How to recover deleted files on a Mac
Updated
Most deletions on a Mac can be undone if you act before the Trash is emptied. After that, it depends on what backups you have. Here is where to look, in order.
Put it back from the Trash
- Click the Trash in the Dock.
- Find the file. You can search inside the Trash with the search box, and sort by Date Added to see the latest items first.
- Select it and choose File, then Put Back, or press Command-Delete. The file returns to the folder it came from.
If Put Back is greyed out, drag the file out of the Trash to any folder instead. Items deleted from some apps or from external drives may not remember their original location.
Check Recently Deleted in iCloud
- iCloud Drive: files deleted from iCloud Drive can usually be recovered for 30 days. On iCloud.com, open Drive and look for Recently Deleted.
- Photos: open the Photos app and choose Recently Deleted in the sidebar. Items stay there for about 30 days.
- Notes and other apps: many apps have their own Recently Deleted folder. Check the app before assuming a note is gone.
Restore an earlier version
If the file still exists but you lost changes, many Mac apps keep versions. In Pages, Numbers, Keynote, TextEdit and Preview, choose File, then Revert To, then Browse All Versions, and pick an earlier one. This is separate from Time Machine and works even without a backup drive for recent edits.
Restore from Time Machine
- Open the folder where the file used to be.
- Choose Browse Time Machine Backups from the Time Machine menu in the menu bar, or open Time Machine from Applications.
- Use the timeline at the edge of the screen to go back to a date when the file existed.
- Select it and click Restore.
If Time Machine is not set up, connect an external drive and turn it on in System Settings, General, Time Machine. It cannot recover files deleted before the first backup.
Avoid the hard cases
- Avoid Delete Immediately (Option-Command-Delete) unless you are certain; it skips the Trash.
- Finder can remove items from the Trash automatically after 30 days. Turn this on in Finder Settings, Advanced, only if 30 days is long enough for you to notice a mistake.
- Keep at least one backup that is not on the same disk, such as Time Machine to an external drive.
After an accidental empty of the Trash, avoid saving lots of new files to the same disk until you have checked your backups.
How FileSift handles removals
FileSift never deletes files outright. When you clear duplicates, old screenshots, installers or unused apps, it shows the file count and size first and then moves the files to the Trash, so you can put them back. For duplicates it always keeps one copy in each group and re-checks the files before anything moves. That makes the Trash your safety net, as long as you look before you empty it.
Common questions
Can I recover a file after emptying the Trash without a backup?
Usually not reliably on modern Macs. Check Time Machine, iCloud Recently Deleted and the app's own versions first.
How long do files stay in the Trash?
Until you empty it, unless you turned on automatic removal after 30 days in Finder Settings.
Related guides
- How to find and delete duplicate files on a Mac
- How to free up space on your Mac
- How to see which files are only in iCloud on a Mac
- How to find a file on a Mac when you forgot its name
- How to search for files on a Mac
More in How-to guides, or see all guides.