How to Recover Deleted Files after Emptying Trash Mac?

Summary: This article explains how to recover emptied trash on mac. It covers four methods: using Stellar Data Recovery for Mac, recovering files through iCloud Drive, using Terminal commands, and restoring files from Time Machine backups. Each method provides step-by-step instructions to aid in data recovery.

You might think that once you empty the Trash on your Mac, the files inside are gone forever. But the truth is that you can still recover them. So, if you’re looking to recover deleted files after emptying the Trash on Mac for free, this article is for you.

The “Empty Trash” button is located right next to the frequently accessed “Services” menu. Also, you can empty the Trash bin on a Mac with a single click, so it’s no surprise that it can happen accidentally.

This guide will cover four ways to restore your permanently deleted files after emptying Trash on your Mac.

Table of Content:

• Recover Emptied Trash Mac: 4 Effective Methods
• Method 1: Restore Your Files with Stellar Data Recovery for Mac (Free)
• Method 2: Restore Your Files Using iCloud Drive
• Method 3: Restore Your Files Using the Terminal on Mac
• Method 4: Restore Your Files Using Time Machine Backups
• How to Enable Time Machine Backups?

Recover Emptied Trash Mac: 4 Effective Methods

Before you begin, ensure your macOS device is plugged into wall power. You don’t know how long your recovery will take, and you don’t want your Mac to lose power during the process.

Method 1: Restore Your Files with Stellar Data Recovery for Mac (Free)

The easiest and fastest way to restore your files is to use professional software like Stellar Data Recovery for Mac. You can download and use the tool for free without a credit card.

Here are the steps to use it:

1. Download Stellar Data Recovery for Mac.

2. Then, drag the disk image of Stellar Data Recovery to the “Applications” folder to install it.

3. Launch the application, and select the items you want to recover.

4. The next screen will show you all the storage devices connected to your computer. Select the one where you want to recover the files from.

5. Click “Scan” and wait for the scan to complete.

6. Select the files you want to recover, then click the “Recover”

7. Next, hit “browse”, and choose a folder where these recovered files will get saved. Click the “Save”

If the desired files do not appear in the preview, they may be permanently deleted. In this case, contacting a professional data recovery service might be necessary. However, before doing that, it is useful to check a few things, which we will explain next.

Our next method shows how to attempt data recovery via iCloud. This method allows you to recover emptied Trash on a Mac without using additional software.

Method 2: Restore Your Files Using iCloud Drive

To recover deleted files from the emptied Trash on Mac, you should check your iCloud account for them. If you can find them there, you can restore them to your computer.

Here are the steps you should follow:

1. Open up a Finder window, and click on “iCloud Drive” in the sidebar. If you don’t see the sidebar, click the Open Sidebar () button.

2. Click on the “Recently Deleted” in the iCloud Drive sidebar.

3. Browse through the recently deleted items to find the files you need.

4. Select the desired files and click on the “Recover” button to restore them.

5. The file will be removed from Recently Deleted and can be found in its original location.

Note: iCloud Drive is not the same as iCloud, so keep that distinction in mind.

Also Read: Mac Documents Folder Emptied Suddenly – How to Recover Data?

Method 3: Restore Your Files Using the Terminal on Mac

Disclaimer: It is not possible to restore permanently deleted files using the Terminal on Mac. For that, you’ll need professional software. However, you can sometimes restore files you’ve deleted recently, using the Terminal.

Here is how you can do that.

1. First, open up the “Applications” folder, scroll down to “Utilities”, and then click on “Terminal” to open it.

2. A new Terminal window will open. There, type in “cd Trash” without the quote marks, and hit return.

3. Then, type in “mv (file name) ./” without the quote marks, and hit return. In our example, our file name is “picture4”, so we’ll type in “mv picture4 ./”.

4. When done, type in “Quit” in the Terminal window and hit return.

5. Next, open up a Finder Window, and look for the files you just recovered. The files should appear in the location where they were deleted from.

