How to Recover Data from Mac Trash

If you’re a regular user of Mac, then you should be pretty familiar with the macOS Trash Bin. This is a place that temporarily keeps the files you have deleted from your device’s different folders and locations. In simple words, whenever you erase a file from your Mac, it goes to the Trash Bin. Thus, if you accidentally remove any file, you can recover it from the Trash Bin later. But what if you have already emptied your Trash? Is there no way to recover the data gone from Mac Trash? Fortunately, that’s not the case. In this article, we will show you four ways to easily recover data from Mac Trash. Without further ado, let’s jump in.

1. Use Time Machine to Recover Data from Mac Trash

Don’t want to use third-party data recovery software? If you want to use native Mac software to recover data from Mac trash, Time Machine is the best choice. With this pre-installed native app, you can pull out data from previously backed up data to restore your deleted files. This is especially true for those who regularly back up their computer data with this app. To retrieve the data from your emptied Trash using Time Machine, follow these simple steps:

1. First, open the “Time Machine” app on your Mac computer. To do that, just click on the “Time Machine” icon (a clock icon) on the menu bar of your computer. You can also launch it via the “Terminal” app.
2. Once Time Machine opens, you will find all your previously backed up data separated by time, date, and name. Check for a backup file that was backed up before the deletion of your file from the Trash. Now, click on it.
3. Inside the backup file, look for the data you want to recover. Once you find the files and select them, click on the “Restore” button to complete the file recovery.

Congratulations! You have successfully recovered the data deleted from the Trash.

2. Restore Deleted Files from Trash Using iCloud

iCloud is a popular cloud storage service many Apple users employ back up their important data. If you regularly back up your Mac’s data to iCloud, you can easily get back any of it without using third-party data restoration software. Here’s how you can do it:

1. Open the browser on your Mac and go to the official iCloud website.
2. Next, use your Apple ID credentials to sign in to your iCloud account.
3. After that, click on the “Account Settings” option.
4. Now, click on the “Restore Files” option under the “Advanced” section. iCloud will show you all the files available for restoration.
5. Find the files you’re looking to recover and mark the checkboxes to select them. You can also select all the available recoverable files by clicking on the “Select All” checkbox.
6. Click on the “Restore Files” button to download all the selected files back to your Mac device.

3. Use a Professional Data Recovery Software for Mac

The previous two methods will only work if you have backed up your Mac files prior to their deletion. Therefore, if you don’t back up your Mac data on a regular basis, the chances of getting those files using the methods mentioned above are pretty slim. But don’t fret. You can still get your precious data back using professional third-party data rescue software. These applications will scan your Mac’s storage device and pull out the recoverable data from its partitions using complex algorithms. Just make sure that the software you choose comes from a reputable data recovery company and has lots of positive reviews.

Interestingly, most data recovery applications have similar user interfaces and restoration processes. Ergo, all you have to do is install the application on your Mac and go through the following steps:

1. Open the data recovery software on your Mac and select the drive where your Trash Bin data is stored.
2. Once you select the right drive, click on the “Scan / Restore / Search for lost data” button of the software to start the scanning process. 
3. After the scan is complete, the application will compile a list of all the recoverable files that have already been deleted from your Mac’s Trash bin. Now, review the data to find the files you’re looking to recover. Once you find them, select them all.
4. Next, click on the “Recover” button to start rescuing that data. The app will ask you for a location to download the files. Select a location and click the “OK” button. Now, the data you picked will be downloaded to your chosen location.

Please Note: To increase the chances of retrieving the data successfully, you should not use your Mac’s internal storage to save any new files or data. We strongly recommend you install the data retrieval software on an external storage media such as a flash drive. 

4. Contact a Data Restoration Company to Recover Data from Mac Trash

If even a data recovery software is unable to recover the data erased from Mac Trash, it’s probably time to contact an experienced data rescue company to do it for you. Please note that professional data recovery from a reputable company might cost you at least $150. Depending on your requirement, it can easily stretch to $700. The price unsurprisingly varies from country to country, but the service is nonetheless expensive. However, if the data is very important for you and all other methods fail, it’s the only viable option.

Professional data recovery companies use advanced industry-grade professional software and innovative techniques to retrieve data even from the most damaged storage device. We already explained the way a data recovery center works. Here are a few things you need to know:

• If you’re looking for a professional data recovery company online, always focus on the companies that have a good reputation and many positive reviews. 
• Once you select the company, contact them and ask for instructions for shipping to deliver your device or storage media to their lab. If the company lab is near your home, it’s better to go there personally.
• The data recovery specialists will conduct a primary inspection of your device to determine the necessary process and determine the cost of complete recovery.
• Once you agree with the repair and recovery cost, the experts will go through the data recovery procedure and put all the recovered files in a new storage device. You can either provide them with a new storage media or directly buy one at a lower cost.
• After that, all you need to do is pay the bill. Once the bill is cleared, the recovered data and the storage devices will be delivered to you.
• The data recovery company might keep the recovered data in their system for one week. Thus, if anything goes wrong, they can deliver you the data again safely. After 7-10 days, they will completely wipe the data off from their system.