[5 Methods] Recover Lost Data from WD External Hard Drive on Mac

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External hard drives are an essential tool for data storage, providing a reliable way to back up files, transfer data, and extend storage capacity. Western Digital (WD) is one of the most popular brands known for its high-quality external hard drives. However, data loss can still occur due to various reasons, leaving users in distress.

If you have lost important files from your WD external hard drive while using a Mac, don't panic. There are multiple methods available to help you recover lost data from a WD external hard drive on Mac efficiently. In this guide, we will cover the common causes of data loss, preliminary checks, various recovery methods, and prevention tips to ensure the safety of your files in the future.

Why Lose Data on WD External HDD or SSD?

Identifying the root cause of data loss can aid in choosing the most effective recovery technique. Some of the most frequent reasons why files disappear from a WD external hard drive on a Mac include:

1. By Mistake Deletion

Users may unconsciously remove files because they believe they are no longer required. In some cases, the files may still be in the Trash, but if the Trash has been emptied, recovery becomes necessary.

2. File System Corruption

A corrupted file system can make your external hard drive unreadable by macOS. This can happen due to various reasons.

3. Drive Formatting

Formatting a WD external hard drive erases all stored data. If the drive is formatted by mistake or to resolve an issue, recovering data becomes more complicated but still possible.

4. Virus or Malware Attacks

Though macOS is relatively secure, some malware can still infect external drives and cause data loss by encrypting, hiding, or deleting files.

5. Hardware Failure

Physical damage or drive malfunction can make data inaccessible. If the drive is making clicking noises or is not recognized by your Mac, there may be a hardware failure.

Preliminary Checks Before Recovery

Before attempting data recovery, follow these basic troubleshooting steps to check if the issue is temporary or fixable without additional software.

1. Ensure Proper Connection

• Disconnect and reconnect the WD external hard drive.
• Try using a different USB cable or port.
• If using a USB hub, connect the drive directly to the Mac.

2. Check Finder and Disk Utility

• Open Finder and check if the drive appears under "Devices."
• If not, open Disk Utility from Utilities via Applications to see if the drive is detected.
• If the drive is listed but not mounted, try clicking "Mount."

3. Restart Mac and Reset NVRAM/PRAM

• Restart your Mac and see if the drive appears.
• Reset NVRAM/PRAM by shutting down the Mac and holding Option + Command + P + R during startup.

Best 5 Methods to Recover Lost Data from WD External Drive on Mac

If your files are still missing after basic troubleshooting, try the following recovery methods.

Method 1. Restore Deleted Files of Your WD Drive from Trash

If you delete files from your WD external hard drive on your Mac and you have not emptied the trash bin, you can restore the deleted files from Trash.

Step 1. Click Trash icon on Dock.

Step 2. Find the deleted files, select them and right-click them, choose Put Back.

Method 2. Recover Using Time Machine Backup If Your Have Backed Up Your WD Drive

If you have enabled Time Machine, you may be able to restore lost files from a backup.

Steps to Restore from Time Machine:

Step 1. Attach the Mac to your Time Machine backup drive.

Step 2. Locate the folder containing your lost files by using Finder.

Step 3. Choose Browser Time Machine Backups after clicking the Time Machine symbol in the navigation bar.

Step 4. Look through earlier backups to locate the data that are missing.

Step 5. Opt the files and tap Restore.

Method 3. Recover Hidden or Lost Files Using Mac Terminal

Sometimes, files become hidden due to system errors. Terminal can be used to make hidden files visible.

Steps to Show Hidden Files:

Step 1. Open Terminal from Utilities via Applications.

Step 2. Type the below command and hit Enter:

defaults write com.apple.Finder AppleShowAllFiles TRUE; killall Finder

Step 3. Check if the missing files appear on the external hard drive.

To hide files again, enter the below command:

defaults write com.apple.Finder AppleShowAllFiles FALSE; killall Finder

You also can use third-party tool - such as DMmenu for Mac to quickly hide or unhide files on WD external hard drive.

Method 4. Use Third-Party Data Recovery Software for WD Drive Recovery on Mac

If you are unable to recover your lost files using built-in Mac tools such as Time Machine or Terminal, third-party data recovery software can be an effective solution. These applications are designed to scan your WD external hard drive for lost, deleted, or corrupted files and restore them. Many of these tools offer a free version that allows you to preview recoverable files before purchasing a full license.

How Data Recovery Software Works:

Data recovery software operates by scanning the drive at different levels:

1. Quick Scan: Searches for recently deleted files that are still intact and have not been overwritten.
2. Deep Scan: A more thorough scan that searches for file fragments and reconstructs lost files. This method takes longer but has a higher success rate.
3. Preview and Recovery: Once the scan is complete, most tools allow you to preview the recoverable files before restoring them.

Recover Lost Data from WD External Hard Drive on Mac:

Donemax Data Recovery for Mac is one of the best Mac data recovery programs. It can help you easily and completely recover deleted, formatted or inaccessible files from your WD external hard drive on Mac.

Step 1. Download and install Donemax Data Recovery for Mac, then connect your WD external hard drive to the Mac.

