Recover Data From Formatted Hard Drive on Mac

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How to Recover Data from a Formatted Hard Drive on a Mac

When dealing with formatted storage (including disks or partitions formatted on macOS), you generally have two DIY options: backups (which you probably don’t have if you’re reading this) or data recovery software. If neither option works, your final choice is to seek help from professional data recovery services.

Method 1: Restore Formatted Hard Drive on Mac from Time Machine Backup

If you had Time Machine set up to back up your hard drive before formatting it, you can recover your files from that backup.

Not sure what that is? Time Machine is a built-in macOS backup feature that lets users create backups of both system and non-system drives, including external ones. It supports drives formatted with APFS or HFS file systems, which are optimized for macOS.

Time Machine begins with a full backup and then saves only the changes made afterward. It creates hourly backups for the past 24 hours, daily backups for the past month, and weekly backups beyond that, as long as the backup drive remains connected. When the backup drive becomes full, Time Machine automatically removes the oldest backups. Due to this process, some older files may no longer be available in the backup.

Here is a step-by-step guide on how to restore files from a non-system formatted drive using a Time Machine backup:

1. Connect the external drive containing the Time Machine backup to your Macbook or Mac.

2. Click on the Time Machine icon in the menu bar and select “Browse Time Machine Backups.”

   

3. Use the timeline on the edge of the screen to find the date before the hard drive was formatted. Time Machine will display all backups from that date.

4. Browse through the backups and select the files or folders you wish to restore. Time Machine allows you to preview files before restoring them.

5. Once you have selected all the necessary files, right-click on files and select the “Restore to…” option to recover files to a new location.

   

In the event that your system drive has been formatted, restoring its complete state should be done using Migration Assistant. This tool enables you to transfer all your data, including applications and system files, from a Time Machine backup to your Mac, effectively returning the system to its state prior to formatting.

Note: To improve backup performance and conserve storage space, you can exclude specific files or folders from Time Machine backups. This is especially helpful for large files that can be recreated or data that isn’t essential to back up.

Method 2: Recover Files from a Formatted Hard Drive on a Mac with Disk Drill

Disk Drill for Mac is one of the top macOS data recovery tools and a leading option for recovering data from formatted hard drives on Mac. It stands out for its ability to detect traces of previous file systems and its support for major formats such as HFS, APFS, and exFAT. The tool is highly effective at recovering files using file system metadata and can also perform signature-based recovery for around 400 file types. This is particularly useful when the disk has been reformatted using the same file system, which is typically more destructive to the original data structure. In simple terms, Disk Drill can recover a significant number of common file types, even when direct recovery from the file system is not possible.

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to recover data from a formatted Mac hard drive with Disk Drill:

1. Download Disk Drill from its official website and install it by dragging the application icon to your Applications folder.

   

2. Open Disk Drill and provide it with full disk access. This step provides the necessary permissions to locate and recover your lost files.

3. Choose the formatted hard drive that you want to scan. Click the “Search for lost data” button to initiate the scan. Be patient, as the scan duration varies based on factors such as connection type, drive size, drive condition, number of file systems, and the degree of disk fragmentation.

   

4. Once the scan is complete, click on “Review found items” to browse the files located by Disk Drill. Alternatively, you can choose “Recover all…” to retrieve all found data.

   

5. Locate the files you need using the preview option, accessible via the eye icon next to each file. This step helps to check you recover exactly what you need.

   

6. After selecting the necessary files, click on “Recover.” Then, choose a destination to restore the files. Choosing a location different from the original hard drive is critical to prevent overwriting existing data.
   

   

7. Confirm your recovery destination by clicking the “Next” button, finalizing the recovery process.

Disk Drill can recover data from both internal Mac hard drives and external storage devices, even if they were originally formatted with file systems not natively supported by macOS, such as NTFS or EXT4. However, the free version of Disk Drill only allows you to scan and preview recoverable files—you’ll need to upgrade to the Pro version to actually recover the data. For more information, including its advantages and disadvantages, you can refer to our Disk Drill review.

Method 3: Use PhotoRec to Recover the Formatted Mac Hard Drive

PhotoRec provides a strong alternative for recovering a wide range of file types from drives that have been heavily damaged or reformatted. This free, open-source tool is especially effective because it works independently of the file system.

