How to Recover Emptyed Trash on Mac Without Software

How to Recover Emptyed Trash on Mac Without Software

When you empty your Mac’s Trash, it may not be immediately obvious where all those files have gone. But fear not! There are several methods to retrieve items from the Trash without relying on third-party tools. Let’s explore some of these strategies:

Method 1: Using Finder’s History Feature

Finder is Apple’s built-in file management tool that includes a feature called “History.” This can help you navigate through recent file operations and locate what was in your Trash before emptying it.

  1. Open Finder.
  2. Click on the “Go” menu at the top left corner.
  3. Select “History.”
  4. Use the search bar to find any files or folders you remember having in your Trash.

Method 2: Utilizing Terminal Commands

If Finder’s History feature isn’t sufficient, you can use terminal commands to view and potentially restore deleted items.

  1. Open Terminal (found in Applications > Utilities).
  2. Type find . -name "Trash/*" into the command line.
  3. Press Enter. This will list all files in the current directory matching the name pattern “Trash/**”.
  4. Identify the specific item you want to recover by examining the output.
  5. Once found, type mv <filename> /Volumes/YourVolumeName (replace <filename> with the actual filename and /Volumes/YourVolumeName with the correct volume path) into the command line.
  6. Enter your password when prompted.
  7. The file should now be restored to its original location.

Method 3: Using Third-Party Tools

While these methods work well for most cases, if you encounter an issue where no files appear in your history or the terminal commands fail, consider using third-party recovery tools designed specifically for macOS.

  1. Download and install a reliable data recovery tool like Disk Drill, Recuva, or EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard.
  2. Connect your Mac via USB or wirelessly.
  3. Launch the tool and select your drive.
  4. Follow the on-screen instructions to scan and recover your deleted files.

Conclusion

By utilizing either Finder’s History feature, terminal commands, or third-party data recovery tools, you can effectively recover items from your Mac’s Trash without resorting to expensive software. Remember, backups are always recommended as they prevent such situations from occurring in the first place.