4 Methods to Retrieve Deleted Files after Re-installing macOS or Factory Reset on Mac
Last Updated on March 5, 2023 by Yulia Ilina
Does reinstalling macOS remove data from your MacBook? No. It only installs a new copy of macOS. But if there are any corruption issues or compatibility problems, you might lose some files after the process. What should be the best method to recover files after reinstalling macOS, especially when you do not have any backup? Here are 4 workable methods to retrieve deleted or lost files easily.
Part 1: How to Retrieve Files after Reinstalling macOS without Backup
If you do not have backed up the lost files, Mac Data Recovery is the ultimate choice to retrieve lost, deleted or unsaved files after reinstalling macOS. It has a deep scan mode that enables you to scan files from any device completely. Moreover, it has a filter feature that enables you to retrieve the files with name, path, and others.
1. Retrieve documents, emails, photos, videos, audio, ZIP files, and more.
2. Preview the lost or deleted files before purchasing a license or recovery.
3. Recover files after reinstalling macOS, factory reset, or crashed computer.
4. Scan files with 2 different modes to restore files with a high success rate.
Step 1: Download and install Mac Data Recovery, you can launch it on your MacBook. Click the Start button within the Mac Data Recovery menu to get back the deleted files. If you need to retrieve the files from any external device, you can connect them to your MacBook beforehand.
Step 2: Choose the desired files you want to retrieve, such as images, audio files, videos, Emails, documents, and others. Of course, you can tick the Check all file type option. Select the Hard Disk Drives option before clicking the Scan button to perform a quick scan.
Step 3: Once you have retrieved the desired files, you can click the category to find the one easily. Moreover, there is a Filter feature that enables you to search for the desired one with a name or path. After that, you can click the Recover button to restore files after reinstalling macOS.
Part 2: How to Restore Files after Reinstalling macOS with Backup
Before reinstalling macOS, you’d better have a backup with Time Machine or iCloud. Of course, if you have already enabled the auto backup feature of the services, you can also retrieve lost or deleted files due to reinstalling macOS with the following methods.
How to Recover Files after Reinstalling macOS via Time Machine
Time Machine is the built-in method to back up the macOS with an external hard drive. If you have already saved the files before a macOS reinstalling, you can simply search for the desired files and recover files by making use of Spotlight after reinstalling macOS.
Step 1: Connect to the external device you have saved the backed-up files via Time Machine. Open a window for the item you want to restore. After that, you can open Time Machine from the upper-right menu or launch the app from the Finder menu.
Step 2: To browse the Time Machine backups, you can use the timeline and arrows to find the desired local snapshots and backups. Once you have found the desired files you want to retrieve after reinstalling macOS, you can choose them and click the Restore button.
Step 3: It will restore the files back to the original location. Just restart your computer after the process if you have not found the lost or deleted files. It should be a workable method that you have almost 100% guaranteed chance for recovery.
How to Restore Files after Reinstalling macOS with iCloud Backup
If you have already subscribed to the iCloud plans, you can also turn on the auto-backup, which enables you to save files automatically. It is a useful way when you do not have a habit to back up files. Go to iCloud on the Cloud service to retrieve lost files after reinstalling macOS.
Step 1: Open iCloud with any web browser on your MacBook. After that, you can sign in to the Apple ID and you can locate the lost or deleted files you have already backed up. It enables you to check photos, videos, notes, and documents directly.
Step 2: Click the Settings menu and choose the Data Recovery button to find the 4 different menus, Restore Files, Restore Bookmarks, Restore Contacts, and Restore Calendars. Select the menu and choose the files you want to retrieve.
Step 3: Once you have selected the lost files or checked the Select All option, you can click the Restore button to get back the deleted files. After that, you can click the Restore button, which will restore the lost files due to reinstalling macOS to the original folder.
Part 3: Backing up Before Reinstalling macOS without Losing Data
When you just need to reinstall macOS without losing data, it is always a good and safe idea to have your files backup and you can easily do this by using a removable drive. Instead of recovering files after reinstalling macOS, you can save time and effort to use Time Machine or iCloud beforehand.
Step 1: Shut down and restart your MacBook. You can press Command + R to get into recovery mode. After that, you can choose the Disk Utility option and click the Continue button.
Step 2: Choose the boot drive and click the Erase menu. After that, you can select the Mac OS Extended option or the APFS option before clicking the Erase button before reinstalling macOS.
Step 3: After that, you can repeat the process to open macOS utilities. Click the Reinstall macOS button then continue to begin the process. Follow the wizard’s directions to get it done.
Conclusion
When you need to recover files after reinstalling macOS, you can learn more about the 4 workable methods from the article. You can always rely on iCloud and Time Machine to recover macOS easily with a backup. Of course, you can use the versatile Mac Data Recovery to get back the deleted files without any backups.