-radius-10 aligncenter wp-image-38132\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/6-Confirm-225x500.jpg\" alt=\"how to recover lost.dir files\" width=\"203\" height=\"450\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/6-Confirm-225x500.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/6-Confirm-135x300.jpg 135w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/6-Confirm-768x1707.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/6-Confirm-691x1536.jpg 691w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/6-Confirm-scaled.jpg 922w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 203px) 100vw, 203px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>If the operation was successful, the file will now show up as a viewable image, which can you can open with your regular photos app.<img class=\"border-gray border-radius-10 aligncenter wp-image-38133\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/7-Image-225x500.jpg\" alt=\"Image\" width=\"203\" height=\"450\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/7-Image-225x500.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/7-Image-135x300.jpg 135w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/7-Image-768x1707.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/7-Image-691x1536.jpg 691w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/7-Image-scaled.jpg 922w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 203px) 100vw, 203px\" \/><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<p>Just repeat the process for all the files in the LOST. DIR folder to convert them into viewable images. If your directory has dozens of such files, you might be better off trying a data recovery tool. Renaming the file extensions is only viable when there are only a handful of files, as with the example above.<\/p>\r\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"how_to_prevent_lostdir_from_getting_deleted_in_android_phone\"><\/span>How to Prevent LOST.DIR From Getting Deleted in Android Phone<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p>As they say, prevention is better than cure. Rather than waiting for your LOST.DIR folder to get deleted and then try to recover it, you should take steps to prevent that from happening in the first place.<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li>&#x23cf;&#xfe0f; <b>Eject Your SD Card Properly: <\/b>The biggest reason for losing the LOST.DIR on your SD card (and the reason why the directory is created in the first place) is due to improper ejection of the storage medium. Make sure to properly unmount the SD card every time you remove it from your phone.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>&#x1f504; <b>Backup Your Important Files:<\/b> Important data like your photos and critical documents should be backed up to the cloud when possible. SD cards are notoriously fickle and well known for getting corrupted due to a variety of reasons.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>&#x1f4be; <b>Save Frequently: <\/b>An advice usually given to PC users, its utility doesn\u2019t go away on mobile. LOST.DIR files are created when an application fails to create a save and shuts down abruptly. Saving often can help safeguard the information from being lost.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"conclusion\"><\/span>Conclusion<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p>The LOST.DIR directory is neither a virus nor a junk folder that needs to be deleted. It is actually a location for files that couldn\u2019t be saved properly, allowing you to recover them again.<\/p>\r\n<p>If the LOST.DIR directory hasn\u2019t been deleted and you can still see the files, you might be able to get them working by changing their file extensions. Simply rename each and every file and save them with a .jpg at the end. This will make them openable if they are image files.<\/p>\r\n<p>Otherwise, your best recourse is to try a data recovery tool. Something like Disk Drill can scan through the whole SD card and locate all accidentally deleted pictures and files. You can then easily save them to a new location.<\/p>\r\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"faq\"><\/span>FAQ<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n<div><section itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/FAQPage\">\r\n<div style=\"border-bottom: 0px solid rgb(213, 217, 217);\" class=\"panel panel-default faq-block\" itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Question\" role=\"tablist\">\r\n            <div class=\"panel-heading\" role=\"tab\" id=\"headingfaq1\">\r\n                <div class=\"panel-title\" itemprop=\"name\">\r\n                    <a class=\"toggle-link transition-all collapsed\" role=\"button\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse-item-faq1\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapse-item-faq1\"><h3 class=\"panel-title\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"is_it_safe_to_delete_lostdir_files\"><\/span>Is it safe to delete LOST.DIR files?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>                   \r\n                    \t<svg class=\"transition-all panel-toggle\" width=\"16px\" height=\"16px\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\">\r\n                            <g stroke=\"none\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\">\r\n                                <path d=\"M7,7 L7,0 L9,0 L9,7 L16,7 L16,9 L9,9 L9,16 L7,16 L7,9 L0,9 L0,7 L7,7 Z\" fill=\"#000000\"><\/path>\r\n                            <\/g>\r\n                        <\/svg>\r\n                   <\/a>\r\n                <\/div>\r\n            <\/div>\r\n            <div id=\"collapse-item-faq1\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-labelledby=\"headingfaq1\" aria-expanded=\"false\" style=\"\">\r\n              <div class=\"panel-body\" itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\">\r\n<div itemprop=\"text\">\r\n                <p>Unless you have any important files missing, yes. The LOST.DIR folder only holds temporary files that couldn\u2019t be saved due to an improper shutdown \u2013 once you run the apps again and save correctly, they are no longer necessary.<\/p>\r\n<p>That being said, there is no reason to delete the files in the first place. They usually do not take up much space, and in the event, you are unable to find an important file, you can recover it from there.<\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n                <div class=\"clearfix\"><\/div>\r\n              <\/div>\r\n            <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div style=\"border-bottom: 0px solid rgb(213, 217, 217);\" class=\"panel panel-default faq-block\" itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Question\" role=\"tablist\">\r\n            <div class=\"panel-heading\" role=\"tab\" id=\"headingfaq2\">\r\n                <div class=\"panel-title\" itemprop=\"name\">\r\n                    <a class=\"toggle-link transition-all collapsed\" role=\"button\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse-item-faq2\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapse-item-faq2\"><h3 class=\"panel-title\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"how_to_recover_lostdir_files\"><\/span>How to recover LOST.DIR files?