With cameras, saving memories is now really easy. There’s an annoying problem that comes with it. Files are getting corrupted. It is really annoying when you try to look at a memory. Instead, you see a messed-up picture or a blank screen. Knowing why your pictures do not work and how to fix corrupted JPEG files will help keep your memories safe.
Why Do Digital Photos Get Corrupted?
Before jumping into the solutions, it helps to understand the root of the problem. Corrupted JPEG photos don’t just happen randomly; they are usually the result of a disruption during data writing, reading, or storage. Here are the most common culprits:
- Degradation of Parts: SD cards, flash drives, and hard drives all eventually reach the point when bad sectors begin appearing on the drive, leading to corruption of the drive portion where the images are stored.
- Failed Transfer Process: Pulling cords out of the computer or removing the SD card improperly while transferring the images from the camera to the storage medium creates ideal circumstances for disaster to happen.
- Corruption of the File System: Your storage medium can be affected by viruses or other reasons (e.g., improper removal of the medium), making it difficult to find images saved there.
- Damaged JPEG Headers: Once you run out of battery during photo taking, you can expect that the metadata will not be transferred correctly.
How to Fix Corrupted JPEG Files: 3 Reliable Methods
If you are currently staring at a broken file, don’t panic. There are several ways to breathe life back into your images, ranging from quick system tweaks to dedicated software solutions.
1. Run the CHKDSK Scan (For Storage Errors)
If the corruption is caused by bad sectors on your SD card or hard drive, Windows has a built-in tool that can fix it.
- Connect your media drives to your computer.
- In the search bar of your Windows computer, type cmd, right-click on Command Prompt, and select Run as Administrator.
- In the command prompt that opens, type chkdsk E: /f and press the Enter key. Here, E: should be replaced by the actual drive letter of your memory card.
2. Change the File Format
The issue may lie not in the image but rather in the application that tries to open it. You should attempt to open the broken image in any image editor, such as Microsoft Paint or Preview on Mac OS X. If the image opens successfully, choose File and then Save As and save the image in either PNG or new JPEG format.
3. Use Professional JPEG Repair Software
When the things you normally use on your computer do not work, you should try software to fix your photos. Software like Stellar Repair for Photo or EaseUS Fixo is made for fixing photos. These programs can. Fix problems with the photo files, like the JPEG headers and the way the data is put together. They can take the pieces of the photo. Put them back together, and often they can make a photo that is very distorted look as it did originally, and it only takes a few clicks to do it.
Conclusion
It is common for JPEG images to be corrupted, but it does not necessarily mean that you are going to lose your precious information. The things that lead to corruption of JPEG images and how to prevent it should be known by everyone to take necessary steps. However, if you end up with corrupted JPEG images, then you must have some idea about fixing JPEG image files. You have to deal with the problem of corrupted JPEG images to save your precious data, so knowing how to fix JPEG image files is a must.
Pro Tip: The ultimate defense against file corruption is a solid backup strategy. Always clone your photos to the cloud or an external drive as soon as you transfer them.
