How to Recover Deleted Videos from an SD Card on a Mac

Deleted videos from an SD card on a Mac can still be recovered with the right tools. In this guide, we cover methods to recover deleted videos using software solutions, as well as backup options. We’ve organized the content to include detailed, step-by-step instructions that cover various approaches. Follow along to restore your videos with ease.

Can You Recover Deleted Files from an SD Card on a Mac?

Yes, you can recover deleted files from an SD card on a Mac, because deleting a file doesn’t immediately erase it from the storage device. Instead, the system marks the space as available for new data. Until new data overwrites this space, the deleted files remain recoverable. However, the chance of recovery decreases as new data is written to the card.

⚠️Stop using the SD card immediately. Continuing to use the SD card after videos are deleted increases the risk of overwriting the data, making recovery more difficult or impossible.

Check Your SD Card’s Trash Folder for Deleted Videos

If you deleted your videos from an SD card on your Mac, rather than on the device where the SD card was inserted, macOS may have moved the deleted files to a hidden “.Trashes” folder on the SD card. This folder acts as a secondary Trash bin specifically for external storage devices. Recovering videos from this hidden folder can save you from more complex recovery methods.

Here’s how to access and restore your files:

1. Connect your SD card to your Mac using the built-in card reader or an external USB card reader.
2. Launch Finder file manager and navigate to the root directory of your SD card. This will display the visible files and folders on the card.
3. Press Shift + Command + . (period) to show hidden files in Finder. This command will reveal system files and folders, including the “.Trashes” folder.
4. Locate the “.Trashes” folder within your SD card’s root directory. Open it to see if your deleted videos are stored inside.
5. If you find your deleted videos in the “.Trashes” folder, drag and drop them back to your preferred location on your Mac.

📃Note. On macOS Ventura and later, revealing hidden files in Finder will not display the “.Trashes” folder. To access this folder, you will need to use a third-party file manager like muCommander, which is capable of showing hidden folders.

If you didn’t find anything in the “.Trashes” folder, don’t lose hope. You still have good chances of recovering your videos with SD card recovery software, which can scan the card for deleted files and restore them.

How to Recover Deleted Videos from an SD Card with Recovery Software

SD card recovery software provides an effective way to retrieve deleted videos from an SD card on a Mac. These tools work by scanning the SD card and locating recoverable files that haven’t yet been overwritten. In this section, we’ll walk you through the process of using two widely used recovery tools: Disk Drill and PhotoRec. Disk Drill offers an intuitive interface, while PhotoRec is a free, command-line option. Both can recover a wide range of file types, including videos.

Option 1: Use Disk Drill to Recover Deleted Videos from SD Card on a Mac

Disk Drill is a powerful tool for recovering deleted videos from an SD card on a Mac, praised for its effectiveness and ease of use. It supports a wide range of SD card types, including SD, SDHC, SDXC, and microSD cards from leading brands such as SanDisk, Verbatim, and Kingston. Whether your videos were shot on a camera, drone, or smartphone, Disk Drill can help recover them, even if the card’s file system has been damaged.

🌟Here’s why Disk Drill is a top choice in these scenarios:

• Disk Drill uses advanced scanning techniques to detect and reconstruct deleted videos, even from SD cards that have been corrupted or formatted. This includes a deep scan that thoroughly analyzes the card to locate lost data.
• This tool can recover a wide variety of video formats, including MP4, MOV, AVI, and RAW video formats often used in professional photography and videography.
• Disk Drill is widely recommended for its combination of ease of use and powerful recovery features. Its simple interface makes it accessible to beginners, while its advanced options and high recovery rates make it popular with experienced users.
• Disk Drill’s free version allows users to scan and preview recoverable files. While the free version has limitations on data recovery, it provides enough functionality to confirm the viability of recovering your lost videos before upgrading to the Pro version.

Follow the steps below to recover your deleted videos using Disk Drill:

1. Visit the official Disk Drill website and download the software. Open the downloaded file and follow the on-screen instructions to install Disk Drill on your Mac.

2. Insert your SD card into your Mac’s card reader.

3. Open Disk Drill from your Applications folder. The software will automatically detect all connected drives, including your SD card.

