Lost files from an SD card can bring stress and panic. Data loss happens for many reasons, such as accidental deletion, corruption, or improper card ejection. The situation feels worse when important photos, videos, or documents vanish without warning.
Mac users also can perform a data recovery easily. As you can understand, this guide explains the steps to retrieve lost files using your Mac computer. An important note, though, is to stop using the SD card immediately after noticing missing files and before following the methods below. Adding new data to the card could overwrite and permanently delete the lost files.
Part 1. How To Recover Files From SD Card With Wondershare Recoverit
Retrieving deleted files from an SD card on Macs is best done with a trusted tool like Wondershare Recoverit. This software is known for its reliability and ease of use. Designed to help restore lost or deleted files across various storage types, Wondershare Recoverit stands out with a high recovery rate. It handles multiple scenarios, including accidental deletion, formatting, system crashes, and virus attacks.
To deliver smooth recovery experiences, Recoverit offers the following key features:
- Advanced scanning algorithms. Recoverit employs two types of scanning methods: Quick Scan and Deep Scan. The Quick Scan feature is ideal for recently deleted files, providing a fast, lightweight option. The Deep Scan method automatically scans hidden areas in the file system for deeper recovery needs, identifying lost files with high precision.
- Broad device compatibility. With support for over 2,000 storage devices, Recoverit works seamlessly with SD cards, hard drives, disk drives, flash drives, etc. This extensive compatibility means you can rely on Recoverit as a versatile tool for nearly any storage device, regardless of brand or format.
- High recovery success rate. Recoverit boasts a success rate of 99.5%, making it one of the most reliable recovery solutions available. It performs exceptionally well with photos and videos and supports thousands of file types, ensuring a broad range of file recovery.
- Preview before recovery. Recoverit’s preview feature is designed to save time and storage space. After a scan, the software lists all the recoverable files and provides a preview option. This feature lets you verify the files before committing to recovery, helping avoid unnecessary recoveries and giving confidence in the restored data.
- Cross-platform compatibility. Wondershare Recoverit is compatible with multiple operating systems, including macOS, Windows, NAS, and Linux. Its macOS compatibility makes it an ideal choice for SD card recovery on a Mac, ensuring smooth functionality and usability.
Beyond SD card recovery, Wondershare Recoverit provides recovery solutions for various devices and situations. Its versatility is unmatched by other tools. It’s one of the best ways to restore deleted files from an SD card using a Mac. Its native OS support ensures a fantastic usage experience.
Guide To Recover Deleted Files From an SD Card With Recoverit
Curious about Wondershare Recoverit in action? Look at how easy it is to use the tool by reading through the steps below. It takes only a few steps to restore your deleted files from SD cards with your Mac computer.
Step 1: Install, download, and launch Wondershare Recoverit. Make sure to connect your SD card to your Mac.
Step 2: Go to File Recover > SD Card on Recoverit’s homepage.
Step 3: Let Recoverit finish the scan. It will first perform Quick Scan and Deep Scan after that. Meanwhile, you can start looking as soon as the files pop up.
Step 4: As the results get more and more, filter the results using options such as File Status, File Type, Date Modified, and File Size on the top toolbar. You can also use the search bar on the top right.
Step 5: Note that you can preview the files before restoring them. Once you’re positive that it’s the file you’re looking for, click Restore.
Part 2. How To Recover Deleted Files From SD Card With Disk Drill
Disk Drill is another tool to recover deleted files from an SD card with Mac. Known for its simple interface and effective recovery rate, Disk Drill works well with various file types and recovery scenarios, including accidental deletion, formatting, and lost partitions.
Step 1: Download and install Disk Drill on your Mac. Once installed, launch the application.
Step 2: Make sure the Mac recognizes the SD card as an external device using a card reader slot or an external card reader.
Step 3: In Disk Drill, select the SD card from the list of available drives. Click Search for lost data to start scanning.
Step 4: After scanning, Disk Drill will display a list of recoverable files. Review the list, select the files you want to restore, and click Recover to save them to a secure location on your Mac.
Part 3. How To Recover Deleted Files From SD Card With PhotoRec
PhotoRec is a free, open-source data recovery tool to retrieve deleted files from various storage devices, including SD cards. It’s known for its powerful recovery capabilities, especially with media files like photos and videos. Although PhotoRec uses a command-line interface, it’s still effective and accessible for users who need a straightforward recovery solution.
Step 1: Downloading PhotoRec from its official website. The software comes bundled with TestDisk, so once downloaded, unzip the folder and open the program.
Step 2: Open PhotoRec and choose the SD card from the list of detected storage devices. This list may also show your internal drives, so make sure to select the correct one.
Step 3: Next, choose the file system type of the SD card. For most SD cards, the FAT or FAT32 option works well. Then, decide if you want PhotoRec to search the entire card or only the unallocated space.
Step 4: Set a destination folder where PhotoRec can save the recovered files. Begin the recovery process, and once it completes, you’ll find your files in the chosen folder.
Part 4. How To Recover SD Card Files Stored in Mac’s Time Machine
Time Machine is a built-in backup tool for macOS that automatically saves copies of files on an external drive, allowing users to restore previous versions if needed. If an SD card’s contents have been backed up to Time Machine, then this tool can restore deleted SD card files on Macs.
How Time Machine Works
Time Machine continuously backs up files to an external drive, so only stored files included in a previous backup can be recovered. Unlike specialized recovery tools like Wondershare Recoverit, Time Machine cannot retrieve deleted files that were never backed up from the SD card.
Limitations of Time Machine
Time Machine is limited to restoring files from existing backups. If a file wasn’t saved in a backup or deleted before a backup was created, it cannot be recovered with this method. A dedicated recovery tool may be necessary for deleted files or those not included in any backup.
Steps on How To Use Time Machine
Step 1: Attach the hard disk containing Time Machine backups to your Mac.
Step 2: Launch Time Machine by clicking the Time Machine icon in the menu bar or from System Preferences.
Step 3: Use the timeline on the right to navigate to the date when the SD card files were last backed up.
Step 4: Find the folder or files from the SD card within the backup. Select the files you want to restore.
Step 5: Click Restore to save the files back to their original location or another designated folder on your Mac.
Time Machine is a convenient option for file restoration but depends on routine backups for effectiveness.
Conclusion
Several tools are available to recover deleted files from an SD card on a Mac. Disk Drill and PhotoRec offer reliable options for basic file recovery, while Time Machine can restore previously backed-up files. However, each method has its limitations, especially for files deleted without a backup.
For the most comprehensive solution, Wondershare Recoverit stands out. With advanced scanning, high compatibility, and an impressive success rate, Recoverit covers a range of scenarios and storage devices. It’s recommended for reliable and efficient SD card recovery, ensuring a smooth experience for recovering lost data.
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