Step 2. Open Donemax Data Recovery for Mac, select the WD external hard drive.

Step 3. Click on Scan button to deeply scan the WD external hard drive and find all recoverable files.

Step 4. Once the scan is completed, you can preview all recoverable files. Then select the wanted files, click on Recover button to save them.

Donemax Data Recovery for Mac offers Disk Manager tool, it can help you:

• Mount WD external hard drive on Mac.
• Repair damaged WD external hard drive on Mac.
• Reformat WD external hard drive on Mac.

What to Do If Recovery Software Fails?

If no files are found using data recovery software, the issue may be due to:

• Severe drive corruption: The file system may be too damaged for software recovery.
• Overwritten data: If new files have been saved on the drive, old data may be permanently lost.
• Physical damage: If the drive has hardware failure, software recovery won't work.

In such cases, professional data recovery services may be the only option.

Using third-party software is one of the most efficient ways to recover lost files from a WD external hard drive on a Mac. By following the correct steps and choosing the right tool, you can maximize your chances of getting your data back safely.

Method 5. Consider Expert Data Recovery Services

Expert data recovery services can be your best bet if your WD external hard disk is physically damaged or still not recognized.

When to Consider Professional Recovery:

• The drive makes clicking or beeping sounds.
• It is physically damaged (e.g., dropped or exposed to water).
• Data recovery software fails to detect the drive.

Popular services include:

• DriveSavers
• Ontrack
• Secure Data Recovery

These companies specialize in recovering data from damaged or corrupted drives but can be expensive.

Conclusion

Losing data from a WD drive on a Mac can be frustrating, but recovery is often possible with the right approach. First, perform basic troubleshooting, such as checking connections and using Disk Utility. If that doesn't work, try recovering files using Time Machine, Mac Terminal, or third-party software like Donemax Data Recovery for Mac.

For more severe cases, professional data recovery services may be required. Always backup essential files, safely detach your drive, and keep a regular check on its condition to avoid data loss in the future.

By following these steps, you can increase your chances of successful data recovery and keep your valuable files safe.

FAQs About WD External Hard Drive Data Recovery on Mac

1. How to recover permanently deleted files from a WD external hard drive on Mac?

Donemax Data Recovery is a powerful data recovery program. It can help you recover deleted, formatted, inaccessible or lost files from any WD external hard drive on Mac:

• Download and install Donemax Data Recovery on your Mac.
• Open Donemax Data Recovery on your Mac and select the WD external hard drive.
• Click on Scan button.
• Preview and recover files after scanning.

2. What is the best data recovery software for WD drive data recovery on Mac?

There are several reliable software options for recovering data from a WD external hard drive on a Mac. Here are some of the most popular and effective choices:

No 1. Donemax Data Recovery for Mac (Best for Beginners)

Pros:

• User-friendly interface
• Free version allows file preview before recovery
• Supports various file formats (documents, photos, videos, etc.)

Cons:

• Free version has a limited recovery capacity

Steps to Recover Data Using Disk Drill:

1. Get Donemax Data Recovery for Mac from the official website and install it.
2. Attach your Mac to your WD external hard drive.
3. Choose your WD external drive by opening Donemax Data Recovery for Mac.
4. To begin scanning, click Scan button.
5. Once scanning is complete, preview recoverable files.
6. Select the files you need and click Recover.
7. To avoid overwriting, save the recovered files to a new location.

NO.2 EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard

Pros:

• Powerful deep scan feature
• Recovers formatted, deleted, and lost files
• Easy-to-use interface

Cons:

• Paid version is required for full recovery

NO 3. Stellar Data Recovery

Pros:

• High success rate for large video and image files
• Works on formatted or corrupted drives

Cons:

• Scanning can be slow on large drives

NO.4 R-Studio for Mac (Best for Advanced Users)

Pros:

• Professional-level recovery features
• Can recover RAID arrays and lost partitions

Cons:

• Requires some technical knowledge to use effectively

3. How to prevent data loss on WD external hard drive?

To avoid data loss in the future, follow these best practices:

▪️ Regular Backups

• Use Time Machine or cloud storage (Google Drive, iCloud, Dropbox) for automatic backups.
• Consider creating a clone of your WD drive using Donemax Disk Clone for Mac.

▪️ Safely Eject the Drive

• Before unplugging, always right-click the drive in Finder and choose Eject.
• Avoid forcefully removing the drive to prevent corruption.

▪️ Use Reliable Antivirus Software

• Install Malwarebytes for Mac or similar security software to protect against malware.

▪️ Monitor Drive Health

• Use Disk Utility to check the drive's health regularly.
• If Disk Utility reports errors, use First Aid to repair minor issues.

4. How to repair a corrupted WD external hard drive on Mac?

Disk Utility can help you repair corrupted WD external hard drive on Mac:

• Go to Applications > Utilities > Disk Utility.
• Select the WD external hard drive.
• Click First Aid > Run to repair the WD external hard drive.

5. How to recover lost data from WD external SSD on Mac?

You can use Donemax Data Recovery for Mac to deeply scan the WD external SSD and find all deleted/erased files. Once the scan is completed, you can recover all files from the WD external SSD.