4. In Disk Drill’s main interface, find your SD card in the list of available drives. Select your SD card to begin the recovery process.

5. Click on the Search for lost data button. Disk Drill will initiate a thorough scan of your SD card, searching for recoverable files. The scan may take some time, depending on the size of the SD card and the amount of data it contains.

6. Once the scan completes, Disk Drill will categorize the recoverable files. Use the filter options to narrow down the results to video files. You can also preview the videos to confirm that they are intact before recovery.

7. Choose the videos you wish to recover by checking the boxes next to the file names. Preview them to confirm you are recovering the correct files.

8. Click on the Recover button after selecting the videos you want to retrieve. Choose a location on your Mac to save the recovered files. Do not save the recovered videos back to the SD card to avoid overwriting any other recoverable data.

9. Once the recovery process is complete, navigate to the location where you saved the recovered videos. Verify that the files are intact and playable.

Option 2: Use PhotoRec to Recover Deleted Videos from SD card for Free

Another popular choice for SD card recovery is PhotoRec, a free, open-source tool designed for recovering deleted files, including videos, from SD cards on a Mac. While it lacks a graphical interface, PhotoRec remains a popular option among tech-savvy users who are comfortable using the command line. It excels at recovering data from damaged or corrupted SD cards and supports a wide range of file formats, including common video formats like MP4 and MOV.

Unlike Disk Drill, PhotoRec runs entirely in the Mac Terminal, which may present a challenge for some users. However, its powerful recovery capabilities make it worth considering if you’re looking for a cost-free solution.

📝Note. PhotoRec recovers files based on their signatures rather than their original file names or locations. This means that after recovery, you’ll need to manually sift through and organize the recovered video files, which can be a tedious process.

Follow these steps to recover deleted videos with PhotoRec:

1. Visit the official PhotoRec website and download the software. PhotoRec is bundled with TestDisk, a companion tool that also aids in data recovery.

2. After downloading, extract the files to a location on your Mac.

3. Launch the Terminal application on your Mac. The terminal is located in the Utilities folder in Applications.

4. Use the cd command to navigate to the directory where you extracted PhotoRec. For example, if you extracted it to your desktop, you would type cd ~/Desktop/testdisk-7.2.

5. Type sudo photorec and press Enter. PhotoRec will open within the Terminal window, displaying a list of available drives.

6. Use the arrow keys to highlight your SD card from the list of detected drives. Press Enter to select it.

7. Highlight the partition on your SD card where the videos were stored. If you are unsure, selecting the entire card is a safe choice. Press Enter to continue.

8. PhotoRec will suggest the correct file system (e.g., FAT32). Press Enter to confirm and proceed with the scan.

9. PhotoRec will ask where to save the recovered files. Use the arrow keys to navigate to a folder on your Mac, then press C to confirm your selection.

10. After choosing the recovery location, PhotoRec will begin scanning the SD card for deleted files. The program will automatically recover and save all files it finds to the specified folder.

11. Once the recovery process finishes, navigate to the folder where you saved the recovered files. Check that the videos are intact and playable.

How to Recover Deleted Videos from an SD Card on Mac with Backups

If you have enabled Time Machine on your Mac, or if your mobile device supports iCloud backups, you should check these services to see if they contain the videos that were deleted from your SD card. Backups can provide an easy and efficient way to recover lost files without needing recovery software. Below, we outline two methods for restoring deleted videos through iCloud and Time Machine.

Option 1: iCloud Backup

Many modern devices that use SD cards have the ability to sync with iCloud, so it’s worth checking if your deleted videos were automatically backed up. If iCloud backups were enabled on your mobile device or the files were synced to iCloud Drive, recovering the videos might be possible.

Here’s how to check and restore your files using iCloud:

1. Open your web browser and go to iCloud.com. Enter your Apple ID and password to sign in.

2. Once logged in, navigate to iCloud Drive. This is where your synced files, including videos, may be stored. Browse through the folders to locate the missing videos.

3. Its also worth checking the Recently Deleted folder. iCloud stores deleted files in this folder for up to 30 days. Access this folder from the iCloud Drive interface to check if your deleted videos are available for recovery.

