4 Working Ways to Recover Lost Files After macOS Monterey Update
After upgrading to macOS Monterey, some users have reported that their PDF files in the Books app have disappeared. If you're experiencing this issue and have a Time Machine backup, you can check if the files are still present in the backup. To do this, restore the backup to a new or existing user account on your Mac. Then, open the Books app and check if the PDF files are available.
Common Problems After Update to macOS Monterey
macOS Monterey, released on October 25, 2021, is the eighteenth major release of macOS, featuring several new features and improvements, but without significant changes or overhauls.
macOS Monterey adds AirPlay support to Macs, allowing them to be used as wireless displays for other devices, and introduces a contiguous side-by-side mode for apps, making it easier to work with multiple apps simultaneously, along with minor tweaks like the ability to pin messages in the Mail app and new emoji.
Updating macOS Monterey can cause various issues, such as data loss, stuck problems, or installation errors, and some users have experienced missing files after the update.
- macOS Monterey is unresponsive Some users have reported that their Macs become unresponsive after updating, which can be frustrating and disrupt their workflow.
- Apps problems Some users have experienced problems with apps and drivers that are no longer compatible with the new operating system, causing issues with their computer's functionality.
- macOS Monterey takes a long time to update Some users have experienced long update times when upgrading to macOS Monterey, causing frustration and inconvenience.
- Losing data after update When you download macOS Monterey and perform a clean install, you may be at risk of data loss.
Before updating your Mac, be aware of potential issues that may arise, such as data loss or system instability. To avoid these problems, perform a macOS update without compromising your data.
4 Ways to Recover Lost Files After macOS Monterey Update
The macOS Monterey update can cause problems, including the loss of files, but there are ways to recover them. If you're experiencing this issue, don't worry, as there are several methods to retrieve your lost files.
Method 1. Check macOS Monterey Trash to Recover Lost Data
To recover lost files after the macOS Monterey update, you can try the following methods. Firstly, check the Mac Trash, as deleted files are not permanently deleted but rather moved to the Trash, and can be recovered by following a few simple steps. Alternatively, you can try using third-party data recovery software, which can scan your Mac for deleted files and recover them if possible. If the file was stored on an external drive or cloud storage service, you may be able to recover it from there. Additionally, if you have a Time Machine backup, you can restore your files from the backup.
Step 1. Open the Trash Bin icon on your desktop.
Step 2. To recover lost files on macOS Monterey, right-click on the desired files and choose the "put back" option.
Method 2. Recover Lost Files After macOS Monterey Update with Software [100% Working]
Data recovery software is the most effective way to recover lost files after the macOS Monterey update, as it scans your hard drive for lost files and lets you choose which ones to recover. A helpful tool like Deep Data Recovery for Mac can assist in this process, offering various features to help recover your data.
- Recover deleted files on macOS Ventura/Monterey/Big Sur/Catalina/High Sierra update
- Restore macOS Monterey data from a variety of storage devices, including hard disk drives (HDDs), solid state drives (SSDs), USB drives, and more, with a reliable and efficient data recovery solution.
- Utilize advanced scanning algorithms to locate lost files across various file systems and operating systems, ensuring a comprehensive search for missing data.
Follow the steps below to recover data from macOS Monterey.
Step 1. Select the location
After updating to macOS Ventura/Monterey/Big Sur/Catalina, select the disk where you lost data and click "Search for lost files".
Step 2. Find lost data after the scan
Deep Data Recovery for Mac scans the selected disk volume, displaying the scanning results on the left pane, allowing users to find specific data using file type and file path.
Step 3. Recover data after macOS update
Select the target files that were unknowingly lost during or after the update, and click the "Recover" button to recover them all.
Method 3. Restore Lost Data from Time Machine Backup
After the macOS Monterey update, you can recover lost files using Time Machine backup. This feature automatically backs up your entire system, including libraries, applications, and user data. If you've lost files after the update, you can restore them from your Time Machine backup.
Step 1. Launch Time Machine on your Mac.
Step 2. Find the specific files you want to restore using the onscreen up and down arrows to locate them. Once you have selected the files, click the restore button to begin the restore process.
Step 3. Preview the files by pressing Space Bar.
Step 3. To restore a deleted file, click the "Restore" button, and the file will be returned to its original location.
Method 4. Restore Lost Data from iCloud on macOS Monterey
iCloud is a cloud-Apple's iCloud storage service offers users 5GB of free storage, allowing files to be accessed from any device with an internet connection. The service is integrated with macOS, making it easy to store and sync files between Macs, iPhones, and iPads. However, some users who have updated to macOS Monterey have reported losing files from their Macs, but they can be recovered by following specific steps.
Step 1. Go to iCloud.com and sign in with your account.
Step 2. Go to "Settings > Advanced > Restore Files"
Step 3. Check the boxes to the left of the file or folder you want to recover.
Step 4. Click the "Restore Files" button. The recovered file will be saved to your Downloads folder.
Conclusion
If you lost files after updating to macOS Monterey, check your Trash folder first. If they're not there, try using Qiling Mac data recovery software or Time Machine. If that doesn't work, you can also use iCloud. To avoid losing important files in the future, be sure to back up your data regularly.
Monterey Data Recovery FAQs
If you still have problems, read the questions and answers below to get additional help. It will take a few minutes, but it will be worth the time.
1. Does updating macOS delete everything?
Updating macOS will not delete everything, it won't remove data or erase the hard drive.
2. How to downgrade macOS Ventura to Monterey?
Downgrade macOS Ventura to Monterey:
- Downgrade with Time Machine
- Downgrade with macOS Recovery
- Downgrade with Bootable Installer
3. Should I update my Big Sur to Monterey?
The answer can be found by knowing the difference between Monterey and Big Sur.
4. How do I recover files after macOS Monterey update?
You can use Qiling Mac data recovery software to recover lost files after a macOS Monterey upgrade, as it is specifically designed to handle such situations and has a high success rate in recovering lost data.
- Download and install Deep Data Recovery for Mac.
- Start the software and select the disk that contains the deleted files.
- To scan the disk for lost files, click the "Search for lost files" button.
- After reviewing the found files, select the ones you want to recover.
- To recover lost files on macOS Monterey, click the Recover button.
Related Articles
- Move to Trash Shortcut on Mac with Three Sets
- Mac USB Recovery: Recover Deleted Files from USB Flash Drive
- How to Fix and Recover Data from Uninitialized Disk on Mac [macOS 13/12/11]
- Mac Partition Recovery | Recover Deleted/Lost Partition on macOS/Mac OS X