Easy data first
Skips rough patches, then comes back for them.
Your photos are still on that card.
Recover photos, RAW files and videos from corrupted, erased or unreadable SD cards. Read-only, so your card stays safe.
Free to scan · Version 1.0 · macOS 14 or later
How it works
Three steps to shore.
No settings. No jargon.
-
Insert the card
SD slot or any card reader. Works even when Finder can’t see it.
-
Scan & preview
Browse every photo and video it finds. Free.
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Recover & verify
Save to another drive. Every file is checked against the card.
Safe mode
One careful pass.
Then it leaves the card alone.
Failing cards get worse with every read. Safe mode copies the card once, then works from the copy.
A map of the card
See every region as it’s copied, with speed and time left.
Or go quick
Card in good shape? Scan it directly, no backup needed.
Deep Scan
Finds what the file system forgot.
Brings back deleted files and finds photos and videos by their content, even when your Mac won’t mount the card.
Cards your Mac can’t read
Damaged partition table or boot sector? It reads right past them.
Deleted files, too
Erased shots show up next to everything else.
Recognised by content
Deep Scan finds files from the data itself. No folders needed.
Preview
See it all before you recover a thing.
Real thumbnails for everything it finds. Filter, then pick what to save.
- By type: Photos, RAW, Videos, Audio, Documents
- By source: On card, Deleted, Found by Deep Scan
- By health: Intact, Uncertain, Damaged
Scanning and previewing are free.
Verified
Every file, fingerprinted.
Each recovered file is read back and checked against the card. No guessing.
VerifiedProven identical to the card.
Recovered with damageEverything the card could give. Retry any time.
FailedListed, so you know what didn’t make it.
Card Health
Should you trust this card again?
Tests the card and gives you a straight answer.
GoodWatchReplace soon
Identity
Maker, model, serial, age and speed class.
Read test
Finds slow or unreadable areas, an early sign of wear.
File system
Flags file system trouble.
History
Estimates when it was last formatted.
Honest about the limits. SD cards don’t record how many times they’ve been formatted, so Card Health won’t pretend to know.
Safety
Read-only, by design.
Every scan, backup and recovery only reads from your card.
Never writes to your card
Files are saved elsewhere. The card stays as you found it.
Backup image first
A fragile card is read once, then left alone.
Proof, not promises
Every file is verified with SHA-256.
Formats
Made for what’s in your camera bag.
The formats photographers and filmmakers actually shoot.
Photos
- JPEG
- HEIC
- PNG
RAW
- CR2
- CR3
- NEF
- ARW
- DNG
- RAF
- ORF
- RW2
Video
- MP4
- MOV
- MTS / AVCHD
Audio & documents
- WAV
- M4A
File systems
- exFAT
- FAT32
- FAT16
- FAT12
Media
- SD cards
- microSD (with adapter or reader)
- USB card readers
- USB sticks
Pricing
Scan for free.
Pay once to rescue.
See what it can recover before you spend anything.
Free
$0
Find out what’s still there.
- Scan any card
- Preview everything
- Read-only
Launch price
SD Card Rescue
$49$39one-time
Bring everything home, verified.
- Everything in Free
- Recover the files you choose
- Verified with SHA-256
- Retry damaged files from the card
No subscription. Pay once.
The rescue promise. Can’t recover your files? Full refund.
A note from the maker
I’m a photographer and videographer. When two of my own cards stopped mounting, I built the tool I wished I’d had. It got those files back. I hope it does the same for you.
Photographer & maker of SD Card Rescue
FAQ
Questions, answered.
Will it work if my Mac can’t read the card?
Often, yes. It reads the card directly, so a damaged partition table or boot sector won’t stop it. Deep Scan finds photos and videos even when the file system is wrecked.
Does it write to my card?
No. It only reads the card, and recovered files are saved somewhere else. The optional Check & Repair tool is the only thing that changes a card, and only when you run it.
What if a file is damaged?
Every file is checked and marked Verified, Recovered with damage, or Failed. You can retry damaged files from the card.
What does the free version do?
Scan your card and preview everything it finds. Recovery is a one-time $39 (launch price, normally $49).
Do I need space on another drive?
Yes, for the recovered files. Safe mode also needs room for a backup image about the size of the card. Quick mode doesn’t.
How many times has my card been formatted?
SD cards don’t keep count, so no app can know. Card Health estimates when it was last formatted and rates the card Good, Watch or Replace soon.
Is my data uploaded anywhere?
No. Everything stays on your Mac.
Does it work on SSDs and hard drives?
It’s built for SD cards, but also works with USB sticks and external drives formatted exFAT or FAT32. Mac (APFS) and Windows (NTFS) drives aren’t supported yet. SSDs erase deleted files quickly, so those usually can’t be recovered by any app.
Which Macs does it run on?
Any Mac with macOS 14 Sonoma or later.
Still wondering? Email us.
More apps
Card safe? Make sure it’s backed up.
Bring your photos home.
See what’s still on your card for free.
Free to scan · macOS 14 or later
