How to Recover Deleted Files from a Compact Flash Card on Mac

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Written By Michael Gilmer

Michael, a content curator at File Recovery Mac, excels at simplifying complex IT concepts into easily digestible chunks. Michael's expertise lies in IT, data recovery, and all things "techy."

I’ve been using Mac products for the past 5 years and have had a great experience with them. Of course, that doesn’t mean there haven’t been times when I wish I could recover something that was accidentally deleted.

Recently, an event like this occurred to me and the question became, can I recover my data from my Compact Flash card? There are a few steps you can take to try and restore your data, even if it was an accidental deletion.

Not to worry – this article will let you know how to recover deleted files from a compact flash card on a Mac.

For those unfamiliar with digital media, flash cards are commonly used in our digital cameras and cell phones. These days, many of us are taking pictures on our cell phones rather than with a digital camera. Many of us also use our phones to store this digital media for work and personal use.

What Happens when you Accidentally Delete Files from your CF Card?

When you delete files from your Compact Flash Card, they are not actually deleted. The space that the files occupied is marked as available for new files, but the old files are still there until they are overwritten. In fact, you can still read the files that you deleted on your card after they have been overwritten.

The thing that makes this system problematic is that the Compact Flash card is not removable by any physical method. Therefore, you can only erase the information on the card by overwriting it with new data.

Is It Possible to Recover CF Card after Formatting?

Yes, you can still recover your CF card even after formatting. However, the success of the recovery depends on the condition of the card and the data that was stored on it. If the card has been formatted recently, there is a good chance that the data can be recovered.

If you are planning to recover your data, make sure that the card is not damaged in any way. Also, make sure that the device where you will save the data is connected to a steady power supply.

What Are Common Scenarios of Losing Data in CF Card?

There are a few common scenarios that can lead to losing data in a CF card. One is when the card becomes corrupted and data is lost or inaccessible.

Another is when the card is formatted accidentally or intentionally, which erases all the data on the card. There is also a scenario where you think that the data stored on the card is safe, but this is not true because the data can still be lost.

Steps to Recover Deleted Data from Compact Flash Card on Mac

If you have deleted data from a Compact Flash card on your Mac and want to recover it, there are a few steps you can take. First, try using a data recovery program to scan the card for deleted files. If that doesn’t work, you can try restoring the card from a backup. We will use EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac to recover lost data.

Please follow these steps to complete your CF Card recovery on Mac.

1. Connect your memory card to your Mac.

2. Launch EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac.

3. Select your card and click Scan to let the software search for lost files.

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4. After a quick scan and deep scan, all files will be presented in the left panel in the scan results.

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5. Select files you want to recover and click the “Recover” button. Don’t save the recoverable files to the CF Card itself in case of data overwriting.

How to Keep your Data Safe from Future Loss

Taking a proactive approach to saving your data can help you avoid any problematic situation in the future. Follow the below tips to prevent data loss on your CF card :

  • Regular Backups – A regular backup will help ensure your CF card data is safe and secure. Store your backup on a computer or other storage device for easy access.
  • Cloud Storage – Keep your CF card data safe and accessible with cloud storage.
  • Avoid Accidental Actions – Be careful when you’re working with your CF card to avoid accidental actions that could delete your photos.

Conclusion

CF cards are perfect for storing data on the go – you can keep your photos, music, and videos safe and secure, without having to worry about losing anything. However, even CF cards can experience data loss, so it’s important to have a data recovery solution in case something goes wrong. EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac is the perfect tool for recovering data from CF cards, no matter what the scenario.

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