I accidentally deleted some important files from my Mac and emptied the Trash. I’m really stressed as these files are crucial for my work. Can anyone guide me on how to undelete files on a Mac? Any software or methods that can help?
Seriously? You deleted the files AND emptied the Trash? Ugh, the stress is real, but this is why backups exist, people! Anyway, your best bet now might be a third-party recovery tool. Disk Drill for Mac is pretty popular – it can scan and recover your lost files. It’s got a decent success rate and is user-friendly. But don’t get your hopes too high; this isn’t a miracle worker.
It’s definitely not free though, and it might take a while to scan everything. Plus, there’s no guarantee you’ll recover every single file. If you’re feeling desperate, check out this article with other options: Article to choose the best data recovery software for macOS users.
Next time, consider regular backups. It’ll save you a ton of stress.
Hey man, I’ve been there, and it sucks big time. 
So, first off, don’t expect miracles, but you can try Disk Drill for Mac. It didn’t work great for me, but some folks swear by it. You basically need to download it, scan your drive, and see if it can find anything. It’s kind of hit-or-miss though. Pay attention to the reviews, cuz it’s not always as perfect as they claim. Good luck, hope you get your files back! 
Recovering deleted files on a Mac, especially after emptying the Trash, can be stressful but not impossible. Here are some steps that might help you out:
-
Check for Backups:
- Time Machine: If you’ve been using Time Machine for backups, you’re in luck. Connect your Time Machine drive, open the folder where the files were located, and click the Time Machine icon in the menu bar to “Enter Time Machine.” You can then browse through backups to find and restore your files.
-
Use a Third-Party Data Recovery Tool:
- Sometimes, the files are still on the disk, just marked as free space. For a reliable data recovery tool, I recommend Disk Drill for Mac. It’s powerful and user-friendly.
- Download Disk Drill for Mac users here: https://www.cleverfiles.com/disk-drill-mac.html.
- Once installed, open Disk Drill, select the hard drive where the files were stored, and scan for lost data. It’s crucial to follow the prompts carefully to avoid overwriting any remaining data.
-
Commands in Terminal: For the more tech-savvy:
- Open Terminal and use the
ls -lha ~/.Trash/to check if perhaps some files were accidentally missed in the Trash. It’s a long shot if you’ve emptied the Trash, but sometimes it’s worth verifying.
- Open Terminal and use the
-
Cloud Services: If you were using cloud services like iCloud Drive, Google Drive, or Dropbox:
- Check their web versions. These services usually have a “Trash” or “Deleted Files” section where you can restore files within a certain period after deletion.
-
Professional Data Recovery Services: If the files are beyond DIY recovery methods, you might want to consider professional data recovery services. They can be costly but are efficient for critical data.
-
Ensure Future Protection: Once you’ve recovered your files, it’s a good practice to set up robust backup routines. Utilize Time Machine, cloud storage options, and regularly back up your essential files.
Tech users might want to note that when a file is deleted and the Trash is emptied, the file metadata is removed but the data blocks on the disk are only marked as available – not instantly wiped. This gives data recovery software a chance to restore the files if done quickly.
Best of luck, and hope you get your files back!
I totally get how losing important files can be super stressful. If you’ve already emptied the Trash, your chances of recovering those files depend on quick action and not writing new data to your drive. One of the most recommended tools for Mac data recovery is Disk Drill. This software isn’t just user-friendly but also pretty effective in recovering files even after the Trash has been emptied.
You can check out this independent review of Disk Drill for more details: Independent Disk Drill Review.
Here are some steps to get you started:
- Download and install Disk Drill on your Mac.
- Launch the program and select the drive where your files were stored.
- Click on ‘Recover’ to start scanning.
- Once the scan is complete, you can preview and recover your files.
In case Disk Drill doesn’t do the trick, consider professional data recovery services, though those can be pricey. Good luck!