Deleting any type of data in MacOS is very simple, even a permanent deletion. However, what should we do when it contains important photos, videos, documents, etc.? In this post, we will introduce all the available methods to recover deleted files on Mac without/with software. It will save your life; keep reading.
First, you can learn what happens behind the scenes when you delete files, which can help you choose the right solution faster. In a nutshell, file deletions on a Mac don't physically remove the contents but only change its status. It is done in the following two ways, and their chances of recovery are different.
It refers to using the Command + Delete keys or right-clicking to select "Move to Trash" from the menu. In addition to deleting a file from the external storage device, it will be placed in the Trash.
Note: Note: Since Mac's data protection mechanism only applies to its internal hard disk, any deletion operation on other storage devices belongs to the following type.
It is an advanced method of removing files bypassing Trash, which is accomplished by pressing Command + Option + Delete, clearing Trash, using RM commands, formatting the drive, etc. Once you use this method, macOS will remove the index information of the item from the file system root directory and mark the sectors where its metadata occupies as available for the new files.
| Data Loss Details | Recovery Chances | Recommended Solutions |
|---|---|---|
| File deleted from MacBook, iMac, Mac Mini, etc., with the Delete key or drag-n-drop to the Trash. | Higth | 2. Check Trash |
| Permanently delete or wipe data from the Macintosh. | Higth | 1. Using Time Machine (need a backup) 2. From iCloud (Synchronization needs to be set up) 4. Utilizing Data Recovery Services (Expensive) |
| Something deleted from an SD card, USB drive, or other storage devices. | Higth | 2. Utilizing Data Recovery Services (Expensive) |
| Destroy from Trash or empty Trash | Higth | 1. Using Time Machine (need a backup) 2. From iCloud (Synchronization needs to be set up) 4. Utilizing Data Recovery Services (Expensive) |
| Files wiped with a professional safe delete program | No | - |
| Images and videos deleted from the Photos app. | Higth | 1. Using Recently Deleted (Need to have been imported before) 2. Using Time Machine (need a backup) |
| Items removed by virus or trojan. | Moderate | 1. Using Time Machine (need a backup) |
| Files lost due to macOS upgrade, downgrade or reinstallation | Low | 1. Using Time Machine (need a backup) 3. Utilizing Data Recovery Services (Expensive) |
Given the above, you should know that after permanently deleting some things, the chances of successful recovery are affected by time and subsequent operations. Therefore, stop using this storage device when you realize the mistake and quickly adopt the following methods.
It is a built-in backup tool for MacOS that creates a snapshot of the selected content. So, before deleting an item, you can easily retrieve it if you have already used Time Machine.
Tip: Apart from macOS deleted file recovery, it can also restore the system to an earlier version in case of a serious failure. If you wish to do so, check out this guide on using Time Machine to back up the Mac to an external hard disk.
When there is no proper backup available, using professional data recovery software for Mac is the only feasible DIY method. These programs take advantage of the underlying principle of storing data to dig into the information of files on the hard disk that are marked as deleted, but the actual data still exists, bringing the possibility of recovery. Therefore, we recommend you try the following two efficient options.
It is a powerful and free macOS undelete tool with more than 10 years of history, and its success rate is more than 98%.
Video Tutorial:
Step-by-step guide:
First of all, please click "Free Trial" to download its installation package. Once the progress is complete, double-click the .dmg file in the download folder and drag its icon into the Applications folder on the right side of the page to complete the installation. It requires Mac OS X 10.10 and higher versions.
After launching iBeesoft Data Recovery for Mac, you will see a list of drives linked to your computer, which requires the "Storage Devices" in the sidebar to be in focus. Please select the one from which you want to retrieve something deleted, and then click the "Search for lost files" button at the bottom right corner.
Tip: To save time, click on the program name in the top menu bar and select "Preferences" to cancel unwanted file types.
After the scan is finished, you can view all recoverable files by clicking the "Type" and "Path" on the left side of the page. If you want to narrow the scope of the inspection, click on the specific format at the top right of the page. Once you have found the target file, you can also double-click on it to view its contents.
Finally, when you have finished selecting the data you want, click "Recover" and choose a location in the dialog box to save it.
Tip: iBeesoft still works if you've accidentally overwritten a document, picture, or other type of file. There's more information on how to recover replaced files on Mac.
Although TestDisk is equally powerful for dealing with permanently deleted files, its lack of a user interface causes many users to abandon it. If you try it, please follow these guidelines:
It should be the last resort for recovering permanently deleted data on a Mac. If these files are important to you, then this method is worth trying. So, you need to type "Mac data recovery near me" in Google to find a reliable service provider.
If you are using a general deletion, relying on the macOS's native functions will allow you to regain these files and is almost 100% successful. So, please try the following methods.
Mac can track your operations and allow you to undo the previous one. So, when you accidentally delete something, immediately press "Command+Z," and it will reappear on your screen.
Trash is considered a "safety net" that the Mac OS X gives users. When you delete a file or folder, it is not immediately wiped from the disk but moved here. To macOS recover deleted files, all you have to do is to open Trash, find it, right-click, and select "Put Back." It's easy!
iCloud is Apple's cloud service. If your Mac is enabled to synchronize with iCloud, then you can restore files through iCloud when they are accidentally deleted. Here are the following steps.
Bonus tip: How to set up iCloud sync on a Mac to avoid losing important files.
If you have other Apple devices, click here for more ways to set up iCloud Drive.
For users who want to recover deleted photos and videos on Mac, here comes the good news: you have one more way to find them - check the "Recently Deleted" option of the Photos app.
Sometimes, Using Terminal to recover deleted files on Mac is possible, but it requires a basic understanding of the commands. If you are happy to take on the challenge, here are the steps to do it.
It will move the files you accidentally deleted to "Trash" back to their original location.
Another possibility of losing data is wrong settings that make its status invisible. This may also make many users mistakenly think that the file was accidentally deleted. Therefore, if you clearly know that you have not permanently deleted the file(s), please try the following methods.
Overall, recovering deleted files on Mac is possible even if they are removed permanently, but the success rate depends on several factors, including the time after deletion, whether there is a backup, and whether new data overwrites it. So, please take action as soon as possible to minimize the risk of data loss.
Stop using this storage device immediately to prevent it from being overwritten. If you do not have a backup and iCloud Drive synchronization, use iBeesoft Data Recovery to recover a lost Word document on the Mac.
You can't. Currently, Recuva is only available for Windows. For this reason, you can use iBeesoft Data Recovery for Mac, TestDisk, or Disk Drill as alternatives. Among them, iBeesoft and Disk Drill are more powerful, but the free recovery is limited to 500 M. TestDisk is an open-source tool, but it is command-line based.
It depends on the way you choose. If the data was erased by formatting the hard disk, then like deletion, there will be a high chance of recovering those files as long as no new files were saved. If you are using erasure software, then this is almost impossible because these tools will erase the files while filling the area where the metadata is located with blanks to prevent the user's privacy from being leaked.
It can't. It only accesses items in the trash can. In this case, iBeesoft Data Recovery for Mac can utilize special algorithms to extract the remaining file information and achieve recovery.
No problem. As long as macOS can recognize this memory card even if it is corrupted, iBeesoft Data Recovery for Mac and TestDisk can help you retrieve its files.
Strictly speaking, there is no best option. No recovery software can guarantee the best performance in all data loss scenarios, but when it comes to choosing a tool, you can try the following popular ones:
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