Yes—copying or deleting photos from an SD card in Windows Explorer is generally safe and should not damage the card or the camera. Many photographers do this routinely.

The main risk is not physical damage, but file/folder changes that your camera may not expect. For example, if you edit or rotate an image on the computer and leave it on the card, the camera may no longer preview it correctly. Adding or modifying files can also confuse some cameras’ file management, and in the worst case the camera may stop reading the card properly until you back up the files and format the card in-camera.

Practical advice:

• Copying files from the card is safe.
• Deleting photos from the card is usually fine.
• Avoid editing, rotating, or adding files directly on the card if you want maximum camera compatibility.
• If the camera later has trouble reading the card, copy off anything important and format the card in the camera.

Special software is not required; Windows Explorer or another file manager is usually fine.