Forum Discussion
Can I recover files after emptying the Mac Trash? Help!
Don't worry, there is still a chance to recover files after emptying the Mac Trash, as long as too much new data is not written. You can try the AiseeeSoft data recovery first. I have used it to successfully recover emptied photos and documents before.
I followed this tutorial: (worked for me)
https://www.pctipdaily.com/recover-deleted-files-mac
Emptying the Trash on a Mac without Time Machine... that's a heart-sinking moment. Don't panic just yet! While it’s true that data recovery after that point can be a challenge, there are definitely things you can try. When you empty the Trash, the files aren't immediately gone. The space they occupied on your hard drive (or SSD) is marked as available for new data. The data itself is still there until that space is overwritten. The most critical thing is to stop using your Mac as much as possible to minimize the chance of new data overwriting your lost files.
How to recover files after emptying the Mac Trash?
Check iCloud or other Cloud storage to recover files after emptying the Mac trash. If you were using iCloud Drive or another cloud storage service (Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive, etc.), there's a chance your deleted files were synced there.
- Log in to your Cloud Account: Go to the website or use the app for the cloud storage service you were using (e.g., iCloud.com, Dropbox.com).
- Check the Trash or Deleted Files Folder: Look for a "Trash," "Deleted," or "Recently Deleted" folder within the cloud storage interface.
- Restore Files: If the files are there, select them and choose the option to "Restore" or "Recover."
After you realize you've emptied the Trash and need to recover files, stop using your Mac as much as possible. Every action you take on the computer increases the risk of overwriting the deleted data, making recovery more difficult or impossible. This is especially critical if you have an SSD.