SD Card Recovery Mac: Top 5 Ways to Recover SD Card Easily

To recover deleted files from the SD card on Mac, you should check the Trash can, Time Machine backups, iCloud backups, or other third-party SD card recovery software like EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard, TestDisk, and PhotoRec.

SD cards are widely used in cameras, dash-cameras, and drones, mainly to store pictures and videos. However, the problem of SD card data deletion is very frequent, whether accidental or intentional. It's totally possible to recover deleted files from an SD card on a Mac.

💡So, why is Mac SD card recovery possible? 

When an SD card is formatted or encounters unexpected data loss, the data itself will not be erased from the card immediately. Instead, the file system removes the index pointers (metadata) that link the data to the file system. Professional recovery software like EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard, TestDisk, or PhotoRec can scan the SD card to locate these "orphaned" data fragments and rebuild the file structure.

As long as new data is not written to the SD card, the original data remains intact and can be recovered. In this passage, we'll discuss the 5 best SD card recovery methods on Mac. Try to learn more about these possible SD card recovery solutions from the following table:

Workable Data Loss Scenarios	Recovery Plans	Beginner Friendly	Success Rate	Time
SD card deletion on Mac/ other devices SD card formatting SD card partition lost SD card becomes RAW SD card corruption or crash	🏅EaseUS SD card recovery tool	✅	High	10 Mins
SD card deletion on Mac	Recover from Trash	✅	Low	1 Mins
All SD card data loss situations (Need to back up the SD card with Time Machine in advance)	Recover from Time Machine	✅	High	15 Mins
SD card photo/video deletion (Photos & videos have been uploaded to iCloud)	Recover from iCloud	✅	Medium	15 Mins
SD card partition lost SD card becomes RAW	TestDisk & PhotoRec	❌	Medium	20 Mins

Mac SD Card Data Recovery Tips 

If you don't want to completely lose your hundreds or thousands of pictures and raw footage, you need to take the following steps immediately after this problem occurs.

• 🚫Stop using the SD card instantly. If you accidentally delete your SD card while using your digital camera, stop taking photos and videos as soon as possible. This is because the newly written data will overwrite the original deleted files, resulting in data not being recovered.
• 💽Remove the SD card from the device. Remove the SD card from your camera or other device so that no new data can be written. Keep in mind that the less you use the memory card, the higher the chance you get data back from the SD card. 
• ✅Recover deleted files from the SD card properly. First, connect the SD card to your Mac with a legitimate card reader. Then, follow the methods in this tutorial to restore lost files. If the data is permanently lost, you should use a specialized SD card recovery software for Mac to recover the SD card. 

Before proceeding with the recovery tutorials, it is helpful to understand what factors influence the success rate of SD card data recovery. Here's an infographic that can help you learn better.

So, it's possible to recover deleted files from the SD card after data loss, and this tutorial explains step-by-step guides to help you recover deleted files from the SD card on a Mac.

Method 1. Mac SD Card Recovery Software Free Download

Recommended Rate	Highlights
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	Support most SD card brands and recover 1000+ file types

Generally speaking, when you are searching for how to recover data deleted from an SD card on a Mac, you have lost your data without any available backups. In this case, you need a professional Mac SD card data recovery program like EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac to help you out.

This excellent SD card recovery software is a great lifesaver for unintentionally deleted files. It provides a high recovery rate and a user-friendly graphical user interface. With advanced recovery algorithms, this tool can find lost data due to accidental deletion and even recover a formatted SD card.

Most users who use an SD card or microSD card as a storage device may use digital cameras, action cameras, and other devices. Most files in the SD card are pictures and videos, and EaseUS card recovery can recover deleted photos from the SD card on a Mac in simple steps.

Free download this SD card data recovery tool for Mac and follow the detailed steps below to retrieve lost data from your SD card:

Step 1. Carefully connect the SD card to your Mac device and launch the EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac. Choose "SD card" from the left panel and click "Search for lost files." You can choose the specific brand if this SD card is from a camera.

🚩Note: The SD card scanning only runs locally, EaseUS will not upload your files on the SD card to the cloud or save any copies, your data will be safe.

Step 2. During or after the SD card scanning, you will see all the file types found on the left panel. You can also type the file name in the search bar to better locate your files.

