JPEG is one of the popular photo file formats, mainly known for its efficient compression and compatibility with almost all devices. You can save your JPEG photos on any internal or external storage device to access them in the future. However, sometimes JPEG files become corrupted, particularly when stored on external drives. There are several reasons such as accidental ejection, physical damage to the drive, malware infections, or software-related errors why such instances usually occur.
Luckily, there are many effective ways to repair Corrupted JPEG photos from external drives. In this guide, we will explore various methods to help you learn how to repair corrupted JPEG photos from external drives and preventive measures to avoid such issues. Let’s begin!
Understanding Symptoms of JPEG Corruption
Corruption in JPEG files mainly occurs due to the damaged file header, missing metadata, or issues with image encoding. Here are common symptoms that you may encounter when your JPEG images get corrupted:
- Partial Display: The image may not load completely. Only half of the photo is visible, with the rest appearing as grey blocks or distorted colours.
- Unreadable Files: Your device cannot open the image, displaying errors like “Invalid Image File” or “Unsupported Format.”
- Distorted Appearance: The image opens but shows strange artefacts, such as horizontal lines or pixelated colours.
- Missing Data: Some parts of the image get deleted or replaced by corrupted data.
What Causes JPEG Corruption on External Drives?
Before you proceed with methods to fix corrupted JPEGs on external storage, it’s important to understand why such corruption occurs. Some main reasons for JPEG corruption include:
- Improper Ejection: Disconnecting the external drive without properly ejecting it can lead to file system errors.
- Physical Damage: External drives are susceptible to drops, water exposure, and wear over time. When these drives get damaged or corrupted, all their stored content becomes inaccessible.
- File Transfer Interruptions: Sudden interruptions, like power loss during a file transfer, are also responsible for data corruption.
- Bad Sectors: Aging or overused drives can develop bad sectors, making files stored in those areas unreadable.
- Virus or Malware: Malicious software like virus or malware attacks on your device can corrupt or encrypt the stored files.
Quick Methods to Repair Corrupted JPEG Photos
In this part of the blog, we will discuss various quick and easy workarounds to fix damaged JPEG images from an external drive. Just go with these methods one-by-one to get access to your repaired photos:
Method 01: Check the External Drive
Before you apply any JPEG repair method to fix corrupted JPEGs on external storage, it’s better to ensure that the external drive is in working order. For this:
Run Disk Check:
- Launch Command Prompt on your Windows PC with administrative privileges, and run the command: chkdsk [Drive Letter]: /f.
- On Mac, use the Disk Utility tool and run “First Aid” to check the status of your external drive.
Update Drivers:
Outdated drivers can cause read/write errors and make all the stored files inaccessible. To avoid such instances, you need to ensure that your device has updated USB or external drive drivers.
Method 02: Open JPEG Photo with Alternative Applications
Sometimes, the issue is not with your photo but it’s the default viewer application which prevents you from accessing the picture. In such cases, you can try accessing those photos in a different photo viewer application, such as:
- Adobe Photoshop
- GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program)
- IrfanView
Method 03: Convert Photo to Another File Format
Converting your JPEG picture to another file format (such as PNG, BMP, or TIFF) can restore accessibility. Follow the below steps to convert your photo to a different format using the Windows built-in Paint app:
- Firstly, right-click on the image file that you need to convert. Select Open With > Paint from the context menu.
- Now, click on the File option from the menu bar and select the Save As option from the drop-down menu.
- Choose a different file format and click the Save As option to save the converted file at the desired location.
Method 04: Restore from Backups
If you regularly backup your photos on multiple devices or cloud backup services like Google Drive, iCloud, Google Photos, etc. check these backups. The recovery process depends on where your backup is stored:
- Cloud Services: Log in to your Google Drive, iCloud, OneDrive, or other cloud backup account. Find the required photo and save it back to your device.
- Local Backup: Files saved on a secondary hard drive or backup software like Windows File History or macOS Time Machine can be accessed directly from these backup utilities.
Method 05: Use Third-Party JPEG Repair Software
Instances may occur when all the above JPEG repair methods get failed. In such cases, you can use a JPEG repair tool such as Stellar Repair for Photo to fix your damaged JPEG images from external drives. This all-in-one photo repair software supports repairing of damaged, pixelated, distorted, and corrupt photos in a few simple steps. Not only JPEG, you can use this tool to repair images of multiple file formats including PNG, GIF, TIFF, BMP, and many more.
Key Features of Stellar Repair for Photo Software:
- Supports repairing of photos from multiple internal or external storage devices, such as hard drives, SSDs, USBs, etc.
- Repair multiple corrupt files simultaneously.
- 100% safe and secure photo repair software; free from viruses or malware.
- Allows you to preview the repaired video files before saving them on your device.
Here’s how to repair corrupted JPEG photos from external drives using this JPEG repair software:
Step 1: Download and install the Stellar Repair for Photo software on your Windows PC or Mac. Also, connect the external drive where your corrupted photo is stored to that PC.
Step 2: Launch the software and from the homepage, click the Add File button to upload the photo you need to repair.
Step 3: Now, click the Repair button to initiate the repairing process and wait till it is completed.
Step 4: Once the repair process is complete, preview the repaired photo(s) and click the Save Repaired Files button to save them at the desired location.
Method 06: Contact Professional Recovery Services
When all else fails, consult a professional data recovery service. They have advanced tools and expertise to recover files from severely damaged drives. This recovery option can be costly but is often worth it for irreplaceable photos.
Preventing JPEG Corruption in the Future
While it is easy to fix corrupted JPEGs on external storage using the aforementioned JPEG repair methods, but try avoiding such corruption issues from your end. For this, follow these best practices:
- Safely Eject External Drives: Always use the “Eject” option before disconnecting your drive.
- Maintain Regular Backups: Use cloud storage services or another external drive to back up your photos regularly.
- Invest in High-Quality Drives: Choose reputable brands with strong durability and warranty policies.
- Update Software and Device OS: Keep your device’s operating system and photo editing software updated to prevent compatibility issues.
- Avoid Overwriting Files: Once your file is repaired, always save it as a new version to preserve the original.
Conclusion
If you ever experience corrupted or damaged JPEG photos on external drives, don’t lose hope. With the aforementioned tools and techniques, you can restore your precious files easily. Start with basic troubleshooting, such as running system checks and using built-in tools, and then move on to specialized JPEG repair software if needed. For severe cases, professional services remain a dependable option. Moreover, you can consider preventive measures like maintaining regular backups, updating software or device OS, etc. to avoid such data corruption issues in the future.