Where DJI Avata 2 files go and how to get them to your Mac

The DJI Avata 2 stores video and photos on a microSD card inside the drone. To move those files to your Mac, you remove the card, insert it into a card reader connected to your Mac, and copy the files over. The process takes about five minutes once you have the right hardware. You do not need special software — your Mac's Finder handles the transfer like any other external drive.

The files themselves are large. A single 4K video clip can be 500 MB to 1 GB depending on length and bitrate. If you plan to edit footage, budget for storage space on your Mac or an external drive before you start moving files around.

Key Takeaways

  • The DJI Avata 2 records to a microSD card that you physically remove from the drone and read on your Mac using a card reader.
  • You need a USB card reader that accepts microSD cards — most modern Macs do not have a built-in SD card slot.
  • Files appear in Finder once the card is connected, and you copy them the same way you would copy files from any external drive.
  • Video files are in MP4 format and photos are in JPG; both open directly in Mac apps without conversion.

What hardware you need to read the card on a Mac

Your Mac needs a way to read the microSD card. Most modern MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, and Mac mini models do not have an SD card slot built in. You will need a USB card reader — a small device that plugs into a USB-A or USB-C port on your Mac and accepts a microSD card.

A basic USB-C card reader costs $10 to $20 and works with any Mac with a USB-C port. If your Mac has only USB-A ports (older models), look for a USB-A card reader instead. Some readers accept both microSD and full-size SD cards, which is useful if you work with other cameras, but for the Avata 2 you only need microSD support.

Do not buy a card reader labeled "for iPhone" — those use a different connector. Look for one that explicitly says it works with Mac or lists USB-C or USB-A compatibility.

Steps to remove the card from your Avata 2 and connect it

Power off the drone completely before you touch the card. Open the battery compartment on the bottom of the Avata 2 — it is the panel that slides out. Behind or near the battery, you will see a small microSD card slot. The card sits in the slot at an angle.

Push the card gently inward until you hear a click. It will pop out slightly. Pull it the rest of the way out by hand. The card is tiny — about the size of a fingernail — so set it somewhere you will not lose it.

Plug your card reader into a USB port on your Mac. Insert the microSD card into the reader. Your Mac should recognize the card within a few seconds. Open Finder and look in the sidebar under Locations — you will see the card listed as a removable drive, usually labeled something like "Untitled" or with the card's brand name.

How to copy video and photo files to your Mac

Click the card's name in the Finder sidebar to open it. You will see folders inside. The DJI Avata 2 organizes files in a folder structure: look for a folder called DCIM or similar. Inside that folder, you will find subfolders with names like 100MEDIA. Open those folders until you see the actual video and photo files.

Video files end in .MP4. Photo files end in .JPG. Select the files you want to copy — you can click one, then hold Shift and click another to select a range, or hold Command and click individual files to pick and choose.

Drag the selected files to a folder on your Mac, or right-click and choose Copy, then navigate to where you want them and Paste. Copying is faster than moving if your card reader is slow — you can delete the originals from the card later once you confirm the copies worked.

Wait for the copy to finish. Large video files may take a minute or two. Do not unplug the card reader until the Finder window shows that the copy is complete and the progress bar has disappeared.

Safely removing the card and what to do next

Before you unplug the card reader, eject the card from your Mac. In Finder, find the card in the sidebar, right-click it, and choose Eject. Wait for the name to disappear from the sidebar — this tells you the Mac has finished writing to the card and it is safe to remove.

Unplug the card reader from your Mac. Remove the microSD card from the reader and reinsert it into the Avata 2 the same way you removed it — push it in until it clicks. Close the battery compartment.

The video and photo files on your Mac are now ready to view or edit. They open in the default Mac apps — QuickTime plays MP4 video, and Preview opens JPG photos. If you use video editing software like Final Cut Pro or DaVinci Resolve, you can import the MP4 files directly into those programs.

Troubleshooting when the card does not appear on your Mac

If you plug in the card reader and nothing shows up in Finder, try these steps in order. First, unplug the reader, wait 10 seconds, and plug it back in. Sometimes the Mac needs a moment to recognize new hardware.

If that does not work, open Disk Utility (search for it in Spotlight by pressing Command-Space and typing "Disk Utility"). Look in the left sidebar for the card reader or card. If you see it listed but it does not appear in Finder, click it and then click the Mount button at the top. This tells your Mac to make the card readable.

If the card does not appear anywhere in Disk Utility, the card reader may be broken or the card itself may be damaged. Try the card reader with a different microSD card if you have one. If a different card works, the Avata 2's card may need to be replaced. If no card works in the reader, the reader itself is faulty and you will need a different one.

Backing up your files so you do not lose footage

Video from the Avata 2 is often worth keeping — it may be footage you want to edit, or memories you do not want to lose. Once the files are on your Mac, make a backup copy. The simplest way is to copy the same files to an external hard drive or USB stick.

If you use Time Machine (Apple's built-in backup tool), your Avata 2 files will be included in those backups automatically once they are on your Mac. You do not need to do anything extra — just make sure Time Machine is turned on in System Settings.

For important footage, consider keeping three copies: one on your Mac, one on an external drive at home, and one in cloud storage like iCloud Drive or Google Drive. This sounds like overkill, but a single hard drive failure can wipe out months of flying.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use my Mac's USB-C port directly without a card reader?

No. The Avata 2's microSD card is too small to connect directly. You must use a card reader. Some newer Macs have an SD card slot (certain Mac minis and Mac Studios), but the Avata 2 uses microSD, which is smaller, so you still need a reader.

What if my card reader is USB-A but my Mac only has USB-C ports?

You need a USB-A to USB-C adapter, which costs $10 to $15. Plug the adapter into your Mac's USB-C port, then plug the USB-A card reader into the adapter. This works but is slower than a native USB-C reader.

Do I have to delete files from the card after copying them to my Mac?

No, but you should eventually. The card has limited storage — a 64 GB card fills up after a few flights. Once you confirm the files copied correctly to your Mac and you have a backup, you can delete them from the card to make room for new footage. Format the card in the Avata 2 itself rather than on your Mac.

Will the video files play in QuickTime or do I need special software?

QuickTime plays the MP4 files natively. You do not need to install anything. If you want to edit the footage, Final Cut Pro, Adobe Premiere, or DaVinci Resolve all accept MP4 files directly.

Can I transfer files wirelessly instead of using a card reader?

Not directly from the card. The Avata 2 does not have built-in WiFi file transfer. You must physically remove the card and use a reader. Some users use the DJI Fly app to view footage on their phone, but to get files to a Mac, the card reader is the standard method.