How to recover files from corrupted SD card on Mac?

Memory Cards
1

I need help recovering files from an SD card that seems to be corrupted. It stopped working after I removed it from my Mac without properly ejecting it. Now, my Mac won’t recognize it, and I have important photos and documents on it. What can I do to get my files back? Any advice or tools would be appreciated.

2

Try using Disk Drill for Mac to recover files from a corrupted SD card. It’s super user-friendly. First, download and install Disk Drill on your Mac. Open the program and connect the corrupted SD card. The software will scan and show recoverable files. Follow the instructions to save them.

Also, here’s an extremely useful visual guide on this topic - useful video.

3

Though Disk Drill for Mac is a great recommendation, I’ve had luck with another technique you might find useful. First, try running the built-in Disk Utility on your Mac before turning to third-party software. Sometimes, it’s a simpler fix.

  1. Open Disk Utility (you can find it in the Applications > Utilities folder).

  2. Insert the corrupted SD card into your Mac.

  3. If the SD card appears in the list, select it and click on ‘First Aid’ to attempt a repair.

On the other hand, if Disk Utility doesn’t recognize the card, you might need to access recovery via Terminal. Here’s how:

  1. Open Terminal (also found in Applications > Utilities).

  2. Type diskutil list and hit Enter. Look for your SD card in the list of devices.

  3. Once identified, you can unmount the SD card by typing diskutil unmountDisk /dev/diskX (replace ‘diskX’ with the appropriate disk number).

  4. To repair the disk, type sudo fsck_exfat -d /dev/diskX.

Remember, these steps are a bit trickier than using Disk Drill for Mac, but can sometimes be effective without needing additional software.

If both utilities fail, it might be a good idea to browse professional data recovery services. While services like Disk Drill for Mac offer good solutions, they aren’t foolproof. Sometimes handing over the SD card to experts can save your precious data. For those more advanced cases, finding a local data recovery service could be the safest route.

Lastly, to prevent this in the future, always make sure to properly eject your SD card from your Mac. A little caution can spare a lot of trouble. Good luck!

Interested? Here are some methods to fix corrupted SD card:

For more detailed steps, tips, and alternative methods, check out this comprehensive guide on recovering corrupted SD cards.

4

I’ve seen good advice here from @kakeru and @andarilhonoturno, especially with Disk Drill for Mac and using Disk Utility. However, before diving into Disk Drill—which is great but may cost you—there’s one thing you might wanna try which involves just a tiny bit of tech wizardry.

Instead of jumping straight to those options, try testing the SD card with another device first, like a different computer or a camera. It may sound basic, but sometimes the corrupted card works elsewhere.

After that, if you’re still facing issues, you might consider trying Photorec, a free and open-source tool. It’s text-based but highly effective. You’ll need to download it from the TestDisk website. Though it isn’t as user-friendly as Disk Drill, it’s free and can be a lifesaver. Here’s how you use it:

  1. Download Photorec along with TestDisk.
  2. Unzip the file and open Terminal.
  3. Navigate to the directory with the ‘cd’ command.
  4. Run Photorec. It will scan and potentially recover files.

Now, if you get into Disk Drill, remember you’re looking at a very user-friendly UI but also, be aware it’s paid software. The free version limits the amount of data you can recover, so be prepared for that.

Pros and Cons of Disk Drill for Mac:

Pros:

  1. Easy-to-use interface.
  2. Supports various file systems.
  3. Preview before recovering.

Cons:

  1. Limited data recovery in free version.
  2. Costs can add up.

Competitors like PhotoRec or Stellar Data Recovery have also shown good results without the hefty price tags, though with less slick interfaces. It’s always about weighing the cost versus the need.

And finally, if stuff really hits the fan, professional data recovery services are your last resort, but they can be quite pricy.

For future peace of mind, consider enabling Time Machine backups or using Cloud Storage solutions. Prevention, as tedious as it sounds, really is better than any cure. Good luck!