Why You May Need Data Recovery on Mac

Mac computers—like any computer—are vulnerable to data loss. Files can disappear for many reasons: accidental deletion, formatting a drive, corrupted partitions, system crashes, software bugs, external drive errors, even physical issues with disks. For many users, losing photos, documents, videos or work files can be catastrophic.

Moreover, newer Macs with SSDs (especially with Apple Silicon) add challenges: modern file systems (APFS), TRIM behavior, and disk encryption may reduce recovery chances, especially if you continue using the drive after file loss. Nonetheless, with the right software — and swift action — many types of data loss can still be reversed.

That’s where data recovery software for Mac becomes essential. Instead of relying on backups (which may not exist), recovery tools attempt to reconstruct lost data from the drive’s unused sectors, file records, or previously stored metadata.

What Makes a Good Data Recovery Tool for Mac

Not all recovery software is made equal. When evaluating Mac recovery tools, consider these factors:

• Compatibility with modern macOS & file systems: APFS, HFS+, exFAT, NTFS, FAT, external drives, SSDs, HDDs.


• Support for multiple media types: internal drives, external USB drives, SD cards, memory cards, USB sticks, external HDDs/SSDs, camera cards, etc.


• Ability to handle complex data-loss scenarios: accidental deletion, formatted drives, corrupted partitions, RAW drives, system crashes, even lost partitions or disk reformatting.


• File-type breadth: ability to recover documents, images, videos, project files, archives — especially important for creatives, professionals, and media users.


• User-friendly interface: preview recoverable files, intuitive scan/pause/resume, simple restore process.


• Advanced features (optional but useful): deep scan, file signature recovery, virtual/RAID recovery, partition rebuilding, bootable recovery, cross-platform support.


• Preview and selective recovery: ability to preview files before recovery to avoid restoring unusable or corrupted data.


• Safety — does not further write to the damaged drive (avoid overwriting recoverable data).

When a tool ticks these boxes, you significantly improve your chances of successful recovery — especially if you act quickly after data loss and avoid writing new data to the affected drive.

Top Recommended Data Recovery Software for Mac (2025 Picks)

Here are some of the most reliable and widely used tools in 2025 for Mac users. Each of these works for many loss scenarios — but outcomes always depend on how the data was lost (deleted, formatted, damaged, SSD behavior, etc.).

Disk Drill

Disk Drill remains one of the most popular and robust data recovery tools for macOS. It supports a wide range of file systems — APFS, HFS+, exFAT, FAT, NTFS — and various storage devices (internal drives, external SSDs/HDDs, USB sticks, memory cards, virtual disks, etc.). Cybernews+2Tech2Geek+2

Some of its standout features:

• Recovery of 400+ file formats (documents, photos, audio, video, archives, project files). Tech2Geek+1


• Ability to recover deleted files, formatted drives, lost partitions, and even reconstruct partitions. Tech2Geek+1


• “Quick Scan” for recently deleted files, and “Deep Scan” for more difficult recovery situations. Cybernews+1


• Extras: disk-health monitoring, backup vaults, and preventive data-protection tools to reduce future data loss risk. Cybernews+1

Disk Drill offers a free version (limited recovery or preview) plus paid licenses for full recovery, making it accessible for both light users and professionals. Wikipedia+1

✅ Best for: Most general Mac data recovery needs — accidental deletion, formatted drives, USB/SD recovery, quick restores.

EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac

EaseUS is another well-known data recovery solution that supports macOS and a wide range of file systems (APFS, HFS+, exFAT, FAT, NTFS) and storage media — internal drives, external drives, flash drives, SD cards, etc. EaseUS+2Macworld+2

Key strengths:

• Covers more than 1,000 file types — from office documents to photos, videos, archives. EaseUS+1


• Handles deleted file recovery, formatted drives, RAW partitions, and supports Time Machine and external volumes. The Mac Observer+1


• Simple UI, file-type filtering, and organized file previews before recovery. The Mac Observer+1

EaseUS offers a free tier (with limited recovery quota) which is often enough for small losses (documents, small files), while paid versions unlock full recovery. EaseUS+1

✅ Best for: Users needing a straightforward, user-friendly interface and recovery from common issues like accidental deletion, formatted external drives, or simple data loss.

