How to Get Data Back
If you have accidentally deleted files, experienced a drive failure, or lost data to corruption, recovery is often possible — but the method depends on how the data was lost and what storage device is involved. Stop using the affected drive immediately to avoid overwriting, then work through the options below in order of least to most invasive.
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Step 1: Check the Obvious First
- Recycle Bin or Trash: Open it and look for the missing files. If found, right-click and restore them to their original location.
- Cloud backups: Log into Google Drive, OneDrive, iCloud, or Dropbox and check the web interface for version history or a trash folder that may retain files for 30 days or longer.
- Undo shortcuts: If you just deleted something, pressing Ctrl+Z (Windows) or Cmd+Z (Mac) immediately may restore it in the application where it was last open.
Step 2: Use Data Recovery Software
When files are permanently deleted or a drive becomes inaccessible, free and paid recovery tools can scan the raw storage for remnants. Connect the drive to the computer, install the software on a different disk if possible, and run a deep scan. Recommended approaches include using tools such as Recuva, PhotoRec, or TestDisk for technical users, and Disk Drill or EaseUS for a guided interface. Save recovered files to a separate drive, never back onto the source.
Step 3: Handle Drive Failures Carefully
If a hard drive makes clicking or grinding noises, refuses to mount, or shows raw corruption in Disk Utility or Disk Management, stop using it. Software recovery risks worsening physical damage. In these cases, a clean-room professional service is the safest path to getting data back from mechanically failed drives.
Step 4: Recover from Ransomware or Encryption
If your files are locked by ransomware, do not pay immediately. Check for free decryption tools at No More Ransom, verify whether shadow copies or file versions exist, and restore from offline backups if available.
How to Prevent Future Loss
Set up an automated backup strategy that follows the 3-2-1 rule: three copies of your data, on two different media types, with one copy stored offsite or in a reputable cloud service. Regularly test backups by restoring a file to confirm they work when you need them most.