Step 3. Double-click the eye icon to preview the files you want to recover. Then, click the "Recover" button to retrieve your files. Remember to save your files to a different location to avoid data overwriting.

You can watch this video tutorial instead and follow suit.

• 00:27 Why Your Files Are Gone on Your SD Card
• 00:58 Powerful SD Card Data Recovery Software Introduction
• 02:40 Step-by-Step Guide on How to Perform SD Card Recovery

EaseUS Mac file recovery software provides a free version that allows users to recover 2GB of data without cost. If your missing files are small, such as small documents, you can use this free data recovery software for Mac to restore lost files for free.

Here are some reviews from EaseUS' customers:

🗒️Reviews

Have had to use the Data Recovery Wizard a few times now when I've had memory card issues and most recently external drive issues.... saved me from a lot of headaches with/ lost photos/videos. from Trustpilot I lost all of my files from my SD card and tried numerous software programs to recover them. EaseUS was the only one that recovered all of my files in the shortest time. Keep up the good work! from Trustpilot

If you found this Mac SD card recovery tool helpful, share it with your friends on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram! Continue checking the following methods to recover deleted files from SD cards on a Mac for free.

Method 2. Recover Deleted Files SD Card Mac from Trash Folder

Recommended Rate	Highlights
⭐⭐⭐	A fast way to bring back deleted files from SD cards on a Mac, it only needs a few clicks

The SD card has a hidden Trash folder to keep temporarily deleted files. You can connect the SD card to the Mac and then restore data from the Trash folder. Here are the steps:

Step 1. Open Finder on the Mac and go to the SD card's root folder.

Step 2. Press the Command + Shift + Dot keys to show the hidden .Trashes folder.

Step 3. Open the folder and find your deleted files on the SD card.

Step 4. Right-click the files you want and choose Put Back to restore them.

Method 3. Recover Files from SD Card on Mac Using Time Machine

Recommended Rate	Highlights
⭐⭐⭐⭐	Available Time Machine backups can help you recover any files at any time.

Another useful way to get back your deleted files from an SD card for free is by using Time Machine backups. Time Machine is a built-in backup and restore application that works with all the latest macOS versions. When you enable it, it automatically creates backups of all your files, including apps, documents, music, and photos, just to name a few, so you can easily restore them if you need them in the future.

To restore deleted files with Time Machine, follow these steps:

Step 1. Launch Time Machine on your Mac to view Time Machine backups.

Step 2. Select the backup version that contains your lost files. 

Step 3. Find the files you want to recover and click the "Restore" button.

Method 4. Perform SD Card Recovery Mac for Free via iCloud

Recommended Rate	Highlights
⭐⭐⭐	Restore deleted photos and videos from iCloud to Mac, iPhone, and iPad

If you have imported digital camera photos and videos to iPhone, iPad, or Mac's Photos app and also enabled iCloud sync, you might find available files from iCloud. This method is particularly effective for photos, videos, and documents that were backed up to iCloud before deletion.​ Check the following tutorial and have a try:

Step 1. Visit the iCloud website and sign in with your Apple ID.

Step 2. Click the Photos app or iCloud Drive to view more.

Step 3. Check the "Recently Deleted" folder, select the photos or videos you wish to recover, and click "Recover."​

⚠️Note: Files remain in "Recently Deleted" for 30 days before permanent deletion. If the files are permanently deleted from iCloud, it's better to scan the SD card with a professional memory card recovery tool on Mac.

Method 5. Use Free SD Card Recovery Software for Mac

Recommended Rate	Highlights
⭐⭐⭐	Best for corrupted SD cards, recovers lost partitions, and rebuilds the partition table.

Besides professional SD card data recovery tools with a graphic user interface, like EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac, there are some available command-line interface open source recovery software, like TestDisk and PhotoRec.

1️⃣Use TestDisk to Recover SD Card on Mac for Free

TestDisk is a free and open-source file recovery software application created by Christophe Grenier. Its main purpose is to recover lost partitions and fix boot issues. But it can be used to recover deleted files. Follow the steps here:

Step 1. Open Terminal on your Mac. Type the following command and hit Enter:

Step 2. Choose "No Log" and press Enter.

Step 3. Now, choose the hard disk (SD card) from which you want to recover data and tap on Enter again. You can hit P to choose the partition you want to scan.

