How to Recover Deleted Files on Mac

How to Recover Deleted Files on Mac

We all know how stressful it can be to accidentally delete files. This is especially true if these files are important, work-related, and you devote a lot of time to them.

Fortunately, not all is lost. There is a way to fetch files. Read on to find out how to recover deleted files on Mac.

How to Recover Deleted Files on Your Mac from the Trash

If your files are piling up on your hard drive, you may be tempted to delete anything that seems irrelevant. However, a few days later, you realize you need it.

We all have moments like this. That’s why your Mac has a trash can. Here’s how to recover deleted files with this simple method:

Open “Trash Can” on your Mac.
Find the files you want to recover.
Right click on the file.
Select “Restore”.

And voila, your files are back like they were never lost.

How to Recover Deleted Files on Your Mac After You Empty the Trash

Maybe you are 100% sure that you will never need this file again. But Murphy’s law always rears its head and you need these files back.

Don’t worry, we have your back. Here’s how to recover files after emptying the trash on your Mac:

Download the “Disk Drill” app on your Mac.
Give Disk Drill permission to scan your device. In the main menu of the application, select the drive that has your deleted data. Next to it, click “Restore.”

And that’s it. Your files return to the PC.

How to Recover Unsaved Excel Files on Mac Using Excel Only

You are working on an important project in Excel. In hot weather, you exit without saving files. Does this mean you just wasted the last few hours of your life? No, you don’t have to. Just follow these steps to recover files on your Mac:

Open Excel.
Open “Files.”
Click “Open.”
Select “Recent Workbooks.”
Select “Restore Unsaved Workbooks”. Find your file in the list. Double-click it to open it. After Excel opens it, you can save it.

Much better than working again from scratch.

How to Recover Unsaved Excel Files from Third Party Cloud Backup Services

If you are confused by the name, it is a service like Dropbox or Google Drive. They can be useful to have, as they allow you to store files online without using your computer’s memory, as well as easily share them with others online.

You can also use it to recover files that you deleted from your computer. Here’s how to do it:

Open a cloud website.
Sign in using your email and password.
Select the Excel File you want to restore. Download it to your computer.

Now the file is back on your computer, for you to further edit or distribute.

How to Recover Files Using Mac Time Machine Backup

If any of the options mentioned above don’t seem to work for you, here’s an additional alternative. It doesn’t require additional installation, as this backup is included with your Mac computer.

Follow these steps to restore files using Time Machine Backup:

Launch Time Machine Backup. Open a Finder window in the location where your deleted files used to be. Scroll through Time Machine until you see the file. Select the file and click “Restore to Restore It.” The file will appear in the location it was before it was deleted.

This is another easy way to recover the files you need.

FAQs

Why can’t I delete certain files?

It can be confusing when your computer doesn’t let you delete files. But there are three things you should pay attention to when you find yourself in this situation. The file may be locked and read-only, you may not have permission to modify it, or it may be in use. Hope this helps you solve your mystery.

Will sending files to the “trash” permanently delete them?

Files can be easily recovered from trash. So, the answer is no. You have to go to the trash and delete it manually from there, to make sure it’s gone forever. If you just want to send the file to trash and deal with it later, you can hit “Command” and “Delete”.

How do I empty the trash on my Mac?

How do I empty the trash on my Mac?

To ensure that your files are actually deleted from your PC, we recommend emptying the trash on your Mac. You can do this by going to the trash and deleting it manually. If you want to delete everything from the trash, press “Shift,” “Command” and “Delete.”

What happens if you delete files?

After you delete a file, the operating system marks this area as available. All paths leading to the file have been removed from the operating system. Other files will use the space in the future.

What is a professional data recovery service?

If none of the methods mentioned in this article work for getting your files back, you can try a professional data recovery service. This means taking your computer to a professional who has the tools and knowledge to work on this problem. This option can certainly help when nothing seems to be working, but remember that it can be expensive. Some of you may also be unsure about data privacy in this case. Since professional services do this for a living, it’s expected that they do it professionally, so there’s no need to worry about them exploiting your data.

Is it possible to recover files on Mac guest account?

Even when you’re not using your own computer, or can’t log in to your account, you can still recover files. This will require administrative privileges on the computer.

Can data be recovered after factory reset on Mac?

Even though a factory reset sounds like a way of going back, it’s still possible to recover your data afterward. All it takes is Time Machine or iCloud backup.

Technology also needs recovery

Keeping your workspace fresh will help you concentrate more easily and be more organized. So, there’s nothing wrong with deleting files. Especially if you know that there are options for you to recover them easily.

Fortunately, there is a way to recover deleted files on your Mac. Even after you’ve emptied the trash, and regardless of the processor your PC uses. However, technology can be flooded like we do. So sometimes your Mac needs to enter recovery mode and delete some data.

Have you ever recovered files on your Mac? Did you use any of the tips and tricks featured in this article to retrieve it? Let us know in the comments section below.

Disclaimer: Some pages on this site may include affiliate links. This does not affect our editorial in any way.

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