Mac users who frequently use computers for work are undoubtedly familiar with the Trash Can. A simple click or a drag-and-drop lets you temporarily save files there, so you can retrieve them when needed. However, does accidentally emptying the Trash mean you'll lose those files forever?
The article will explain how the Trash works, what happens after you empty it or delete files from it, and provide some practical solutions to recover empty Trash on Mac without/with software, to get the files you need.
It's like a special folder used to temporarily store items deleted by pressing "Command + Delete", using Terminal, or dragging to the Trash can. macOS doesn't immediately erase these files from the hard disk, so they can still be seen in the Trash. And right-click to select "Put Back", then they will be restored to their original location. It's like moving from the living room to the bedroom; you're still in the same house, just in a different location.
Note: As mentioned above, temporarily deleted files still occupy disk space. Emptying the Trash is an effective way to free up hard drive space when it's full. However, files deleted with the "Option + Command + Delete" shortcut are permanently deleted rather than moved to the Trash. Therefore, think twice before you use the shortcut. If you really did do this and lost some items, please see the guide on how to recover permanently deleted files on a Mac.
Superficially, the file disappears immediately when we empty the Trash or remove it from the Trash. Is it really that simple? In fact, Mac performs the following actions on this file:
Now that we've learned how macOS handles a file in the Trash after it's been emptied, you should know that the key to successfully getting it is avoiding writing new data into the disk and taking action as soon as possible. Next, you can choose the appropriate solution based on your situation.
When we accidentally lose important documents, photos, and more by emptying the Trash, the most helpful remedy is checking for copies. If you had Time Machine backups or iCloud sync enabled before they were permanently deleted, recovering these files is simple, and it doesn't require software. Here are some recovery options and detailed steps you can refer to.
It can save a snapshot of your entire system periodically, allowing you to undo empty Trash on your Mac. Here's how:
Please note that it creates a copy based on the time period you set. If you edited the file during this period, you may get a previous version. Also, for users using FileVault disk encryption, accessing the backup requires the appropriate decryption credentials.
The difference between iCloud and Time Machine lies in the media where your copies are stored. If you regularly use iCloud to sync and back up files, it can also be a powerful assistant for iMac or MacBook empty Trash recovery. Here are the steps.
Tips: if you use Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive, check the "Trash" or "Deleted Items" folder to recover files on Mac after emptying the Trash.
As we mentioned earlier, when you empty the Trash, these files are not immediately erased. Instead, the disk sectors where the files were located are marked as available for storing new data. In the absence of backups, using professional tools such as iBeesoft Data Recovery for Mac, Disk Drill, or Data Rescue is a practical approach to scan these sectors to identify fragments and piece them together into usable files before they are overwritten.
Here, we recommend that you try iBeesoft Data Recovery for Mac first. It not only helps you recover 500MB of data for free but also offers the following unique features.
Using backups or data recovery software to retrieve files from the emptied Trash on Mac is the most desirable option for most users. However, in some cases, the situation is worse than expected, especially if you've saved new data, which means the latest data has overwritten the lost files.
In this case, consulting a technique professional is your last resort. They have cleanroom labs and specialized hardware tools. In most cases, they can safely extract lost data from your hard drive. If the lost files are critical to you, it's worth spending more to recover them; type "data recovery services" into Google to find a local data recovery professional.
Note: When choosing a service provider, select an Apple Authorized Service Provider. They adhere to the same standards as Apple, which will keep your Mac under warranty.
If you realize you've lost important files due to an accidental emptying of the Trash, try to avoid performing many write operations on your Mac. New data writing increases the risk of overwriting deleted files. Once overwritten, they may be unrecoverable, even with professional help. It's like you write new content on a piece of paper that already has content. After that, it's harder to view the previous content.
Using backups to undo empty Trash on Mac is the most reliable data recovery option. However, you're not always lucky enough to have made a backup. Therefore, better management of your Trash is key to preventing data loss.
By default, a file is emptied from the Trash after it is saved in the Trash folder for 30 days. With the feature on, it will free up disk space, but also result in permanent data loss. To disable this feature, you should go to "Finder" > "Settings" > "Advanced" in the Finder menu bar and uncheck "Remove items from the Trash after 30 days".
The primary purpose of a confirmation dialog box is to inform us what the system is about to do and the consequences. Therefore, enabling a confirmation prompt before emptying the Trash can prevent accidental file loss. You can enable it in the Finder "Advanced" tab.
No. While the terminal offers many commands for advanced users or developers to perform various tasks quickly, unfortunately, it can't undo the empty Trash. If you empty it or delete items from it, you can use backups, data recovery software, or professional services to recover them.
Of course. It is the same as using "Option + Command + Delete" to delete a file. While the item disappears immediately, it is not physically removed from your Mac. Therefore, you can use iBeesoft Data Recovery for Mac, Wondershare RecoverIt, or Disk Drill to scan your hard drive to reconstruct permanently deleted files.
Unfortunately, no. If you've lost some important files, using data recovery software is an effective DIY method. Alternatively, if you don't want to do the Mac's empty Trash recovery yourself, you can pay a data recovery service provider to handle it.
Yes, you can. Without a backup, you can use data recovery tools, such as iBeesoft Data Recovery for Mac (mentioned above), to find lost files. Its trial version can save 500MB of recoverable items. To recover more files, update to the paid version. If you previously stored a lot of data in Trash and want to retrieve it for free, TestDisk is the best solution.
Besides disabling macOS's automatic Trash emptying, using Time Machine and cloud storage to back them up are safer approaches.
In the article, we've learned how Trash works, how macOS handles deleted files, and how to recover emptied Trash on Mac with/without software. Following the guidelines and suggestions above, you can quickly restore the items you need. To avoid the same data loss disasters in the future, please follow our tips to manage Trash and back up important content regularly.
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