Losing valuable photos on your Mac can be a stressful experience, whether due to accidental deletion, hardware failure, or a system crash. Fortunately, recovering lost photos is often possible with the right tools and methods. This guide will walk you through the best ways to recover deleted or lost photos on your Mac, from built-in recovery options to advanced software solutions.
Common Reasons for Photo Loss on Mac
Understanding why your photos are missing can help you prevent future data loss. Here are the most common reasons:
- Accidental Deletion – Mistakenly deleting files is the most common cause.
- Hard Drive Corruption – Internal or external drives can fail unexpectedly.
- macOS Updates or System Crash – Sometimes, an update or crash can make files disappear.
- Formatting Errors – Reformatting a drive or SD card without a backup can erase all files.
- Virus or Malware Attacks – Though rare on Mac, malware can lead to data loss.
Key Takeaway: Photo loss can result from deletion, hardware failure, updates, or syncing issues. Regular backups and quick action can help prevent permanent loss. Recovery tools can restore missing files when built-in options don’t work.
Quick Recovery: Check Mac’s Built-in Tools
Before turning to advanced recovery methods, try restoring lost or deleted photos using Mac’s built-in tools. These solutions are fast, simple, and often effective.
Check the Trash Bin
If photos were accidentally deleted, they might still be in the Trash.
- Open the Trash Bin from the Dock.
- Look for the deleted photos.
- Right-click on the photos and select Put Back to restore them to their original location.
Limitations:
- If the Trash has been emptied, recovery from this method is not possible.
- Deleted files remain in the Trash until manually emptied or removed by system settings.
Restore from Photos App “Recently Deleted” Folder
Before permanently deleting deleted photographs, the photographs app stores them in the Recently Deleted folder for 30 days..
- Open the Photos app.
- In the sidebar, select the Recently Deleted folder.
- Select the photos you want to recover.
- In order to restore them to your library, click Recover.
Limitations:
- Only works for photos deleted within the last 30 days.
- If photos were deleted from this folder, they are permanently removed.
Use Time Machine Backup
If Time Machine was enabled before the photos were lost, it can restore them from a previous backup.
- Connect the external backup drive (if applicable).
- Open the folder where the photos were last stored.
- Choose Enter Time Machine after clicking the Time Machine icon in the menu bar.
- Browse through previous backups to find the missing photos.
- Select the photos and click Restore.
Limitations:
- The Time Machine must have been set up before the data loss.
- The external backup drive must be available to access the backup.
Search for Hidden Files
Sometimes, files are hidden instead of deleted due to system settings or accidental key combinations.
- Open Finder and navigate to the folder where the photos were last stored.
- Press Command + Shift + Period (.) to reveal hidden files.
- Look for any grayed-out files that might be your missing photos.
Limitations:
- This technique is only effective if the files are hidden rather than erased.
Check iCloud and Google Photos.
If iCloud Photos or Google Photos is enabled, lost images may still be available online.
iCloud Photos:
- Go to iCloud.com and log in.
- Check the Recently Deleted folder after launching the Photos app.
- Select photos and click Recover if available.
Google Photos:
- Visit Google Photos.
- Click Trash in the sidebar.
- Select photos and click Restore if available.
Limitations:
- iCloud only retains deleted photos for 30 days.
- If sync settings were disabled, recent changes may not be reflected.
Key Takeaway: Before using recovery software, check Trash, Recently Deleted, Time Machine, and cloud backups. These built-in options offer quick ways to restore lost photos. If they don’t work, photo recovery software may be needed.
Using Photo Recovery Software for Mac
If built-in options don’t work, recovery software can help restore permanently deleted or lost files.
Best Photo Recovery Software for Mac
Here are some top-rated tools:
- Disk Drill – User-friendly and powerful recovery tool.
- EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard – Effective for recovering various file types.
- Stellar Photo Recovery – Specializes in retrieving lost or corrupted photos.
How to Use Recovery Software (Example: Disk Drill)
- Download & Install Disk Drill from CleverFiles.
- Open the app and select the drive where the photos were lost.
- After selecting Search for Lost Data, watch for the scan to finish.
- Preview the recoverable photos and click Recover to restore them.
Key Takeaway: Photo recovery software is an excellent option when built-in Mac tools fail. Top tools like Disk Drill, EaseUS, Stellar, and Recoverit offer user-friendly solutions for recovering lost photos from Mac’s internal storage, external drives, and formatted or corrupted devices. If recovery software doesn’t work, professional data recovery services may be required.