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>                   \r\n                    \t<svg class=\"transition-all panel-toggle\" width=\"16px\" height=\"16px\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\">\r\n                            <g stroke=\"none\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\">\r\n                                <path d=\"M7,7 L7,0 L9,0 L9,7 L16,7 L16,9 L9,9 L9,16 L7,16 L7,9 L0,9 L0,7 L7,7 Z\" fill=\"#000000\"><\/path>\r\n                            <\/g>\r\n                        <\/svg>\r\n                   <\/a>\r\n                <\/div>\r\n            <\/div>\r\n            <div id=\"collapse-item-faq2\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-labelledby=\"headingfaq2\" aria-expanded=\"false\" style=\"\">\r\n              <div class=\"panel-body\" itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\">\r\n<div itemprop=\"text\">\r\n                <p>The best way to recover LOST.DIR files are done by scanning your SD card with a data recovery tool. Using an application like Disk Drill can help you locate and recover these files easily.<\/p>\r\n<p>Another method is to rename every file\u2019s extension to try to open it, but that can be arduous and time-consuming to do so and isn\u2019t guaranteed to work. This is why it is recommended to use a dedicated data recovery application instead.<\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n                <div class=\"clearfix\"><\/div>\r\n              <\/div>\r\n            <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div style=\"border-bottom: 01px solid rgb(213, 217, 217);\" class=\"panel panel-default faq-block\" itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Question\" role=\"tablist\">\r\n            <div class=\"panel-heading\" role=\"tab\" id=\"headingfaq3\">\r\n                <div class=\"panel-title\" itemprop=\"name\">\r\n                    <a class=\"toggle-link transition-all collapsed\" role=\"button\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse-item-faq3\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapse-item-faq3\"><h3 class=\"panel-title\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"how_can_i_avoid_lostdir_files_on_an_android_phone\"><\/span>How can I avoid LOST.DIR files on an Android Phone?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>                   \r\n                    \t<svg class=\"transition-all panel-toggle\" width=\"16px\" height=\"16px\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\">\r\n                            <g stroke=\"none\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\">\r\n                                <path d=\"M7,7 L7,0 L9,0 L9,7 L16,7 L16,9 L9,9 L9,16 L7,16 L7,9 L0,9 L0,7 L7,7 Z\" fill=\"#000000\"><\/path>\r\n                            <\/g>\r\n                        <\/svg>\r\n                   <\/a>\r\n                <\/div>\r\n            <\/div>\r\n            <div id=\"collapse-item-faq3\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-labelledby=\"headingfaq3\" aria-expanded=\"false\" style=\"\">\r\n              <div class=\"panel-body\" itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\">\r\n<div itemprop=\"text\">\r\n                <p>LOST.DIR files are created when an app fails to shut down and save its data properly. This usually happens due to sudden ejection of the SD card, or by forcefully powering down the phone while something is still running.<\/p>\r\n<p>To avoid the creation of LOST.DIR files, always ensure to eject the SD card properly by unmounting it first. Save frequently, and close applications before shutting down the mobile.<\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n                <div class=\"clearfix\"><\/div>\r\n              <\/div>\r\n            <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/section><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Many Android users may have noticed a mysterious folder called LOST.DIR on your SD card. On opening, the directory seems to contain nothing but weird numbers files that do not even open. Some go on to delete the folder, believing&#8230;","protected":false},"author":7886,"featured_media":36491,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2634],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-38063","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sd-card-flash-drive-recovery-tips"},"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>How to Recover LOST.DIR Files Easily? [Working Solutions Only]<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Wondering what the LOST DIR folder on your SD card does? Find out all about LOST DIR and how to recover your files from it in this article.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/recover-lost-dir-files.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How to Recover LOST.DIR Files Easily? [Working Solutions Only]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Wondering what the LOST DIR folder on your SD card does? Find out all about LOST DIR and how to recover your files from it in this article.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/recover-lost-dir-files.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Data recovery tips. 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Recover deleted files on Mac, Windows.","og_image":[{"width":1024,"height":591,"url":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/19-Disk-Drill-Recovery-Destination-1024x591-1.png","type":"image\/png"}],"author":"Levin Roy","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_title":"How to Recover LOST.DIR Files Easily? [Working Solutions Only]","twitter_description":"Wondering what the LOST DIR folder on your SD card does? 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A believer in emergent technologies, Levin writes about Machine Learning and Internet-of-Things to explore how people and businesses can benefit from innovation. He also likes going into the nitty-gritty details of software or hardware products to bring an unbiased review that adds value to his readers. Always deeply interested in computers and technology, Levin trained as a software engineer and started working on dynamic web apps. He soon realized that he liked discovering tech and writing about it more, and switched gears to become a writer. His articles offer step-by-step guides, tips, and insights that empower readers to make the most out of their tech experiences. From the vagaries of cryptocurrency to the efficient scaling of embedded computing, he has written about it all. He's a part of Online Tech Tips LLC and Help Desk Geek LLC, where he shares his knowledge and expertise. You can find his articles on Online Tech Tips' website and on Help Desk Geek's website.","sameAs":["levin-roy-b6494a212"],"url":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/author\/levin-roy\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38063","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7886"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=38063"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38063\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":43432,"href":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38063\/revisions\/43432"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/36491"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=38063"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=38063"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=38063"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}