How to Restore Deleted Files on Mac Using Time Machine

Written by

Ojash

Reviewed by

Hashir Ibrahim

Last updated: August 13, 2024

Expert verified

Losing an important file on your Mac can be stressful, but there’s an easy way to get it back using Time Machine. In this guide, I’ll walk you through the steps to find and restore deleted files on Mac using Time Machine.

How to Restore Deleted Files on Mac Using Time Machine

You can easily restore accidentally deleted files using Time Machine. If you know exactly which backup, it’ll be easier to locate the backup. But if you don’t know the backup, you can always check and restore.

Here’s how to restore deleted files on Mac using Time Machine:

1. On your Mac, open the folder where the item you want to restore was originally located. For example, if you accidentally deleted a file from your Documents folder, open the Documents folder.
2. Next, open Time Machine by going to Launchpad and typing “time machine” in the search bar.

3. Use the arrows and the timeline on the right to browse through the backups.
4. The timeline shows tick marks for each backup. A red tick mark means you’re viewing that backup. A pulsing or gray tick mark means the backup is still loading or being checked.

5. Select the items you want to restore, whether it’s a file, a folder, or even your whole disk, then click Restore.
6. The items will go back to their original location. For example, a file from the Documents folder will return to the Documents folder.
7. In many apps, you can also go to File > Revert To > Browse All Versions to see older versions of documents in Time Machine and restore the one you want.

How to Restore Files from Time Machine to Another Mac

If you need to restore files from a Time Machine backup to a different Mac, follow these steps:

1. Plug the external hard drive that contains your Time Machine backup into the new Mac.
2. On the new Mac, open Migration Assistant from the Utilities folder within Applications.

3. When prompted by Migration Assistant, select From a Mac, Time Machine backup, or startup disk and click Continue.
4. Choose your Time Machine backup from the list of available backups and click Continue.
5. Select what you want to restore to the new Mac, like user accounts, apps, settings, and files.
6. After making your selections, click Continue to begin the process. The time it takes will depend on the amount of data being restored.

How to Restore Deleted Files on Mac Without Time Machine

If you’ve accidentally deleted files on your Mac and don’t have a Time Machine backup, there are still a few methods you can try to recover them:

1. Check the Trash

The first place to check for deleted files is the Bin.

1. Open the Bin by clicking its icon in the Dock.
2. If you find your deleted files, you can drag them back to their original location or right-click and select Put Back.

2. Use the “Undo” Command

If you’ve just deleted a file, you can often use the Undo command to recover it. Press Command + Z or go to the Edit menu and select Undo Move to reverse the deletion.

3. Look for Previous Versions

Some applications allow you to recover previous versions of files. In apps like Pages, Word, or Numbers, you can go to File > Revert To > Browse All Versions to find earlier versions of the document and restore them.

4. Use Third-Party Data Recovery Software

If the file isn’t in the Bin and you can’t undo the deletion, you might need to use data recovery software.

Programs like Disk Drill, Data Rescue, or EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard can scan your Mac’s storage and potentially recover deleted files. Download and install the software, then follow the on-screen instructions to perform a scan and recover your files.

5. Check Cloud Storage

If you use cloud storage services like iCloud, Google Drive, or Dropbox, check if the deleted file is stored there. These services often have a Recently Deleted folder where you can recover files for a limited time after deletion.

Here’s how to restore deleted files via iCloud:

1. Go to icloud.com and sign in with your Apple ID.
2. Once signed in, click the iCloud Drive icon.
3. On the iCloud Drive page, look for the Recently Deleted folder on the bottom right side of the screen. Click to open it.
4. In the Recently Deleted folder, you’ll see files that have been deleted within the last 30 days.
5. Select the files you want to restore and click the Recover button at the top of the page.

How Does Time Machine Work?

Time Machine is a powerful backup software built into macOS that automatically saves copies of your files. If something goes wrong, you can easily restore your files. Here’s a brief overview of how it works:

1. ⏱️ Hourly Backups: Time Machine creates hourly backups for the past 24 hours.
2. ⏰ Daily Backups: It stores daily backups for the past month.
3. 📅 Weekly Backups: For anything older than a month, Time Machine saves weekly backups.
4. 🗂️ Space Management: When your backup disk is full, Time Machine automatically deletes the oldest weekly backups to make room for new ones.

Restore Deleted Files Using Time Machine

Accidentally deleting important files can be frustrating and lead to lost data. To prevent this in the future, follow these steps:

• Regularly back up your files on Mac to prevent accidental data loss.
• It’s a good idea to organize your Mac files properly to avoid deleting an important file or document.
• Don’t let duplicate files on Mac pile up; clear them out regularly to delete unnecessary files and keep important ones.

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