How to Recover Deleted Apps on a Mac for Free with a Proven Method

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After a major macOS update, or following a clean install, apps might suddenly disappear from your Mac. There was even a macOS update bug that caused users to lose their Mac desktop files and drive icons, including installed programs. Aside from that, Mac users can lose applications in many other scenarios and would like to know how to recover deleted apps on Mac without reinstalling.

• Virus or malware attack
• Accidental removal of the app while cleaning up Mac storage
• Moving the application or dmg file to the Trash unintentionally
• Permanently deleting the application using keyboard shortcuts on your Mac

While you might be able to redownload an app from a website or the App Store, users want the quickest way to get their apps back without having to go online or wait for lengthy download times – especially if they're trying to restore an older version of an app that they can no longer download. This is where you'll need to find the original copy of the app using more traditional means, which we'll discuss below.

Solution 1: Restore Deleted App from Recycling Bin – Absolutely Free

First, you can check the Trash folder for recently deleted items, including programs that were installed on your Mac. When you delete an application from your Mac's desktop or Dock, its installer files and shortcuts are removed. This is unlike Windows, where, if you delete a program icon, the installation files often remain in the Downloads folder.

So if you didn't permanently delete it, try looking in the Trash to find the app and restore it.

Read more: How to Recover Permanently Deleted Files on Mac

Step 1: Open the Trash Click the Trash can icon in the bottom-right corner of the Dock at the bottom of your Mac's screen.

Step 2: Look for the program or app that you just uninstalled. You can search for its name in the search bar.

3. Right-click on it, and select “Make Backup.” You may be asked to enter your administrator username and password to proceed.

Step 4: Find the app at its original location, which should now be restored.

Solution 2: Recover deleted apps on Mac using a Data Recovery Software – 100% Effective

While you might find a lighthouse of hope in the Trash, your chances of recovery are limited. In most cases, you won't find deleted programs in the Trash, especially if they were removed due to a virus, third-party uninstaller, or problematic macOS update. Unless you have a backup from iCloud, iTunes, or a Time Machine hard drive, you'll need to rely on data recovery software with specialized scanning and reconstruction technologies.

In terms of functionality, brand reputation, and ease of use, we recommend Data Recovery Wizard for Mac if you encounter severe data loss issues like programs vanishing abruptly. Additionally, this powerful Mac recovery tool is highly beneficial for users who have lost files, photos, videos, or documents on their Mac or external storage devices, as it supports HDD/USB/SD card recovery after formatting the disk.

Three steps are there to restore apps on Mac using this software.

Step 1: Select the scan location

Launch Disk Drill for Mac. Select the hard drive, SSD, SD card, USB flash or TF card with the lost data. Click "Search for lost files" to start scanning.

Note: Before data recovery, it's better to click “Disk Backup” from the left sidebar to create a backup of your Mac to prevent further data loss. After the backup, the software can recover data from the Mac backup, and your computer can write new data again.

Step 2: Filter Lost Mac Data

The software will automatically scan for lost data on your MacBook or iMac. After the scan is complete, you can filter the required data using the "Type" and "Path" buttons.

Step 3: Recover Lost Data or Files

Double-click the file to preview it. Then, click “Recover” to restore the lost data to another location.

What are some other ways to recover deleted apps from a Mac besides Time Machine?

As summarized in the article, there are two general methods to recover deleted apps on a Mac. One is a free method, and the other is a proven effective one. You should try both to maximize your chances of successfully retrieving the lost app.

However, if you do have a backup, don't forget to back up before you delete. The available options for backing up or syncing app data on a Mac are iCloud, iTunes, and a Time Machine backup drive.

If none of these work, your last resort is to download it again from the official website or the App Store. If you removed a pre-installed app, you can get it back from the installation media. See How to Install macOS from USB for instructions.