Maybe you’ve misplaced or permanently deleted a file on Mac that you now need. There are several ways to recover items on MacOS depending on how recently you lost or removed the file.
We start with the quickest and simplest methods and work up to the more lengthy or pricey methods for restoring files, folders, and other items on your Mac.
At the top of this list is the Undo action because it’s the simplest way to restore a file you’ve just deleted. The key to using Undo is that removing your file was the last action you performed.
As an example, say you just moved a file to the Trash. Follow these steps to reverse that action:
You should then see the file return to that folder from the Trash.
If you’ve performed many actions on your Mac or need to restore a deleted file from some time ago, Undo won’t work. Instead, you can recover items from the Trash folder.
Note this only works if you haven’t yet emptied the Trash on Mac.
If the item you deleted was one of Apple’s apps like Photos, Notes, or Mail, you can retrieve the item from the app’s Recently Deleted folder.
For instance, if you delete a photo, follow these steps to recover it:
You’ll then see the picture back in your Library.
In many cases, it may not be as easy to restore a file with the above methods. This is when the built-in Time Machine tool for MacOS can save the day. With it, you can go back in time, locate the file, and restore it easily.
If you’re familiar with Terminal commands on Mac, you can also use this tool to recover a file.
Note that this method isn’t recommended for new Terminal users or those not comfortable using it. Some commands can overwrite files or have other adverse effects. Additionally, Terminal requires full disk access to run the commands below.
To restore an item from the Mac Trash folder, launch Terminal by opening Finder, selecting Go > Utilities in the menu bar, and double-clicking Terminal.
Enter the following command to access the Trash:
Enter this command to view the contents:
Enter this next command replacing “filename” with the exact name of your file:
You can then return to your previous directory by typing the following and closing the Terminal:
Maybe you’ve lost or deleted many files, folders, and other items or are having trouble restoring items with the previous methods. In this case, consider using data recovery software for Mac.
While these tools vary in their features and prices, they normally offer intuitive interfaces for recovering items quickly and easily. A couple of popular Mac options include EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard and CleverFiles Disk Drill.
EaseUS recovers personal data and items from Time Machine and iTunes backups along with HFS+ fusion drive. You can also create a bootable USB drive, receive data protection, and use its Smart Disk monitoring. EaseUS offers a free plan with a paid Pro upgrade for $90 yearly.
CleverFiles Disk Drill restores files, music, photos, videos, and other items from internal, external, and virtual hard drives, as well as memory cards. Disk Drill for MacOS offers a free plan, as well as a paid Pro plan for $89 yearly.
For additional options, check out our recommendations for the best data recovery software.
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