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Have you ever had a heart-stopping moment when you realized your important images and photos were gone from your Mac? Don't give up! Free image recovery software can save lost images and videos and help you remember the good times. This article covers the world of free image recovery tools for Mac, showing how they work and picking out the best ones.

We'll also walk you through the recovery process step by step so you can get back the images you love. This guide focuses on how losing data makes people feel and presents the software as an answer. It also stresses how helpful the article is by stating the step-by-step guide.

What Can Mac Image Recovery Software Do?

Image recovery software can recover lost, deleted, or damaged image files from HDDs, SSDs, SD cards, USB drives, and digital cameras. These software programs use complex formulas to look through the storage media, find the lost files, and return them to their original or new location.

Free Mac image recovery software can help Mac users to recover permanently deleted images, recover lost images from formatted hard drive on Mac or export images from an inaccessible SD card to the Mac.

Free Mac Image Recovery Software

How to Choose the Best Free Image Recovery Software for Mac?

Before you look at the best free Mac image recovery software list, you should know how the software was judged. When choosing image recovery tools for your Mac, here are some essential things to keep in mind:

  • Effectiveness: The program should be good at recovering lost or deleted image files. Check the user reviews or media reviews to see if the software is a good tool for image recovery.
  • Compatibility: It should work with Mac OS X and several popular file systems on Mac computers. Most of image recovery software tools can be used on both Intel Mac and Apple silicon Mac and support APFS, HFS, ExFAT, FAT32 and NTFS file systems.
  • Ease of Use: An easy-to-use interface and navigation are necessary for smooth function, especially for non-technical users.
  • Speed: The program should be able to scan and get image files back quickly.
  • Additional Features: Extra features like examining recoverable files, selective recovery, and disk imaging can improve the user's experience.

Best 5 Free Mac Image Recovery Software

Choose the best free Mac image recovery software to help you completely recover deleted/lost images from HDD, SSD, USB flash drive, memory card, digital camera, etc.

1. Do Your Data Recovery for Mac Free

Do Your Data Recovery for Mac Free

This free Mac data recovery software supports to recover all types of lost files including images, videos, documents, audio files, emails, archives, etc. It supports to recover deleted or lost images from APFS, Mac OS Extended, ExFAT, FAT32, NTFS drive, HDD, SSD, SD card, digital camera, USB flash drive, etc. 99%+ recovery rate ensures you find all deleted/lost images and photos.

It also can help in fixing damaged SD card, mount NTFS drive on Mac, format external hard drive on Mac, etc.

Note: This freeware allows you to recover 1GG files for free, upgrade to Pro version to recover unlimited files.


2. Magoshare Data Recovery for Mac

Magoshare Data Recovery for Mac

Magoshare Data Recovery for Mac has many features, such as the ability to recover lost images. It's suitable for new and experienced users because the interface is easy to understand. Magoshare Data Recovery for Mac works with many file systems, including HFS+, FAT32, NTFS, and APFS for various storage devices. It lets users see a preview of recoverable files before starting the recovery process. It allows users to choose which images to recover. Magoshare Data Recovery for Mac also has advanced scanning algorithms that make it more likely that lost images can be found quickly.

Note: This software allows you to recover 200MB files for free, upgrade to full version to recover unlimited files.


3. PhotoRec

PhotoRec

PhotoRec is robust open-source software for recovering lost data that works on many operating systems, including Mac OS X. Even though PhotoRec has a command-line interface, it is known for being very good at recovering lost images. It can get back a lot of different image file types, like digital camera RAW, JPEG, PNG, and TIFF formats. PhotoRec scans the storage device at a low level to find lost image files based on their unique signatures and rebuild them. Even though some users might find PhotoRec's layout scary, it is a helpful tool for Mac users because it can recover lost photos.

Note: This tool is not easy-to-use. If you are not a IT pro, don’t choose it, just choose an easy-to-use tool such as Do Your Data Recovery for Mac Free to help you recover lost images.


4. TestDisk

TestDisk

Developed by the same team behind PhotoRec, TestDisk is another open-source utility for data recovery and disk repair. While TestDisk primarily works on partition recovery, it also includes features for recovering lost image files. TestDisk's command-line interface may seem daunting to newbies, but it offers advanced functionalities for experienced users. It works with many file systems and can get images back from partitions that have been damaged or formatted. Because TestDisk can get back photos even when data loss is complicated, it's a good choice for Mac users looking for free image recovery software.

Note: It requires professional skills.


5. Wondershare Recoverit for Mac

Wondershare Recoverit for Mac

Wondershare Recoverit Mac Data Recovery software is easy to use and offers complete data recovery options for Mac users, such as image recovery. A wizard-style layout walks users through the recovery process step by step, making it perfect for people just starting. Wondershare Recoverit Mac Data Recovery can retrieve images from internal and external storage media and works with several file systems. Users can also make a working recovery USB drive, which lets them return to normal even if the system doesn't start. With its easy-to-use interface and reliable performance, Wondershare Recoverit Mac Data Recovery is a helpful app for Mac users who have lost photos.

Note: This software allows you to recover 200MB files for free, upgrade to full version to recover unlimited files.

Steps to Recover Lost Images on Mac

Do Your Data Recovery for Mac Free is one of the best Mac image recovery software. Just download and install it on your Mac, then run it to help you recover deleted or lost images on Mac.

If you only want to recover images, just click Filter icon on the top right corner, then only select Images, click on OK button.

free Mac image recovery software

Step 1. Download and install Do Your Data Recovery for Mac Free on your Mac, then select the drive where you delete or lose your images to start data recovery.

free Mac image recovery software

Step 2. Click on Scan button. Then Do Your Data Recovery for Mac Free will deeply scan the drive and find all recoverable files including the images.

free Mac image recovery software

Step 3. Once the scan is completed, you can preview all images.

free Mac image recovery software

Step 4. Select the wanted images, click on Recover button. Choose a location to save the recovered images.

free Mac image recovery software

Conclusion:

Free Mac image recovery software is available, so users can recover lost or deleted photo files without spending much money. These software choices are reliable, have easy-to-use interfaces, and have advanced features that make image recovery on Mac devices work well.

People can choose the best free Mac image recovery software for their needs by looking at compatibility, ease of use, and extra features. With these tools, Mac users can be sure to get back their essential memories and keep making new ones without worrying about losing any data.

FAQs About Free Mac Image Recovery Software

1. What is the best free Mac image recover software?

Here is the list of top 5 free image recovery software:

  • Do Your Data Recovery for Mac Free
  • Magoshare Data Recovery for Mac
  • PhotoRec
  • TestDisk
  • Wondershare Recoverit for Mac

2. Is it possible to recover deleted images after emptying recycle bin?

It is easy to recover lost images with free Mac image recovery software:

  • Download and install Do Your Data Recovery for Mac Free on your Mac.
  • Open this free Mac image recovery software
  • Select the hard drive and click on Scan button.
  • Preview and recover lost images after scanning.

3. Can I recover lost photos from a disk which is erased by Disk Utility?

Yes, Do Your Data Recovery for Mac Free can help you easily unformat a hard drive and recover all lost files including lost images. Run this software to deeply scan the erased disk and it will help you find all recoverable files.

DoYourData Author

Written & Updated by Justin Kenny

Justin Kenny is a writer & editor of DoYourData. He joined DoYourData in 2016 and focuses on writing articles about Windows data recovery, Mac data recovery, external device data recovery, hard drive clone, data erasure, Mac cleanup, computer issue fixes, etc. He is a super fan of Apple devices and is big on testing new digital device and system utility software.

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