[Solved] How to Recover Emptied Trash on Mac and Restore Deleted Files

How to Recover Empty Trash on a Mac:

If you emptied the Trash on a Mac, you can still recover deleted files from a Time Machine backup. Click “Browse Other Time Machine Backups” in the top menu, find the file you need, and click “Restore” to save it.

The "Put Back" feature on Mac's Trash allows users to undo deletions within a limited time, but do you know how to recover emptied Mac Trash? If you want to recover emptied Mac Trash to get back deleted documents, images, videos, or audio files, this guide will show you how to undo emptying the Trash on your Mac.

User Scenario: Can I recover emptied Trash on Mac?

When you delete any file on your Mac, the system marks the space it occupied as free for use. However, the deleted file remains on the storage device until other data overwrites that space. This is also the case when you empty the Trash.

That's when you can use the effective solutions provided in this guide to recover deleted files from an emptied Trash. Here are 3 effective ways to undo Empty Trash on Mac:

Use File Recovery Tool to Restore Emptied Trash on Mac?

If you've emptied the Trash or turned on the “Empty Trash Immediately” feature, restoring trashed files on a Mac isn't always that straightforward. In this case, you need a more effective way to undo Empty Trash on a Mac.

Data Recovery Wizard for Mac is a wise solution to any data loss situation, including emptying the Trash. It scans and finds all recoverable deleted files before they're overwritten.

It can recover deleted photos on Mac and restore virtually any file type from various storage devices. Here are some tips to improve your chances of data recovery after emptying the Trash:

• ❌ Stop any write operations, such as editing, saving, creating, or deleting files.
• ⚠️ Avoid accessing data on the target disk, like viewing files or folders.
• ? Do not format or reformat the disk.

Follow the steps to recover permanently deleted files from an empty Trash:

Note: You can create a backup by clicking "Disk Backup" first on the left. The software will recover deleted files from the backup image, which can prevent further damage to your disk and data, making it safer and more reliable.

Step 1: Scan for deleted files

Select the hard drive, external drive, or SSD from where your data and files were deleted, and click “Find Lost Files.”

Step 2: Filter out lost files

The software will scan the selected volume quickly and thoroughly, trying to find as many deleted files as possible. Filter the required files by Type and Path options.

Step 3: Recover the deleted files

Double-click to preview the deleted files and then hit the “Recover” button to get them back.

This approach works for those situations.

• Delete files permanently using the Option+Command (⌘) + Delete keyboard shortcut
• Select a file and choose the "Move to Trash" option immediately
• Erase all files in the Trash by right-clicking the Trash icon and selecting "Empty Trash"
• Enable the "Remove items from the Trash after 30 days" option in Finder preferences

We also have a video tutorial that shows how to recover emptied Trash on Mac. Watch and refer to this tutorial to recover your emptied Trash!

How to Recover Empty Trash on a Mac

 

If this file recovery tool has helped you, please share it with your friends on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram! By the way, we also offer a Data Recovery Service to assist users with severe data loss issues.

If you want to recover emptied trash on Mac without software, you can use the methods below to restore files from an emptied Trash on Mac.

How to Restore Empty Trash with Time Machine Backup

Who does this solution serve?

• Permanently delete files on Mac by emptying the Trash
• Set up and regularly create backup files with Mac Time Machine

Time Machine is a built-in Mac tool that automatically backs up your files. You can then restore those files to a previous state, and the process shouldn't take too long. Check out how to use Time Machine for Mac trash recovery:

Step 1: Connect an external drive to your Mac to use for Time Machine backups.

Step 2. Open the Finder, click on “Go” – “Utilities” – “Time Machine” to access Time Machine. Click on the clock icon at the top menu and choose “Browse Time Machine Backups.”

Step 3. In the Time Machine window, you'll see all available backups. Choose the desired backup point, select the files you need, and click "Restore" to save the recovered files.

However, if you don't have a Time Machine backup of the deleted file, install Mac data recovery software to restore the deleted file from the emptied Trash.

How to Empty the Trash on Your Mac Using Terminal

Who does this solution serve?

• Accidentally emptied the Recycle Bin, resulting in data loss
• Has a basic understanding of computers and knows how to operate command lines

Similar to the Windows Command Prompt, Terminal allows users to manage their Mac via command line. It offers more advanced features for those who know their way around computers. If you know how to use this utility, you can recover deleted files on your Mac via Terminal by following these steps.

