Photo Repair

How to Repair Corrupt RAW Nikon NEF files

Written By Sumona Chatterjee
Approved By Rohit Arora
Updated on 27 Mar, 2023
Min Reading 4 Min
Share

Table of Content

Summary: NEF unique format consists of the RAW data of an image, along with an instruction set that provides extensive image editing capability not available with other file formats. With a NEF file, the original RAW data of an image is never changed. So it’s a bit more complex to repair than other formats. This article shows how to repair them with ease.

Free Download100% secure

Free Download100% secure

‘I had captured beautiful locales of Caribbean islands with my Nikon D850 camera. Over two hundred photos were shot in RAW format (.NEF files). Back home, when I transferred the pictures to my system, most of them were either not opening, or were distorted. I tried different programs to repair NEF corrupted files but without success.

I cannot imagine losing these photos. Please help?’

Nikon Electronic Format (NEF) is used by all Nikon cameras to shoot in RAW. They are unprocessed pictures of high quality as perceived by the camera sensor. Shooting in NEF format gives liberty to photographers to enhance and creatively play with the images in the post-editing stage.

Naturally losing such photos can be seriously annoying.

If you have also lost your Nikon RAW files in NEF format due to corruption, and looking for ways to get back the correct photos, here we bring in the best methods to repair corrupt RAW Nikon NEF files.

How can you Repair Corrupt RAW Nikon NEF files?

Although there are hit-and-trial methods that you can use to fix corrupt NEF files but to begin with, let us get on to an assured (and the safest way) to fix corrupt NEF files— by using Stellar Repair for Photo software.

Why use Stellar Repair for Photo?

Stellar Repair for Photo is a powerful software to repair corrupt RAW files. It fixes all kinds of corruption in photos shot from any popular camera brand including Nikon models.

Being a do-it-yourself (DIY) software, it offers a simple utility to restore corrupt photos in JPEG format in just 3 simple steps – Add, Repair, and Save.

Below is a step-by-step guide to repairing corrupt raw NEF files with the help of Stellar Repair for Photo

Run Stellar Repair for Photo software on your PC.

On the home screen of the software, click Add File. Choose the location to add NEF files. Click Open

The selected NEF files are displayed. Click Repair.

Stellar Repair for Photo- Repair NEF Files

Preview the NEF files before saving. Just select the file on the left panel and watch its Preview on the right.

Click Save Repaired Files. Select Folder dialog box is displayed to select the location for saving the repaired photos.

Stellar Repair for Photo- Save repaired files

Download the software and get back your Nikon photos lost due to corruption.

Other manual ways to Repair Corrupt RAW Nikon NEF files:

Open NEF files in another Image Viewer

If the Nikon camera photos are not opening in one program, try opening them in another, such as Gimp, Nikon ViewNX, IrfanView, etc.

Use NEF image file converter

If the NEF files are not opening, convert them to another format using online image file converters. Make sure the program you are using to open NEF files is updated.

For instance, if a NEF file fails to open in Photoshop and displays an error, ‘Unable to open NEF file in Photoshop’, convert it to DNG format by using a free online image converter tool.

Download the Microsoft Camera codec pack

To view all kinds of camera-specific file formats on your computer, you can download the camera codec pack offered by Microsoft.

These free camera codec packs for different Windows versions are available at <Read More>.

Reduce noise in Nikon photos with Image Editors

Noise, chromatic aberration, grains, and other distortions in the photos shot from any Nikon camera model, can be fixed in image editors that support RAW files like Adobe Photoshop Elements 11, Gimp, Lightroom, DxO Optics Pro, etc. However, this photo editing software cannot fix corruptions caused due to SD card problems or disk errors. To fix grey bands, tiles, invalid file structure, file system errors, or corrupt header issues in NEF image files, Stellar Repair for Photo is the recommended solution.

You can also use Capture NX2 or Capture NX-D, the official Nikon photo editing software to correct corrupt NEF files.

Use CHKDSK in the command prompt

When the PC gives a ‘Memory card error’ making the NEF files in the card inaccessible, you can restore the photos by CHKDSK in the command prompt. CHKDSK command scans for bad sectors and fixes the logical errors in the storage media.

Follow the below steps to perform CHKDSK:

In the Windows Start Menu type CMD
Right-click on Command Prompt
Click Run as administrator and log in as Administrator
When Command Prompt launches, type the command: chkdsk C: /f
Once the process finishes, restart the computer

Tips to protect Nikon NEF files from corruption

Use a Class 10 memory card from a trusted manufacturer.
Ensure continuous power supply during the transfer of NEF files.
Do not shoot when the camera SD card shows low or full storage.
Do not use your Nikon SD card on multiple devices.
Do not shoot with a low camera battery.
Properly insert/eject the SD card from the camera and computer

Wrapping Up

Stellar Repair for Photo has made the repair of corrupt raw NEF files easier. Now no need to fret over the loss of your precious RAW files captured from a Nikon camera.

Was this article helpful?