Step 4. Press "Enter" after selecting "EFI GPT" for a newer Apple Mac model or Mac for an older Mac.

Step 5. Choose "Analyze" and press "Enter" to launch a Quick Scan.

Step 6. Now, you will see a list of missing files. Click "C" to copy, then pick the destination by hitting "Y.

Using Testdisk can get your file back, but it is time-consuming. To restore lost files from an SD card ASAP, try EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac:

2️⃣Recover Deleted Files from SD Card on Mac with PhotoRec

PhotoRec is a free digital photo recovery tool. It specializes in recovering lost images from hard drives, memory cards, USB flash drives, CD-ROMs, and other storage devices. You can try this tool to recover a formatted SD card on a Mac for free like this:

Step 1. Open Terminal, type the following command, and hit Enter. PhotoRec will start scanning automatically.

Step 2. Choose the device from which you want to recover lost data. Here, you need to choose your SD card. Next, you need to identify the file structure used by the device.

Step 3. Now, choose a folder where your recovered files will be saved. Then, PhotoRec will start searching for your files. When the scanning is done, you will see all the recovered files stored at the location you chose.

You can share all these five methods on social media and help more SD card users!

How to Avoid Data Loss on an SD Card

There are many reasons that can lead to SD card file loss, and here are some common causes. Read on.

• 🛠️Accidentally formatted SD card: You may have formatted your SD card by accident because you are using the wrong card.
• 😞Unintentionally deleted files: You may also have dragged your files to the Trash and then emptied the Trash bin.
• 🗃️Physically damaged SD card: Your SD card is damaged due to wear and tear or external forces.
• 🦠 Unpredictable malware infection: Your device may be attacked by a virus or some unknown malware, so your critical files are gone.

You can also follow the tips below to avoid SD card data loss.

• Make your data files backup regularly
• Remove the SD card from the Mac safely
• Don't remove the SD card during the data transfer
• Don't eject the SD memory card when your Mac is in sleep mode
• Know about the symptoms of a damaged or corrupted SD card to avoid data loss
• Data Protection in advance is the best recovery solution

Use the unique SD card data protection of EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac to keep your files safe and intact. It keeps your valuable data protected from accidental deletion. EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac keeps a detailed record of protected files when they are deleted for later recovery. If you want to get the data back, simply check the protected files section in the interface, choose from the list, and recover.

SD Card Data Recovery Mac FAQs

If you still have questions about Mac SD card data recovery, you can read the questions and answers below.

1. How do I fix an unreadable SD card on my Mac?

To fix Mac not recognizing SD card error

1. 1. Check the Mac System
2. 2. Check the File System
3. 3. Repair with Disk Utility
4. 4. Initialize Disk

2. How do I recover photos from a corrupted SD card on a Mac?

To recover deleted photos from an SD card on a Mac:

1. 1. Download and install EaseUS SD card recovery software.
2. 2. Connect the SD card to your Mac.
3. 3. Launch the program and select the SD card.
4. 4. Hit the Scan button to start scanning for deleted pictures.
5. 5. Select the photos from the list of recoverable files and click Recover Now.

3. How to recover a Mac SD card using the Time Machine?

1. 1. Connect the SD card and open the lost file folder.
2. 2. Connect the external hard disk to which your SD card was backed up.
3. 3. Open the Time Machine.
4. 4. Scroll to find the file backed up on the SD card.
5. 5. Select the file you want and click Restore.

4. How can I recover my SD card for free?

You can use the free version of EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac to recover SD files up to 1 GB. This is a great solution to recover a few lost photos.

5. What's the best data recovery software for Mac?

EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac is one of the best data recovery software for Mac users. It is a full-featured and competent data recovery tool that helps you recover lost data from an emptied Trash Bin, accidental deletion, or other causes. It can restore unlimited data in three simple steps: choose a hard drive, scan to find deleted files, and preview and recover all recoverable files.

6. How do I access my SD card on my Macbook Pro?

To access the SD card on your Macbook Pro, you can choose the Apple menu > About This Mac. Click System Report. In the Hardware section of System Information, select USB. Then, in the list of USB devices, select Internal Memory Card Reader to access information about the interface hardware and the media inserted into the SD card slot. 

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