How to Recover Files From Emptied Trash on Mac – Guide
It’s happened to all of us: you delete a file, empty the Recycle Bin, and suddenly realize it was important. But don’t panic - there are ways to recover deleted files from your Mac’s Recycle Bin. Don’t rely on the Undo shortcut or Terminal commands - they won’t help here.
Can you recover files after emptying the Mac recycle bin?
Yes, it is possible to recover deleted files from a MacBook or iMac. Even after the icon has disappeared from its original location, the data remains intact and can be retrieved.
Deleting a file doesn’t mean it’s gone for good - the space it occupied is marked as ‘available’ and can be overwritten by new data, making recovery more difficult.
If you have a Time Machine backup, this method can help you recover deleted files. Otherwise, it won’t work.
If you have a backup, use it to restore your files following the steps provided.
Step 1: Start Time Machine
To begin using Time Machine on your Mac, click the Apple icon in the top left corner of your screen and select System Preferences. From there, you’ll find the Time Machine icon at the bottom of the page.
To access Time Machine, click the clock icon on the Mac menu bar.
Step 2: Locate your file
Recovering files from the emptied recycle bin is possible with Time Machine, provided the backup storage is connected. To do so, simply browse your file system backups to locate the lost file.
To quickly locate a file, use Spotlight Search: press Command + Spacebar to open the search bar and type in the file name.
Step 3: Restore your file
To recover a lost file, simply click “Restore” on the backup storage media to bring it back to your Mac.
Time Machine is the go-to solution for recovering files from an emptied recycle bin. To ensure your data is safe, it’s important to regularly back up with this built-in tool.
If you don’t have a Time Machine backup, data recovery software can help recover lost data.
Recover files using the data recovery tool
With a variety of brands and user interfaces, the Internet is home to numerous data recovery software programs. Despite their differences, these programs all work in a similar fashion.
This Mac scanning service offers a convenient way to recover lost files, allowing users to easily restore their data.
Using a data recovery tool on Mac storage is only effective if no additional files have been copied to the device. Doing so could overwrite the data you are attempting to recover, making the tool useless.
Recovering lost files is possible with the help of a data recovery tool. Follow the steps outlined to get your files back.
Step 1: Download and install the data recovery tool
Rather than downloading a data recovery tool, Mac users should consider using a flash drive to recover lost files, as any new file on the SSD can overwrite them.
Many file recovery tools are available for purchase, but many offer a free trial period to help you recover your deleted files. Popular options include iBeesoft Data Recovery for Mac, EaseUS and Disk Drill.
Step 2: run the software and click recovery
When using certain data recovery tools, users must manually select the drive containing the recycle bin and click “Recover” before the program can scan their computer.
Choose the data you wish to restore from the list of files that will appear.
Step 3: Restore your file
Disk Drill users should be aware that clicking “Recover Now” can corrupt their file, and should instead select a new location to store the restored file.
Removable storage devices can be a great way to ensure your files are backed up and easily restored.
Final note
If you’ve accidentally emptied your Mac’s Trash and need to recover lost files, this guide can help. Have questions? Reach out for assistance. Share the article with friends who may find it useful.
