External Hard Drive Data Recovery Mac: How to Recover Deleted Files from External Hard Drive

4 Ways of External Hard Drive Data Recovery Mac

how to recover data from external hard drive on mac

Mac users often rely on external hard drives to expand their storage capacity, with popular brands including Western Digital, Buffalo, G-Technology, Samsung, Seagate, and Lacie. However, upgrading internal hard drives on Macs can be notoriously difficult, and frequent use of external drives can increase the risk of data loss due to accidental deletion, disk formatting, improper disconnection, or a failing drive itself.

There are four possible ways to recover deleted files from external hard drives, USB flash drives, or memory cards on a Mac, each applicable to specific data loss scenarios. These methods can be used to recover deleted files in various situations, and we'll explain them in detail.

1. Restore from Trash Bin
2. Restore from a Backup File
3. Use Data Recovery Software
4. Try Manual Data Recovery Service

1. How to Recover Deleted Files from External Hard Drive Mac from Trash Bin

If you accidentally deleted data from an external hard drive by dragging it to the Trash, check the Trash Bin first. To restore the files, right-click on the file and select "Move to Trash" or use the keyboard shortcut Command-Delete. The files were not permanently removed until you emptied the Trash. Simply put the file back where it was, and it will be restored.

Step 1. Connect your external hard drive to your Mac and navigate to the Trash.

Step 2. Locate the abandoned file in the trash folder, and use either "Copy Items" or "Put Back" to recover the files back to their original spot.

recover deleted files on external hard drive from trash bin

2. Recover External Hard Drive Mac from a Backup File

Mac provides users with a secure protection mechanism, backing up important hard drive files to Cloud or a backup device via Time Machine. A good way to recover deleted files is by accessing the backup file.

For example, to restore Mac files from Time Machine, refer to the steps:

Step 1. Open Time Machine by clicking on the icon in the menu bar and choose "Enter Time Machine".

Step 2. To find the desired file in the backup, navigate to the backup location and locate the specific file in question. Once you've found the file, press the Space Bar to preview its contents.

Step 3. To view a snapshot of your external drive, click the "Cloud" icon, which will download the snapshot, allowing you to view it even when the external drive is disconnected.

Step 4. Click "Restore" to restore the selected file.

recover deleted files on external hard drive from time machine backup

3. Restore External Hard Drive Mac with Data Recovery Software

When you can't access or locate files in the Trash, backup, or no backups were ever created, the only way to continue is to download a capable Mac external hard drive data recovery program and perform data recovery as soon as possible.

Deep Data Recovery for Mac is a top choice for Mac data loss issues, with over 10 years of experience and deep scan ability, making it compatible with all macOS and Mac OS X versions. It's a simple yet effective solution for recovering lost data, making it the go-to option whenever you're faced with Mac data loss issues.

Free Download
Windows 11/10/8/7, 100% Secure

The software works by automatically detecting and recovering data from various data loss scenarios, including accidental deletion, formatting, virus attacks, and hardware failure. It can recover data from corrupted or damaged files, and even restore data from a previously deleted backup. The software can also recover data from a crashed computer or a device that has been physically damaged. Additionally, it can recover data from a device that has been reformatted or repartitioned, and even from a device that has been physically damaged due to a natural disaster or other catastrophic event.

Permanently deleted files from the external hard drive on Mac, such as using Command-Shift-Delete to empty the Trash, or Option-Command-Delete, known as "Delete Immediately" to bypass the Trash.
Format the external hard drive using Disk Utility or other third-party disk formatting tools.
Files were unknowingly hidden somewhere, and you lost the entrance.
External hard drives can become inaccessible due to logical errors, which can be caused by various factors such as software bugs, hardware failures, or data corruption. This can render the drive unusable, making it difficult to access the stored data.

How to recover data from external hard drive on Mac with Deep Data Recovery.

Step 1. Run Deep Data Recovery. Select file types and click "Next" to start the recovery process.

Select file types that you want to recover

Step 2. Select the disk location where you lost data and click the "Scan" button.

Step 3. Deep Data Recovery for Mac will immediately scan your selected disk volume and display the scanning results on the left pane.

lick recover now button to recover lost data

Step 4. To recover files from the scan results, simply select the desired file(s) and click the "Recover" button. This will restore the files to their original location.

4. How to Restore External Hard Drive Mac with Manual Service

Apart from logical errors that can be recovered with Qiling Mac data recovery software, there are situations where data cannot be recovered, especially when severe issues are present on a disk, such as hard drive corruption with too many bad sectors, a hard drive that has fallen apart, or a heavy clicking/beeping sound.

When faced with data recovery problems, don't rely on software solutions. Instead, seek the help of an IT expert skilled in manual data recovery. If you're interested, you can check the average hard drive data recovery cost. Before data recovery, local data recovery services often perform hard drive repair.

Must be an ISO certified service center
Data recovery guarantee after analysis
Should have Class 100 Clean Room
Service must be secure & reliable

Ontrack is a reliable and secure option, and they can assist you if your external hard drive suffers physical damage.

recover data using manual data recovery service

How to Avoid External Hard Drive Data Loss (Bonus Tips)

Protecting your data in advance can be a wise decision, as data recovery can be costly and time-consuming. By taking proactive steps to safeguard your data, you can avoid potential financial and emotional burdens that come with losing important information. This approach can provide peace of mind and ensure that your valuable data is secure, making it a worthwhile investment.

1. Be cautious before deleting files or formatting your external hard drive, as this can lead to permanent loss of data. Take necessary precautions such as backing up important files to an external drive or cloud storage, and ensure you have a clear understanding of what files are being deleted or formatted.
2. Eject the drive in the correct way. You may lose data if you eject the external hard drive when in use.
3. Avoid physical damage due to any reason.
4. To avoid falling victim to a virus attack, it's recommended to have anti-virus software scan your device regularly. This proactive measure can help detect and remove any malicious software that may be present on your device.
5. Back up important files using cloud drive, professional backup and recovery software, or manual copy.

To Sum Up

To recover deleted files from a Mac external hard drive, you can try checking the Trash Bin, restoring from a backup if available, or using Qiling Mac data recovery software to scan and recover deleted files. If the data loss is caused by physical damage, it's best to seek manual service. If you don't have a backup, this software can be a lifesaver in retrieving your lost files.

Free Download
Windows 11/10/8/7, 100% Secure

External Hard Drive Data Recovery Mac FAQs

Here are common FAQs that you may be interested in. Check if any of them could help you.

How to recover deleted files from a Mac hard drive?

To recover lost files from and external hard drive on Mac, follow these steps:

Step 1. Download, install, and launch Deep Data Recovery for Mac.

Step 2. Connect the external drive to your computer.

Step 3. Select the external drive from the disk list.

Step 4.To recover deleted files from an external hard drive on Mac, click the "Scan" button, preview the files that can be restored, and then click the "Recover" button.

What is the best hard disk recovery software for Mac?

Deep Data Recovery for Mac is the best hard disk recovery software for Mac, offering powerful recovery technology with an intuitive and easy-to-use interface that can be used by anyone with a Mac. For more information, refer to Top 5 Free Data Recovery Software for Mac.

How to recover files from an external hard drive on Mac?

To recover lost files from an external hard drive on a Mac, connect the external drive to the Mac and launch the Disk Utility app. Select the external drive from the list on the left, then click on the "First Aid" button to run a diagnostic scan.

Step 1. Download, install and launch Deep Data Recovery for Mac.

Step 2. Connect the external drive to your computer, then select it from the disk list and click Scan.

Step 3. After scanning, select the desired files and click "Recover Now" to retrieve them.