How to Recover Deleted Data from SSD on Mac

Solid-state drives (SSDs) work differently from traditional hard drives (HDDs). They’re faster and more efficient, but they also make data recovery tougher. Here’s the truth—it’s harder to recover deleted files from an SSD on a Mac than from an HDD, but it’s not impossible. We’ll lay out practical methods that give you the best shot at Mac SSD data recovery, but first, let’s talk about SSDs (it’s important, trust us).

Can You Recover Data from an SSD? Let’s Break It Down

❓ Quick question. Have you checked the Trash? It might not be as glamorous as data recovery, but sometimes the simplest solution is right under your nose!

The main reason SSD data recovery is more challenging than HDD recovery has to do with how each drive handles deleted files, specifically through a feature called TRIM. On an HDD, when you delete a file, the data stays on the disk until it’s overwritten by new information, so recovery tools can often retrieve it long after deletion. Essentially, HDDs don’t erase the data itself but remove only the “pointer” that tells the system where the file is located, which leaves the actual data blocks intact until they’re needed for new files.

SSDs work differently. When you delete a file on an SSD, TRIM immediately marks those data blocks as “free,” which prepares them for quick overwriting. This is great for speed and performance but not for recovery. Once TRIM has cleared these blocks and new data overwrites them, the original data is unrecoverable. No software or tool can bring back overwritten data on an SSD.

⏳ The key takeaway? Time matters. If you act quickly, recovery from an SSD on a Mac is still possible, especially for recent deletions. The right data recovery tools can help, and if you disable TRIM (temporarily) it can give you a better shot to retrieve your data before it’s gone for good.

Boost Your Recovery Odds (Disable TRIM on Mac)

You can disable TRIM with a command in Terminal. Remember, this step doesn’t guarantee recovery; it only gives you a chance to find and save files before they’re gone. With TRIM off, you’re set to try data recovery software. If you’re quick and lucky, your files might still be there. Here’s how to turn off TRIM on your Mac:

1. Press Command (⌘) + Spacebar to open Spotlight. Type Terminal and hit Enter.
2. In Terminal run the disable command:
   sudo trimforce disable
3. You’ll see a warning about potential effects on SSD performance. Type Y to confirm and hit Enter again. This command temporarily stops TRIM, which helps protect any recoverable data.
4. With TRIM disabled, you’re set to run recovery software and scan for any files that might still be on the SSD.

How to Recover Deleted Files from SSD with Data Recovery Software

Now that TRIM is temporarily disabled, we can try to recover deleted files using data recovery software. Over the years, we’ve tested and reviewed a lot of recovery tools for Mac. Some of the best we’d recommend include Disk Drill, R-Studio, and PhotoRec. Each has its strengths, and you can check even more options in our list of the Best Data Recovery Software for Mac. For this guide, we’ll walk you through Disk Drill—it’s become our go-to recovery tool for Mac, and here’s why:

• Disk Drill offers a simple, intuitive design that’s easy to navigate, even if you’re new to data recovery.
• Disk Drill combines multiple recovery methods into a single scan. It starts with a Quick Scan (which finds recently deleted files by scanning the file directory—ideal for recent deletions), then moves to Deep Scan (which scans the entire drive to find files deleted for longer periods; it can rebuild them piece-by-piece without relying on directory info), and finally uses a Signature Scan (which identifies files by their unique file signatures, such as .jpg or .docx, to recover them even if the directory and metadata are gone).
• Disk Drill lets you preview recoverable files before you restore them.
• Supports a wide range of file types, everything from documents to photos and system files.
• It works flawlessly with macOS Sequoia, and unlike many competitors, it receives regular updates to stay compatible with the latest macOS releases. As soon as Sequoia rolled out, Disk Drill added a feature that allows users to create an emergency bootable installation drive specifically for macOS Sequoia. This kind of timely update shows that Disk Drill is consistently ready for the newest Mac software.
• Byte-by-Byte Backup. In cases where we suspected the SSD was in rough shape, we found this option invaluable. An extensive scan can sometimes put added strain on a failing drive, and Disk Drill’s Byte-by-Byte Backup lets you create a full image of the SSD before the scan. This image allows recovery without directly working on the SSD.

