There are the following methods to restore deleted files on your Mac: 1. Check the wastebasket. If the files are not cleared, you can recover them directly; 2. Use the "Time Machine" backup to restore the data that has been backed up regularly; 3. Try a third-party data recovery software to retrieve the deleted but not overwritten files; 4. Check the version history in iCloud to restore the old version of the cloud document. The faster the operation, the higher the success rate, and avoiding new data overwriting the original file is the key.
It is actually not difficult to recover deleted files on your Mac. The key is to operate in time and know clearly where the files have gone after they have been deleted. Many users' first reaction after accidentally deleting files is that they are panicked, but in fact, as long as they are not overwritten, they can be retrieved in most cases.

1. Check if the wastebasket is available
If you just drag the file into the wastebasket or delete it by "moving to the wastebasket", it is still waiting to be emptied in the wastebasket. At this time, you only need to open the wastebasket, find the file, and right-click to select "Put Back to Origin".
- Open the Trash icon on the desktop
- Browse the files inside
- Right-click the file you want to recover and select "Put Back"
Note: Once you click "clear the wastebasket", the file will not be here, so you have to use other methods.

2. Use the Time Machine to backup and restore
If you have turned on the "Time Machine" backup function that comes with macOS before, it will save you much more trouble. This feature will regularly back up your entire system, including files you deleted accidentally.
The operation steps are as follows:

- Connect your Time Machine backup hard drive
- Click the Time Machine icon in the menu bar and select "Enter Time Machine"
- Find the time point before deletion through the timeline
- Find the file you need and click "Recover"
This trick is suitable for users who have set up automatic backups, and it is fast and complete to restore.
3. Try third-party data recovery software
If the file has been completely deleted and the time machine is not turned on, don't rush to give up. You can try some professional Mac data recovery tools, such as Disk Drill, EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard, etc. They can scan the disk when the file is deleted but not overwritten to retrieve some of the lost data.
The basic process for using this type of software is:
- Download and install trustworthy recovery software
- Select the disk or partition where the deleted file is located
- Start scanning (may take several minutes)
- Preview and restore found files
Note: The earlier the operation, the higher the success rate, because newly written data may overwrite the original file content.
4. Don't ignore the version history in iCloud
If your files are found in iCloud, such as Pages, Numbers, Keynote, etc., you can also check whether iCloud retains the old version.
How to operate:
- Open the file in Finder
- Click "File" in the menu bar → "version" → "Browse all versions"
- Check if there is a historical version you want to restore
Sometimes you accidentally save the wrong content, which is especially useful.
Basically these are the methods. The key to recovering files on a Mac is to move quickly. Don’t write too many new things to the disk, otherwise the original data will be easily overwritten, and it will really not be found.
The above is the detailed content of How to recover deleted files on Mac. For more information, please follow other related articles on the PHP Chinese website!

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