A problem came up with my SD card while transferring files from my camera to my Mac. By mistake, the card was formatted before everything was copied, and now it’s completely empty. Nothing has been done to the card since, to avoid overwriting any data. Is it possible to recover formatted SD card on Mac? Any advice would be really appreciated 
Noted: Tried using EaseUS and Disk Drill, but they didn’t scan the card properly and only showed files already on my Macbook Air.
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Yes, recovery may still be possible if no new data has been written. The formatted SD card’s previous file structure often remains intact. Avoid saving anything to it, and try scanning it using other SD card recovery tools if you don’t have any backups. If that fails, a professional data recovery service could help.
Here’s a video on SD card recovery that might be helpful.
It is highly possible to recover deleted files from a formatted SD card. Go and try the data recovery software first. In most cases, it is free to scan the SD card before fully recovering the deleted files.
Here is a list of best mac data recovery software you can try out:
A quick format on a camera or a Mac normally just wipes the file index, not the actual photo data. I would suggest go for Stellar Photo Recovery Mac software. This software can scan for raw file signatures like .JPG or .CR3 even after a format.
The key point is how the SD card was formatted.
1). If the formatting was a quick format, and you are sure no new data has been written to the card, it’s definitely possible to recover files from it.
Camera SD cards often use FAT32/exFAT formats, which are relatively easy to recover.
Try other Mac recovery tools to run a deep scan, and save the recovered files to your computer. (Always recover to a different drive, such as your Mac’s internal hard drive or another external disk. Do not save the recovered files back onto the original SD card.)
2). If the SD card received a full format with data overwriting, it becomes difficult or even impossible to recover the lost files.
On Mac, a full format can happen if:
(This related guide should be helpful: Recover Deleted Files from SD Cards on Mac with Free Ways )
cards <=32GB use FAT32, above that is exFAT by default
The SD association et al all mandate exFAT
Apple, Linux and Windows etc all support exFAT
Don’t worry, recovering your files is definitely possible, and your chances are very good since you didn’t use the card after formatting. When you format an SD card, the camera or computer usually just removes the file index and marks the space as available; your actual photos and videos often remain on the card itself until they get overwritten by new data.
To get your files back, you’ll need to use data recovery software on your Mac. I recommend trying a reliable data recovery tool. Just connect your SD card with a card reader, run a “Deep Scan” on it with the software, and then preview the recoverable files it finds, like this guide: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMIVja0ALhg. Most of these programs allow you to scan and preview for free, so you can check if your photos are intact before deciding to purchase.
Don’t panic! Stopping use of the card was exactly right—your data is likely still there. The software failed because your Mac isn’t recognizing the SD card and scanned your local drive instead.
First, check Disk Utility to see if the card shows up. If not, try changing the card reader or USB port. Once recognized, make sure to select “External Drive” and grant permissions in the software to scan and recover your files!
If those two programs still get stuck, try PhotoRec (completely free and powerful for photos/videos, though the command-line interface is a bit hardcore) or Data Rescue.
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