How To Recover Deleted Files From Mac?

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Wondering how to recover deleted Mac files? This article explains various solutions to restore deleted files on mac. You can try recovering them from the trash bin or restore them from time machine backup. If some of the manual solutions didn’t work out well for you? You can always try Remo File Recovery Software for Mac.

Mac systems are some of the most beautiful and powerful machines on earth. If you are one of those who use any MacBooks or iMacs for personal use or for work stuff and have deleted some of your important files or data or lost them due to any reason. Then this comprehensive article on how to recover deleted files on Mac is for you. 

Note: The newer version of the Mac os Ventura is finally here. Find out how to upgrade to Mac Ventura without losing data.

recover deleted folders or files from mac user's question on Reddit
Source: Reddit

This write-up talks about 6 DIY ways as well as 1 super safe and probably the most fool-proof way to recover permanently deleted files from any MacBook or iMac running on any version of Mac OS.

How To Recover Deleted Files on Mac Without Software?

Method 1: Recover Recently Deleted Files mac Using the Undo option

Method 2: Put Back Accidentally Deleted Files From the Trash Bin

Method 3: Recover Deleted Office Files Using AutoRecover Feature

Method 4: Recover Deleted Files From Mac OS using Time Machine

Method 5: Retrieve Deleted Files on Mac Using the Terminal Command

Method 6: Recovering Deleted Files From iCloud Backup

Recover Permanently Deleted Files and Deleted Folders Using a Professional Data Recovery Service 

Method 7: Recover Mac Deleted Files Using Remo Recover For Mac

But if you don’t use Time Machine or if you don’t have an iCloud backup, or if you have emptied Mac trash recently. Then worry not we got something for you.

How To Recover Permanently Deleted Files From Mac OS?

recovering deleted file on mac question on reddit forum
Source: Reddit

Remo Recover for Mac is one of the best-in-class tools when it comes to recovering deleted, lost, or missing files and folders from any Mac machine when other manual methods of recovering data fail.

review by remo recover user on trustpilot
Source: Trustpilot

Why is Remo Recover For Mac Your Best Bet For Recovering Deleted or Lost Files on Mac?

  1. A straightforward no no-sense way to recover deleted, lost, missing, formatted files and folders.
  2. Whether you are using a 2008 model or the newest 2023 model, our tool can recover data from any Mac machine with ease.
  3. The tool is compatible with all the newer as well as older versions of mac OS such as Mavericks, Yosemite, El Capitan, Sierra, High Sierra, Mojave, Catalina, Big Sur, and the latest Ventura.
  4. Remo Recover is built to recover more than 500 types of files from any internal as well as external storage device.
  5. Moreover, Remo Recover can retrieve files not just from a healthy Mac but also from Unbootable Mac as well as a dead Mac with ease.

Download and try the tool to find out what more can Remo Recover for Mac do for you.

How To Recover Deleted Files on a Mac?

These solutions have been tried and tested by tech experts as well as day-to-day Mac users. However, at times these solutions might or might not work out well for you. But we do suggest you stop using your drive immediately in order to prevent data overwriting.

Starting with the easiest solutions first.

Method 1: Recover Recently Deleted Files or Folders From Mac Using the Undo option

The macOS keyboard sequence Command-Z will frequently reverse the most recent operation you performed on the system. You can undo the most recent few commands you entered by pressing the keys repeatedly. If you just erased a crucial file, you may find this to be of great assistance.

This technique works when you mass delete files from within a folder or send something directly to the Trash. 

Please Note that it does not undo the empty trash can.

Here are two ways to undo file deletion on any Mac system.

  1. After you have accidentally deleted the wrong files. Go to Edit and choose the Undo Move option.
  2. Hit the Ctrl + Z keys simultaneously to undo the deleted file action.

Method 2: Put Back Accidentally Deleted Files From the Trash Bin

One of the most common questions Mac users have in their mind is Where to find deleted files on Mac?

The answer is - All of your deleted files and folders end up in the Trash Bin of your Mac system for a period of 30 days in case, the user changes his mind and wants to get back those files.

1: Go to the Trash folder on Mac.

2: All of your recently deleted files from your Mac will appear on your screen.

3: Select the files that you want to recover, right-click, and from the options menu, click on the Put Back option.

click on the put back option to get back you deleted files from the mac trash

The restored files will be saved in their original locations.

However, you won’t be able to recover trash on Mac if in case you have emptied the trash bin.

Method 3: Recover Deleted Office Files Using AutoRecover Feature on Mac

If you have deleted files such as Excel files, Word documents, PowerPoint presentations, Adobe PDF files, etc. Then one of the least known solutions when it comes to deleted file recovery is using a built AutoRecover feature.

Step 1: Select your entire Mac in the Finder's location drop-down menu.

Step 2: Type "autorecovery" into the search box and hit Enter. You will be able to see every recovery file that the computer has made for your deleted MS Word documents or Excel files.

Step 3: Please choose and open the one you wish to save.

Step 4: Open the file in their respective applications such as MS Word, or MS Excel then save it to your computer by selecting Save from the File menu.

Method 4: Recover Deleted Files From Mac OS using Time Machine

A built-in tool called Time Machine enables users to automatically take a backup of their crucial data. This can be recovered and used in the event that you lost your files or permanently destroyed them.

