Choose the card
The app opens removable memory cards read-only, then scans for supported still-photo formats.
Photo recovery for Mac
The Recoverinator
Recover deleted still photos from memory cards on your Mac. Scan free, review the results, then choose whether to buy.
Start free
See what the scan finds before you pay
Scanning is free, including small thumbnails, file checks, search, and filters. You don't need an account or payment details.
Download free and scanVersion 1.5.2 · build 16. macOS 13 or later. Apple Silicon and Intel.
Protect the card: stop using it, and don't format, repair, or copy anything to it until your photos are recovered.
One-time license
Buy whenever you are ready
Buy before or after scanning. A lifetime license adds full-size recovery, Quick Look, and Open. One payment. No subscription, auto-renewal, tiers, or add-ons.
$50.00
Two personal Macs. Lifetime license. All future updates to this app.
Simulated demonstration imagery; these fictional photos are not recovered customer photos. Interface captured from 1.5.1.
Before you scan
Protect the source card first
Stop taking pictures with the card. Do not format it, repair it, or copy anything onto it. Anything new saved to the card can cover photos that are still recoverable.
Read from the cardRecover to separate physical storage
A careful path through the card
How it works
Inspect the results
Small thumbnails and file checks show what the scan found and which files look complete. Search and filters help you find the ones you want.
Instructional diagram
Review thumbnails and file checks
Choose a safe destination
After purchase, choose a folder on your Mac or another drive. The app won't save to the card it's reading, or to any folder it can't confirm is on a different drive.
Instructional diagram
Memory card→Different drive
The destination must be separate storageOne app, two clear choices
Scan first or buy now
Free, with no account
- Download and install
- Scan, pause, resume, and reopen saved scans
- Small thumbnails, file checks, search, and filters
Included with a license
- Recover supported photos at full size
- Use Quick Look and Open
- Connect two personal Macs
- Receive future updates to The Recoverinator
You never have to scan before you buy. A license gives you the recovery tools, and it can't guarantee that every deleted or damaged photo will come back.
Before you begin
Requirements and supported photos
Your Mac and storage
- macOS 13 or later
- Apple Silicon or Intel
- A readable removable memory card and compatible reader
- A different drive with enough free space (your Mac's own storage works)
Still-photo formats
JPEG, PNG, HEIC and HEIF, TIFF, CR2, CR3, NEF, ARW, RAF, ORF, DNG, RW2, RWL, PEF, SRW, DCR, and ERF.
The app finds the RAW formats listed in its Guide. Whether a RAW photo shows a preview depends on the camera model and your version of macOS; recovery does not depend on the preview. Panasonic RW2 and Leica RWL files never say where their image data ends, so the app estimates it, never gives them a green check, and they may come back incomplete.
How activation works
After purchase, sign in through your browser to connect the Mac to your Twig & Olive account. There is no license key to paste. After a successful online check, the app works offline for up to 30 days. Manage connected Macs in My Apps.
Open My AppsRecovery limits
What to expect from a recovery
The Recoverinator only reads the card and never writes to it. Your photos are processed on your Mac, and the app doesn't upload them. Connecting your purchase and checking for updates use the internet.
- Photos that were written over, saved in scattered pieces, or damaged may not come back, or may come back incomplete.
- A visible thumbnail does not prove that the full original is intact.
- The app recovers supported still photos. It does not recover video or repair a card.
- If a card repeatedly disconnects, runs unusually slowly, or appears to be failing, stop and consider a professional recovery service for irreplaceable work.
Refunds
If the app can't recover the photos you bought it for
Email us within 14 days of purchase. We'll work through a reasonable troubleshooting attempt with you, using only steps that are safe for your card. If you still can't recover the photos you bought it for, we'll refund your purchase. We won't ask you to send us your photos. This works the same whether you scanned first or bought right away.
If the app recovers your photos and you no longer need it, that doesn't automatically qualify for a refund. Any rights you have under consumer protection law still apply.
Email [email protected]Questions
A few things worth knowing
Do I need to buy before I scan?
No. Download the app and scan without an account or payment. You may also buy a license first if you prefer. The same license terms apply either way.
Does a green file check guarantee recovery?
No. A green check means the file's structure looks complete, which is a good sign. It doesn't check every pixel, so it can't prove the full original survived.
Where should I save recovered photos?
Your Mac's own storage or another drive works. The app won't save to the card it's reading, or to any folder it can't confirm is on a different drive.
Does the app upload my photos?
No. Scanning and recovery happen on your Mac, and the app doesn't upload your photos. Connecting your purchase and checking for updates still need the internet.
Can I use it on Windows or recover video?
The Recoverinator runs on Macs with macOS 13 or later and recovers still photos only. It doesn't run on Windows, recover video, or repair cards.
Need the step-by-step guide?
The online guide covers installation, card safety, scanning, file checks, recovery, account setup, and troubleshooting.
Read The Recoverinator help