How can I recover deleted data on a Mac using an app?

I accidentally deleted some important files on my Mac. I need a reliable app to recover this data. Any recommendations or steps would be greatly appreciated.

You can totally recover deleted files on a Mac using an app. A solid recommendation is the Disk Drill App. It’s a data recovery tool that’s easy to use and quite effective.

Here's a quick rundown of steps to recover your deleted data:
  1. Download and Install Disk Drill: Head to the Disk Drill website and download the app. Follow the installation instructions.

  2. Open Disk Drill: Once installed, open the app. You might need to grant it some permissions to access your disk.

  3. Select Drive for Scan: Choose the drive (usually your main Mac HD) where the files were deleted. Disk Drill will list all connected drives.

  4. Run a Scan: Click on the ‘Recover’ button to start scanning. Disk Drill offers both quick and deep scans, but if you’re having no luck with the quick scan, the deep scan option will give a more thorough search.

  5. Preview the Files: Once the scan is complete, Disk Drill will show you a list of recoverable files. You can preview the files to ensure they are what you want.

  6. Recover the Files: Select the files you want to recover and hit the ‘Recover’ button. Choose a location to save these files, ideally not the same drive where they were deleted from to avoid overwriting.

That should do the trick! Disk Drill is quite user-friendly and has helped me in many a lost-file situation.

Just a heads up, recovery success can vary depending on how long ago the file was deleted and how much data has been written on the drive since then. But Disk Drill definitely gives you a good chance of getting those important files back.

Good luck with your data recovery!

I’d second what @yozora mentioned, but just to add another layer, be aware that relying solely on Disk Drill might not be your only resort.

For those feeling a bit wary about downloading new apps, consider looking into Time Machine first if it’s been set up on your Mac. While Time Machine isn’t a direct recovery app, it can roll back your entire Mac to a specific date and time, effectively resurrecting those files. However, if you haven’t been diligent about backups, Disk Drill is indeed a top-notch alternative.

Here’s a brief rundown on another option besides Disk Drill:

  1. Use Time Machine: Navigate to your Time Machine backups through the system’s preference. Restore your Mac or specific files to a previous state if backups were made.

  2. File Recovery through Terminal: For those who are a bit more tech-savvy, there’s an option to retrieve deleted files using the Terminal app. This isn’t for everyone, and Disk Drill is generally easier, but for those who prefer that extra control: Open Terminal, use commands like cd to navigate to your deleted file’s folder, and then use mv <filename> <new_filename> to restore. Caution: This method is not foolproof.

Yo @yozora, while Disk Drill is indeed a powerful and user-friendly recommendation, sometimes even the robust Disk Drill recovery tool might not get back everything, depending on how long the files have been missing and how much the disk has been written over.

Regarding efficiency, it’s wise to use a combination of solutions. Check your trash bin, use Time Machine if available, and then run a vigorous deep scan with Disk Drill to maximize your chances.

To complement previous advice and in case the Disk Drill method alone isn’t successful, you could consider additional strategies like using cloud storage solutions if you had any backups online, e.g., iCloud. They often have file recovery features too.

Recovery success hinges on data overwriting. Once sectors on your disk have been overwritten by new data, recovery becomes increasingly complex. So, if you realize you’ve deleted something crucial, minimize usage of your device to maximize recovery success.

Good sense is to practice periodic backups to avoid these situations. Good luck retrieving those files!

Hey folks, just my two cents on the topic!

You know, Disk Drill is definitely a solid choice. I’ve used it a few times, and the user-friendly interface makes it a breeze. Plus, the ability to preview files before recovery is a godsend. But, let’s not forget the con—if you’re on a budget, the full version can be a bit pricey.

Here’s a twist that hasn’t been mentioned: PhotoRec. It’s an open-source option that doesn’t cost a dime. Granted, it’s not as polished and can be quite intimidating with its command-line interface, but it does the job quite well.

Pros and Cons for Disk Drill:

  • Pros: Easy to use, supports various file types, can preview files.
  • Cons: Full version is expensive, and the free version only allows limited recovery.

Now, I’ve seen EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard also being pretty effective. It’s another good alternative to Disk Drill. Similarly easy to use, though the pricing model is quite similar.

A key point that @yozora brought up is Time Machine. Honestly, it’s such an underused tool. If you’re regularly backing up (and I can’t stress this enough), it can save your bacon without needing third-party tools.

Lastly, to maximize recovery chances: After deleting files, immediately stop any new data writes to that drive. Instead of looking for apps right away, you might want to boot into recovery mode if possible.

As a final note, @chasseurdetoiles’s suggestion on using Terminal is great for those who are comfortable with it. Terminal commands can offer more control, but they can be risky and complex. If you’re not confident, sticking with Disk Drill or EaseUS might be safer options.

Hope this adds some more depth to the discussion and gives y’all more avenues to explore!