This wikiHow teaches you how to find and recover deleted files on a Mac. The first thing to do is to check the Trash Can on your Mac for files that have been deleted. If you can't find the file there, try restoring it from a Time Machine backup. You can also use third-party data recovery applications.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Using Trash Can
Step 1. Run the Trash Can application
Double-click the application icon that looks like the trash can on the Mac's dock. The Trash Can window will open.
Step 2. Locate the deleted files
Search Trash Can to find the file, or type the file name into the search field in the upper-right corner.
If the deleted file isn't there, use Time Machine to recover the file
Step 3. Select the deleted files
Click and drag the mouse over a group of files to select all. If you want to select several separate files, hold down Command and click the files you want.
If you want to select all the files in the Trash Can, click a file, then press Command and A at the same time
Step 4. Click File
This menu is located in the upper left corner. A drop-down window will be displayed.
Step 5. Click Put Back
This option is in the drop-down menu File. The file you selected will be returned to its original storage location.
If option Put Back it's grayed out, meaning you have to click and drag the selected file from the Trash Can window onto the desktop, then drop it there.
Method 2 of 3: Using Time Machine
Step 1. Open Spotlight
Click the magnifying glass icon in the top right corner. This will bring up a search field.
Step 2. Type time machine into Spotlight
The computer will search for the Time Machine application.
Step 3. Click Time Machine
It's a turquoise colored app with a clock on it. This option is at the top of the Spotlight search results. Time Machine will be opened.
Step 4. Select the file location
Click the folder where the file is stored on the left side of the Time Machine window. The contents in the folder will be displayed.
Step 5. Open the backup on a date when the files are still on the Mac
Click the up arrow to the right of the Time Machine window to browse through your backups until you find the deleted files.
If you scroll past the file's creation date and the file still isn't there, it means that you can't recover the file using Time Machine
Step 6. Select the files you want to recover
Click and drag the mouse across a group of files to select all. If you want to select multiple separate files, hold down Command and click the files you want.
Step 7. Click Restore
It's a gray button at the bottom of the Time Machine window. The selected files will be recovered.
You may have to repeat this process on another folder location in Time Machine
Method 3 of 3: Using Data Recovery Apps
Step 1. Stop using the Mac computer right now
The main requirement for recovering files using a data recovery application is to immediately stop using your Mac's hard drive. Do not download programs, or make any folders or backups at this time as this may overwrite the hard disk space where the files you want to recover are stored.
Step 2. Download a file recovery app
You will most likely have to pay to use the selected program. Make sure you download the application on a computer or another drive so you don't accidentally overwrite the files you want to recover. Some of the popular programs include:
- PhotoRec (free)
- Disk Drill (paid)
- Data Rescue (paid)
- EaseUS (paid)
Step 3. Install the data recovery application on the USB flash drive
If you can do this, you can reduce the risk of files being overwritten on your Mac.
If you can't install a data recovery application on a USB flash drive, at least move the setup files for the application to your Mac using a flash disk. This is not an ideal move, but it may be necessary
Step 4. Scan the computer drive
The process will vary depending on the application you use, but usually you can choose the drive you want to scan. Select the drive containing the accidentally deleted files, then select the option Scan.
The application you are using may provide additional options to choose from before you proceed
Step 5. Select the files you want to recover
After the computer drive is scanned, a list of recoverable files will be displayed. You can select it to recover files.
- The filenames have often changed so you'll have to go through each file to find the item you want.
- Not all files can be recovered.
Step 6. Save the file
After selecting the files you want to recover, save them where you want them. If you still want to find another file, do not save the selected file to the storage drive used to delete the file. Instead, save the file to an external drive or another drive connected to your computer.
