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 and recover up to 100 photos at full size on this Mac before you decide whether to buy.
Start free
Recover up to 100 photos free
Scan and review without an account or payment. Recover up to 100 photos at full size on this Mac, across all cards. Your free count stays with this Mac across relaunches. There is no time limit.
Download and recover freeVersion 1.8.0 · build 20. 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
A one-time lifetime license gives you recovery without the free count limit, plus Quick Look, Open, and Export Raw Image on two of your own Macs. Every future update is included. No subscription, auto-renewal, tiers, or add-ons.
$50.00
Two personal Macs. Lifetime license. All future updates to this app.
Browse the results with filters, photo tiles, and a focused photo inspector. Demonstration images. No customer photos.
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
Choose a folder on your Mac or another drive for your free or licensed recovery. 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
Recover free or buy once
Free, with no account
- Download and install
- Scan, pause, resume, and reopen saved scans
- Small thumbnails, file checks, search, and filters
- Recover up to 100 photos at full size on this Mac across all cards, with no time limit
Included with a license
- Recover supported photos at full size without the free count limit
- Use Quick Look, Open, and Export Raw Image
- Connect two personal Macs
- Receive future updates to The Recoverinator
Only successfully saved photos count toward the 100 free recoveries. You never have to scan before you buy. A license lifts the free limit, but 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.
How do the 100 free recoveries work?
Each unactivated Mac can recover up to 100 photos at full size across all cards. Only photos the app successfully saves count. The total stays with this Mac across relaunches and has no time limit. Quick Look, Open, Export Raw Image, and further recoveries require a license.
Does “Looks intact” guarantee recovery?
No. Looks intact means the file structure appears complete, which is a good sign. It does not check every pixel, so it cannot 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