How to Find Missing Videos on an SD Card on Mac (Step-by-Step)

Find the AVCHD clips in Finder

1. Insert the SD card. Connect it with your Mac’s card slot or a compatible reader.
2. Open the card in Finder. Start at the card’s top folder, rather than looking only in DCIM.
3. Look for PRIVATE. Open that folder if it is present. The exact layout can vary by camera.
4. Locate AVCHD. Finder may display it as a single item instead of an ordinary folder.
5. Show the AVCHD package contents. Right click or Control click AVCHD, then choose Show Package Contents when available.
6. Open BDMV. If Finder treats BDMV as another package, use Show Package Contents again.
7. Open STREAM. This is where the individual AVCHD clips are commonly stored.
8. Copy and check the clips. Copy the files to the Mac, then open a copied clip to confirm that it contains the recording you need.

A common path is PRIVATE → AVCHD → BDMV → STREAM. Folder names and how Finder displays them depend on the camera and recording format.

Keep the original card folders intact

Before moving or deleting anything, copy the complete card folder structure to another drive if you can. Some editing software uses the surrounding AVCHD files when importing clips or joining a long recording.

Use the editor’s camera or media import option when available. Keep the card unchanged until you have checked the copied files and made a backup.

If the STREAM folder is empty or missing

Your camera may use a different recording format or store video in another folder. Check the other folders on the card and the camera’s playback screen. This AVCHD path will not apply to every camera.

If you suspect files were deleted or the card is failing, stop recording to it. Locating a package in Finder and recovering lost data are different tasks, so avoid formatting the card while you investigate.