How to Handle APFS Data Recovery

Data loss on an APFS drive can result from deletion, corrupted volumes, or formatting errors, leaving you without access to your files. The solution is to use specialized tools to recover lost files, repair volumes, and restore deleted data. These tools have been proven reliable across various scenarios, and this guide provides detailed steps to help you recover data from hard drives, repair APFS volumes on Mac, and retrieve lost files.

What is APFS and Why It’s Important for Mac Users

Apple introduced the Apple File System (APFS) in 2017 with macOS High Sierra, replacing the older HFS+ file system. APFS was designed to improve efficiency and performance, particularly on solid-state drives (SSDs), though it is compatible with both SSDs and traditional hard drives. While it provides several enhancements, including faster file access, better data integrity, and strong encryption, APFS is optimized for flash storage and SSDs. Features like space sharing between volumes, snapshots, and native encryption make it ideal for modern Macs, offering superior file system management compared to HFS+.

Despite these advantages, the complexity of APFS can make data recovery more difficult in the event of data loss. For example, the TRIM command on SSDs permanently deletes data blocks, making recovery nearly impossible if TRIM is enabled. Encryption and snapshots further complicate recovery efforts, requiring specialized software to retrieve files effectively. In the following sections, we guide you through tools and methods to recover files from APFS drives, addressing challenges like encryption, SSD-specific issues, and corrupted volumes.

How to Handle Data Recovery from Encrypted APFS Drives

Before we recover data from an encrypted APFS drive, it’s important to understand why decryption must happen first. APFS supports native encryption at both the file and volume level, making all data stored on the drive unreadable without the correct decryption key. This encryption, often managed through FileVault, transforms data into an unreadable format that requires a password or recovery key to access.

When FileVault encrypts an APFS volume, it scrambles the entire contents of the drive, including the file system metadata, making it impossible for recovery software to interact with the data structure. Without decryption, recovery tools cannot identify file locations or metadata, and thus, no data recovery is possible.

Decryption restores access to the file system, allowing recovery software to perform a scan for lost or deleted files.

How to decrypt an APFS drive:

1. On your Mac, click the Apple menu and select “System Settings.”
2. In System Preferences, find and click “Security & Privacy.”
3. Navigate to the “FileVault” tab. If FileVault is turned on, the drive is encrypted.
4. To turn off encryption, click the lock icon in the bottom-left corner if there is one. Enter your administrator password when prompted.
5. Click “Turn Off FileVault.” The decryption process will begin, and depending on the size of the drive, it may take several hours to complete.
6. Once the decryption finishes, the drive will return to an unencrypted state, allowing recovery software to access its contents.

After completing the decryption process, we can proceed to recover files with data recovery software.

How to Recover Deleted Files from an APFS Drive on Mac with Recovery Software

Many data recovery software options are available to recover data from APFS drives. In this article, we cover two reliable tools: Disk Drill and PhotoRec. Both provide effective solutions, though they cater to different user preferences—Disk Drill offers an intuitive graphical interface, while PhotoRec uses a command-line approach.

Option 1: Disk Drill

Disk Drill is a popular and highly trusted data recovery tool, known for its excellent recovery performance and user-friendly interface. One of the reasons for its widespread popularity is how it simplifies the often complex process of data recovery, making it easy and streamlined for users.

Disk Drill works on both Mac and Windows and supports the recovery of over 400 file types, including documents, images, and videos, from APFS drives. Whether you’re recovering from accidental deletion or drive corruption, Disk Drill is an ideal choice for this task.

Here’s how to recover data on the APFS drive with Disk Drill:

1. Visit the official Disk Drill website and download the software. To avoid overwriting lost data, install it on a different drive from the one where the deleted files were stored.
2. After installation, launch Disk Drill from your Applications folder. If you’re working with an external APFS drive, connect it to your Mac before proceeding.
3. Disk Drill will list all connected drives and partitions. Find and select the APFS drive from which you lost data.
4. Click “Search for lost data” to start the scan. Disk Drill will work through the drive, detecting files that can be recovered. This process may take some time, depending on the drive’s size and the amount of data.
5. Once the scan is complete, Disk Drill will show a list of recoverable files. One key feature of the free version is that you can preview the recoverable files without committing to a purchase. Simply hover over the file and click the “eye” icon to confirm whether it is intact and recoverable.
6. While Disk Drill’s free version allows file previews, you will need to upgrade to the Pro version to recover the files. After selecting the files you want to restore, click “Recover,” and save them to a different drive to avoid overwriting other recoverable data.

Option 2: PhotoRec

PhotoRec is another popular option for recovering deleted files from APFS drives. One of its best qualities is that it is completely free and open-source. Unlike many other tools, PhotoRec uses a signature-based method to scan the drive, meaning it doesn’t rely on the file system. Whether it’s APFS, FAT, or any other file system, PhotoRec can recover files based purely on their signatures. However, its biggest drawback is that it only operates through a command-line interface, which may not be ideal for most users who prefer a graphical interface.

