How to Recover Accidentally Emptied Trash on a Mac

Have you ever accidentally deleted an important file by emptying your Mac’s trash bin? Fortunately, these files are not permanently lost. Deleted files in macOS aren’t immediately destroyed; they’re marked as available space to be overwritten. Acting quickly can save your data. This article explains the steps to recover files deleted from the Trash Bin on Mac and introduces measures to protect your data.

Is it Possible to Recover Data after Emptying the Trash on Mac?

Yes, it is possible to recover emptied trash on Mac, but it is affected by several factors. The trash on macOS doesn’t actually store files; instead, it displays files from the hidden .Trashes folder located on each connected drive. When you empty the trash, you send a command to the system to remove these files from their respective folders, making space for new data. Therefore, quick actions promptly increase your chances of recovering these files, and you also need to reduce the use of the disk on which the files were before deletion to minimize the chance of overwriting these files.

Another key aspect involves the TRIM command, which helps manage space on solid-state drives (SSDs). Once you activate TRIM, it informs the SSD which data blocks it can wipe clean, effectively making data recovery impossible. This feature is active by default on system SSDs; on macOS 11 and newer, you cannot disable it for these drives. For users with macOS versions before 11, it is possible to disable TRIM using the command ‘sudo trimforce disable’ in Terminal. Therefore, immediately after emptying the trash, disable this command if important data has been deleted. When you know the Trash Bin cleaning mechanism, you can develop a strategy for undoing empty trash on a Mac and preventing data loss.

How to Recover Deleted Trash on Mac

To restore emptied trash on Mac, you can employ several strategies. You might use built-in tools like Time Machine, consider options with cloud backups, use third-party data recovery software, or seek help from professional services. Each method provides a different level of recovery potential, which depends on how quickly you act and the specific circumstances of the data loss.

Method 1: Recover Files with Time Machine Backup

Time Machine, macOS’s built-in backup utility, offers a straightforward method to recover files deleted from the trash, given that Time Machine was set up and running before the files were lost. This method relies on regular backups that capture the deleted files at some point. If you back up your Mac regularly, you can easily recover deleted files on your Mac after emptying Trash. Follow these steps to recover files with Time Machine:

1. Attach the external drive that contains your Time Machine backups to your Mac.
2. Click on the Time Machine icon in the menu bar and choose ‘Browse Time Machine Backups.’
3. Use the arrows or the timeline on the right side of the screen to navigate to a backup date before the files were deleted from the trash.
4. In the Time Machine interface, navigate to the location where the files were before you moved them to the Trash Bin.
5. Locate the files you want to recover, select them, and click ‘Restore.’ The files will then be placed back either in their original location or a location you specify on your Mac if you choose the ‘Restore to…’ function.

This recovery option works best if the backup captures the files before deletion. Regularly backing up your Mac significantly boosts your chances of recovering lost data without needing more complex recovery methods.

Method 2: Restore Files from Cloud Backups

Cloud services like iCloud offer a reliable method for recovering files that you might have accidentally deleted from the trash. Specifically, iCloud syncs and backs up files from the Desktop & Documents folders on macOS. If the files you deleted were in these locations, the likelihood of recovering them from the cloud is very high. This section focuses on restoring files from iCloud, which is especially effective if iCloud backups were enabled before the files were deleted.

1. Visit the iCloud website and sign in with your Apple ID.
2. From the main page of iCloud, click on ‘iCloud Drive’ to open your stored files.
3. Click on ‘Recently Deleted’ in the bottom-right corner of the iCloud Drive page. This section lists all files deleted within the last 30 days.
4. Browse the list and select the files you want to restore (for multiple files, hold the Command button when selecting).
5. Click ‘Recover’ to recover the selected files. They will be restored to their original locations in your iCloud Drive, which syncs automatically with your Mac.

For other cloud services like Google Drive or OneDrive, the recovery process is similar to that of iCloud. It involves accessing the service, locating the deleted files or items in the trash, and selecting an option to recover trash on Mac.

Method 3: Use Disk Drill Software to Recover Data

Disk Drill is a top choice for data recovery software due to its robust features and user-friendly interface. It effectively supports Mac users who need to get emptied trash back on Mac. The software handles various file types and storage devices, offers powerful scanning options, and provides additional tools for data management and protection. Its accessibility and effectiveness make Disk Drill a recommended option for retrieving lost data.

Key advantages of Disk Drill include:

• Support for a wide range of file systems, including APFS, HFS, exFAT, FAT, and others.
• Advanced deep scan algorithms that can restore the original structure of folders and filenames.
• Support for nearly 400 file types, enabling recovery across different file systems.
• Features aimed at data protection to help prevent future data loss.
• A user-friendly interface that includes the option to preview a wide range of file types before recovery.

To recover deleted files after emptying the Trash Bin, follow the next steps:

1. Download Disk Drill for Mac from its official website and follow the installation instructions to set it up on your Mac.
2. You can start Disk Drill via Spotlight search by typing ‘Disk Drill’ or navigate to the Applications folder in Finder to launch it.
3. In Disk Drill’s main interface, identify and select the drive or partition that contained your deleted files. Click ‘Search for lost data’ to initiate the scanning process.
4. After the scan is complete, or you can view results during the scan, click ‘Review found items.’ Check both the ‘Deleted or lost’ and ‘Reconstructed’ tabs to find the deleted files.
5. Browse through the available files, select the ones you need to recover and click ‘Recover.’ To avoid data overwriting, do not restore the files to the same drive where they were deleted.
6. Click the ‘Choose destination’ button to select a specific folder on your Mac or an external drive to save the recovered files. Then, click ‘Next’ to finalize the recovery process.

