How to Recover Deleted Files from an SD Card on Mac for Free?

How to Recover Deleted Files from an SD Card on Mac for Free?

Before the storage loss makes you panic, remember, there are several ways to try and recover deleted files from an SD card for free. Some methods are straightforward, while others are more advanced. Let’s explore each approach step by step.

1. Check the Trash

One of the easiest places to start when you want to recover deleted files from an SD card on a Mac for free is to check the Trash.

However, this approach applies only in certain cases: when your SD card is exposed as a drive and when you are deleting files using Finder, the files might be found in Trash.

Please note that When you delete files from an SD card formatted with the systems like FAT32 and exFAT, macOS marks the space as available instead of sending the files to the Trash, which means these SD cards are usually deleted permanently.

Here's how to check the Trash thoroughly:

• Insert your SD card in the Mac and ensure that it appears in Finder.

• Open the Trash (Click the Trash icon in the Dock).

• Locate the lost files or folders in your SD card.

• When found, right-click to recover it(s) at the same location as it was before, or drag it to a secure location on the Mac.

Tips: Allow viewing of hidden folders: In Finder, go to “Go → Go to Folder…, type ~/.Trash”, press “Enter”. This reveals additional hidden folders that might still hold deleted files.

For anyone looking to learn how to recover deleted files from a micro SD card for free, this straightforward method is a great place to start.

2. Restore from Time Machine Backup

If you have Time Machine set up on your Mac, you may be able to restore the deleted SD card files from a previous backup. Time Machine does not automatically back up SD cards or external drives, so you must manually include the SD card in Time Machine or copy its files into a folder that is already being backed up.

This method only works if the backup was created before the files were deleted and the SD card data was included in that backup.

Steps to use Time Machine for restoring files:

• Install an external Time Machine backup drive on your Mac.

• Open Finder and go to the place where the files were stored (or mount the SD card).

• Click on the Time Machine icon in the menu bar to enter it.

• Select the files/folders that you need to restore and then select “Restore”. It will bring them back to their starting place.

• After restoring, go to “System Settings → Time Machine → Options” to ensure your SD card (or external drive) is included for automatic backups in the future.

Tips: To avoid future data loss, it’s a good idea to enable automatic Time Machine backups for your Mac and external drives. This ensures your files, including those from SD cards, are always safely stored.

3. Try 4DDiG Free SD Card Data Recovery Software

When you need a more advanced solution to recover deleted files from an SD card on your Mac for free, the free version of 4DDiG Mac Data Recovery is an excellent choice.

It’s compatible with SD cards, microSD cards, cameras, USB drives, and other external storage devices, offering a reliable way to retrieve lost data effortlessly. It also has a wide range of support for multiple file system formats, including FAT32, exFAT, APFS, HFS...

Being compatible with Mac systems, including M1, M2, and M4 chips, along with the latest macOS versions, you can use 4DDiG without restrictions.

Steps to use 4DDiG on Mac for SD card recovery:

• Launch 4DDiG once it’s installed on your computer. You can recover up to 500MB of data for free at first, and by sharing the tool on social media, you’ll get an extra 1.5GB of recovery space.

  

• Select “Hard Drive” from the left panel, then choose the drive where you lost your data. 4DDiG will start scanning and detecting recoverable files automatically.

  

• View the scan results by sorting them through file type or folder location. You can narrow down your search easily and preview any file before recovery. When ready, click “Recover” to restore it.

  

• Pick a destination folder for your recovered files and click “Save” to finish the process.

  

4. Use Terminal for Advanced Recovery

If you’re looking for a technical, free way to recover deleted files from an SD card on a Mac, you can try using Terminal.

This built-in macOS tool lets you perform low-level data operations without third-party software. However, this method doesn’t always guarantee results and should be used with caution. It only works if new data hasn’t overwritten the deleted files.

Steps to use terminal for recovering files:

• Insert the SD card and open Terminal from “Applications > Utilities > Terminal”.

• To check hidden files in the Trash folder, type “cd/Volumes/SDCard/.Trashes/UID”. This will show any hidden items that might still be there.

  

• If you spot the deleted file, move it back to your desktop with “mv filename ~/Desktop”.

  

• You can use diskutil list to identify your SD card. Avoid commands like dd unless you are very experienced, as incorrect usage can overwrite the SD card entirely.

• If you’re unsure at any step, it’s better to stop and use recovery software such as 4DDiG instead.

Notes: If you’re not comfortable using Terminal or prefer an easier method, it’s safer to use a free program to recover deleted files from an SD card, such as 4DDiG Mac Data Recovery, which provides a user-friendly interface and better recovery success rates.

How to Maximize the Success Rate for SD Card Recovery?

Recovering deleted data is not a guarantee, but you can improve your chances significantly by collecting the information on how to recover deleted files from an SD card for free. For instance:

• Stop using the SD card immediately, continue to read/write will overwrite the deleted file space.
• Save recovered files to a separate drive, not the source SD card.
• Regular backups eliminate the need for recovery and save you from data-loss stress.
• Check the files that have been restored at once to check whether they are okay.
• If the SD card is physically damaged, consider professional recovery services rather than software alone.

FAQs About Recovering Deleted Files from SD Card

Wrap Up

Accidentally deleting data from your SD card can feel disastrous, but don’t lose hope. By following the methods above, you can recover deleted files from an SD card on a Mac for free.

Among the choices, Tenorshare 4DDiG Free stands out for its perfect balance of advanced recovery power and ease of use. Download it, scan your card, and recover deleted files from the SD card on Mac for free.