1. PhotoRec is bundled with TestDisk. Download it from the official website or install it using Homebrew if you’re familiar with command-line tools.
2. Open Terminal and launch PhotoRec using the command “sudo photorec”. This gives the necessary administrator privileges to access the drive for recovery. You will navigate the recovery process using your keyboard, as there is no graphical interface.
3. After launching PhotoRec, it will display all connected drives. Use the arrow keys to select the APFS drive from which you want to recover data.
4. Once you’ve selected the drive, PhotoRec will prompt you to choose the specific partition to scan. You can choose either a specific partition or scan the entire disk, depending on where the data loss occurred.
5. Select “Other” when prompted for the file system type.
6. Choose a directory to save the recovered files. It’s important to save them to a different drive or directory to avoid overwriting any additional lost data. After specifying the directory, press “C” to start the scan, and PhotoRec will search for file signatures.
7. As the scan progresses, PhotoRec will recover files and store them in the specified directory. Files are recovered based on their type but without their original names or directory structures. While this can be a limitation, the tool is very effective at recovering data.

How to Recover Data from APFS Snapshot with Disk Utility

We already mentioned that APFS supports snapshots, which are read-only backups of the entire volume at a specific point in time. These snapshots capture the state of the file system and allow you to retrieve data as it existed when the snapshot was created. Recovering data from an APFS snapshot requires no additional software, as macOS provides this functionality through Disk Utility.

Here is how to recover deleted APFS files in Disk Utility:

1. Launch Disk Utility from the Applications > Utilities folder, or search for it using Spotlight.
2. In Disk Utility, select “View” from the top menu and choose “Show APFS Snapshots.” This action will reveal all available snapshots for your APFS volumes.
3. In the sidebar, select the APFS volume containing the snapshot. Disk Utility will display the available snapshots at the bottom of the window.
4. Choose the snapshot you want to use and double-click it to mount the snapshot as a read-only volume. This snapshot will appear in Finder, similar to an external drive or a mounted disk.
5. Open Finder and navigate through the mounted snapshot. Locate the files you want to recover and copy them to another location on your Mac or an external drive. The snapshot allows you to browse the data exactly as it was at the time of the snapshot creation.
6. After you have recovered the files, return to Disk Utility and unmount the snapshot. This will remove the snapshot from Finder, closing the recovery session.

Snapshots offer a quick and reliable way to recover data that was deleted or modified within a specific period, without needing third-party recovery tools. They are especially useful for files that were recently lost, providing a simple way to restore your data.

How to Repair APFS Volume on Mac

Disk Utility can also be used to recover a corrupted APFS volume. When an APFS volume becomes corrupted, the files may be inaccessible, and the drive itself may fail to be recognized. Fortunately, macOS has Disk Utility, which can help repair damaged volumes. Repairing the volume restores access to your data without the need for third-party recovery software.

Here’s how to repair an APFS volume on Mac:

1. Open Disk Utility.
2. In the sidebar, locate the APFS volume you need to repair.
3. After selecting the volume, click the “First Aid” button at the top of the Disk Utility window. First Aid checks the drive for errors and attempts to repair any problems with the file system.
4. Confirm your choice and wait for the process to finish.
5. Once First Aid completes, Disk Utility will display the results of the repair attempt. If the tool successfully repairs the drive, you should regain access to the volume and its data. If errors remain, Disk Utility will inform you, and additional recovery measures may be necessary.

If macOS prompts you to restart after the repair process, follow the prompt to complete the repairs.

5 Common Misconceptions About APFS Data Recovery

The internet is full of misinformation about recovering data from APFS (Apple File System) drives. Many users, especially those new to the APFS format, often fall victim to common myths that can hinder their data recovery efforts. Let’s break down some of the most widespread misconceptions:

Myth 1: Data Recovery from APFS Drives Is Impossible

A prevailing myth is that once data is lost on an APFS drive, it’s gone for good due to the file system’s complexity and advanced security features. In reality, recovery is possible using modern tools like Disk Drill, which are equipped to handle APFS metadata and file structures. The success rate depends on factors like whether the data has been overwritten or the drive has suffered physical damage.

Myth 2: APFS Automatically Protects Against Data Corruption

APFS is designed to reduce the risk of file corruption with its strong integrity checks and space management. However, hardware failures, accidental formatting, and external damage can still lead to data loss. This misconception leads many to neglect the need for backup, relying solely on APFS’s protection.

Myth 3: Encrypted APFS Volumes Can’t Be Recovered

While encryption adds another layer of complexity, many believe that recovering data from an encrypted APFS volume is unachievable. The truth is that, with access to the correct decryption key or password, data recovery is very much possible. Encryption protects the data from unauthorized access, but as long as you have the key, recovery software can retrieve the lost files.

Myth 4: APFS Snapshots Prevent Data Loss

While APFS snapshots allow users to revert to a previous state, they do not protect against all forms of data loss. Snapshots are a form of local backup, but they can only restore data present at the time of their creation. If a file was deleted before a snapshot was taken, or if the snapshot itself is corrupted, you will still need data recovery software.

Myth 5: Only Apple Software Can Recover APFS Data

Some users think that only Apple-provided tools, like Disk Utility, can handle APFS recovery. This is far from true. Specialized recovery software, such as Disk Drill, offers a more robust set of tools to scan, recover, and repair APFS volumes. These third-party tools provide deep scanning capabilities and additional features that surpass the functionality of standard Apple utilities.

Conclusion

Data recovery from APFS drives can seem complex due to the advanced features of the file system. However, many of the challenges associated with APFS data recovery are manageable with the right approach. Myths surrounding the impossibility of recovery, the limitations of third-party tools, and the invincibility of APFS lead many users down the wrong path. Use the tools we mentioned and follow our guidance to make recovering lost files not only possible but often straightforward.