How to restore permanently deleted files mac​?

Restoring permanently deleted files on a Mac can be a daunting task, but it’s often possible with the right tools and techniques. While macOS has a built-in Trash feature that allows users to recover deleted files, there are situations where files are permanently deleted, bypassing the Trash. This can happen if you manually empty the Trash, if files are deleted using a command like rm in Terminal, or if a third-party application does the deleting. Fortunately, there are several strategies you can use to recover your lost files, including using Time Machine, third-party data recovery software, or professional data recovery services.

1. File Deletion on Mac

Before we explore the different recovery methods, it’s crucial to understand how file deletion works on a Mac. When you delete a file on macOS, it first goes to the Trash. This gives you an opportunity to restore the file if you accidentally deleted it. However, once the Trash is emptied, or if the file is deleted using certain commands, it may seem like the file is permanently lost.

In reality, even after deletion, the file isn’t completely gone. Instead, the space that the file occupied on the hard drive is marked as available for new data. The data itself remains on the drive until it’s overwritten by new files. This means that as long as the space hasn’t been overwritten, it may be possible to recover the deleted files.

2. Check Time Machine Backups

Time Machine is one of the most effective tools for restoring permanently deleted files on a Mac, provided you’ve been using it to back up your system regularly. If you’ve set up Time Machine backups, the chances of recovering lost files are significantly higher.

Steps to Restore Files from Time Machine:

Connect the Time Machine Backup Drive: Ensure your external Time Machine backup drive is connected to your Mac.

Open Time Machine: Click on the Time Machine icon in the menu bar, then select “Enter Time Machine” from the dropdown menu.

Navigate to the Deleted File’s Location: In Time Machine, navigate to the folder where the deleted file was originally located. You can use the timeline on the right-hand side of the screen to go back to a specific time before the file was deleted.

Select the File: Once you locate the file, click on it to highlight it.

Restore the File: Click the “Restore” button to recover the file. The file will be restored to its original location.

3. Use Data Recovery Software

Panda Assistant is particularly notable for its ease of use. The interface is designed to be intuitive, even for those with minimal technical expertise. It allows users to recover files with just a few clicks, guiding them through the process step by step. Whether you’re recovering from a mistakenly deleted folder, a corrupted SD card, or a damaged external hard drive, Panda Assistant makes the process straightforward.

Additionally, Panda Assistant comes equipped with advanced features, such as deep scanning and the ability to recover files from lost or formatted partitions. This makes it a robust choice for both basic and advanced data recovery needs.

4. Recover Files from iCloud

If you’ve been using iCloud to store your documents, photos, or other files, you might be able to recover permanently deleted files from iCloud, even if they’ve been deleted from your Mac.

Steps to Restore Files from iCloud:

Visit iCloud.com: Open a web browser and go to iCloud.com.

Log In to Your iCloud Account: Enter your Apple ID and password to log in.

Access iCloud Drive: Click on the “iCloud Drive” icon to see your stored files.

Check the Recently Deleted Folder: In iCloud Drive, there is a “Recently Deleted” folder that holds files for up to 30 days after they’re deleted. Browse this folder to see if your file is there.

Restore the File: If you find your file in the Recently Deleted folder, click “Recover” to restore it to your iCloud Drive.

5. Use macOS Terminal (for Advanced Users)

For advanced users, macOS Terminal offers a few commands that can help recover files, especially if they were accidentally deleted via the command line. One option is to use the fsck command to check the file system for errors, though this method is more suited for fixing disk corruption than for file recovery.

Using fsck:

Restart Your Mac: Restart your Mac and hold down Command + R to boot into macOS Recovery Mode.

Open Terminal: Once in Recovery Mode, select “Utilities” from the top menu and choose “Terminal.”

Run the fsck Command: Type the following command and press Enter:

bash

sudo fsck_hfs -r /dev/disk0

This will check your hard drive for errors and attempt to recover lost files.

Follow Instructions: If the file system is corrupted, fsck will attempt to fix the errors. If any recoverable files are found, they may be restored.

While this method might work in some cases, it’s often less reliable than using dedicated data recovery software.

6. Check Your Mac’s Local Snapshots

macOS features a local snapshot feature that automatically saves versions of files, even if you’re not using Time Machine. These snapshots are essentially backups of your system that are stored locally on your Mac’s hard drive.

To access and restore files from local snapshots, you can use Time Machine or third-party software like Disk Drill. Some tools are able to identify these snapshots and allow you to recover lost files from them.

7. Professional Data Recovery Services

If you’ve exhausted all options and still can’t recover your permanently deleted files, your last resort is to seek help from professional data recovery services. These services specialize in recovering data from damaged or corrupted hard drives, SSDs, and other storage devices.

When to Consider Professional Services:

If your hard drive is physically damaged.

If your data is encrypted, and you’re unable to recover it using software.

If all recovery attempts have failed, and the data is critical.

Professional recovery services may use specialized tools to extract data from damaged or overwritten storage. However, these services can be expensive, and success is not guaranteed, so it’s important to evaluate whether the data is worth the cost.

8. Prevent Future Data Loss

While recovery methods can help retrieve permanently deleted files, they’re not always 100% effective. To minimize the risk of data loss in the future, consider the following preventative measures:

Regular Backups: Use Time Machine or another backup solution to regularly back up your files.

Cloud Storage: Store important documents in cloud services like iCloud, Dropbox, or Google Drive, which offer versioning and backup features.

Be Cautious with Deletions: Avoid using the Terminal for file deletion unless you’re sure of what you’re doing. Always double-check before permanently deleting files.

Enable FileVault: Enabling FileVault encrypts your Mac’s hard drive, making it harder for data to be lost due to theft or unauthorized access. While this won’t help with file recovery, it provides additional security for your data.