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Asainna's avatar
Asainna
Bronze Contributor
Jan 10, 2025
Solved

What is the best data recovery for Mac in 2025? Please recommend!

A few days ago, I accidentally deleted a very important work folder on my MacBook, and the key is that I haven't backed it up yet! 😭 I couldn't find it in the Trash, and I searched for data recovery for mac tools online. I feel that there are too many options, and I have no idea which one is really reliable. Has anyone used the best data recovery tool for Mac, which has a high recovery rate, fast speed and stability?

My device is a MacBook with an M1 chip, running macOS Ventura, and I usually rely on it for work. Although I also have a Windows 11 laptop, I don't use it often, and I want to find a data recovery software optimized for Mac. Does anyone have any reliable recommendations that are still actively updated in 2025? Please share your personal experience! Thank you very much! 🙏

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  • RonaldWhite's avatar
    RonaldWhite
    Iron Contributor
    Jan 10, 2025

    After accidentally deleting files last time, I desperately studied various methods of data recovery for Mac. Finally, I summarized several simple and useful tips to share with you! Some of them don’t even require tools, and can be solved by the system’s own functions.

    1. Try the Snapshots function
    Many people don’t know that macOS actually automatically generates local snapshots (as long as you use the APFS file system). This is also a hidden data recovery for Mac capability.

    Steps:

    1. Open the Finder.
    2. Click the disk on the left (such as "Macintosh HD").
    3. Right-click the disk and select "Show Info" to see if it is an APFS file system.

    If it is, you can try to view the snapshots and restore the data through the terminal command tmutil (this is a little more advanced, and you can check the detailed tutorial again).

    2. iCloud Cloud Recovery
    If your files were originally stored on the desktop or Documents folder, and iCloud synchronization is turned on, you can try to retrieve them from iCloud.

    Steps:

    1. Open a browser and log in to the iCloud website (icloud.com).
    2. Click "Settings" and find "Advanced > Recover Files" below.
    3. Select the files you need and click Recover.
    4. iCloud is another powerful data recovery for Mac tool, especially the synchronization function of documents and desktop files, which saved me several times!
    • Skyler-B's avatar
      Skyler-B
      Iron Contributor
      Jan 10, 2025

      While Time Machine is a powerful and widely used backup solution for Mac users, it may not always be the most suitable option for everyone’s data recovery needs. Here are several reasons why relying solely on Time Machine might not be ideal.

      1.Dependence on External Hardware
      Time Machine requires an external storage device, such as an external hard drive, Network Attached Storage (NAS), or a Time Capsule, to store backups. This dependence on physical hardware introduces potential points of failure. If the external drive becomes damaged, lost, or disconnected, your backup process can be interrupted, potentially leaving you without recent backups. Additionally, managing and maintaining external hardware can be cumbersome, especially for users who prefer a more hands-off approach.

      2. Limited Offsite Backup
      Time Machine primarily creates local backups. In the event of physical damage to your Mac—such as theft, fire, or natural disasters—both your device and the external backup drive could be compromised simultaneously. Without an offsite backup solution, recovering your data becomes significantly more challenging. Cloud-based backups, like iCloud or other third-party services, offer the advantage of storing your data in geographically dispersed data centers, providing an additional layer of protection against local catastrophes.

      3. Storage Capacity Limitations
      While Time Machine can handle large amounts of data, the capacity is ultimately limited by the size of your external storage device. As your data grows, you may need to invest in larger or additional drives to accommodate ongoing backups. Managing multiple drives can become unwieldy and may incur additional costs. Cloud storage solutions typically offer scalable storage options, allowing you to increase your backup capacity seamlessly as your needs evolve.

      4. Potential for Data Corruption
      If the external backup drive used by Time Machine becomes corrupted, your entire backup history could be compromised. Recovering from a corrupted Time Machine backup can be difficult and may require specialized tools or professional assistance. Cloud-based backups often include built-in redundancies and data integrity checks, minimizing the risk of data corruption and ensuring that your backups remain reliable.

      IMOP, iCloud is much better data recovery for Mac solution than Time Machine.

  • Tomilsonw's avatar
    Tomilsonw
    Silver Contributor
    Jan 10, 2025

    Unfortunately, I've been in this situation myself, and I understand your frantic feelings. I accidentally deleted a bunch of photos from my Mac once, and it nearly killed me. But don't worry. There are two ways to recover it, without the need for third-party data recovery for Mac tools. While we can't guarantee 100% success, it's a good place to start.

    Method 1: Recover from the Recycle Bin
    I want to remind you that, as hard as we try, sometimes we get too scared and overlook small details. The Trash is the most basic data recovery method on a Mac if the file was recently deleted. Open the Trash (right-click the icon in the Dock) and see if the folder is there. If so, you can directly right-click "Replace" to recover it.

    Method 2: Recover using Time Machine
    This is a very easy-to-use data recovery tool that comes with your Mac, but it requires that you have enabled Time Machine backups beforehand.

    Steps to recover using Time Machine (Mac's built-in data recovery method):

    1. First, check if you have backed up using Time Machine before. If you have a backup drive, connect it or make sure it's connected to any network backup drives you've set up (such as a Time Capsule).
    2. Click the Time Machine icon (it looks like a clock) in the top-right corner of your screen and select "Enter Time Machine." If you don't see the icon, you can enable it in System Settings > Control Center.
    3. Time Machine will open a timeline interface showing when each backup was made. Use the timeline on the side to scroll to the date before the file was deleted and find the corresponding file or folder.
    4. Select the file you want to restore and press the spacebar to preview it (to make sure it's the file you want). Once you're sure it's the right one, click the Restore button and your file will be restored to its original location.

    Notes:

    1. Time Machine is a very powerful data recovery software for Mac, but only if you have backups. If you've never used Time Machine before, this tip won't work for you.
    2.  If you're worried about running into similar problems in the future, we strongly recommend setting up regular backups of your hard drive in System Preferences > Time Machine to increase the reliability of restoring data on your Mac.
    3. I hope these steps are clear and easy to follow and help you recover your files. 

    While these methods are the simplest and best data recovery for Mac, they do have limitations. For example, the Trash can only recover recently deleted data and requires a previous Time Machine backup. If you often use your Mac for work, we strongly recommend that you turn on Time Machine from now on so that you don't have to worry about losing data next time. đŸ’Ș

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