It supports around 470 file types, but it may not be ideal for selectively recovering large amounts of data. PhotoRec retrieves all detectable files without preserving original file names or folder structures. You can choose which file types to recover, but not specific files, which can result in a large amount of unorganized recovered data.

Here’s how to perform formatted Mac hard drive recovery using PhotoRec:

1. Open your terminal and use Homebrew to install PhotoRec by typing brew install testdisk. This command also installs TestDisk, a related tool for partition recovery.

   

2. Type sudo photorec to start PhotoRec from the Terminal. Grant the necessary permissions if prompted, which will allow PhotoRec full access to the hard drives.

3. Use the arrow keys to select the drive from which you want to recover data. Confirm your choice and proceed to select the partition that was formatted.

   

4. Specify the types of files you want to recover or opt to recover all types. This step tailors the recovery process to your specific needs, albeit without the ability to select specific files.

   

5. Choose a recovery directory different from the formatted drive to avoid overwriting any recoverable files. This precaution is critical for a successful recovery process.

   

6. Begin the recovery process. PhotoRec will display the recovery status in real time, showing the number of files recovered and the estimated time remaining. The duration of this process varies based on the drive’s size and condition.

   

If your drive contained a large amount of data, locating the specific files you need may take longer than the recovery process itself. Even so, PhotoRec remains one of the best completely free tools available. If you’re looking for software with more advanced features, you can explore our list of the best PhotoRec alternatives for additional options.

Don’t Want to Go DIY? Leave It to the Pros

If the data loss situation is severe or recovery attempts using tools like Disk Drill and PhotoRec have failed, it may be time to consult a professional data recovery service. These specialists use advanced technology and cleanroom environments that aren’t typically accessible to the public, increasing the chances of recovering data from physically damaged or heavily corrupted drives.

When choosing a data recovery service for your MacBook or external drives, consider factors such as the company’s reputation, the expertise of its technicians, and its track record with similar cases. Professional recovery services can be costly, typically ranging from $100 to over $1,000 depending on the complexity of the job. Many providers offer a “no data, no fee” policy, meaning you only pay if your data is successfully recovered.

Is It Possible to Recover Data from a Formatted Mac System Hard Drive?

Accidental formatting of the system disk is relatively uncommon among Mac users, but it can happen—especially when managing disks in recovery mode using Disk Utility. In such cases, there’s a risk of unintentionally formatting the system drive.

Recovering data from a formatted system hard drive is generally more feasible on older Mac models that lack security chips. These systems typically didn’t use full disk encryption, which makes data recovery more achievable. If you need to recover data from a system drive that was formatted in recovery mode, you can try using Disk Drill by following these steps:

1. Restart your Mac and hold down Command + R as it boots to enter Recovery Mode.

2. Once in Recovery Mode, navigate to the Utilities menu and open Terminal.

   

3. Enter the command sh <(curl http://www.cleverfiles.com/bootmode/boot.xml) to start Disk Drill version 5 or use sh <(curl http://www.cleverfiles.com/bootmode/boot4.xml) for running version 4 on older Macs. This command will load Disk Drill into RAM and initiate the application.

   

4. Wait for the Disk Drill to be installed and launched within your recovery environment.

5. In Disk Drill, select the formatted system disk and press the “Search for lost data” button. Be patient, as the scan could take some time, depending on the disk size and data complexity.

   

6. After the scan is complete, browse through the recoverable files, select the necessary files, click the “Recover” button, and save them to an external drive to avoid overwriting data.

   

Note: Disk Drill cannot preview files while running in recovery mode. As a result, you may need to recover all available data first. After transferring the recovered files to another drive, it’s best to sort through them and identify what you actually need.

This method can be effective for recovering data from older Macs where modern security measures do not restrict such operations. However, on newer models with enhanced security features, recovering data from a formatted system drive may not be possible using standard methods.

Final Words

If you’ve lost data from your Mac’s hard drive and don’t have a backup, you essentially have two options: use data recovery software or turn to professional recovery services. Software tools are ideal for quick and cost-effective recovery when the data loss is recent and the drive is still in good condition. Professional services are more suitable for cases involving physical damage or severe corruption. It’s generally recommended to try data recovery software first, as these tools are often easier to use than they might seem.