How to Recover Permanently Deleted Files on Mac

6 min readApr 14, 2024

Accidentally losing important files is something no one wants to face, but it happens to the best of us, even on a Mac where we’ve come to expect stability and security. Rejoice, Mac users, for there are methods to recover your lost data, and one of the most effective is using the tool Disk Drill. Disk Drill is a comprehensive Mac data recovery software that can help recover lost, deleted, or inaccessible data. As someone who’s experienced the panic of losing files, I’m here to guide you through the process of using Disk Drill to get your files back.

1. Step-by-Step Guide. How To Recover Permanently Deleted Files On Mac:

Method 1: Download and Install Disk Drill

Visit the official Disk Drill website and download the Disk Drill data recovery software for Mac.
Locate the downloaded file in your Downloads folder and double-click on it to open the Disk Drill installer.
Follow the on-screen instructions to drag the Disk Drill icon into the Applications folder, successfully installing it on your Mac.

Note: Ensure that your Mac meets the system requirements for installing Disk Drill.

Conclusion: Successfully installing Disk Drill is the first step towards recovering your deleted files.

Method 2: Initialize Disk Drill

Open the Disk Drill application from your Applications folder.
Grant the necessary permissions for Disk Drill to access your drive by clicking on the ‘Unlock Full Version’ if you’ve purchased it or ‘Continue with Basic’ for a free version.
Select the drive from which you want to recover the deleted files and click on the ‘Recover’ button to start the scanning process.

Note: For best results, stop using the drive from which you’re attempting to recover files to avoid overwriting data.

Conclusion: Initializing Disk Drill and starting the scan are crucial to finding the lost files.

Method 3: Scan for Deleted Files

Choose the appropriate scanning method: Quick Scan for recently deleted files or Deep Scan for more thorough scanning of your drive.
Wait patiently as Disk Drill scans your drive. Depending on the size of your drive and the chosen scan type, this process can take a few minutes to several hours.
Monitor the scanning progress within the Disk Drill interface, or you can pause and resume the scan if needed.

Note: Deep Scan will take longer but will increase your chances of recovering deleted files.

Conclusion: Completing the scan is essential to locate your permanently deleted files on the Mac.

Method 4: Review Found Files

Once the scan is complete, Disk Drill will display a list of recoverable files. Use the filters to sort through the files by type, size, and date.
Preview the files by clicking on the ‘eye’ icon to ensure they’re the correct ones you need to recover.
Select the files you want to recover by checking the boxes next to them.

Note: Previewing files before recovering can save you time by avoiding retrieval of irrelevant data.

Conclusion: Carefully reviewing and selecting the correct files is critical to the recovery process.

Method 5: Recover and Save Files

Click on the ‘Recover’ button after selecting the files you need.
Choose a recovery destination that’s different from the original location to prevent potential data overwriting issues.
Wait for Disk Drill to restore the selected files to the chosen destination.

Note: It’s recommended to save the recovered files to an external drive or a different partition for safety.

Conclusion: Successfully saving the recovered files to a new location ensures that your data is now secure.

Method 6: Additional Recovery Options

Explore Disk Drill’s extra data protection tools, such as Recovery Vault and Guaranteed Recovery, for future accidental deletions.
Use S.M.A.R.T. Monitoring within Disk Drill to keep an eye on the health of your drives.

Note: Utilizing Disk Drill’s additional features can provide an extra layer of data protection.

Conclusion: Using Disk Drill’s additional features complements your data recovery efforts and provides ongoing data protection.

2. Precautions and Tips:

Proactive Protection

Regular Backups: Use Time Machine or another backup system regularly to create copies of your essential files and system state.
External Storage: Keep a copy of important files on external storage devices.
Cloud Services: Utilize iCloud or other cloud storage services to synchronize and store your documents.

Mindful Computing

Confirm Deletions: Take a moment to confirm that the files marked for deletion are indeed the right ones.
Update Anti-virus Software: Keep your antivirus software updated to protect against malware that might cause data loss.
Power Surge Protection: Use a UPS or a surge protector to safeguard against data loss due to power outages.

3. Preserving Your Digital Life

Losing important files on your Mac can feel catastrophic, but it’s reassuring to know that tools like Disk Drill exist to help mitigate the disaster. Nevertheless, as someone who’s gone through the process of data recovery, I would stress the importance of preventive measures and the value of being prepared before such an event occurs.

Understanding how file deletion and storage works is also beneficial. When you delete a file, the system merely marks the space occupied by the file as available for reuse; the data still remains until new data overwrites it. This explains why quick action is critical when recovering files, and it also serves as a basis for how Disk Drill and other recovery tools function.

Additionally, as Mac users, we can explore other built-in utilities like the Terminal and use commands like ‘tmutil’ to work with Time Machine backups directly from the command line, which can be a valuable skill for advanced users.

Other noteworthy recovery solutions include iCloud’s recently deleted folder and checking for previous versions of files in apps such as Pages, Numbers, or Keynote through the file’s version history — a feature that has saved me on more than one occasion.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, while it can be disheartening to lose precious data, the combination of foresight in setting up protective measures and the utility of recovery tools like Disk Drill means you’re never completely at a loss. Moreover, Mac’s robust operating system provides several layers of preventive care, from Time Machine’s comprehensive backups to iCloud’s seamless sync across devices. By combining these tools and tips, you can navigate the oft-turbulent digital waters with a degree of certainty and peace of mind.

FAQ

Is it possible to recover files after emptying the Trash on a Mac?

Yes, it’s possible by using Time Machine if you have a backup, or through third-party data recovery software if no backup is available.

What should I do immediately after deleting a file I want to recover?

Immediately stop using the Mac to avoid overwriting the space where the deleted files were stored, enhancing the chances of recovery.

Can I use Time Machine to recover permanently deleted files?

If you’ve set up Time Machine on your Mac, you can restore deleted files from your backups, provided the files were backed up before deletion.

Are there any built-in tools in macOS to recover lost files?

macOS doesn’t have a built-in tool specifically for recovering deleted files, but you can use Time Machine or check for local snapshots on your machine.

How do third-party file recovery applications work?

Third-party applications scan your drive for remnants of deleted files and attempt to reconstruct them, often requiring deep scans that can take some time.

Is data recovery guaranteed when using recovery software?

No, the success of recovery depends on factors like the extent of the file’s overwriting and the effectiveness of the software used.

What is the best way to ensure my files are protected from permanent loss?

The best way to protect files is by regularly backing them up using Time Machine or a cloud backup service.

Can professional data recovery services help if software fails to recover files?

Professional data recovery services may recover files when software cannot, but their services can be costly and there’s no absolute guarantee of recovery.

Are file recovery programs for Mac free or paid?

There are both free and paid recovery programs available. Free programs may offer basic recovery, while paid versions tend to include more advanced features.

Where can I find reputable data recovery software for Mac?

Reputable data recovery software can be found on trusted software websites or directly on vendors’ official sites, like Disk Drill or EaseUS.