4. If the videos appear in the Recently Deleted folder, select them by clicking on the checkbox next to each file. Then, click on the Recover All button at the bottom of the interface. This action will restore the files to their original location in iCloud Drive.

5. Once you’ve recovered the videos to iCloud Drive, download them to your Mac. Select the recovered videos, then click the Download button to save them to your local storage.

Option 2: Time Machine Backup

If your Mac uses Time Machine backups, recovering deleted videos from your SD card is possible if the files were included in a previous backup. Time Machine provides an easy way to restore files to their original state.

Here’s how to recover deleted videos from your SD card using Time Machine:

1. Connect your Time Machine backup drive.

2. Navigate to the location on your Mac where your SD card files were stored. This folder will serve as your reference point for restoring the deleted videos.

3. Click the Time Machine icon in the menu bar and select Browse Time Machine Backups. The Time Machine interface will appear, showing a timeline of your backups.

4. Use the timeline on the right side of the screen to find a backup that contains your deleted videos. Scroll through the backups to preview the files available at each point in time.

5. Once you locate the videos, select them and click Restore. Time Machine will recover the videos to their original location on your Mac.

📃Note. If you cannot find your deleted files after trying everything, and the videos are very important, consider turning to professional data recovery services. Be prepared for potentially high costs and long wait times, but this option may be your best chance at recovering critical files.

Myths About SD Card Recovery Debunked

Several myths surround the process of recovering data from SD cards, which can lead to confusion and missed opportunities to restore important files. Let’s address and debunk some of the most common misconceptions about SD card recovery to help you approach it with accurate information.

Myth 1: Professional Recovery Services Are Always Necessary

Many believe that only professional data recovery services can recover lost data from SD cards. While professional services can help in extreme cases, most data recovery can be successfully performed with reliable recovery software like Disk Drill or PhotoRec. These tools are designed for both simple and complex recovery scenarios and often yield great results without the high cost of professional intervention.

Myth 2: Data Recovery Software Can Restore Everything

No recovery software can guarantee 100% recovery of all lost files. The success of recovery depends on several factors, including whether the files have been overwritten or if the SD card has physical damage. Using recovery software quickly after noticing data loss improves the chances, but there are no guarantees if the data has been compromised.

Myth 3: Formatted Data Is Gone Forever

Even after formatting an SD card, it’s still possible to recover data. Formatting typically only removes the directory structure, leaving the actual files on the card until they are overwritten. Recovery software can often retrieve files from a formatted SD card, as long as new data hasn’t been written to the card.

Myth 4: SD Cards Have Infinite Rewrites

SD cards have a limited number of read/write cycles. Frequent use can eventually lead to wear and tear, increasing the likelihood of data corruption or failure. It’s important to back up your data regularly and replace SD cards that show signs of wear to minimize the risk of data loss.

Conclusion

As you can see, you don’t have to be a forensic expert to recover deleted videos from an SD card on a Mac. With the right tools and methods, most users can successfully retrieve their lost files. Whether you rely on software solutions like Disk Drill or probe backup options such as iCloud and Time Machine, taking prompt action and following the correct steps will give you the best chance of recovery.

FAQ

Can You Recover Deleted Videos from an SD Card on a Mac?

Yes, you can recover deleted videos from an SD card on a Mac. Even though files may seem lost after deletion, they often remain on the card until overwritten. With the right recovery software, like Disk Drill or PhotoRec, it is possible to retrieve the deleted files as long as new data hasn’t overwritten them.

How Can You Recover Deleted Videos from an SD Card for Free?

To recover deleted videos from an SD card for free, you can use software like PhotoRec. PhotoRec is a free, open-source tool that allows you to recover deleted files without any cost. While it lacks a graphical interface, it offers powerful recovery capabilities through the command line.

How to Recover Overwritten Videos from an SD Card on a Mac?

Unfortunately, recovering overwritten videos from an SD card is typically impossible. Once new data overwrites the deleted files, the original data is lost and cannot be retrieved through recovery software. This is why it’s critical to stop using the SD card immediately after noticing video loss to avoid overwriting the files.