In today’s digital world, data plays a crucial role in our daily lives, and losing any important file can be very distressing. Thankfully, there are several macOS built-in as well as third-party recovery solutions that you can try for easy and quick data recovery on Mac. Irrespective of the causes of data loss on Mac, lost files are easily recoverable using the available workarounds.
In this 2025’s guide, we will walk you through easy methods to recover lost files on macOS. Just go with these data recovery methods one-by-one to restore your files.
Common Reasons for Data Loss on macOS
Before diving into easy methods to recover lost files on Mac, it is important to find the exact cause of your data loss. Here are some common reasons why files get deleted on Mac:
- Accidental Deletion: It is quite possible for your files to be deleted accidentally while you browse through a different file or folder.
- Emptying the Trash: There are times when we unintentionally empty the Trash folder without reviewing the stored deleted files. When you empty the Trash folder, any temporarily deleted important files can also get deleted.
- macOS Update or Reinstall: If you’ve recently updated or reinstalled macOS, this may delete the stored files.
- Unintentional iCloud Sync: If you delete a file from one of the devices that are using the same iCloud Drive, you may be deleting that same file across all of your devices (Mac, iPhone, iPad and other devices).
- Physical Hard Drive Failure or Unexpected Power Loss: Loss of power or a failure in a hard drive may corrupt files or remove unsaved or existing files altogether.
How do I Recover Deleted Files on Mac? [Easy Methods]
No matter what is the cause of data loss, there are several recovery workarounds available that you can try for easy data recovery on Mac. These methods include:
Method 01: Check the Trash Bin
Every deleted file on macOS goes to the Trash folder before getting permanently deleted. It is important to check the Trash bin before applying any other Mac data recovery workaround. All you have to do is:
- Click the Trash icon from the Dock.
- Locate and right-click the deleted file you want to restore.
- Select the Put Back option to return the selected file to its original location.
Method 02: Use Spotlight Search
Sometimes, the file may appear deleted, but it is just relocated to a different folder on your Mac. In such cases, you can use macOS’s Spotlight Search to track your missing files. For this:
- Press the Command + Space keys to launch Spotlight.
- Type the filename or keyword you are looking for.
- Alternatively, you can check the “Documents”, “Folders”, and “Other” categories for the missing files.
Method 03: Use Time Machine Backups
macOS provides a built-in Time Machine backup utility, which, when enabled on your Mac, creates an automatic backup of your files. If you’ve configured Time Machine backup, follow the below steps to restore lost files:
- Firstly, connect the Time Machine backup drive to your Mac.
- Open the folder where your deleted file(s) were earlier stored.
- Now, click the Time Machine icon from the menu bar and select Enter Time Machine.
- Use the timeline on the right side and select the data when the deleted file existed.
- Select the file and click Restore to conclude the recovery process.
Method 04: Recover from iCloud Drive
Another backup alternative that you can try to recover lost files on macOS is via iCloud. If you’ve synced iCloud Drive, your deleted files might still be available in the cloud. To recover lost files on a Mac using iCloud Drive, you need to:
- Open a web browser and visit iCloud.com.
- Sign in with your Apple ID.
- Click iCloud Drive.
- Now, click the Recently Deleted button from the bottom-right corner.
- Select the file(s) and click Recover.
Note: Deleted files are available for recovery from the iCloud’s “Recently Deleted” folder only for 30 days.
Method 05: Use Mac Data Recovery Software
If built-in methods fail, it’s time to use a third-party Mac data recovery software. Recovery tools such as Stellar Data Recovery Professional for Mac can help you restore files lost or deleted due to accidental deletion, formatting, or any other reason in a few simple clicks. It also supports the recovery of files deleted from formatted drives and even the emptied Trash bin.
Key Features of Stellar Data Recovery Professional for Mac:
- Allows you to recover deleted files of various types, including photos, videos, documents, and many more.
- It offers a “Pause and Resume” option to restore files as per your convenience.
- The Stellar Data Recovery Professional tool supports the latest macOS Sequoia 15 and M4-powered Mac systems.
- The software is available in multiple versions, varying in features and prices.
- It allows you to preview the recoverable files before saving them on your device.
Additional Tips to Prevent File Loss on macOS
Once you have recovered your files, consider the following tips to avoid losing them again:
- Enable Time Machine: Enabling the Time Machine utility on your Mac automatically backs up your system at fixed intervals.
- Use iCloud Sync: Along with Time Machine, you can create cloud-based backups of your important files using iCloud.
- Use UPS and Auto Save: Using Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS) or Auto save features prevents data loss instances caused due to power failures or app crashes.
What if All Recovery Methods Fail?
Though chances are quite less, it may be possible that the above methods for data recovery on Mac fail. In such cases, you can contact a professional data recovery service to restore your lost files.
Why Choose a Professional?
- Professional experts like Stellar Data Recovery Services offer up to 95% success rate.
- Data recovery experts can help you recover data lost from physically damaged SSDs or encrypted partitions
- Always check the features and services offered by these experts before opting for any one.
Conclusion
File loss on macOS can be painful, but don’t lose hope. With the built-in solutions like Trash, Time Machine, iCloud, etc., data recovery on Macs is quite easy to implement. If all these manual workarounds fail, you can use professional Mac data recovery software like Stellar Data Recovery Professional for Mac to restore your files. The key is to act quickly, avoid overwriting, and use trusted tools and services. Moreover, you can consider preventive measures like maintaining regular backups, syncing your Mac with iCloud, etc., to prevent data loss instances in the future.
