Accidental deletion of important files on your Mac can be distressful, especially if the files were important. Whether it’s a cherished photo, an important document, or a critical work file, losing data can put you in trouble. Luckily, macOS provides several methods to recover files deleted from your device. This guide will provide a comprehensive breakdown of how to recover deleted files from Mac Trash and other recovery options available in macOS.
Understanding Trash on macOS
The Trash is an essential part of macOS’s file management system. It acts as a storage area containing all the deleted files until you permanently remove them from your device. When you move a file to the Trash, it stays there temporarily until you either empty the Trash manually or it is automatically get deleted after 30 days. This built-in buffer provides users with a safety net in case they delete something by mistake.
The good news is that if your file is present in the Trash folder, recovering can be straightforward. However, if the Trash is emptied, there are still ways to potentially recover your lost data. Let’s dive into the different methods to recover deleted files from the Trash.
Quick Steps to Recover Deleted Files from Mac Trash
As mentioned above, every deleted file on Mac goes to the Trash folder and remains there until it is permanently deleted. You can follow the below steps to recover your deleted files directly from the Mac Trash:
- Firstly, click on the Trash icon to launch the Trash folder on your Mac’s desktop.
- Once the Trash is open, a list of all the files that have been deleted but not permanently erased will appear on your screen.
- Go through the list and select the file or folder you need to restore.
- Now, right-click (or Control + click) on it, and select the “Put Back” option from the context menu.
The above steps will restore your selected file to its original location where it was stored before deletion.
How to Recover Files after Emptying the Trash?
If the file isn’t in the Trash or the Trash has been emptied, you’ll need to explore other recovery methods. In this part of the blog, we have mentioned some quick methods for data recovery for Mac, which you can try to restore files deleted from the Trash folder:
Method 01: Use Time Machine Backup
Mac OS provides built-in Time Machine backup solution that allows you to automatically backup your files, folders or even the entire system. If you’ve been using Time Machine and have an external drive connected for backups, recovering deleted files becomes significantly easier. All you have to do is:
- If you are using an external drive for Time Machine backups, make sure it is connected to your Mac.
- Now, click the Time Machine icon from the menu bar located at the top and select Enter Time Machine. Alternatively, you can go through System Preferences > Time Machine to access it.
- Use the timeline on the right side of the screen to browse through the available backup versions in the Time Machine window.
- Select the backup version you need to restore and click Restore to save them to their original location.
Method 02: Check iCloud Backups to Recover Deleted Files
If you use iCloud to sync and store your documents, there’s a chance that your deleted file could still be stored in iCloud. Follow the below steps to recover files from iCloud:
- Open any web browser on your device. Go to iCloud.com and log in with your Apple ID.
- Once logged in, click on the iCloud Drive icon.
- Locate the Recently Deleted folder on the bottom-right corner of the screen. This folder stores all your files deleted from iCloud for 30 days.
- If your deleted file is available there, select it and click Restore to bring it back to iCloud drive. You can then download it to your Mac.
Method 03: Use Mac Data Recovery Software
If you don’t have a Time Machine backup or your file isn’t in iCloud, try using a professional Mac data recovery software like Stellar Data Recovery Professional for Mac to restore your lost files. This all-in-one data recovery software completely scans your Mac’s storage and then displays the recoverable data so you can easily restore them. The software supports recovery of deleted files of multiple types, including photos, videos, documents and more.
The Stellar Data Recovery Professional for Mac software allows you to restore deleted files from multiple storage devices, such as SD cards, USB drives, external hard drives, and more. The software supports recovery of deleted files in three simple steps, i.e., Select, Scan, and Recover.
Here’s how to recover deleted files from Mac using the Stellar Data Recovery Professional tool:
Step 1: Download and install the Stellar Data Recovery Professional software on your Mac. Launch the software and from the homepage, select the type of data you need to restore and click Next.
Step 2: Now, choose the storage drive where your deleted file was earlier stored and click Scan to initiate the scanning process.
Step 3: Once the scan is complete, preview the recoverable files and choose the file(s) you need to restore. Click Recover to save selected data at the desired location on your Mac.
That’s it! After successful completion of the above steps, check if you are able to access the restored files from the storage location where you have saved them.
Conclusion
Recovering deleted files on a Mac can be a straightforward process if the files are still in the Trash or if you have a Time Machine backup. Even if the Trash has been emptied, tools like iCloud Drive and third-party Mac data recovery software offer solutions to get your files back. By acting quickly and following the right steps for data recovery for Mac, you can restore your lost or deleted files easily. However, the best strategy is prevention, so remember to back up your data regularly to avoid potential data loss in the future.