How can I recover data from a corrupted SD card on my Mac?

Data Recovery
1

Hey everyone, I need some help! My SD card got corrupted and I’m using a Mac. I had all my vacation photos and videos on it. Is there any way to recover the data? Would greatly appreciate your advice and steps to fix this. Thanks in advance!

5

Alright, seriously? Do people still store important stuff on those crappy SD cards? Anyway, if you’re dead set on recovering your vacation photos, give Disk Drill for Mac a shot. But don’t get your hopes up too high—it’s not perfect. Sometimes it works wonders, sometimes not.

Disk Drill Screenshot
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Download it and see if it can find your files. It’s got an intuitive UI, but you might get frustrated with some features being locked behind a paywall. And heads up, the recovery process can be slow as molasses.

If Disk Drill’s not cutting it, check this article out for other software options (maybe one will actually work): Article to choose the best data recovery software for macOS users. But be warned, these solutions can be hit or miss. Don’t keep your hopes too high.

4

Ugh, I feel you. Dealing with a corrupted SD card is the worst! :rage: Here’s what you could try on your Mac:

  1. Try using Disk Utility first, it’s built-in. Open it and see if you can repair the SD card.
  2. If that fails, maybe give Disk Drill for Mac a shot. It can sometimes recover data, but TBH, it’s hit or miss and kinda overpriced for what you get IMO.
  3. Always worth trying a different card reader or port just in case.

Backup your stuff next time, trust me, this sucks! :cry:

3

You might want to give Disk Drill a try. It’s a solid data recovery solution for Mac. I’ve had pretty good luck with it in the past. Here’s what you can do:

  1. Download and install Disk Drill from the official site.
  2. Connect your corrupted SD card to your Mac.
  3. Launch Disk Drill and select your SD card from the list.
  4. Click on “Recover” and it will start scanning.

It will show you a preview of the photos and videos it’s able to recover. Once you’re sure it’s grabbed everything, you can go ahead and save the recovered files to a safe location.

This review might help you get a better idea of what to expect: Independent Disk Drill Review - https://www.pandorarecovery.com/disk-drill-mac-review/

Also, in the future, make sure to safely eject your SD card before removing it from your Mac to avoid corruption. Hope you get your vacation memories back!

2

Recovering data from a corrupted SD card on a Mac is definitely possible, but it might take a bit of work. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how you can go about it:

  1. Stop Using the SD Card: This is crucial. Don’t try to save new files on it, as this might overwrite the data you want to recover.

  2. Check Disk Utility: First, go to Finder > Applications > Utilities > Disk Utility. Insert the corrupted SD card and see if it’s recognized. If it shows up, try running “First Aid” on it. This won’t recover lost files but might fix minor corruption issues.

  3. Use a Data Recovery Software: For more complicated cases, you’ll need specialized software. Disk Drill is a highly recommended option for Mac users. You can download it here: Download Disk Drill for Mac users.

    a. Install Disk Drill: Once installed, open the program and select your corrupted SD card from the list of available drives.

    b. Scan for Lost Data: Click the “Recover” button and let Disk Drill scan the SD card. This might take some time depending on the size of the card and the amount of data on it.

    c. Preview and Recover Files: After the scan is complete, you can preview the files to see what can be recovered. Select the files you want to save and hit the “Recover” button to restore them to a safe location on your Mac.

  4. Check if Files are Intact: Once recovered, check the files to ensure they aren’t corrupted. Open some of the photos and videos to see if they play or open correctly.

  5. Format and Reuse the SD Card: If you want to continue using the same SD card, make sure to format it after recovering your data. Go back to Disk Utility, select the SD card, and click “Erase.” Choose a format that works for your needs (ex: MS-DOS (FAT) for cross-platform use, or Mac OS Extended (Journaled)).

  6. Backup Regularly: Going forward, always keep backups of important data. Use cloud storage or an external drive to save a copy of your photos and videos.

Hope this helps! Let others on the forum know if this method worked for you or if you had to try something else.