3 Ways to Recover Files After Factory Reset Mac or Reinstalling macOS in 2024

According to many Mac users, it's a common case that they lose Mac files after factory resetting Mac or reinstalling macOS/Mac OS X. On this page, you will learn how to recover files after factory reset Mac or reinstalling macOS using EaseUS Mac data recovery software and other manual methods. We'll also cover a complete guide to help you securely reset MacBook Pro, MacBook, etc. without losing any data.

On this page, you will uncover practical solutions to undelete and recover files after factory reset Mac and an extra guide on how to reset your MacBook Pro without losing any data.

Applies to: MacBook Pro, MacBook, MacBook Air, iMac, iMacPro, etc.

How Do I Recover Files After Factory Reset My MacBook?

"Recently, I reinstalled my whole macOS on my crashed MacBook, and then I found some files such as photos and documents are gone after reinstalling macOS.

Is there a way that I can apply to recover files after reinstalling macOS?"

According to most Mac users, reinstalling macOS, Mac OS X, or factory resetting Mac always follows a system crash, computer slowdown, or even when Mac users need to erase their old Mac computer for sale.

Can You Recover Files After Factory Reset Mac or Reinstall macOS? Yes!

Usually, you may lose some of your files on your Mac after the macOS or Mac OS X reinstallation. When you are facing a data loss problem, you may wonder whether you can recover files lost due to reinstalling macOS or Mac OS X. The answer is YES!

macOS reinstallation or factory resetting Mac only executes a quick erase of the volume. As a result, it will erase the file directory but does not write any data to the drive, so the original data will not be overwritten.

This fact makes it possible to recover files after reinstalling the Mac operating system as long as you take quick action.

Note that you should stop using your computer once your data get lost in case of data overwriting. Follow and learn how to bring your lost Mac files back after reinstalling macOS/Mac OS X on your own.

How to Recover Files After Reinstalling macOS/Mac OS X [3 Fixes]

Accordingly, the viable ways to recover Mac files duet o factory resetting or macOS re-installation depend on whether you have created a backup. And we collected 3 practical ways here for you to try:

1. #1. Run Mac File Recovery Software to Help
2. #2. Restore from Time Machine Backup from External Disk
3. #3. Restore from iCloud Backup

The former the file recovery method is presented, the bigger chance you will have of restoring lost Mac data. Based on your situation, pick up the right solution with the tutorial to restore your lost files immediately. With EaseUS Mac data recovery software, you should back up your data in advance since it can successfully back up and restore your macOS:

#1. Restore Mac Files after Factory Reset Using Mac File Recovery Software

Applies to: Find and retrieve all the files lost after reinstalling macOS or Mac OS X without backup.

When you lost data after factory resetting your Mac or reinstalling the latest macOS or earlier Mac OS X, you can eliminate your worries by using reliable Mac data recovery software.

Among the numerous Mac data recovery tools, we recommend you try EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac. When it comes to restoring files after reinstalling macOS or Mac OS X, EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac is 100% sure to get your data back. 

It can help you scan the Mac hard drive or external storage device to find and retrieve all the files lost after reinstalling macOS or Mac OS X with ease, even if you never back up your files. The effectiveness of this method has been proven by its users. Don't hesitate to give it a try. 

Steps to Recover Files After Reinstalling macOS/Mac OS X

Step 1. Search for lost files

Select the disk location to search for lost files (it can be an internal HDD/SSD or a removable storage device) on macOS Sierra, High Sierra, Mojave, Catalina, Big Sur, Monterey, Ventura, and the latest Sonoma. Click the "Search for lost files" button.

Note: Before data recovery, you'd better click "Disk Backup" from the left sidebar to create a backup of your Mac to avoid further data loss. After backing up, the software can recover data from the Mac backup, and your computer can wirte new data again.

Step 2. Go through the scanning results

EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac will immediately scan your selected disk volume and display the scanning results.

Step 3. Select the file(s) and recover

In the scan results, select the file(s) to preview and click the "Recover" button to have them back.

Being powerful, secure, and easy to use, EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac is recommended as the best Mac data recovery solution.

You can also apply it to restore more files from the following cases:

• Recover files lost due to deletion, formatting, system crash, virus attack, and other data loss situations.
• Support Mac USB recovery, memory SD cards, cameras, and other storage devices data recovery.
• Recover lost/deleted Microsoft files, photos, videos, music, Adobe files, and other types of files (over 200+).

#2. Restore from Time Machine Backup on External Disk

Applies to: Retrieve lost files due to factory reset Mac from Time Machine backup on an external disk. 

The other practical method that you may apply to bring lost Mac files back after factory resetting is to perform a Time Machine backup. If you've created a Time Machine on an external hard drive, congratulations.

You'll perform a full recovery of your lost files on Mac with a 100% success rate. Let's see how to bring your lost Mac files back after reinstalling macOS or Mac OS X.

Restore Factory Resetting Deleted Files from Time Machine Backup 

Step 1. Make sure your Time Machine backup external disk is connected to your Mac and turned on. 

Step 2. Open up Launchpad on Mac, and click "Others". Find and click the Time Machine icon to enter Time Machine.

