Hey, I feel you! Been in that boat more times than I care to admit. First off, don’t freak out too much; there’s still a good chance you can get those files back.
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Check the Trash Bin: Have you checked your Trash? I know it sounds basic, but tons of people forget this step. Just double-click on the Trash icon in the dock, and see if your files are in there. If you find them, right-click on each one and select “Put Back.”
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Use Time Machine: If you’re using Time Machine—Apple’s built-in backup system—you’re in luck. Plug in your Time Machine backup drive, open the folder where the file was originally located, then click the Time Machine icon from the menu bar and select “Enter Time Machine.” You can scroll back and find your deleted files, then click “Restore.”
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Third-Party Recovery Software: If neither of those work, it’s time to bring out the big guns. Something like Disk Drill can be super helpful.
This software scans your Mac for deleted files and helps you recover them. You can download it from Disk Drill Download. Once installed, run a full scan and see if it finds your lost files. It’s pretty user-friendly and usually gets the job done. -
iCloud Drive: If you’ve been using iCloud for storage, check out iCloud Drive. Go to iCloud.com, log in, and navigate to iCloud Drive. There’s a “Recently Deleted” folder where you might find your files.
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Professional Data Recovery Service: If none of the above methods work, your last resort might be to consult a professional data recovery service. These services can be expensive, but they’re also very effective at retrieving lost data that you can’t recover on your own.
So it boils down to this: start simple and move to more complex solutions as needed. Hope you get those files back in time for your deadline! 