How to Recover Deleted or Lost Files from SD Card on Mac?

SD cards are a popular type of non-volatile flash memory that are often used in digital cameras, camcorders, smartphones, e-readers, video game consoles, GPS devices, drones, music recording devices, and so on. They are known for their high capacity, fast read-write speeds, small size, and portability. If you want to transfer files between a Mac and an SD card, you can connect the SD card to your Mac using the SD card slot or a compatible SD card reader. However, some users have reported losing photos or videos from their SD cards.

If you find that some of your files on the SD card are missing, it’s important to stop using the SD card immediately to prevent further data loss. To recover lost files from an SD card on a Mac, follow the steps outlined in our guide below.

Part 1. What is Likely to Cause Data Loss on Your SD Card?

There are several reasons why you may experience data loss on an SD card. Some common causes include:

  • Accidental deletion: If you accidentally delete files from your SD card, they will be permanently lost unless you can recover them using data recovery software.
  • Formatting: If you accidentally format your SD card, all of the data on the card will be erased.
  • Corruption: SD cards can become corrupted if they are not properly ejected from a device or if the device is turned off while the SD card is being used. This can cause the data on the card to become inaccessible.
  • Physical damage: If your SD card is physically damaged, such as by being bent or exposed to water, it may be unable to store or retrieve data properly.

In general, it’s important to handle your SD card carefully and to make regular backups of your important files to prevent data loss.

Part 2. Try These Solutions to Recover Files from SD Card on Mac

If you have deleted or lost files on your SD card, there are a few steps you can take to try and recover them. These methods can be used with or without data recovery software, depending on your specific situation.

2.1 Recover SD card files from the Mac Trash

If you transferred files from your SD card to your Mac before deleting them, they may still be in the Trash. To recover these files, follow these steps:

  • Click the Trash icon, which is located on the far right of the Dock.
  • Look for the deleted files you want to recover to the SD card.
  • Select the files and right-click to choose “Put Back“.
  • Transfer the recovered files from the Mac to your SD card.

2.2 Use a backup to recover lost SD card files

If you have enabled Time Machine on your Mac, it should have automatically backed up your SD card. You can use Time Machine to find and recover lost files from your backup. To do this, follow these steps:

  • Connect your Time Machine backup drive to your Mac and enter your password if prompted.
  • Open a window of the folder where your SD card file was stored (optional).
  • Click the Time Machine icon at the menu bar and select “Enter Time Machine“.
  • Scroll through the backups or use the Up/Down arrows to find the file you need to recover.
  • Select the file and press the Space Bar to preview it.
  • Click the “Restore” button to recover the file to your Mac.

If you have backed up your SD card using other methods, such as iCloud Drive or third-party backup software, you can use these backups to recover lost files from your SD card.

Once you have recovered your files, it’s important to regularly back up your important files to prevent future data loss. This can be done using Time Machine or other backup methods, such as cloud storage or external hard drives.

2.3 Use SD Card Recovery Software to Get Back the Lost Files 

If you are unable to recover deleted or lost files from your SD card using the methods described above, you may be able to use SD card recovery software to recover your files. These programs are designed to scan your SD card and recover as many deleted or lost files as possible.

One such program is iBoysoft Data Recovery for Mac, which is known for its high recovery rate, fast recovery speed, and safe recovery environment. To use iBoysoft Data Recovery to recover files from your SD card on a Mac, follow these steps:

Step 1: Download and install iBoysoft Data Recovery on your Mac from the official website.

Step 2: Connect your SD card to your Mac using the SD card slot, an SD card adapter, or an external drive reader.

Step 3: Launch iBoysoft Data Recovery for Mac and select the SD card that you want to recover files from.

Step 3: Click the “Scan” button to search for lost files on the SD card.

Step 4: Once the scan is complete, all of the recoverable files will be listed. You can preview the files to find the ones you want to recover, then select them and click “Recover” to save them to a different, safe location.

Step 5: Once you have recovered all of the files you want, quit iBoysoft Data Recovery and safely eject the SD card from your Mac.

Part 3. Some SD Card Recovery Tips for Mac Users

If you have accidentally deleted a file, formatted the wrong SD card or the SD card itself seems to be malfunctioning, it’s important to take immediate action to try and recover your data. Here are some tips to help you recover data from an SD card:

  1. Stop using the SD card as soon as you realize there is a problem. Continuing to use the card can result in data overwriting and corruption, which can make it much harder to recover your files.

2. Do not reformat the SD card. If your SD card is failing and reporting errors, do not try to format it. Formatting the card will delete all of the files on it, and it may also cause compatibility issues between the card and the device it is being used with.

3. Back up your data regularly. One of the best ways to protect against data loss is to have a recent copy of your valuable data. There are many different tools available for creating data backups, and it’s a good idea to use at least one of them to create regular backups of your important files.

4. Use a high-quality SD card from a reputable manufacturer. SD cards can be prone to logical corruption or physical damage, especially if they are used in multiple devices and taken in and out frequently. Using a high-quality SD card from a reputable manufacturer can help to reduce the risk of physical failures and data loss.

5. Handle the SD card gently to prevent physical damage. SD cards are tiny, flat solid-state circuit boards and their plastic and metal parts can be easily damaged by improper handling. Abrupt ejection, excessive heat or force, splashing or immersion in water, or even scratches can cause the card to fail and compromise the safety of your data.

6. Keep the SD card in a virus-free environment. Since an SD card can be used with various digital devices, the risk of virus infection and corrupting the SD card increases. It’s important to run antivirus software on your device and avoid using the SD card with unknown devices to keep it free of viruses.

By following these tips, you can increase your chances of successfully recovering data from an SD card and protecting your valuable files from loss.

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Raj Singh
Raj Singh is a highly experienced digital marketer, SEO consultant, and content writer with over 8 years of experience in the industry.
As a content writer, Raj has a talent for crafting engaging and informative content that resonates with audiences. He has a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of SEO best practices.

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