Top 5 Deleted File Recovery Solutions for macOS Sequoia, Sonoma, Ventura...

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Accidentally deleting files is an unfortunate, but common occurrence that many Mac users face. Whether it's a vital document, a photo, or an important video, the loss can be frustrating. Fortunately, Mac provides several ways to recover deleted files, depending on the method used to delete them, the amount of time that has passed, and whether or not you've made any backups. In this article, we will explore various deleted file recovery methods you can use to recover deleted files on a Mac. From simple solutions like checking the Trash to more advanced options such as using Time Machine or recovery software, we will provide a step-by-step guide for every level of technical expertise.

Additionally, we'll offer preventative tips on how to protect your files in the future to reduce the risk of losing data again. Let's dive into the methods of recovering deleted files on your Mac.

About File Deletion on Mac

Before jumping into recovery methods, it's essential to understand what happens when files are deleted on a Mac. A file is not instantly removed from your hard drive when you delete it from your Mac. Rather, the system designates the area it took up as open to additional data. The deleted file stays on the device and can be recovered until new data overwrites this space.

Files can be deleted in several ways:

1. Trash: The most common method of deletion is moving files to the Trash, where they stay until you choose to empty it.
2. Command + Delete: This shortcut also sends files to the Trash.
3. Direct Deletion: Sometimes files can be deleted directly from the desktop or folders, bypassing Trash, but they still aren't immediately erased.

Files deleted from the Trash, or those deleted from your Mac before the backup was performed, may not be recoverable. In some cases, the data remains until overwritten, but once that happens, recovery becomes impossible.

Best 5 Deleted File Recovery Solutions for macOS

Don't create new files or put new files to the drive where you delete your files. Find a solution to get the deleted files back.

Solution 1: Put Back Files from Trash Bin

The first place to check when you've accidentally deleted a file is the Trash. Mac's Trash functions similarly to the Recycle Bin on Windows. It temporarily stores files that you’ve deleted until you choose to empty it, providing an opportunity to recover them.

Steps to recover files from the Trash:

1. Open the Trash: To open the Trash, click on its icon in the dock. A list of recently deleted files will be displayed to you.
2. Search for the Deleted File: To find the file or folder you wish to restore, use the Finder window's search box or browse through the Trash.
3. Restore the File: Right-click (or Control-click) the file and choose "Put Back" after you've located it. Your Mac will restore the file to its original location.

If you can't find the file in the Trash, you may want to check if the Trash was emptied automatically. This can happen when a set amount of time passes or when you've manually emptied it. Also, if you have a Mac with limited storage, it's possible the system might automatically clear the Trash to free up space.

What to do if the file isn't in the Trash:

If the file is not in the Trash, it's time to consider alternative recovery methods.

Solution 2: Use Time Machine Backup to Restore Files

It is macOS's built-in backup tool, automatically saving copies of your files, apps, and system settings. It's one of the best ways to recover lost files, provided that you have set it up beforehand.

What is Time Machine?

Time Machine creates incremental backups every hour, allowing you to restore older versions of files, entire folders, or even your entire system. It's an essential tool for Mac users who want to ensure data security.

How to Recover Files from Time Machine:

1. Open Time Machine: Click on the Time Machine icon in the menu bar at the top-right of your screen. If you don't see the icon, you can also find Time Machine in System Preferences or System Settings > General under the Time Machine section.

2. Navigate to the File's Location: Use the arrows or timeline on the right side of the Time Machine window to browse through previous versions of files.
3. Select the File to Restore: Once you find the deleted file, select it and click Restore. The file will be restored to its original location.

Limitations:

• Time Machine Must Be Enabled: Time Machine can only recover files if it has been set up and running before the deletion occurred. If you haven't set up Time Machine, this method won't be an option.
• Deleted Files in Recent Backups: If the file was deleted after the most recent backup, it won't appear in your Time Machine history.

Solution 3: Use macOS File Recovery Software

In cases where you have no backup, or the files are not available in Time Machine, file recovery software can help. These programs can scan your Mac's hard drive for deleted files and recover them before they are overwritten.

Recommended File Recovery Software:

1. Donemax Data Recovery for Mac: It can deeply scan the Mac's drive or external device and find all recoverable files including deleted/formatted and lost files.
2. Disk Drill: It offers both free and premium versions, with the ability to scan internal and external drives, recover deleted files, and support various file types.
3. EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard: This is another popular choice for Mac file recovery. EaseUS allows you to recover deleted files from any storage device, including HDDs, SSDs, and even from formatted drives.
4. Wondershare Recoverit: Recoverit is a powerful file recovery program that supports over 1,000 file types. It also offers preview capabilities, so you can ensure that you’re recovering the correct file.

How to Use File Recovery Software (Donemax Data Recovery for Mac):

1. Install and Launch the Software: Download and install the chosen recovery software - such as Donemax Data Recovery for Mac. Ensure that you install it on a different drive than the one where the lost files were located to avoid overwriting the data.
    Download for macOS
2. Select the Disk to Scan: Select the disk or partition containing the deleted files.

3. Scan for Deleted Files: Start the scan by clicking on Scan button, and the software will search for deleted files on the selected disk.

4. Preview and Recover: The program will show a list of files that can be recovered after scanning. To be sure you're recovering the correct ones, you can preview them. After that, click Recover after selecting the files you wish to restore. To prevent them from overwriting other deleted files, save them to a different directory.

