Apr 16, 2020 To recover files from your Mac’s hard drive follow these steps: Download and install Disk Drill on a different disk than the one you will recover. Launch the app and select the drive. Click Recover to start scanning the drive for files.
While you’re using a Mac to work or study, it is very likely you need to recover data from a Mac hard drive. There are multiple reasons for why you lost the data from Mac hard drive. Basically, they are:
1. Unintentionally deletion. You select a photo and tap the 'Delete' button, or drag them unconsciously to the trash bin.
2. Intentionally deletion. You may think you don’t need the files and delete them. After then, it proved you need them back. Or someone, but not you, used your computer and deleted the files you need deliberately.
3. The hard drive on your Mac failed. Due to system errors or corruption, your hard drive failed, and you can’t open files on it or even worse can’t access it at all.
4. Mac hard drive was incorrectly formatted due to upgrade or reinstall the system.
5. Due to virus attacks, software crashes, improper operation results data loss from Mac hard drive
Whether how you lost the files, and want to recover data from hard drive on Mac, you should do the task as soon as possible. Otherwise, you’ll lose them forever.
The theory of Mac hard drive data recovery: whether the lost data are deleted or missing, they are still on your Mac. Even being deleted, they are still somewhere on your computer, but become invisible, and waiting to be overwritten by new data. In this case, the sooner you recover them, the better result you’ll get. Here are the 2 most commonly used ways to recover data from Mac hard drive.
Method #1. Recover Files from Mac Hard Drive with Mac Hard Drive Data Recovery Software
To Mac hard disk recovery, iBeesoft Data Recovery for Mac can be helpful. From its name, you can see what it is. It is a professional Mac HD recovery tool for users to recover deleted/lost photos, videos, audio files, emails, RFT, documents, PPTs, Excels, and more from Mac hard drive or other removable devices. It is a lightweight tool only focusing on data recovery.
Your Safe & Effective Mac Hard Drive Recovery Software
(803)
It can completely recover files from external hard drive, memory card, Mac hard disk, USB drive, and more within 3 steps.
Powerful 2 scan modes, can ensure the success of data recovery from the Mac hard disk.
Fully compatible with recover data from Mac hard drive in Mac OS X 10.10 (Yosemite), Mac OS X 10.11 (El Capitan), macOS 10.12 (Sierra), macOS 10.13 (High Sierra), macOS 10.14 (Mojave), and more
Here are the simple steps for how to use iBeesoft Data Recovery to recover the target files from your Mac hard drive. First, please click the download button to get the Mac version of HDD data recovery software. It is a normal software tool with .dmg file as its installation package. Please install it on your Mac. It is very safe to use it, since it is virus free and does not collect any of your personal information at all.
Step 1. Launch the Mac hard drive recovery software
After you install the utility, please launch it on your Mac. In the startup window, all of the file types are selected by default. If the target files you want to recover are in 2 or 3 types, you should uncheck the unwanted ones, shortening the scanning process. Next, click 'Start' to begin the restore Mac hard drive process.
Step 3. Select hard drive to scan
In the next window, all drive on your Mac are displayed there. You’re supposed to choose the hard drive from where your files have lost and click the 'Scan' button to scan and recover data from Mac hard drive.
Step 4. Recover data from hard drive on Mac
It takes a few minutes to finish the scanning process. To be honest, the longer it takes, the better result you’ll get. You know, the time it takes to scan fully depends on how many files it find and scan. In the result window, when you find the files you want to recover, click 'Recover' to save them back to your Mac.
It is the best and efficient way to recover data in Mac hard drive. You know, you can do nothing manually to recover lost files, especially you deleted them and emptied the trash can. The sooner the better. Of course, if you have enabled the auto backup feature in Mac Time Machine, you can try method #2 to restore files from hard drive on Mac.
