How to Recover Trash on Mac in 6 Reliable Practices

Good day! I deleted the files from my Mac. I checked the Trash Bin tool, and they exist. Unfortunately, I also accidentally deleted the files stored by the mentioned program. Can I recover emptied Trash on Mac? Please help me! Thank you!

We are fortunate to have the Trash Bin tool on Mac, as it stores deleted files for a particular period. However, it will be inconvenient when the files are permanently deleted from the tool. Don’t worry! The emptied Trash Bin can still be recovered. The 6 effective ways are posted in this post. Their complete information is outlined below.

Part 1. Best Way to Recover Trash Data on Mac - FoneLab Mac Data Retriever

Recovering the Trash Bin data is a bit complicated. FoneLab Mac Data Retriever makes this procedure accessible and easy with its features. It has a specific feature that allows you to recover Trash Bin data with just a few clicks. It can recover your data from different scenarios. It can be caused by accidental deletion, computer virus, unwanted format, unexpected power loss, and more.

Additionally, it recovers different data types from your Mac. It includes emails, audio, videos, images, documents, and more. Furthermore, it features a Deep Scan mode, which scans deleted data even more thoroughly. How to recover deleted Trash on Mac with this tool? The steps will be the best guide.

Step 1Please go to the official website of FoneLab Mac Data Retriever and click the Free Download button. After that, the download procedure will start. Wait for it to end and set up the downloaded file. Install and launch it afterward to begin the process. Please click the Hard Drive Recovery button at the top right. Scroll down on the right and click the Recycle Bin or Trash button.

Step 2Click the Start Scan option, located at the bottom right of the screen. Then, the tool will start scanning and retrieving the lost data from the Recycle Bin. The progress percentage will appear at the top left of the screen. Please wait for the scanning process to end. Then, click the Type List button at the top left. The data types list will appear afterward.

Step 3The folders will appear on the right. Please select the folder where you stored the previous data before it was deleted from your Mac. Then, select the files you prefer to recover. Then, click the Recover All button at the bottom right of the screen to begin retrieving the files.

Part 2. How to Recover Trash on Mac with the Put Back Feature

The Trash Bin program features a Put Back option, which allows you to recover data from the Trash Bin. This particular feature cannot retrieve data from your Trash Bin on Mac if it has been emptied. It is only applicable if the mentioned program has existing files. Please follow the instructions below to know how the Put Back feature works.

Open the Trash Bin program on your Mac. Usually, it is placed at the bottom right of the screen, specifically the Dock. After that, the list of deleted files will appear on the Trash Bin interface. Please select the files you prefer to recover to your Mac. Next, control-click the deleted files to see more options and click the Put Back button. Then, the files will be recovered to their original folder.

Part 3. How to Recover Emptied Trash on Mac Without Software with Finder

On the other hand, how to recover emptied trash on Mac without software? Finder is the best alternative tool. This program is known for storing and managing files on your Mac. The good thing about this program is that it has simple hidden features that can help you recover deleted Trash Bin data. The feature is called Undo Move.

You can use this feature when the deletion of the Trash Bin data is recent. It occurs when no other operations are performed after the deletion has been completed. If you operate other functions from your Mac, this feature cannot undo the data from the Trash Bin. Please follow the detailed steps below to discover this process.

Open the Finder tool on your Mac. The recently stored data or files will appear on the main interface of the tool. Please click the Edit option at the top of the main screen. This action will reveal the drop-down options. Please click the Undo Move of “restore-trash” button from the list. The emptied Trash Bin will bring back the recently deleted files afterward.

There is a quicker procedure to undo the emptied Trash Bin on your Mac. You may press the Command + Z keys on your Mac keyboard. This shortcut key combination also serves as an Undo feature, similar to the Finder’s feature mentioned above. Please be careful pressing this key. Ensure that the pressed keys are correct to avoid other commands for your Mac.

Part 4. Recover Trash on Mac with Time Machine Backup

Mac can automatically back up all data using Time Machine. This program backs up Mac data 24 hours a day. The best feature of this tool is that it can store backups for an extended period, typically months. However, this backup feature is one of the programs that consumes the most storage space on the Mac. It is one of the main reasons why others do not turn it on to back up their Mac data.

Did you enable Time Machine before the Trash Bin data was deleted? Recover data from the Trash Bin using Time Machine by following the steps below.

Step 1Unlock the Mac and launch the Time Machine program on the screen. After that, click the Time button at the top right of the screen. A drop-down list of options will appear on the screen. Click the Browse Time Machine Backups button. Then, the Time Machine backups list will appear on the main screen.

Step 2The date of the backups will appear on the right. Please use the Up and Down Arrows on the right to locate the data you prefer to recover. You can identify the Trash Bin data before it gets deleted. Then, click the Restore option at the bottom center of the main interface. The data will be recovered immediately afterward.

Part 5. How to Recover Trash on Mac with Terminal

Additionally, Terminal can also recover deleted Trash Bin data from your Mac. Please be informed that the Terminal requires professional skills or assistance. It requires codes that are familiar to advanced users to be completed. Also, entering codes with this built-in tool is crucial. A single incorrect code from the procedure can make a significant error or cause changes to your Mac's functions.

Don’t worry. We will guide you throughout this process. We recommend copying the codes posted below to recover your deleted data from the Trash Bin using Terminal correctly.

Step 1Open your Mac and click the Terminal button from the main interface to open it. Then, a small window will be prompted on the screen. Alternatively, you can click the Finder tool. Then, select the Applications button on the left. Click the Utilities button in the options list and choose Terminal.

Step 2The Terminal tool will show you a code on the screen. You need to continue this code with the cd .Trash code. Press the Return key on your Mac keyboard to encode it. Continue typing with the ls ~al ~/.Trash code. The contents of the Trash Bin will appear. Finally, enter the mv ~/.Trash/[filename] ~/Desktop/ code on the tool and press the Return key to restore the files from the Trash Bin.

Part 6. How to Recover Emptied Trash on Mac with Apple File System

Last but not least, Apple File System. This feature creates a snapshot that automatically backs up your Mac data. It does not have a specific program through which you can access it. This feature requires the assistance of the Terminal tool, which was introduced in the previous part of the article. This feature utilizes more complex codecs that need manual entry in the Terminal tool. Similar to the last method, we recommend copying the steps below to avoid errors when recovering Trash Bin data using Apple File System. Please scroll down below for the full details.

Step 1Open the Terminal from the Launchpad section on your Mac. Then, the window will appear on the main interface. You are required to mount the snapshot. Please enter the usesudo tmutil attach /System/Volumes/Data/.apfs_snapshot/2025-03-18-170945 code. Hit the Return key to encode it.

Step 2The list of backups created from your Mac will appear on the main interface. Please browse the backups from the Trash Bin that you prefer to recover. Then, drag and drop it to your desired location where you choose to restore it.

Part 7. FAQs about How to Recover Trash on Mac

In conclusion, this article provides 6 guides on how to recover emptied Trash on Mac. These methods utilize built-in tools and the best third-party software to recover files from the Trash Bin on your Mac. We hope you have tried using FoneLab Mac Data Retriever. It is the best third-party tool that can recover Trash Bin deleted data in a few clicks. You may download this tool for more information about its function.