How to recover lost data on a Mac?

Data Recovery
1

Accidentally deleted some crucial files from my Mac. They aren’t in the Trash as I emptied it immediately after. I need help on how to recover these files. Any software recommendations or methods would be appreciated. Thanks in advance!

2

Man, good luck trying to recover files on a Mac once you’ve emptied the Trash. Everyone throws out that Disk Drill crap like it’s a miracle worker, but let’s be real, it’s not free, and it’s not always reliable. Sure, it has an easy interface and can sometimes recover stuff, but that’s when you haven’t been messing around on your system too much. Any little disk activity can overwrite the sectors your files were on.

Disk Drill Screenshot
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Other options? Yep, you can try Data Rescue or EaseUS Data Recovery, but they come with their own sets of headaches and pretty hefty price tags. Honestly, if they were so great, you wouldn’t see the forums packed with desperate people trying all sorts of things to get their data back.

And those “free” versions most of them tout? Just a scam to get you to shell out money because they only show you what can be recovered but won’t actually do the job unless you pay up.

Save yourself the hassle next time; don’t empty the trash in the first place, or better yet, keep backups. If you’ve waited this long to try recovery, you might as well prepare for disappointment.

3

I get the frustration, and it’s true that recovering files after emptying the Trash on a Mac is tough, but it’s not impossible. Let’s go a bit deeper into some methods that might actually work for you.

  1. Check for Backups: Before diving into the software, have you checked if you have Time Machine or any other backup? If yes, you could easily restore the file from there. No backup? Lesson learned but let’s move on.

  2. Disk Utility: Sometimes, repairing your disk with Disk Utility can help. Open up Disk Utility, select your drive, and click on “First Aid.” This isn’t a surefire way to recover deleted files, but worth a shot.

  3. Professional Recovery Software:

    • Disk Drill: Even though some people are skeptical, Disk Drill does have a decent success rate. It’s not free for full recovery, but you can see what might be recoverable before you pay. If you’re interested, check out Disk Drill.

    • Data Rescue: It’s another solid option, specifically designed for Mac. Just be prepared for the cost associated. Data Rescue is known for its comprehensive scanning, which can sometimes find files that other apps miss.

    • EaseUS Data Recovery: This one’s user-friendly and has a good interface, but the free version will only allow you to recover up to 2GB. If you have more than that to recover, you’ll need to grab a license.

  4. Command Line Magic: If you’re comfortable with some command-line work, you might try using Terminal commands to see if you can pull up the lost files. Something like fsck can occasionally help repair the disk structure, but it’s more of a Hail Mary pass.

  5. Stop Using the Drive: The more you use your Mac, the more you risk overwriting the deleted files. If possible, stop using the affected drive immediately.

  6. Professional Help: Sometimes it’s worth getting help from the pros. Data recovery services can be expensive, but if the data is crucial, it might be worth it.

  7. Preview Files: When using any recovery software, always try to preview the files first. This will help you determine if the data is intact and worth recovering.

  8. Create a Disk Image: Before doing anything else, create a disk image of your drive. You can use Disk Utility for this. If something goes wrong, you can always go back to this image.

  9. Recovery Mode on Mac: In some cases, booting into macOS Recovery and using Disk Utility from there can work better because fewer system files are running. Restart your Mac and hold down Command + R to enter Recovery Mode.

  10. Find Your Preference:

  • If you’re looking for something that offers detailed scan options, you might prefer Data Rescue.
  • If you care about the interface and ease of use, Disk Drill is usually more user-friendly.
  1. Documentation and Guides: Sometimes these software websites offer tutorials or guides. They might have insights or tips that aren’t obvious at first glance. For Disk Drill, you can learn more here.

Lastly, prevention is key. Going forward, regularly back up your data via Time Machine, external hard drives, or cloud storage. Set a reminder to back up every week or set Time Machine to do automatic backups.

It’s a tough situation, and yeah, no method is foolproof. Always remember that disk recovery is not guaranteed, especially after you’ve emptied the Trash and used your Mac a bit, increasing the chance of overwriting those sectors. Good luck, and I hope one of these methods works for you.

4

Honestly, I get the frustration. Losing crucial files is the worst, and recovering them on a Mac after emptying the Trash isn’t straightforward. While @byteguru and @techchizkid provided some solid recommendations, I’d like to throw in a few more nuanced suggestions that might help you.

  1. Fuse for macOS: If you’re willing to get a bit technical, using Fuse for macOS combined with tools like ext4fuse can help mount and recover files from non-native filesystems. This is especially useful if you’ve used external drives formatted in something other than HFS+ or APFS.

  2. PhotoRec: This is a powerful, free tool designed to recover files from a wide range of file systems. It’s part of the TestDisk suite. While its interface isn’t the most user-friendly, its capabilities in deep scanning are impressive. You can grab it from here.

  3. Avoid Fragmentation: When @byteguru said to stop using your Mac, it’s not just about overwriting the files. It’s also to prevent fragmentation. The more fragmented your drive, the harder it becomes to piece files back together, even for sophisticated recovery software.

  4. Deep Scan Options: Not all software’s scanning options are created equal. Disk Drill, for instance, offers both quick and deep scans. While the quick scan can give you fast results, the deep scan digs further into your drive’s data structure. But remember, the deep scan takes time, sometimes hours depending on your drive size and condition. More details can be found on their download page.

  5. Manual Recovery from Free Blocks: Some pro users have had success manually carving out files from the “free blocks” on their drive. There are command-line tools that allow you to dump these blocks and then manually search for file headers.

  6. Professional Data Recovery: Yes, it’s pricey, but data recovery labs like DriveSavers or Ontrack can work miracles. We’re talking cleanrooms and advanced tools that software just can’t match. It’s a last resort, but if the data means everything to you, it might be worth the investment.

  7. Check Your Cache: Sometimes files inadvertently get cached in unexpected places. Browse through your Cache folders in ~/Library/Caches/ and see if there’s anything familiarity lurking around.

Recovery isn’t always possible, as pointed out, but it’s not hopeless either. These avenues might give you a better shot, especially if you’re comfortable with some technical depth. And hey, moving forward, consider a cloud backup service. It’s a bit more hassle but saves you from heartaches like this.

And @techchizkid, I actually disagree slightly. Disk Drill, while not perfect, does its job for a lot of average users. It’s not a miracle worker, sure, but it’s one of the better options in an imperfect landscape. Plus, you get a free trial to preview recoverable files before you splurge. Check it out if you haven’t already: Download Disk Drill.