There are two ways to restore files you’ve deleted from the Trash on your Mac Sonoma (presumably running macOS Monterey or Ventura):
Method 1: Restore from Trash
- Open the Trash can icon on your Dock or Desktop.
- Locate the file(s) you want to restore. You can use the search bar in the Trash window to find specific files by name.
- Right-click (or Control-click) on the desired file(s).
- Select “Put Back” from the context menu. This will move the file(s) back to their original location.
Method 2: Use Time Machine (if enabled)
Important: This method only works if you have Time Machine backups enabled on your Mac.
- Open Time Machine from the Apple menu () > System Preferences > Time Machine.
- Navigate the timeline on the right side of the window. Use the date and time on the vertical bar to find the point in time before you deleted the files.
- You’ll see a representation of your folders and files at that specific time. Locate the folder that contained the deleted files.
- Click on the folder to see its contents.
- Find the deleted files you want to restore.
- Drag and drop the desired files back to their original location or your desired destination folder.
Here are some additional things to keep in mind:
- Time Machine backups are not foolproof. There’s a chance the files might not be available in a backup depending on how often backups are scheduled or if the specific files weren’t included in the most recent backup.
- Once you empty the Trash, the files are removed from readily accessible storage. The success of data recovery software in these cases depends on the specific situation and how much the drive has been used since deletion. Data recovery software can be expensive and doesn’t guarantee complete recovery.
It’s always a good practice to be mindful of what you delete from the Trash. If you’re unsure about a file, consider moving it to a different folder instead of deleting it permanently.