How to Recover Lost Files on macOS without Time Machine?

Accidental deletion of important files on your Mac can be distressful and might put you in trouble. If you ever find important files missing from your Mac, try to avoid using the device until the lost data is recovered. While macOS’ built-in Time Machine backup utility is a perfect solution to restore lost files, what if you haven’t set up this backup utility on your device?

Fortunately, several methods, such as cloud backups and free third-party Mac data recovery software tools, are available to help you recover lost files on a Mac, even if you don’t have a Time Machine backup. This guide explores several easy ways on how to recover lost files on macOS without Time Machine. Keep reading this article and apply the mentioned methods one-by-one to restore your lost data. 

How File Deletion Works on macOS?

Before you proceed with the recovery methods to recover lost files and folders on Mac, it is important to understand what happens when a file is deleted on a macOS device. When you delete a file on macOS, it generally goes to the trash folder until you either remove it permanently or the system purges it.

Once the file is erased from the trash folder, the space that it was occupying is marked as available for new data. The chances of recovering lost files will be high until the previously occupied space is overwritten by new data. Therefore, the sooner you start the recovery workaround, the more likely you will have a better chance of restoring lost data. 

Important Tips for Smooth Data Recovery on Mac

To ensure smooth recovery of deleted files on macOS, consider the following additional tips:

• Stop using the drive where the file was lost. The more you use it, the more likely new data will overwrite your lost files.
• Avoid saving or downloading new files to that volume.
• Begin the recovery process quickly, especially before the system writes over deleted sectors.

How do I Recover Lost Files Without a Time Machine Backup?

Here are some quick approaches that you can follow if you don’t have any previously created Time Machine backup of your deleted file: 

Method 01: Check the Trash Folder

As mentioned above, every deleted file remains on your Mac’s hard drive until it is permanently removed. You can easily go through the below steps to recover your lost files from the Trash:

• Launch the Trash folder from the Dock.

• Locate and select the file you want to recover.
• Right-click the file and select the Put Back option.

This will return the selected file to its original location. If your lost file is not in the Trash folder, you can move to more advanced methods. 

Method 02: Check Cloud Backup Services

Many users sync their Macs with cloud backup services such as iCloud, Dropbox, Google Drive, or OneDrive. These backups, when enabled on your device, automatically sync all its stored files and folders and create a proper backup. You can use these backups to restore files even if they are deleted locally. Here are the different cloud backups available to restore lost files on a Mac:

iCloud Drive:

• Open any web browser and go to iCloud.com.
• Log in and go to the iCloud Drive tab.
• Click the Recently Deleted option from the bottom-right corner.
• Select the file you want to restore and download it to your device.

Dropbox:

• Visit dropbox.com.
• Go to the Deleted Files tab from the sidebar.
• Select and restore the required file. 

Method 03: Use Third-Party Mac Data Recovery Software

If you don’t have any backup of your lost files, don’t lose hope. There are several third-party free Mac data recovery software tools available online which can help you restore lost data. Tools like Stellar Data Recovery Free allow you to restore lost files without any cost. You can easily restore files up to 1 GB for free, without spending any cost.

Key Features of Stellar Data Recovery Free Tool:

• Supports recovery of deleted files of various types – documents, photos, videos, audio, and more.
• It even allows you to restore files removed from Trash or lost due to disk corruption, formatting, or partition issues.
• The software offers both scanning modes, i.e., Quick Scan and Deep Scan.
• Allows you to preview the recoverable files before restoring them.
• You can use this tool to recover files from any internal or external storage devices, including USB flash drives, SD cards, Fusion Drives, and many more.

Here’s how to recover lost files on macOS without Time Machine backup using free Mac data recovery software:

Step 1: Download and install the Stellar Data Recovery Free software from its official site on your Mac. Launch the app and from the What to Recover screen, choose the file type you need to restore and click Next.

Step 2: Now, from the Recover From window, choose the storage drive where the deleted data was earlier stored. Click Scan to initiate the scanning process.

Step 3: After the scan completes, preview the recoverable files and select the ones you need to restore. Click Recover to save selected files to a safe location on your device.

Note: You can recover up to 1 GB of data. If you need more, you’ll be prompted to upgrade to a paid plan (Standard, Professional, or Premium). 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Can I recover lost files after emptying the Trash?

Yes, once files are removed from Trash, they’re not immediately deleted. You can use third-party Mac data recovery software to attempt recovery before they’re overwritten.

Are free Mac data recovery software tools safe to use?

Some free tools are safe, like Stellar Data Recovery, PhotoRec and TestDisk, are quite safe and secure. Be cautious and always download from official sources.

How long do I have before deleted files are overwritten?

There’s no fixed timeline. It depends on how much new data is written to the drive. That’s why stopping use immediately is key. 

Conclusion

Losing files on a Mac can be distressful, especially if you don’t have any previously created Time Machine backups. However, in such cases, you can use macOS built-in tools, cloud services, or data recovery software to restore lost files and folders. Some professional tools like Stellar Data Recovery Free allow you to recover lost files deleted due to any reason, and that’s too without any cost.

While recovery is possible, it’s not always guaranteed, so setting up a regular backup routine and practising safe file management is the best long-term strategy.