Frequently asked questions

Usually. Deleting a photo, or a quick format in the camera, only clears the card's index. The photo stays on the card until something new is written over it. What to do first.

No. On a Mac, click Ignore. On Windows, click Cancel. Initialising or formatting erases the card's file table, and Data Recovery Pro can usually still read the card without it. The Mac message · The Windows message.

Yes. The app only reads the card and never writes to it, and recovered files are saved to your computer, never back to the card. How read-only scanning works.

Not in this version, on a Mac or on Windows. It scans SD, microSD and CF cards and USB drives. What's supported.

There is an early-access Windows version. It works the same way as the Mac version, with a few gaps, and hasn't been tested widely yet. What's different on Windows. There is no Linux version yet.

A Mac with macOS 13 Ventura or later, Apple silicon or Intel. Install on a Mac.

Windows 10 (version 22H2) or Windows 11, 64-bit. It uses Microsoft Edge WebView2, which is built into Windows 11. If it is missing, setup downloads it. Install on Windows.

Yes. The Windows version is built for x64 PCs, and runs on ARM PCs through Windows' built-in x64 emulation. Like the rest of the Windows version, it is in early access.

Windows shows this because the early-access setup file is not code-signed yet, so it can't confirm who made it. If you downloaded it from our download page, click More info, then Run anyway. A signed version is coming. More about the warning.

macOS only lets an app read a card directly with an administrator's permission. The password goes to macOS, not to us, and is asked for once per scan. Why the app asks.

Windows asks for permission before any app can read a card directly. Click Yes. The program it asks about, drp-helper.exe, only reads the card, and it stops when you quit the app. Windows asks once per scan. Why Windows asks.

Every scan runs both. The quick scan finds deleted files with their names on FAT16, FAT32 and exFAT cards. The deep scan reads every block of any card for photos, video, music, documents and archives. Quick scan and deep scan.

With the card's file table, any type of file, with its name. Without it, the deep scan finds more than 60 formats by their content, without names: photos and most camera RAW, video, audio, PDF, Word, Excel and PowerPoint, and ZIP, 7-Zip and RAR archives. It can't find plain text or CSV files that way. Full list.

Files found by the deep scan lose their names and folders, because those were stored in the file table that was wiped. Why names go missing.

Intact means the file decoded completely. Partly damaged means decoding failed part of the way. Not checked means there is no full check for that type, such as video or PDF. What the labels mean.

Yes. If you quit or the card is unplugged, the next scan of the same card picks up where it stopped. Resume a scan.

Yes. Recovered files are the original files from the card, at full resolution. Nothing is re-compressed, and RAW files stay RAW.

Most come back exactly as they were, but no software can promise every file. If part of a file was overwritten after it was lost, the app recovers everything that is left and marks it Partly damaged, in a folder called Needs Checking. AI repair and enhance tools in many photo apps can often improve damaged photos; try them on a copy. You see every label before you pay. Partly damaged photos.

Scanning and previewing are free, and so are the first 10 files or 100 MB. To recover the rest, pay £19, $19 or €19 once for that card. What one purchase covers.

No. It is a single payment per card, with no renewal.

Each card is a separate £19. One payment covers every file on one card, plus free re-scans of that card for 7 days.

Yes, while it is within its 7 days. Sign in inside the app on the other computer with the email you paid with. Restore a purchase.

Paddle emails a receipt when you pay. You can download invoices from your account after signing in. Invoices and VAT.

If the files you recover after paying don't open, ask within 30 days and you get your money back. Refunds.

No. You can scan, preview and pay without one. An account lets you see purchases and invoices, restore purchases and follow support tickets. Create an account.

No. Everything happens on your computer. The app goes online only for payment, your receipt, update checks and, if you sign in, your account. What leaves your computer.

Use the form on the support page. Replies come by email, and you can answer by replying. You can also click Chat with us on that page.