Step 1: Open Spotlight and search for “Terminal.” You can also find it by going to Finder > Applications > Utilities.

Step 3: Next, type the ls command to list the files and directories. If you find the deleted file, you can move it to another location, outside of its original spot, to prevent overwriting and increase the chances of recovery.

(This line is empty, as there is no English content to translate.)

The bottom line?

That's it for recovering from the Mac Trash. You can use a Mac data recovery software to quickly retrieve deleted files from an emptied Trash. Alternatively, you can restore from a backup, use the Terminal on your Mac, or contact a professional Mac data recovery service.

Regardless of the method you choose to recover files from an emptied Trash, remember to stop using your Mac altogether once you realize you've lost data. Any new file saves or software installations can overwrite your lost data and make recovery less likely.

How to Recover Empty Trash on Mac [5 Tips]

Here are some valuable tips to help you minimize the risk of data loss:

• Confirm before deleting: Exercise caution when permanently removing data. Important files should be stored in a secure location, and verify if they're still needed before deletion.
• Regularly back up critical files: Use Time Machine or another reliable backup method to regularly copy significant files.
• Stop using the device immediately: Once data loss occurs, refrain from using your Mac or other storage device. This is crucial.
• Utilize professional file recovery software: Install and use popular Mac data recovery tools like Data Recovery Wizard to attempt to retrieve lost data.
• Keep your Mac updated: System updates can fix data loss issues caused by errors or conflicts. For instance, updates can reduce the risk of system crashes that might lead to data loss.

How to Recover Empty Trash on Mac – Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some related questions that might interest you. Keep reading to easily solve your queries.

**How to recover permanently deleted files from the Trash on a Mac?** To restore permanently deleted files from an emptied Trash on your Mac, you can try the following methods: 1. **Recovery with Time Machine Backup:** If you have previously set up a Time Machine backup for your Mac, you can use it to recover your files. Connect your backup drive and open Time Machine (found in "Applications" > "Utilities"). Browse the timeline to find the point in time when the file was deleted, click on the file, and select "Restore." 2. **Use Data Recovery Software:** If you don't have a Time Machine backup, you can utilize third-party data recovery software like Disk Drill, tools Data Recovery Wizard, or Stellar Data Recovery. These tools can scan and help recover deleted files. Make sure to avoid any further writing operations on your Mac before using the software to prevent overwriting the deleted data. 3. **Check Recent Versions:** If the file was created or stored within the "Files" app and you have "File History" enabled, you may be able to retrieve it from "Files" > "Recent Versions." 4. **Contact Professional Data Recovery Services:** If all else fails, consider contacting a professional data recovery service. They have specialized tools and techniques to recover inaccessible data, though this option might be more expensive. Keep in mind that recovering deleted files is not always possible, especially if new data has already overwritten the same location on the disk since the deletion. Thus, regularly backing up your data is crucial.

When you empty the Trash, files are permanently deleted. Here's how to recover a file that has been permanently deleted on a Mac:

• Recover deleted files using Mac Data Recovery software
• Restore files from the Mac Trash using Time Machine backup
• Recover deleted files via Terminal command line

Where is the Trash on a Mac?

It's usually on the desktop. If not, click the icon in the Dock. A Finder window will open and display the items inside. To restore something you put in the Trash, drag it back to the desktop or its original folder.

3. Where do files go after emptying the Recycle Bin?

When you delete files, they're moved to the Trash. Even after you empty the Trash, the files remain on your hard drive and can be recovered with the right software.

4. Can I recover emptied Trash on Mac?

Yes, with the help of aMac Data Recovery Wizard, it's easy to recover files from the emptied Trash. It takes just three steps to restore files from an emptied Trash:

Step 1. Choose a location, then tap the “Scan” button.

Step 2: The software will quickly scan deep to find the lost files.

Step 3: Select the files and click “Recover Now” to get them back.

5. How do I empty the Trash on a Mac?

Click and hold the Trash icon in your Dock. A window will pop up that says “Empty Trash. ” Select it.

You can also empty the Trash by pressing Command-Shift-Delete in any open Finder window.