Method #2. Recover Data from Hard Drive on Mac by Restoring from Time Machine
Restore Mac From Backup Drive
It is a nightmare to lose data from hard drive on Mac. That’s the reason why Apple use Time Machine to keep an updated and exact copy of files from Macintosh internal hard drives. When you find you have lost files and want to restore files from Time Machine backup, you can try the following steps:
1.Type in 'Time Machine' in the Spotlight search box and search for it. Find Time Machine in the search result and open it.
2.Click the folder where your target files used to be.
3.Click the upward arrow to the right the Time Machine window, scroll through backup files until you see the deleted files appear.
4.Hold Command button to select the target files and click 'Restore'.
Reinstall from macOS Recovery
macOS Recovery makes it easy to reinstall the Mac operating system, even if you need to erase your startup disk first. All you need is a connection to the Internet. If a wireless network is available, you can choose it from the Wi-Fi menu , which is also available in macOS Recovery.
1. Start up from macOS Recovery
To start up from macOS Recovery, turn on your Mac and immediately press and hold one of the following sets of keys on your keyboard. Release the keys when you see an Apple logo, spinning globe, or other startup screen.
Command (⌘)-R
Reinstall the latest macOS that was installed on your Mac (recommended).
Option-⌘-R
Upgrade to the latest macOS that is compatible with your Mac.
Shift-Option-⌘-R
Reinstall the macOS that came with your Mac, or the closest version still available.
You might be prompted to enter a password, such as a firmware password or the password of a user who is an administrator of this Mac. Enter the requested password to continue.
When you see the utilities window, you have started up from macOS Recovery.
2. Decide whether to erase (format) your disk
You probably don't need to erase, unless you're selling, trading in, or giving away your Mac, or you have an issue that requires you to erase. If you need to erase before installing macOS, select Disk Utility from the Utilities window, then click Continue. Learn more about when and how to erase.
3. Install macOS
When you're ready to reinstall macOS, choose Reinstall macOS from the Utilities window. Then click Continue and follow the onscreen instructions. You will be asked to choose a disk on which to install.
If the installer asks to unlock your disk, enter the password you use to log in to your Mac.
If the installer doesn't see your disk, or it says that it can't install on your computer or volume, you might need to erase your disk first.
If the installer is for a different version of macOS than you expected, learn about macOS Recovery exceptions.
If the installer offers you the choice between installing on Macintosh HD or Macintosh HD - Data, choose Macintosh HD.
Please allow installation to complete without putting your Mac to sleep or closing its lid. During installation, your Mac might restart and show a progress bar several times, and the screen might be empty for minutes at a time.
If your Mac restarts to a setup assistant, but you're selling, trading in, or giving away your Mac, press Command-Q to quit the assistant without completing setup. Then click Shut Down. When the new owner starts up the Mac, they can use their own information to complete setup.
macOS Recovery exceptions
The version of macOS offered by macOS Recovery might vary in some cases:
Mac Os Hard Drive Recovery
If macOS Sierra 10.12.4 or later has never been installed on this Mac, Option-Command-R installs the macOS that came with your Mac, or the closest version still available. And Shift-Option-Command-R isn't available.
If you erased your entire disk instead of just the startup volume on that disk, macOS Recovery might offer only the macOS that came with your Mac, or the closest version still available. You can upgrade to a later version afterward.
If your Mac has the Apple T2 Security Chip and you never installed a macOS update, Option-Command-R installs the latest macOS that was installed on your Mac.
If you just had your Mac logic board replaced during a repair, macOS Recovery might offer only the latest macOS that is compatible with your Mac.
Mac Hard Drive Recovery Software Free
If you can't get macOS Recovery to offer the installer you want, you might be able to use one of the other ways to install macOS.
Mac Hard Drive Restore Software Download
Other ways to install macOS
Restore Hard Drive To Factory
You can also install macOS from the App Store or Software Update preferences. If you can't install macOS Catalina, you might be able to install an earlier macOS, such as macOS Mojave, High Sierra, Sierra, El Capitan, or Yosemite.
Or create a bootable installer disk, then use that disk to install macOS on your Mac or another Mac.