Recovering Photos from External Devices
Lost photos from an external hard drive, USB, or SD card can often be recovered using built-in Mac tools or recovery software. Here are the best methods to retrieve them.
Check for Hidden Files
Photos may be hidden rather than deleted.
- Open Finder and navigate to your external device.
- Press Command + Shift + Period (.) to reveal hidden files.
Limitations: Works only if files are hidden, not deleted or corrupted.
Use Disk Utility to Repair the Drive
A corrupted or unreadable drive may be preventing access to photos.
- Open Disk Utility → Select your external drive.
- Click First Aid → Run to repair errors.
Limitations: Cannot recover deleted files but may fix disk corruption.
Restore Photos Using Time Machine
If you previously backed up your external drive, you may recover lost photos.
- Attach the backup drive for your time machine.
- Open the folder containing the pictures.
- Enter Time Machine, browse past backups, and click Restore.
Limitations: Requires a backup before data loss.
Use Photo Recovery Software
If built-in tools fail, recovery software can scan for lost photos.
Recommended Tools:
- Disk Drill (CleverFiles) – Best for deep scanning external drives.
- EaseUS (EaseUS) – Works on formatted drives.
- Stellar Photo Recovery (StellarInfo) – Ideal for recovering RAW image files.
Steps to Recover with Disk Drill:
- Download & Install the software.
- Connect the External Device and open the app.
- Scan for Lost Files and preview recoverable photos.
- Restore Photos to a different location.
Limitations: Overwritten files may not be recovered; full recovery requires a paid version.
Recover Photos from a Formatted External Drive
Formatted drives can still be scanned for lost files.
- Stop using the device immediately.
- Use deep scan recovery software like EaseUS or Stellar.
- Save recovered files to a separate location.
Limitations: If overwritten, recovery is unlikely.
Recover from a Physically Damaged Drive
If your external drive is not detected, is making clicking noises, or is unresponsive, professional recovery may be needed.
Trusted Services:
- DriveSavers (DriveSavers)
- Secure Data Recovery (Secure Data Recovery)
- Ontrack (Ontrack)
Limitations: It can be expensive; success depends on damage severity.
Prevent Future Data Loss
- Back up photos regularly using Time Machine, iCloud, or Google Photos.
- Always eject external drives properly before disconnecting.
- Use high-quality external storage to reduce failure risks.
- Enable cloud syncing for automatic backups.
Key Takeaway: Try hidden file search, Disk Utility, Time Machine, or recovery software to restore lost photos. If the driver is physically damaged, seek professional recovery services. Always back up your photos to avoid future loss.
Tips to Prevent Photo Loss in the Future
Avoid losing your photos again by following these best practices:
- Enable Time Machine Backup – Always have a backup on an external drive.
- Use iCloud or Google Photos – Cloud storage ensures your photos are always accessible.
- Avoid Formatting Mistakes – Double-check before formatting a drive or SD card.
- Install Antivirus Software – Prevent malware attacks that can delete or corrupt files.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can I get my Mac’s deleted photos back?
Yes, if they haven’t been overwritten, you can use recovery software like Disk Drill or EaseUS to restore them.
How long does the Photos app keep deleted pictures?
Images are stored in the Photos app’s Recently Deleted area for 30 days before being completely erased.
What if I don’t have a backup of my lost photos?
You can use recovery software like Stellar Photo Recovery to scan and retrieve lost files.
Can I recover photos from a corrupted external hard drive?
Yes, try Disk Utility to repair the drive first. If that fails, use data recovery software.
Is photo recovery software free?
Most software offers a free version that allows scanning, but full recovery usually requires a paid upgrade.
Additional Resources
Here are some useful links for Mac photo recovery:
- Apple Support – Recover Deleted Photos: support.apple.com
- Disk Drill Photo Recovery Guide: cleverfiles.com
- EaseUS Data Recovery Software: easeus.com
- Stellar Photo Recovery Tool: stellarinfo.com
- Time Machine Backup Setup: apple.com/time-machine
Conclusion
Losing photos on your Mac doesn’t have to be permanent. You can successfully restore lost photos by using built-in recovery options, backup systems, and reliable recovery software. To prevent future losses, always keep backups and enable iCloud or Time Machine.