Your essential data retrieval toolkit

Macs are considered safe devices because of their robust security features, regular updates, built-in encryption, and strong malware protection.

However, sometimes data loss problems may occur on your Mac due to accidental deletion, formatting errors or software crashes. Losing data on Mac can be a stressful experience, but the good news is that there are several free Mac data recovery tools and manual workarounds online that you can try for hassle-free data recovery.

In this compre­hensive guide, we will explore various methods including manual workarounds and a free Mac file recovery tool that you can try for easy and quick data recovery. Just apply the methods one by one to recover your deleted files. Let’s begin!

What causes files to be deleted on Mac?

Before using a free Mac data recovery method to recover lost or deleted files, it is important to under­stand why data loss usually occurs. Some common reasons for deleting files on Mac are:

• Accidental deletion: Files may have been acciden­tally deleted while cleaning up storage or managing other files.
• Formatting Errors: Formatting a drive or partition can result in data loss if not done properly.
• Software crashes: Unexpected appli­cation crashes can result in unsaved work being lost.
• System Updates: Occasionally, updating macOS may result in data loss if an error occurs during the update process.
• Virus or malware attacks: Although they are less common on Macs, malicious software such as viruses or malware can still damage or delete data.
• Physical Damage: Hardware failures such as a damaged hard drive can also lead to deletion of data on your device.

Recover lost files with free Mac Data File Recovery Tool

If you are looking for the simplest approach Recover deleted files on Mac, then Mac data recovery software will definitely work. With tools like Stellar Data Recovery Free for Mac, you can recover deleted files not only in a few simple steps but also for free. The software supports recov­ering deleted photos, videos, documents, and other types of files without too much effort.

There are several features that make Stellar Data Recovery Free tool the best tool for lost file recovery. This contains:

• Recover deleted files even from the emptied Recycle Bin.
• Supports recov­ering files deleted from internal or external storage devices, encrypted devices, crashed computers, etc.
• Compatible with Mac devices equipped with the latest M3 and T2 chips.
• Provides “Pause and Resume” scanning and allows files to be restored during scanning.
• Supports Mac devices running macOS Sierra 10.12 up to macOS Sonoma 14 Edition.
• Recovers up to 1GB file for free. There are also several paid versions of the software available, varying in price and features.

How to recover deleted files on Mac with this free Mac file recovery tool:

Step 1: Download and install Stellar Data Recovery Free software on your Mac. Launch the software, select the file type you want to recover from the home page and click Next.

Step 2: Now in the “Recover from” window, select the storage media where the files were saved before deletion and click “Scan” to start the scanning process.

Step 3: After the scan completes, preview the recov­erable files and select the ones you want to recover. Click the “Recover” button to save selected files to the desired location.

Other Alternatives to Recover Deleted Files on Mac

Along with the above free Mac data recovery software, you can apply the manual approaches listed below to recover deleted files:

Method 01: Recover files from Recycle Bin

Every deleted file on Mac ends up in the built-in Trash, where it is temporarily stored for 30 days before being perma­nently deleted. To recover your lost or deleted files on Mac directly from Trash, follow the steps below:

• First, open Trash from the Dock.
• Find and select the deleted files you want to recover.
• Right-click a deleted file and select the “Reset” option to restore it to its original location.

Method 02: Use Time Machine backups

If the deleted file is not present in the Trash, it may have been perma­nently deleted from your Mac. In such cases, you can use previ­ously created backups to recover your lost files.

Mac offers a built-in Time Machine backup feature that automat­i­cally backs up your entire system, including files, apps, and system settings. How to Recover Lost Files on Mac Using Time Machine Backups:

• Connect your Time Machine backup drive to your Mac.
• Launch Finder and go to the folder where the lost files were located.
• Click the Time Machine icon in the menu bar and select Enter Time Machine.
• Use the timeline in the right pane to browse different backup versions.
• Select the files you want to restore and click “Recover” to save them back to your device.

Method 03: Restore from iCloud Backup

Another backup alter­native that you can use to recover lost files on Mac is iCloud backups. If you synced iCloud to back up your files on your Mac, follow these steps to use it to recover lost data:

• Open any web browser on your Mac and go to icloud.com.
• Sign in with your Apple ID and password.
• Click iCloud Drive and browse to the folder where the lost files were saved.
• Select the files you want to recover and download them to your Mac.

Preventive measures to avoid future data loss on Mac

Here are some additional tips you can consider to avoid deleting files on your Mac:

• Regular backups: Back up your data regularly using Time Machine, iCloud, or external drives to ensure you always have a copy of your important files.
• Use reliable antivirus software: Install antivirus software and update it regularly to protect your Mac from malware and viruses that can cause data loss.
• Avoid Physical Damage: Handle your Mac with care and do not expose it to physical damage, extreme temper­a­tures, or humidity.
• Keep software up to date: Regularly update your macOS and appli­ca­tions to the latest versions to ensure they are secure and have the latest features.
• Be careful when deleting: Double-check before deleting files to make sure you don’t acciden­tally delete important data.

Summary

Recov­ering lost data on Mac can be a challenging task but with the above methods and free Mac data recovery softwareyou can easily recover lost data. Whether you restore from Trash, use Time Machine or iCloud backups, or use third-party Mac data recovery software, there are several methods you can use to recover your valuable files. Additionally, imple­menting preventive measures can signif­i­cantly reduce the risk of data loss in the future.