Disk Drill has some great features, but let’s get back to business. Here’s how to use Disk Drill to recover deleted data from your SSD on a Mac:

1. Go to the official Disk Drill website, download the Mac version, and drag the icon to your Applications folder.
2. Open it from Applications or through Spotlight (press Command (⌘) + Spacebar, type “Disk Drill,” and hit Enter).
3. Disk Drill may prompt you to grant permissions for storage access. Follow the instructions to allow this so Disk Drill can fully scan your SSD.
4. Choose your SSD from Disk Drill’s list of drives to start the recovery process.
5. Click on Search for lost data. Disk Drill will automatically run Quick, Deep, and Signature Scans in sequence to maximize your chances of finding lost files.
6. Disk Drill keeps you in the loop with a progress percentage, and you don’t have to wait for the entire scan to finish before you check what’s been found. As it scans, you can click on Review found items at the top to see files that have already been identified.
7. You’ll see a thumbnail preview on the right for each file, along with an eye icon near each filename that you can click to preview the file’s contents. This way, you can confirm it’s the file you need before recovery.
8. You’ll also notice a Recovery chances column, which rates each file as High, Average, or Low. This column helps you identify files with the best chances of full recovery.
9. You can wait until the scan completes or, if you’ve already spotted the deleted files you need, click the Recover button at the bottom to restore them immediately. Just keep in mind that with Disk Drill’s Basic (free) version, you can only scan and preview files. To actually recover them, you’ll need to upgrade to the PRO version.

We recommend saving these files to a different drive or external storage to avoid overwriting data on your SSD and re-enable TRIM (if you disabled it earlier) to keep your SSD optimized.

How to Recover Deleted Files from Mac SSD with Backups

We know that most people with backups probably wouldn’t search for ways to recover deleted files, but still, backups can sometimes get overlooked, or the recovery process might seem unclear. Apple provides a few built-in backup features that make it easier to recover deleted files without needing extra software. We’ll cover three options: Time Machine, APFS Snapshots, and iCloud.

Option A: Time Machine

If you had Time Machine activated, here’s how you can restore deleted files—even if your external backup drive isn’t connected. Recently deleted files might still be stored locally, so it’s worth trying this option even without the external drive.

1. Go to the folder where the deleted files were originally located.
2. Click the Time Machine icon in the menu bar and choose Browse Time Machine Backups. This opens the Time Machine view.
3. On the right side, use the timeline to scroll back to a point before the files were deleted. The timeline shows different snapshots of your system from various times.
4. Find the files you want to recover. You can select individual files or even whole folders.
5. Click Restore to bring the files back to their original location on your Mac.

Option B: APFS Snapshots

Since you have an SSD, it’s highly likely it uses the APFS file system, and this option only works on macOS High Sierra or later with APFS-formatted drives. APFS Snapshots are time-based restore points created automatically, and you can access them through Disk Utility. Here’s how:

1. Go to Applications > Utilities and open Disk Utility.
2. In Disk Utility, locate and select your main APFS volume (usually labeled Macintosh HD or similar).
3. Click on the View menu, then choose Show APFS Snapshots. You’ll see a list of available snapshots, each listed by date and time, which represent restore points you can use.
4. Select the snapshot dated before you deleted the files. Once selected, follow the prompts to restore your system to that snapshot, which brings back files from that point in time.
5. Choose the snapshot you want to use and double-click it to mount it as a read-only volume. This snapshot will then appear in Finder.
6. Now, open Finder and locate the mounted snapshot under Locations. You can browse through the snapshot just like any other drive, you can copy files you want to recover back to your main drive or any other location.

Option C: iCloud

If you’ve enabled iCloud for Desktop, Documents, or Photos, you can easily recover recently deleted files directly from iCloud. If you delete a file from a location that syncs with iCloud, it will be stored in the Recently Deleted folder for 30 days, which allows you to recover it easily. Here’s how to recover deleted files from SSD on Mac  with iCloud:

1. Open a web browser, go to iCloud.com, and sign in with your Apple ID.
2. Once logged in, click on iCloud Drive (or Photos if you need to recover deleted images).
3. Scroll down and find Recently Deleted at the bottom of the iCloud Drive window. Click it to view files deleted within the last 30 days.
4. Browse through the Recently Deleted section, locate the files you want to recover, and select them.
5. Once you’ve selected the files, click Restore to bring them back. These files will reappear in their original locations on iCloud Drive, syncing automatically back to your Mac.

Beyond DIY

As you can see, if you don’t have any kind of backup, your best option is data recovery software. With applications like Disk Drill, you can attempt data recovery without any specific technical knowledge. However, be aware that with SSDs, time is of the essence. If the deletion happened some time ago, you must consider the possibility that the data is gone for good.

If you prefer not to risk it with DIY methods, professional data recovery services offer a solid alternative. These services have specialized tools and equipment that you simply can’t access at home. They can handle complex data loss situations, like physical damage to drives or severe data corruption. However, be prepared for the possibility that even they may not be able to recover much if TRIM has been active on your SSD, as deleted files can be overwritten very quickly.

Many reputable services work on a “no recovery, no fee” basis, so you won’t pay if they can’t recover your data.