YES0

About The Author

Sumona Chatterjee

Sumona is a tech blogger, avid photographer, & technogeek with vast experience in writing about media file recovery tips and tutorials. She has over 10 years of experience in media file recovery/media file repair technology. She is passionate about Photography, Creative Designing, Music, and Exploring lesser-known destinations.

18 comments

Helen Bonnick says:

December 14, 2021 at 11:37 am

Hi I bought your software to get my files off my corrupted SD card, however they will not open I get a message to say that the file format is incorrect – do I now have to buy Stellar Repair for Photo to access the images?

A prompt response would be appreciated – thanks

Reply
1. Sumona Chatterjee says:
  
  February 17, 2022 at 4:38 am
  
  Hi Helen,
  The ‘Unknown JPEG Format error’ usually appears when the files get corrupt or the drive on which they are saved is damaged. In order to repair your corrupt images, you can use Stellar Repair for Photo.
  
  Reply
Javier says:

January 26, 2020 at 7:21 pm

I am wondering if your software actually “repair” the nef file (I mean I will be able to use the nef after repairing process) or it just is able to extract a jpg from the nef.

All the texts I have been reading from your site explain that just a jpg file is save from repairing process (and it is not a repair of the nef IMHO)

Reply
1. Sumona Chatterjee says:
  
  February 4, 2020 at 4:31 am
  
  Hi Javier,
  Stellar Repair for Photo repairs Nikon NEF files and saves them in JPEG format, which is usable.
  
  Reply
Steffen Carlsen says:

September 24, 2019 at 6:30 pm

Dear Sumona

I have now – several times – tried to run the scan and recovery of some corrupted NEF files from both the computer and the SD card. The program tells me that is has recovered the NEF, but the folder is empty and no thumbnail is blank, the JPG files are all gray. What am I doing wrong ??

Reply
1. Sumona Chatterjee says:
  
  September 26, 2019 at 4:53 am
  
  Hi Steffen, We would like to inform you that the software works on the preview basis, however, if the preview is not available then repairing is not possible. you can try the advance repair to repair the NEF file by selecting a sample image made from the same device. Kindly confirm the reason for the corruption for these files so that we can check for any alternate solutions. More information you can contact our support team through email support[@]stellarinfo.com or call +1-877-778-6087.
  
  Reply
Tam Nguyen says:

July 12, 2019 at 10:38 am

Hi, My Computer was infected last month with virus after scanning the computer from antivirus all program are fine and now I just tried to open raw nef files on Photoshop found all files are corrupt not even open any camera. Do you have any suggestion on this?

Reply
1. Sumona Chatterjee says:
  
  July 16, 2019 at 2:42 am
  
  Hi Tam, I would like to suggest you try our software demo version and see the preview of repaired files.
  
  Reply
Lance Vastine says:

June 20, 2019 at 10:27 am

I had several Nef raw images files damaged because of memory card corrupted. But after saving these files from SD memory card to computer some files are looked fine but some files blur (the half of images not ruined). Can this software help me?

Reply
1. Sumona Chatterjee says:
  
  June 25, 2019 at 4:38 am
  
  Hi Lance, Yes our software definitely repair your files. You can try to download our software demo version and see the preview of repaired files.
  
  Reply
Robert F Smith says:

May 22, 2019 at 10:37 am

I had Nikon D810, Unfortunately, a couple of raw images corrupted from my memory card to my PC. I used your photo repair software for repairs my raw images with an easy way. Thanks!

Reply
1. Sumona Chatterjee says:
  
  May 23, 2019 at 2:20 am
  
  Hi Robert, Thanks for choosing our software and sharing your valuable feedback with us!
  
  Reply
Cal NewPort says:

February 20, 2019 at 10:34 am

I had some photos that have some data error and it is from Nikon 5100, saved on SD card. I found your software as per my friend suggest and used It’s easy to repair NEF files. Thanks!

Reply
1. Sumona Chatterjee says:
  
  February 21, 2019 at 2:27 am
  
  Hi Cal,
  
  Thanks for sharing your valuable feedback with us!
  
  Reply
Peter says:

February 9, 2019 at 4:06 pm

Dear Sumona,

I’ve bought the Stellar recovery professional to recover my corrupted.NEF files. I’ve gone to the process several times, after every “repair” the program says can’t display thumbnails and still can’t view the photos. What am I doing wrong?
If needed I can send a corrupted for.

Thanks in advance,

Peter

Reply
1. Sumona Chatterjee says:
  
  February 12, 2019 at 2:14 am
  
  Hi Peter, We would like to inform you that, the software works on “what you see is what you can repair”. That means the files will be repaired in the same manner as you were able to see them in the preview window after the scanning is complete. However, if there is any discrepancy in what you are able to see and what has been repaired then please send us through email support[@]stellarinfo.com the screenshot for the preview window after the scanning is complete along with the screenshot of the repaired file.
  
  Reply
Nick says:

November 23, 2018 at 5:03 am

Thanks for addressing this very problem and providing the solution. It worked for me and fixed blurriness from my pictures which photo editor couldn’t do.

Reply
1. Sumona Chatterjee says:
  
  November 26, 2018 at 3:54 am
  
  Hi Nick, Thanks for using our software and share your valuable feedback with us!!
  
  Reply