How to Recover Deleted Files on Mac for Free?

Accidentally deleted your files? Find out how to recover deleted files on Mac for free. Easily recover your deleted files on your Mac computer now.

Have you experienced that moment of sheer panic when you mistakenly erase an important file? To add to the distress, you soon find out that a few documents you discarded last week were needed for an upcoming deadline.

As you must have guessed, we’re talking about data loss here. If you’re a seasoned Mac user, chances are you’ve encountered a similar problem. In this guide, we will walk you through some recommended methods to recover deleted files on your Mac for free.

Let’s dive in.

Is it Possible to Recover Deleted Files on Mac?

On deleting a file from your Mac, it’s not wiped out right away. Instead, it’s moved to ‘Trash’, where it usually stays for a period of 30 days before being permanently deleted. However, even after the Trash gets emptied, the file isn’t actually gone from your system.

After deleting a file, it becomes invisible to you, but Mac still keeps the data on its hard disk, waiting to overwrite it when more space is needed for the new files. This is the reason why you’re still able to retrieve deleted files from your Mac, even when they have disappeared from the ‘Trash’.

Therefore, it’s necessary to stop using your Mac right away after losing a file to minimize the chances of overwriting it. The quicker you do this, the higher your chances of recovering that file.

How to Recover Deleted Files on Mac?

When trying to get back deleted files on your Mac, it's important to consider your technical expertise, the particular strengths and limitations of each recovery option, and the time available to you.

Below is the list of the most effective methods to recover deleted files and folders on Mac.

Method 1: Restore Deleted Files Using Undo Function

Accidentally deleted a file on your Mac? Get it back almost instantly if you haven't done anything else yet. Simply, stay in the folder where the file was, and press the Command + Z keys together.

It's that straightforward – like a quick undo trick!

Method 2: Restore Deleted Files from Trash

As we have mentioned earlier, the deleted files can be recovered from ‘Trash’ before they are permanently deleted after the 30-day retention period.

Follow the steps below to restore your deleted files from Trash:

Step 1: Open the Trash folder and find the deleted files.

Step 2: Select the files you want, right-click, and hit Put Back.

Method 3: Restore Deleted Files Using Time Machine

It's important to maintain a consistent backup practice. Create at least two distinct backups stored in separate physical locations to make sure your data remains safe in case of any unforeseen events.

Mac's built-in backup feature, Time Machine, simplifies the process of both backing up and restoring individual files whenever needed. It's a user-friendly tool that can give you peace of mind about the security of your data.

Here’s the rundown:

Step 1: Connect the Time Machine backup drive to your Mac.

Step 2: Go to the macOS menu bar, click Time Machine > Enter Time Machine.

Step 3: Navigate through the snapshots to locate and select the folder containing your lost files.

Step 4: Click Restore.

Method 4: Recover Deleted Files Using Free Mac Data Recovery Software

There are times when your Time Machine drive may not work because of logical errors, or perhaps you forgot to turn on the Time Machine Backup in the first place. When this happens, you will be unable to restore deleted files on your Mac using the workarounds mentioned above.

Stellar DataRecovery Free is designed to rescue your deleted files, folders, documents, photos, videos, and more on your Mac for free. The tool offers essential file recovery capabilities of up to 1 GB at no cost. It supports a wide range of file formats, including documents, emails, photos, audio, and videos. It comes with an intuitive user interface, making it accessible to both beginners, and advanced users alike.

Here’s the step-by-step method to use the software:

Here’s how to restore your files with the app:

• Download and launch the software on your Mac.
• Select the type of files, the volume you want to recover from, and click Scan.

• Preview the recovered files, select the ones you want to retrieve, and hit Recover.

Bonus Tips: How to Keep Your Mac Data Safe?

There are several steps you can take to protect the data on your Mac. Here are some best practices:

• Regularly update your macOS and all installed apps to make sure you have the latest security patches.
• Perform regular backups, the easiest method of doing so is by setting up ‘Time Machine’. You can also backup your data using cloud storage services or on external drives.
• Enable the built-in firewall to block unauthorized connections, and be cautious with downloads and links to protect your device from malicious software, or malware.
• Use FileVault, the built-in encryption tool, to encrypt your drive and enable two-factor authentication to further protect your data.
• Enable ‘Find My Mac’ feature to help locate your Mac in case you lose it or it gets stolen.

Wrapping Up

Use the workable solutions mentioned here, like Trash, Undo, or Time Machine, to recover deleted files on your Mac. These options are quite handy, but they come with their own set of limitations, like the need for available backups. If you’re unable to meet such requirements, Stellar Data Recovery Free Mac is a better alternative.

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