If you regularly make backups as a habit. When you want to restore a backup file to Ventura, try Time Machine on your Mac.

How To Recover Deleted Files From Time Machine?

Step 1: Open the Time Machine application by looking for it in the spotlight.

type time machine in the spotlight

Step 2: Find and choose the files you want to recover and hit the Restore button.

Method 5: Retrieve Files Deleted From Mac Using the Terminal Command

The command-line interface for Macs is called Terminal. It enables you to obtain access to your system at the root level. You may run any application, change settings, inspect hidden files and folders, and more with its assistance.

But with all that power should come a strong caution. Nothing will happen unless the proper commands are entered. Moreover, You cannot quickly undo changes you make. Entering the wrong commands can lead to disastrous results.

We don’t recommend using Terminal if you are not familiar with command line functions or if you are a novice user.

But if you want to try Terminal here’s how to use it.

How To Recover Deleted or Lost Files using Mac Terminal? 

1: Go to Finder, Click on Go, followed by clicking on the utilities option. Launch the Terminal.

2: Once you are in the Terminal. Enter the "cd." command and press the Return key.

3: Type Is -al /.Trash to display the contents of the folder 

4: Type mv filename../ (replace filename with the complete name of the file you just erased), then press the Return key.

5: Type mv filename../destination (destination, where you want the file to be restored)

6: Type Quit and press Return.

7: To determine whether or not the desired files have been recovered. Search the deleted files in Finder by typing their names into the search field.

If you were unable to locate the files you were looking for, you can try the following techniques to get them back.

Method 6: Restore Files From iCloud Backup

Apple offers iCloud, a cloud computing and storage service. Users can save and backup a variety of things in the cloud using iCloud, including videos, photos, music, documents, and other data. One of the best things about iCloud backups is that users can sync their information between any devices running on iOS.

Step 1: Sign in to iCloud.com. Next, select the Data Recovery option from the toolbar.

Step 2: Select the option to restore files.

click on the restore files option to restore backup files from cloud

Step 3: Choose the files you wish to restore and then click the Restore button.

Don't have a Cloud backup? Worry not! The next solution is guaranteed to work when all other DIY ways of recovering deleted files on Mac have failed.

Method 7: Recover Mac Deleted Files Using Remo Recover For Mac

Data recovery from Mac Machines is now safer, less time-consuming, and most importantly a less painful process. When you have specialized tools like Remo File Recovery for Mac in your hands.

The tool’s advanced search algorithms can easily identify more than 500 types of files, lost or deleted due to any reason, all thanks to its solution-oriented algorithms. Most importantly Remo can retrieve files from any storage device.
The tool is built with a preview feature that lets you have a quick look at the recovered files.

Download and try the tool now for free!!!

How To Use Remo File Recovery for Mac To Recover Deleted Files?

Downloading, installing, and setting up Remo Recover on your Mac is the first step in performing deleted file recovery from your Mac.

First Step: Run Remo Recover for Mac and choose Recover Files from one of the three available options.

select recover files option to initiate the deleted file recovery process on your mac system

Second Step: Decided whether to choose the Recover Lost Files or Recover Deleted Files option.

select recover deleted files option to start the deleted file recovery process on your mac

Third Step: Choose the drive from which you wish to recover deleted files.

select the mac drive from where you want to pull back deleted files

Fourth Step: The tool starts the automatic scanning procedure.

remo starts scanning the selected drive to retrieve files deleted from mac

Fifth Step: Double-click any file to preview it when the data scanning procedure is finished.

double click on the recovered files from mac

Sixth Step: Choose the desired location where you want to restore the undeleted files.

We are sure by now you were able to safely recover files from Mac.

remo recover product review on trustpilot
Source: Trustpilot

Conclusion:

Here we end our discussion on Mac OS recover deleted files from any MacBook and iMac.

The solutions mentioned here are proven to work to help you get back your files after they were deleted.

However, those solutions do demand a few basic requirements such as not emptying the trash bin, having a cloud back of all important files, using the Time machine to backup important files onto an external hard drive, knowing a few vital terminal commands, etc. If you do not have these prerequisites we suggest you straightaway try Remo File Recovery Software for Mac. 

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How can I Recover Permanently Deleted Files without software?

The easiest way to recover any file or folder which were deleted permanently is by making use of any powerful data recovery tool.
But if are uninterested in using a third-party tool. You can make use of Terminal or restore backup files from Time Machine.

2. Does Time Machine Restore Deleted Files?

Time Machine is a great way of taking backups of crucial files. These backup copies of original files can be restored and used in case of data or file loss on any version of MacOS.

3. How to Recover Deleted Files on Mac for Free?

Recovering deleted files on Mac for free can now be done using Time Machine backup, restoring files from external drives, or utilizing any good and reliable freeware available in the market. 

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John Harris

Senior Editor, Content Analyst and a fan of exceptional customer service. John develops and publishes instructional and informational content regarding partition management, Windows hot-fixes, data management and computer troubleshooting.

As a tenured data recovery specialist, John shares exceptional insights and blog posts about data loss and data recovery across any storage device. With 8+ years’ experience in writing for Data Recovery for both Mac OS and Windows OS computers, he is an avid learner who always wants to polish and simplify the data recovery process. John passes his free time playing Chess and reading Science Fiction novels.

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