How to Effectively Restore Deleted Photos on Your Mac Computer- A Step-by-Step Guide

How to recover deleted pictures from a Mac computer can be a daunting task, especially if you haven’t taken any precautions to safeguard your data. However, with the right tools and techniques, you can often retrieve lost photos with relative ease. In this article, we’ll explore various methods to help you recover deleted pictures from your Mac computer and ensure that your cherished memories are not lost forever.

Before diving into the recovery methods, it’s essential to understand that the chances of successful recovery depend on several factors, such as the time elapsed since the deletion, the usage of the storage device, and the presence of any new data that may have overwritten the deleted photos. With that in mind, let’s look at some effective ways to recover deleted pictures from your Mac computer.

1. Check the Trash Bin

The first and simplest step in recovering deleted pictures from your Mac computer is to check the Trash Bin. When you delete a file, it is often moved to the Trash instead of being permanently deleted. To recover a picture from the Trash:

a. Open the Trash Bin on your Mac by clicking on its icon in the Dock or by pressing Command + Option + Delete.
b. Find the deleted picture you want to recover.
c. Right-click on the picture and select “Put Back” to restore it to its original location.

2. Use the “Recover from Recently Deleted” Feature

If you’ve emptied the Trash Bin, you can still recover deleted pictures within the past 30 days using the “Recover from Recently Deleted” feature:

a. Open the Photos app on your Mac.
b. Click on the “Recently Deleted” album on the left sidebar.
c. Select the picture you want to recover.
d. Click on the “Recover” button at the bottom of the screen.

3. Utilize File Recovery Software

If the above methods don’t work or if you’ve permanently deleted the pictures, you can turn to file recovery software. There are several reliable options available for Mac users, such as:

a. Disk Drill: This all-in-one data recovery tool can help you recover deleted pictures from your Mac’s hard drive, SSD, or external storage devices.
b. Stellar Data Recovery: This software offers a user-friendly interface and can recover lost photos, videos, and other files from various storage devices.
c. Data Rescue: Known for its high success rate, this professional-grade data recovery tool is suitable for both beginners and advanced users.

To use file recovery software:

a. Download and install the chosen software on your Mac.
b. Launch the application and select the storage device from which you want to recover the deleted pictures.
c. Follow the on-screen instructions to scan for deleted files.
d. Once the scan is complete, preview the recovered pictures and select the ones you want to restore.
e. Choose a location to save the recovered pictures and start the recovery process.

4. Restore from a Backup

If you have a backup of your Mac computer, you can restore the deleted pictures from it. This method requires that you have previously enabled Time Machine or another backup solution:

a. Connect your external backup drive or insert your Time Machine backup disk.
b. Open the Time Machine app on your Mac.
c. Navigate to the date when the pictures were still present on your computer.
d. Select the deleted pictures and click on “Restore.”

By following these methods, you can increase your chances of recovering deleted pictures from your Mac computer. Remember to act quickly and avoid using the storage device that contains the deleted pictures, as this can reduce the likelihood of successful recovery. Happy picture hunting!