Advantages of Using Recovery Software:

• Deep Scanning: These tools can perform deep scans to search for deleted files even if they are not visible in Trash or Time Machine.
• Supports Multiple File Types: They can recover a wide variety of file formats (photos, videos, documents, etc.).

Limitations:

• Overwriting Risk: If a file has already been overwritten by new data, it will be lost for good.
• Cost: Many recovery tools have a free version with limited capabilities, but to recover larger files or perform deep scans, you may need to purchase the premium version.

Solution 4: Recover Files from iCloud

If you use iCloud to store files, you may be able to recover deleted documents directly from your iCloud account. iCloud provides cloud-based storage that syncs your files across all your Apple devices. When you delete a file on your Mac, it might still be available on iCloud for recovery.

Steps to Recover Deleted Files from iCloud:

1. Go to iCloud.com: Open your web browser and go to iCloud.com.
2. Sign in with your Apple ID
3. Access iCloud Drive: Click on the iCloud Drive app. If you've deleted a file recently, it might be available in this folder.
4. Check Recently Deleted Folder: If you don't find the file in iCloud Drive, check the Recently Deleted folder, which stores deleted items for 30 days.
5. Restore the File: Select the file and click Recover to restore it to its original location.

Recovering Files Using Finder on Mac:

• Open Finder and go to iCloud Drive.
• Look for the Recently Deleted section.
• Select the file and restore it by right-clicking and selecting Put Back.

Limitations of iCloud Recovery:

• Files in Recently Deleted Folder: Files are only kept in the Recently Deleted folder for 30 days.
• iCloud Storage Limits: If your iCloud storage is full, some files may not have been synced and, therefore, may not be recoverable.

Solution 5: Recover Files Using Terminal

For more advanced users, the Terminal application on macOS offers several commands that might help recover deleted files. Terminal is a powerful command-line tool that can be used to access macOS system features that aren’t available through the standard graphical interface.

Using Terminal for Recovery:

1. Open Terminal: Go to Applications > Utilities > Terminal.

2. Use fsck Command: If you suspect disk corruption, you can run the fsck (file system consistency check) command to repair it. Type:

   sudo fsck_hfs -fy /dev/disk6s1

   Replace disk6s1 with your actual disk name. This command checks and repairs file systems.

3. Search for Deleted Files: You can use commands like find or grep to search for files in directories. However, this is more of an advanced procedure and requires understanding how your file system works.

Limitations:

• Terminal commands do not guarantee recovery, and the process is only recommended for experienced users.
• Without specialized software or backups, recovering deleted files through Terminal is challenging.

Prevent Future Data Loss on Mac

Prevention is always better than recovery. To avoid the heartache of losing files in the future, consider the following tips:

1. Enable Time Machine: Set up Time Machine to back up your Mac automatically. It's easy to use and can save you from data loss in most situations.
2. Use Cloud Storage: With iCloud, you can ensure that documents are saved to your Apple account and can be accessed from multiple devices.
3. Use Third-Party Backup Tools: Tools like Donemax Disk Clone for Mac and Carbonite provide additional backup options, ensuring your data is stored offsite and safe from hardware failure.
4. Encrypt Your Files: Enable FileVault to encrypt your files. In the event that your Mac is stolen or lost, this provides an additional degree of protection.

Best Practices:

• Regularly check and clean your Trash.
• Create frequent backups of essential files.
• Consider setting up a redundancy system with multiple backup tools.

Conclusion

Losing important files on your Mac doesn't have to be the end of the world. With the methods outlined in this article, you have several options to recover your data, from checking the Trash to using advanced recovery software or Time Machine backups. However, recovery success depends on how quickly you act and whether or not the data has been overwritten. Moving forward, it's crucial to use preventive methods such as regular backups with Time Machine, cloud storage, and third-party tools. By complying these steps, you can ensure that your data remains safe and recoverable, minimizing the risk of permanent data loss in the future.

FAQs About Deleted File Recovery on Mac

1. Is it possible to recover deleted files on Mac?

Yes, here are best 5 deleted file recovery solutions for undeleting files on Mac:

• Trash bin recovery: put back deleted items via trash bin.
• Time Machine recovery: restore lost files from Time Machine backup.
• iCloud Recovery: recover deleted files via iCloud backup or checking Recently Deleted folder.
• Data Recovery Software: recover permanently deleted files by using reliable Mac data recovery software.
• Terminal File Recovery: repair disk and recover disappeared files by using Terminal commands.

2. How to recover deleted files with data recovery software?

It is easy to recover deleted files with data recovery software:

• Download and install Donemax Data Recovery for Mac.
• Open this Mac data recovery software, select the drive where you delete the files.
• Click on Scan button.
• Preview and recover deleted files after scanning.

3. What is the best deleted file recovery software for macOS?

Here is the list of top 5 deleted file recovery software:

• Donemax Data Recovery for Mac
• Disk Drill
• Do Your Data Recovery for Mac
• PhotoRec
• Stellar Data Recovery for Mac

4. How to prevent deleted file recovery on Mac?

To permanently delete sensitive data on Mac, you should use file shredder software - such as Donemax Data Eraser for Mac to shred the files, making data recovery be impossible.

5. Is it possible to recover deleted files from a formatted drive on Mac?

Yes, you can use Mac data recovery software - such as Donemax Data Recovery for Mac to deeply scan the formatted drive and find all recoverable files, including the deleted/formatted/lost files.