Recovering deleted files and formatted Mac drives
Emptied the Trash, erased the wrong disk in Disk Utility, or reinstalled macOS over your data? How much we can recover depends on the type of storage and on what has happened since – so stop using the Mac now.
Why storage type matters
On a hard drive (older iMacs, Mac minis and external disks) deleted files usually remain on the platters until new data overwrites them, so prompt recovery has good odds.
On a Mac SSD, macOS sends TRIM commands that tell the drive to clear deleted blocks, often within minutes. Recovery from internal Mac SSDs after deletion is therefore much less likely, and we will tell you so honestly at evaluation. Time Machine backups, local APFS snapshots and iCloud often give better results – we check those too.
How we recover it
We take a full image of the drive, then scan the image for previous APFS or HFS+ file-system records and known file signatures such as JPEG, HEIC, MOV, PDF and Office documents. Recovered files are checked so you only pay for data that opens.
What it costs
Every job starts with a professional evaluation (£94.80). You then get a fixed quote and a list of recoverable files before any recovery work is charged. As a guide, deleted-file and reformat recoveries usually fall in our £250–£550 logical band.
Frequently asked questions
Can you recover files I deleted from my MacBook’s SSD weeks ago?
Usually not. Once TRIM has cleared the blocks the data is gone from the SSD itself. Backups, snapshots and synced copies are the realistic route.
I erased the wrong external drive. Is the data lost?
Not necessarily. A quick erase replaces the file system but leaves most data in place on hard drives. Stop using the drive and send it to us.
Do I pay if nothing can be recovered?
You pay the evaluation fee. The recovery itself is only charged once you have approved a quote and seen the list of recoverable files.
Related services
macOS Corruption & Failed UpdatesBoot loops, stuck updates and corrupted APFS volumes.
Mac SSD & Fusion Drive FailureFusion Drive, Apple blade SSD and soldered storage failures.
MacBook Liquid DamageCoffee, water and drink spills on MacBook Air and Pro.
Mac Not Powering On or BootingDead Macs, black screens and boot failures.
FileVault-Encrypted Mac RecoveryFailed encrypted Mac drives, unlocked with your credentials.
iMac & Mac Pro Hard Drive CrashClicking and failed hard drives in iMac and Mac Pro towers.
Mac Logic Board & NAND DamageBoard-level repair to reach soldered, encrypted Mac storage.
Talk to an engineer
Describe the problem and the make and model if you know it. We will reply with a price and the fastest way to get it fixed, usually the same working day.
020 7237 6805 London repair centreUnit 1, 80 Willow Walk, London SE1 5SY
Monday to Saturday, 9am–6pm
Ready to send it in? Book online and get your job number by email straight away.