Data storage & error handling · Manual

SD Migrator stores every backup in its own folder. Nothing is overwritten or merged without your knowledge. This chapter shows you where to find your footage and what happens in the event of errors, cancellations or power failure.

How your footage is stored

On every target drive, SD Migrator creates a folder named SD-Migrator. Inside it you will find the following structure:

SD-Migrator/
  <card label>/
    2026-07-05/          recording day according to the file timestamps
      DCIM/…             only the card's DCIM folder, only files from this day
    2026-07-06/          same card, footage from the next day
    2026-07-05_2/        another run with the same recording day
  Backup/
    2026-10-16/          backup, named after the date of the backup
  .partial-<job ID>/     copy that has not yet fully completed

The device’s internal buffer (Staging) has the same structure.

One folder per recording day

Each file goes into the folder for the day on which the camera timestamped it. The device’s local time is what counts.
macOS companion files (starting with ._) go with their video file.
The camera’s index files go into the first day.
Each day folder contains its own checksum file, so every file can be verified later.
If a run contains no files, the date of the job is used.
If a folder already exists for a day, the new run is given a number, e.g. 2026-07-05_2.
Folders under Backup carry the date of the backup, not the recording date.

Caution: If your camera’s clock is set incorrectly, the footage will also end up in the wrong day folder. Correct the assignment in the day preview via Camera clocks or Time clapper. No files are moved in the process.

Folder names

The card name is adjusted for use as a folder name. The characters <>:"/\|?* and spaces are replaced with _. For example, Insta360 X5 becomes Insta360_X5.

What COPY and MOVE transfer

COPY and MOVE transfer only the card’s DCIM folder. Upper and lower case do not matter. Other folders such as MISC are not copied.
If DCIM is missing or empty, the job is cancelled with a message.
File contents, modification times and the folder structure, including empty folders, are copied.
File permissions, owners and extended file attributes are not copied.
Links, special files and embedded drives on the card result in a visible error message.

Caution: Do not modify the card while a job is running. Do not start a camera recording during COPY or MOVE.

Backup

The backup copies only the SD-Migrator folder.
If incomplete copies (.partial-… folders) are present, the backup is blocked. Check these folders yourself first.
Incomplete copies are never deleted automatically.
If a backup target fails, SD Migrator still attempts the remaining targets. However, the overall job is then considered failed.

Error handling with MOVE

If an error occurs during copying or verification, or if you cancel, MOVE deletes nothing on the card.
Before deleting, SD Migrator checks all source files in DCIM once more.
Only the files are deleted. The empty folders remain on the card.
You cannot cancel the job during the deletion phase.

Caution: If an error or power failure occurs during the deletion phase, individual files on the card may already have been deleted. Your verified copies were written completely and safely to the target beforehand.

Interrupted jobs

If the device or the software restarts, running jobs appear as Interrupted.
There is deliberately no automatic resumption and no automatic deletion. Check the status and restart the job if necessary.
When shutting down, the system waits until the current step has finished.

Progress display

Progress and speed are calculated from the amount of data already processed.
A full bar only means that the current phase is finished – not the whole job.

Tip: Wait until the job is shown as completed before removing the card or using the camera again.