Wondershare Recoverit

Recoverit is especially popular among creatives and media professionals because of its strong support for photos, videos, multimedia files, and even project files from editing software. Wondershare Recoverit+1

Strengths include:

• High claimed recovery success rates for videos and photos — useful if you lost large media files. Wondershare Recoverit+1


• Support for many storage media — internal Mac drives, external SSDs/HDDs, USB, SD/CF cards, camera media. Wondershare Recoverit+1


• Recovery of data lost due to accidental deletion, formatting, partition loss, or system crashes. Wondershare Recoverit+1

✅ Best for: Photographers, videographers, creative professionals who lost media files or have corrupted drives — especially useful for large multimedia recovery.

Other Tools / Options

• Some lesser-known or niche utilities (for example, older or lightweight tools) can help for simple recoveries or specialized tasks — but modern macOS (esp. APFS, Apple Silicon) demands updated tools with robust compatibility.


• For deeply damaged drives or hardware failures, sometimes software won’t help — in those cases, professional data-recovery services (clean-room, hardware repair) might be required.

Best Practices Before & During a Recovery Attempt

Getting back lost data is not guaranteed — success depends heavily on what you do before and after data loss. Follow these guidelines to improve your chances:

1. Stop using the drive immediately — don’t download or install anything, and avoid writing new files. New data can overwrite the deleted data you want to recover.


2. If possible, clone the drive (byte-for-byte) before scanning — this preserves the original and lets you recover from a safe copy.


3. Run Quick Scan first — if data was recently deleted, this may recover files faster and more cleanly. If not found, run a Deep Scan.


4. Use a different drive to restore recovered files — never restore onto the same drive/partition, to avoid overwriting data.


5. Check previews / file integrity before final recovery — many recovery tools let you preview photos, docs, or videos.


6. Act quickly — the longer the drive is used, the lower the chance of recovery, especially on SSDs with TRIM enabled.


7. Use backups & preventive protection — once you recover data, set up regular backups (Time Machine, cloud, external drives) to avoid future loss.

When Software Recovery Fails — Know When to Seek Professional Help

No matter how powerful, software has limitations. Consider professional data-recovery services when:

• The drive is physically damaged (making clicking noises, not mounting, showing I/O errors, etc.)


• Deletion or corruption happened a long time ago, and data has likely been overwritten


• The drive uses complex formats, RAID configurations, or encrypted partitions


• You have critical data (business, legal, photographic archives) where partial recovery isn’t acceptable

Professional recovery services (clean-room, hardware-level repair) can sometimes salvage data when software fails — though at higher cost, and with no guarantee.

Which Tool Should You Choose? Quick Recommendations

• For most users (documents, external drives, accidental deletion): Disk Drill — balanced, user-friendly, widely compatible.


• For more casual or budget use (small losses, quick recovery): EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac — simple, effective, good for small files or external storage.


• For photographers, video editors, media professionals: Wondershare Recoverit — strong in multimedia recovery and large files.


• For heavy data loss, partition recovery, formatted drives: Disk Drill (Deep Scan), or consider professional services if hardware issues exist.

Final Thoughts

Losing important files on a Mac can be stressful, but thanks to reliable data recovery software, many data-loss scenarios are recoverable — especially if you act quickly, stop using the affected drive, and use a capable tool.

Disc-based and SSD-based Macs behave differently (SSD + TRIM complicates recovery), but modern recovery software still offers strong support for APFS, external drives, partitions, and a wide range of file types.

If you’re in a situation of accidental deletion, formatted drives, or corrupted partitions — using a tool like Disk Drill, EaseUS, or Recoverit gives you a good shot at retrieving lost data. And once everything is recovered, set up regular backups to minimize future risk.