How to Recover Files from SD Card Free [Windows & Mac]

Is It Possible to Recover Files from SD Card?

Different from deleting files from internal hard drive, when you delete files from an SD card, they don’t go to the Recycle Bin (Windows) or Trash (Mac) like files on your computer’s internal drive. Windows/macOS Recycle Bin/Trash only manages files on internal drives. External storage devices (SD cards, USB drives) bypass this system to save space and ensure cross-device compatibility (e.g., cameras, phones). Is it possible to recover files from an SD card? Yes, it is totally possible with proper methods.

How to Recover Files from SD Card Free on Mac?

Recovering deleted files from an SD card on Mac doesn’t always require third-party software. If you’ve previously backed up your data using Time Machine, you can try restoring them through this tool.

Step 1. Connect your SD card to your Mac using a USB card reader.

Step 2. Click on the Time Machine icon in your Mac Menu bar. Click on "Enter Time Machine".

Step 3. Navigate to your SD card’s directory. Use the arrows on the right of the screen to move backward in that directory’s timeline.

Step 4. When deleted files appear, select them and click “Restore”.

How to Recover Files from SD Card on Windows? [2 Methods]

If you are a Windows user and looking for methods to recover SD card files, check out this section.

Method 1. Recover Files From SD Card Using CMD

When your files in SD card are missing due to hidden attribute or disk error, you can try the following commands to recover them. First of all, open Command Prompt window: type “cmd”in the Search box, right click the “Command Prompt”tool in the result and choose “Run as administrator.”Once entering the window, you can enter the either command based on your situation and press Enter.

• CHKDSK command: chkdsk g: /f /r

This command fixes file system errors and recover data on G drive. If you are recovering files from corrupted SD card, it is worth trying.

• Atttibute command: attrib -h -r -s /s /d E: \*.*

This command removes the Hidden, Read-only, and System attributes from all files and folders including subdirectories on the E: drive.

Method 2. Recover SD Card using Windows File Recovery

Similarto Mac operating system, Windows also comes with its own system recovery tools such as Windows File Recovery. This app can helprecover lost files that have been deleted from your local storage device (including internal drives, external drives, and USB devices) and can’t be restored from the Recycle Bin. So, how to recover files from SD card on Windows 10, 8, 7 or even Windows 11? Just do as follow:

Step 1: Download Windows File Recovery from the Microsoft Store.

Step 2: Open Command Prompt as Administrator.

Step 3: Use the command format: winfr source-drive: destination-folder /mode /switches, for example:

winfr H:D:\test /regular (Recover recently deleted files from H: drive and saves them to D:\test folder.)

winfr H:D:\test /extensive (Deep scan the H: drive for lost files and recover files to the D:\test folder)

Method 3. Recover SD Card using Professional Data Recovery Software

While CMD commands and Windows File Recovery can resolve basic file recovery issues, they requires technical familiarity with command-line interfaces and lacks a user-friendly GUI.Besides, they cannot handle some complex data loss cases, such as virus attack, system crash, partition deletion or lost, etc.

For these challenges,especially when dealing with severe data loss, missing partition, inaccessible storagedrive, the professional data recovery software like MyRecover is the optimal solution, covering all types of deletions, logical damage, format, virus attack, system failure.

My Recover

Easily Recover Data in Windows PC & Server

• GUI interface. No technical expertise required.
• Works with HDDs, SSDs, USB drives, SD cards, and more.
• Recovers 1000+ file types (photos, videos, documents, archives, etc.).
• Handles a wide range of 500+ data loss scenarios.
• Preview files before recovering them.
• Advanced scan algorithms ensure minimal data loss.
• Allow unlimited data recovery for each operation and in total.

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Windows 11/10/8/7 & Server

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Step 1. Download and Install

Visit the official website to download MyRecover. Install and launch the software.

Step 2. Select the SD Card

Connect the SD card to your PC. In MyRecover, select the SD card drive and click "Scan".

Step 3. Scan for Lost Files

The software will perform a Quick Scan, and you are allowed to perform a Deep Scan manually when necessary to locate recoverable files. Use filters (file type, date, size) to narrow results.

Step 4. Preview and Recover

Preview recoverable files, select the ones you need, and click Recover to save them to a secure location (avoid saving to the original SD card).

Final Thoughts

As we mentioned in this article, files you delete from SD card or USB drive will directly bypass the Windows Recycle Bin or Mac Trash, which makes file recovery from SD card much harder. If you lost SD card files due to deletion, format, disk error, virus attack or other reasons, choose one method based on your actual case.

If you are a Windows user, the MyRecover can be your handy data recovery option. Itsimplifies the recovery process for all users, ensuring your precious photos, videos, and documents are safely retrieved. This powerful tool can also help recover data from computer that cannot boot up successfully using a bootable media.