Import safety, originals and Trash

The new selection and layout options described here require website version 1.6.0 or later. App Store 1.1 also includes these options. Keep deletion off while first checking your workflow.

What happens during an import

Easy Eject scans the selected source, plans the chosen files and copies them into a dated destination folder. It compares each saved file with a SHA-256 hash of the source and attempts to flush verified copies to storage. It checks source and destination volume identities during the run. Existing copies are reused only when their contents match; conflicting media is kept separate without overwriting it.

All media and sidecars includes visible regular files from the source, including unfamiliar files. Videos only selects recognized videos and supported companions. The independent Include camera previews setting starts on for new and existing profiles. Turn it off to skip recognized optional previews in either media mode. Recognized recording packages retain their required support tree, even when it contains thumbnails, audio, XML or unfamiliar support files. Ordinary photos outside packages are not selected, and photos, photo sidecars and unrecognized files remain on the device after optional deletion. Incomplete or ambiguous package selections stop before copying. See camera compatibility.

An error or cancellation can leave completed destination copies while remaining source files stay on the device. Partial copies are removed when an operation stops. Read the result in the import window or log rather than assuming that every file was copied or removed.

Originals stay by default

Keeping originals is the default (Keep originals is on in the profile editor). Automatic import, permanent deletion, device Trash recovery and post-import eject all start off for new profiles. Changing the selection, preview choice or layout does not by itself authorize deletion.

Use copy-only import for the first run with a new device or recording mode. Open the saved media in the intended editor, including long clips, 360 recordings and their companions. A checksum verifies copied bytes; it does not prove that an editor supports the format or that every required file was inside the selected source.

Permanent deletion of imported files

The profile editor offers Permanently delete imported videos in videos-only mode or Permanently delete imported originals for all media. It requires a separate confirmation. Eligible source files are removed directly, without Trash, after the saved batch passes verification. This cannot be undone through Easy Eject.

Deletion is limited to recognized imported media and eligible companions. Unrecognized files and device indexes are retained, even if they were copied. Previews skipped with Include camera previews off are not copied or verified, so they are not removed from the device or its Trash. Videos-only mode leaves photos and their sidecars, including those in the device's Trash. If a source or destination changes or a required safety check fails, the operation stops; inspect the result before retrying.

Do not record onto, rename or rearrange files on the card while importing. Keep valuable footage backed up independently. Some cameras maintain a database that can need recovery after computer-side deletion; check the manufacturer's workflow and leave deletion off when a complete recording structure must remain intact.

Optional previews and source cleanup

With Include camera previews off, Easy Eject skips recognized optional LRV, LRF and THM files and files in recognized preview folders. Required files inside complete structured recording packages stay included. Telemetry, captions, blackbox logs and unknown files are not discarded merely because they are small or are not playable movies.

Skipped previews remain on the device after eligible imported originals are deleted. This can leave previews without their original clip; the camera's database may also need recovery or cleanup. Use the camera's supported cleanup or formatting workflow after all wanted media is backed up. Some Studio or on-camera preview features need these files, so choose the setting for your actual editor and device.

Clean folders preserve media and dependencies

Clean layout preserves original media bytes and names. Ordinary media is brought together; collisions use Additional media groups, while structured or unfamiliar content keeps its relative folders under Camera originals. The recognized Insta360 fileinfo_list.list index is backed up under hidden .easy-eject-metadata and remains on the device. The import guide explains when to preserve the original layout instead.

Device Trash recovery

Recover and clear this device's Trash is separate and opt-in. Selected files from that device's current-user Trash are copied into Recovered Device Trash, verified, then eligible originals are removed from that Trash. It does not act on other drives' Trash. The App Store version needs a whole-card grant in addition to import-folder and destination grants.

In Videos only mode, recovery uses the same video-and-package selection as the import. Removal is limited to eligible videos and supported companions; photos, photo sidecars and unrecognized items stay in Trash, including package support files that were copied. The camera-preview choice applies here too: skipped optional previews stay in Trash. Recovery does not authorize clearing the device's entire Trash.

Ask to eject after import

In website 1.7.0, Ask to eject after import shows a native dialog. Keep Connected is the default; choose Eject Now when you have finished all desired imports. The built-in default for this option is off; new profiles can inherit your chosen import defaults.

A successful import shows Import complete. An empty selection shows No media found, including cards with only photos when Videos only is selected, or only skipped previews. Already-imported selections are verified before offering the choice. No-media describes the selected source and options, not the whole camera.

For a camera exposing multiple mounted storage sources, such as Internal and SD Card, the grouped dialog lists the sources and offers Eject Camera. They may need separate import profiles. Finish importing every source before accepting the grouped eject. Easy Eject checks the exact storage group and identities before each sequential unmount; a changed group or failed unmount stops the operation.

The dialog does not depend on Notification Center or Focus. Eject remains available in the menu and import window. Before acting, Easy Eject revalidates the source volume, physical disk and connection; disconnecting, reimporting or restarting invalidates old completion actions. Active imports and eject operations are protected.

Failed imports, unreadable cards and unavailable folders remain errors. If the selected folder is absent, a no-media result is allowed only when a readable card scan confirms there are no other ordinary files. Public App Store 1.1 includes these updated dialogs. Website 1.6.2 used notification actions; upgrade to 1.7.0 for the current dialog flow.

Before clearing or formatting a card

• Keep the Mac awake and the destination connected until the import finishes.
• Review the result and open saved files in the editor you intend to use.
• Check for recordings outside the selected source folder.
• Keep an independent backup of important media.
• Finish Lightroom and other transfers before ejecting or formatting.