Step 3. Use the Up and Down arrows to scroll the timeline, and browse the backups which contain your lost files.

Step 4. Find the lost Mac files that you want to recover, and click "Restore".

It will automatically recover those lost data from Time Machine on macOS Big Sur/Catalina/Mojave.

After this, you can restart your Mac computer, then you can view and reuse these files that were lost due to reinstalling macOS/Mac OS X again. 

#3. Recover Files After Factory Reset Mac from iCloud Backup

Applies to: Sync and restore Mac data from iCloud backup, free.

If you have synced or uploaded important Mac data into iCloud before committing factory reset or macOS reinstallation, you are such a lucky bird. You can easily restore your lost files from iCloud backup.

Steps to Recover Files due to Factory Reset on Mac

Step 1. Visit iCloud.com via your Mac browser, and sign in with your Apple ID.

Step 2. Go to Settings and scroll down to the bottom. Click on "Restore Files" under Advanced.

Tips: To restore contacts, bookmarks, calendars, and reminders from iCloud, click the corresponding option under Advanced.

Step 3. Check the backup files or click "Select All" if you really need to restore everything. Click the Restore button to recover them.

When you are done with the above tutorial steps, most of your files lost due to factory reset or macOS reinstallation will show up on your computer again. 

Bonus Tip: Factory Reset Mac or Reinstall Mac without Losing Data

Although when you performed a factory reset on Mac, you can restore the lost files when the recommended fixes are above. However, it's indeed complex and time-consuming.

Following the tips below, we will guide you through the brief process below to factory reset your Mac or reinstall macOS without losing any data.

#1. Back-Up Your Mac Data to an External Device First

It's vital to back up all your data in advance. You can use Time Machine to copy your files to an external disk or use reliable Mac file backup software for help. 

Or you can even manually copy files to an external hard drive one by one.

To save time and energy, we would like to recommend you try Time Machine or EaseUS Todo Backup for Mac.

- Using Time Machine

• Pros: ①. Free; ②. Easy to Use; 
• Cons: You need to select files one by one for backup.

- Using EaseUS Todo Backup

• Pros: ①. Easy to Use; ②. 3-step to back up Mac to an external disk.
• Cons: Not free.

#2. Prepare Mac for Factory Resetting or macOS Reinstallation

Before you start reinstalling macOS or Mac OS X, here are some preparations for you to do in advance:

1. 1. Deauthorize iTunes
2. 2. Turn off FileVault
3. 3. Disable iCloud
4. 4. Sign out of iMessage
5. 5. Erase Touch Bar Data (Also read: MacBook Touch Bar not working)

When you are done with the preparations, you may now start factory resetting or reinstalling your Mac OS X or macOS with the next tip.

#3. How to Reset or Factory Reset MacBook Pro, MacBook, MacBook Air, iMac/iMac Pro

Now, you can follow the steps here to start resetting your Mac:

Step 1. Reboot Mac in macOS Recovery Mode

Restart Mac and simultaneously hold the 'Command and R' keys together to bring up the macOS Utilities window.

Step 2. Erase Mac hard drive

Open Disk Utility and click "Continue" > Select your startup disk (Macintosh HD) and click "Erase" > Choose "Mac OS Extended (Journaled)" and click "Erase".

Step 3. Reinstall macOS on your Mac computer

Repeat Step 1 to bring up macOS Utilities > Click "Reinstall macOS" > Confirm to reinstall macOS and follow the onscreen instructions to complete the process. 

When you finish the process, congratulations. You have successfully reinstalled your macOS and the Mac now works like a brand-new computer. 

#4. Restore Files from Backup

As for the data that you backed up in advance, you can apply Time Machine or EaseUS Todo Backup for Mac to bring them back to your Mac with your backup immediately.

Conclusion

This page covers 3 practical solutions to help you effectively restore files after factory resetting your Mac or reinstalling macOS/Mac OS X. 

If you didn't create a backup before resetting your Mac, take EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac as an emergency rescue. It will fully scan and bring your lost files immediately. 

If you are looking for a complete tutorial to reset your MacBook Pro, check and follow the guide on the last part of this page. For more data recovery tips, please refer to Mac File Recovery on our site for help. 

FAQs - Recover Files After Factory Reset Mac

You have learned to recover Mac data after a factory reset. To get additional help, read the questions and answers below.

1. How can I recover deleted files on Mac?

You can recover deleted files on Mac with EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard. Here are the steps to restore lost data from MacBook and iMac.

• Download and run EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac
• Select the drive and choose Search for lost files
• After the scan, choose the wanted files and preview
• Then, click Recover to get back lost Mac data

2. Can data be recovered from a Mac after a factory reset?

Yes, you can recover Mac data after a factory reset. If you have a Time Machine or iCloud backup, it's possible to recover your Mac data after a factory reset.

3. How much does it cost to recover data from a Mac?

If your data is less than 2GB, you can recover 2GB of data for free. If your data is more than 2GB, it costs $89.95.

4. Does Mac have built-in data recovery?

Apple has included a built-in data backup and recovery program called Time Machine in all modern Mac operating systems. This app allows you to create regular backups of all the files, which you can later use to restore any data that may have been accidentally deleted or lost.