Disk Drill offers a reliable method to recover deleted files from trash on Mac effectively before they are permanently overwritten. This tool retrieves lost data and includes features to backup drives, data protection features, and monitoring your drive’s health to prevent future data losses.

Method 4: Contact Professional Data Recovery Services

When self-help solutions do not yield the desired results, professional data recovery services can be your next step. These services employ experts who use specialized tools and techniques to recover deleted trash on Mac that might seem forever lost. Here’s how to proceed with professional recovery services:

1. Look for well-established companies with positive reviews and a track record of successful data recovery.
2. Reach out to the service provider to discuss your situation. Be prepared to describe the type of data lost, the events leading up to the loss, and what recovery attempts have been made.
3. Most professional services will first evaluate your drive to determine the likelihood of recovery and provide a quote for their work.
4. If you agree to the terms and the quote, they will proceed with the recovery process. This often involves sending your drive to their lab, where they can perform more advanced recovery techniques.
5. Once the recovery is complete, the service will return your data to a new storage drive, often an external drive.

Professional recovery services are advisable for severely damaged drives, complex data loss situations, or when other recovery methods fail. Experts in these services enhance the chances of recovering valuable data while minimizing the risk of further damage.

How to Protect Data from Accidentally Emptied Trash

To prevent accidental data loss from an emptied trash bin on your Mac, you can take practical steps and use specific features to protect your data. Implementing these measures can greatly reduce the risk of losing important files and simplify restore of trash on a Mac if data loss occurs. Consider these strategies to protect your data.

1. Configure Trash Bin on macOS

Accidental deletion from the Trash Bin is a common issue for many Mac users, but with a few adjustments to the settings, you can significantly reduce this risk. To configure your Trash Bin, add confirmations, and take a more deliberate approach to what gets permanently deleted, you can safeguard important files from being lost inadvertently. Follow these detailed steps to make your Trash Bin optimized for better data protection:

1. Begin by clicking on the Finder icon in your dock. From there, select ‘Settings’ from the Finder menu at the top of your screen.
2. In the Finder Preferences window, navigate to the ‘Advanced’ tab. This section contains several options that can enhance your file management practices.
3. Look for the option labeled ‘Show warning before emptying the Trash’ and make sure it is checked. This setting allows you to receive a prompt each time you attempt to empty the Trash, giving you a moment to review the contents and prevent accidental data loss.
4. Cultivate the habit of manually reviewing the contents of your Trash before you decide to empty it. This practice gives you a final opportunity to retrieve any items that may have been mistakenly trashed.

Implement these simple steps to create effective protection against accidental file deletions. This action will make your digital environment more secure and your data management more reliable.

2. Use Disk Drill Guaranteed Recovery Function

Disk Drill offers a feature called Guaranteed Recovery that acts as an additional safety net for your data on macOS. This function maintains a copy of each file you delete, storing it in a hidden folder on your drive. You can access this folder if you accidentally delete something important, and it provides ease of Mac trash recovery. Here’s how to enable and use this protective feature:

1. Launch Disk Drill from your Applications folder or use Spotlight to search for it and open it.
2. In the Disk Drill application, navigate to the ‘Data Protection’ tab located on the left side of the window.
3. Select the drive, and click the ‘Enable data protection’ button. This will start the process of monitoring and preserving copies of deleted files.
4. You can adjust settings to specify which folders to monitor more closely or set limits on how much disk space the Guaranteed Recovery can use.
5. If you need to recover a deleted file, return to the Storage Devices tab, right-click on the partition with data protection, and select Undelete protected data. Review the files, choose which you want to recover, and click ‘Recover’ to restore them.

This function proves invaluable for individuals who frequently manage large amounts of data and want to avoid accidental deletions. Maintaining an up-to-date copy of all deleted files, Disk Drill provides a reliable method to retrieve them when necessary.

3. Schedule Regular Backups

Regular backups offer the most reliable protection against data loss. Set up a backup plan to make sure that you have recent copies of your data ready for restoration in case of accidental deletion or other loss. This makes it easier to perform a Mac recover deleted trash procedure if needed. Here’s how to set up and maintain effective backups on your Mac:

1. Set up Time Machine: Connect an external drive to your Mac or select a network drive for backups. Open ‘System Preferences,’ choose ‘Time Machine,’ and click ‘Select Backup Disk.’ Choose your external or network drive and turn on automatic backups.
2. Explore cloud backup options: Sign up for a cloud storage service like iCloud, Google Drive, or Dropbox. Confirm these services sync your important folders, such as Desktop and Documents, so that updates to files are continuously backed up online.
3. Regularly update backups: Make sure Time Machine runs regularly, and keep your cloud sync features active. Check these settings periodically to confirm they cover all new and important files.
4. Verify backup integrity: Occasionally, verify the integrity of your backups. For Time Machine, enter the Time Machine interface and browse through the backups to check them for all necessary files. For cloud services, log into your account online and check if recent files are present and intact.

These backup procedures create a robust defense against accidental file deletion and other types of data loss. It provides peace of mind, knowing that your digital assets are safeguarded and easily recoverable.

Conclusion

This guide has outlined several methods to recover files from emptied trash on a Mac and strategies to prevent future data loss. From using Time Machine and Disk Drill to professional data recovery services, each approach offers a way to retrieve lost data. Configuring trash settings and establishing regular backups also provide robust protection against accidental deletions.