And that was how to recover your files on macOS using the Terminal. Next, we’ll understand how to use the Time Machine.

Also Read: How to Delete Time Machine Backups and Snapshots?

Method 4: Restore Your Files Using Time Machine Backups

Another common way to recover emptied Trash on a Mac is to use a Time Machine backup.

Here’s how you can do that:

1. Launch Time Machine. You can find it in the application window. Alternatively, hit Command + Space, and type “Time Machine” into Spotlight search.

2. You can cycle through your Time Machine backups using the arrows on the right. The up arrow takes you back in time, and vice-versa.

3. Once you’ve found the file(s) you want to restore, select it/them with a single left-click. If you have selected only one file, you can preview it by hitting the spacebar while it is selected. Your preview will open in a new window.

4. Once you’ve previewed the file(s), select them and click on “Restore”. 

5. They will now appear in the location where they were before they were deleted.

That said, not everyone has Time Machine backups set up. If you are one of these people, try recovering your files using the Terminal. But we do recommend that you set up Time Machine backups. Here’s how you can do that.

Also Read: How to Recover Files From Corrupt Time Machine Hard Drive?

How to Enable Time Machine Backups?

To prevent future data loss and simplify recovering emptied Trash on your Mac, set up Time Machine backups using an external hard drive.

Here’s how to go about it:

1. First, make sure your hard drive is connected to your Mac.

2. Then, go to the Apple menu > System Settings.

3. Then, go to General > Time Machine.

4. Click on “Add Backup Disk”, and enter your administrator password.

5. Select your drive from the list, and select “Set Up Disk”, and follow the on-screen prompts.

Regular backups ensure you can easily restore files, even if they’ve been emptied from the Trash.

And with that, we come to the end of this article on how to recover emptied Trash on macOS devices. We hope you found it useful, and we’ll see you in the next one.

In the meantime, if you have any questions, please leave them in the comment section below. One of our friendly and experienced professionals will respond to your query shortly.

FAQs

1. Can I recover files from an encrypted Mac hard drive after emptying the Trash?

After emptying the Trash, you can still recover files from an encrypted Mac hard drive, but there are several challenges involved. This process requires a specialized tool, like Stellar Data Recovery for Mac, which can handle encrypted drives and the correct encryption password for the drive. Without meeting both these requirements, file recovery from an encrypted drive is highly improbable. Even with the right tools and password, success is not guaranteed, as it depends on factors, such as the time elapsed since deletion and subsequent disk activity.

2. How long do files remain recoverable after emptying the Trash on Mac?

The recoverability window for files emptied from the Trash on a Mac varies, but prompt action typically yields better results. Stellar Data Recovery for Mac can potentially retrieve files for days or weeks after deletion, though success rates diminish with increased disk usage and time elapsed. For optimal recovery chances, initiate the process immediately after realizing the files are missing.

3. Is it possible to recover files from a Mac that won’t boot?

Recovery of files from a non-booting Mac is feasible through two primary methods. First, you can create a bootable USB drive containing data recovery software and use it to access the non-booting Mac’s drive. Alternatively, you can physically remove the drive from the non-booting Mac and connect it as an external disk to a functioning Mac for recovery. Both approaches allow access to the non-booting Mac’s file system, enabling the use of data recovery tools to retrieve lost files. The choice between methods depends on technical skill level and available resources.

4. Can I recover files from a Time Machine backup if I have reset my Mac?

Restoring files from a Time Machine backup remains possible even after resetting your Mac. The process involves two main steps. First, complete the initial setup of your reset Mac. Then, utilize the Migration Assistant tool to restore your data from the Time Machine backup. This method allows you to recover your files, settings, and applications to their state at the time of the last backup, effectively reversing the reset process and restoring your Mac to its previous configuration.

5. Are there any risks associated with using Terminal commands for Trash recovery?

Yes, improper use of Terminal commands can potentially cause data loss or system issues. It’s advisable to use this method only if you’re comfortable with command-line interfaces.