Mac TextEdit Recovery: Recover Deleted/Saved TextEdit Files

"Where does Mac OS X store unsaved TextEdit documents? I accidentally quit TextEdit before saving."

If you made a typo, you can easily undo changes in a TextEdit document. However, recovering an unsaved and permanently deleted TextEdit file takes a bit more patience. Proceed to the article or go straight to:

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TextEdit is a pre-installed text editor on the Mac operating system. It enables users to create, edit, and format both plain text and rich text files. Users can utilize TextEdit for basic word processing tasks such as writing letters, creating documents, jotting down notes, and more. Additionally, it supports inserting images, applying various fonts and styles, formatting lists, and setting up page layouts. For simple text editing and formatting needs, TextEdit proves to be a convenient and user-friendly tool.

TextEdit is a standard app on both Mac OS X and macOS. You don't need to download TextEdit for Mac, as it should already be installed on your computer. You can use it to create and edit HTML documents or convert rich text files into other formats.

To find TextEdit on your Mac, click Finder > Applications > TextEdit.

TextEdit is a simple yet powerful text editing and word processing tool that can't be replaced by apps like Pages or Microsoft Word. It has two input modes: plain text and rich text. Whether you're typing paragraphs or HTML code, remember to save your work often with Command-S. Otherwise, any number of accidents could cause you to lose your TextEdit file. For example:

• Accidentally pressing the Delete key
• The computer suddenly shuts down
• Quitting TextEdit before saving your changes
• TextEdit crashing, freezing, or being force-quit unexpectedly

Related Article: How to Recover Unsaved Word Document on Mac

How to Recover Unsaved TextEdit Files on Mac – 3 Ways

Thanks to TextEdit's auto-save feature, as well as backups from iCloud and Time Machine, you can recover lost documents and HTML files without having saved them immediately. We'll guide you through three methods to recover unsaved TextEdit files on your Mac in this detailed tutorial.

1. Recovering an Unsaved TextEdit Document from Auto-Save

If you lost an unsaved or unnamed TextEdit file due to a crash or freeze, you can reopen TextEdit. By default, it saves a copy of the document to Autosave. When you relaunch it, it will display the unsaved TextEdit file. From there, you just need to give it a name and save it on your Mac. This is how you can recover unsaved TextEdit files on a Mac and how to recover untitled TextEdit files on a Mac.

Otherwise, you can manually search for the Auto Save location of TextEdit. Untitled, unsaved TextEdit documents are stored in the following location with the filename “Untitled.rtf.”

The location for Auto Save files in TextEdit is: ~/Library/Containers/com.apple.TextEdit/Data/Library/Autosave Information

In the Finder, press Shift-Command-G, and then paste the path above into the Go to Folder dialog.

Step 2: Find the .rtf file with the name you want, open it in TextEdit, and save the reopened file as a new file.

2. Recover unsaved TextEdit files from iCloud

If you've been saving TextEdit documents to iCloud, you can retrieve them there. iCloud keeps the past 30 days' worth of items, including unsaved documents (typically named Untitled.rtf).

Step 1: Open your web browser and go to www.icloud.com.

Step 2. Enter your Apple ID and select “Settings” from the main menu. Scroll down to the “Advanced” section, then choose “Restore File.”

Step 3: Locate your missing .rtf file, click the checkbox next to it, and then click “Recover.” You should be able to open the recovered file in TextEdit.

Recover an Unsaved TextEdit Document with Time Machine

If you've got Time Machine running and have backed up the lost file, a Time Machine backup is another solution to recover your lost TextEdit on Mac in case of a data loss disaster. If your backup disk is currently unavailable, read here to learn how to recover files on Mac without Time Machine.

Step 1: Connect the backup drive to your Mac, and then turn on your computer.

Step 2: If your Mac starts up into Setup Assistant, choose your country or region, set up your keyboard and network, and then choose to transfer information from a Time Machine backup when you see the Migration Assistant window. If your Mac starts up into Finder, go to Applications > Utilities > Migration Assistant, and then choose to transfer from a Time Machine backup.

Step 3: Select the Time Machine backup you want, then click "Continue."

If you see several backup options, choose one, then click “Continue.”

Step 5: Select the files you want to transfer, then click Continue.

Step 6. Restart the computer and log in to the target account. You should now see all your recovered files.

How to Recover a Deleted TextEdit File on a Mac

To be honest, it is easier to recover deleted text files on Mac compared with restoring unsaved Mac files. That's because you can rely on a reliable Mac data recovery software to get back the lost data, no matter you emptied the Trash or permanently removed the files from Mac hard drive, USB flash drive, or memory card.

Here are the three steps to undo changes in a TextEdit document on a Mac:

Note: It is recommended that you create a backup first by clicking on “Disk Backup” on the left. The software will recover the deleted files from the backup image. This prevents further damage to your disk and data, making it safer and more reliable.

Step 1: Scan the deleted file

Select the hard drive, external drive, or SSD from which you lost important data and files, then click “Search for Lost Files.”

Select the location and scan for deleted files on Mac

Step 2: Scan for Lost Files

The software will scan the selected volume quickly and deeply, 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 the deleted files to preview them, and then hit the “Recover” button to get them back.

Apart from retrieving deleted TextEdit files, it empowers you to recover deleted or formatted files from Mac, external hard drive, SD card, USB flash drive, and other storage devices compatible with Mac, including photos, videos, audio files, Office documents, emails, and more. Whether you want to recover deleted PPT files or restore files from a formatted USB flash drive, this tool can get the job done.

Moreover, if you have a Time Machine backup but it's not working properly, using a third-party TextEdit recovery software like Data Recovery Wizard tool is your best bet to recover deleted TextEdit files on Mac. Don't hesitate and give it a try.