Storing your data on an external drive is a great way to transport your data between workstations, or to keep a fairly simple external backup of your valuable files. However, what if your external drive fails, becomes corrupted, or suddenly doesn’t appear on your Mac?
We’ve all experienced it; losing important files can be a nightmare, but there are some simple steps you can take to get your data back.
This guide walks you through the process of recovering data from an external drive on a Mac.
First up, check Your Connection
It might seem like a simple idea, but before assuming the worst, you should always check the basics to rule out something silly:
- Ensure the drive is properly connected: Sometimes, the issue can be as simple as a loose cable. Try reconnecting the drive or switching USB ports.
- Use another cable or adapter: The cable connecting your external drive to your Mac may be faulty. Try using another cable to rule this out.
- Try another computer: If possible, try connecting your external drive to another Mac or even a Windows computer. This can help you determine whether the problem lies with the drive or with your Mac.
If the drive is connected okay, the cable works on something else, and the drive fails to appear on another computer, perhaps the issue could be more serious.
Basic checks, using the Disk Utility
Disk Utility is a built-in macOS tool that helps manage and troubleshoot your drives. It can check the health of your external drive and it may offer options to repair it.
- Open Disk Utility: Go to Applications > Utilities > Disk Utility.
- Locate the external drive: Your external drive should appear in the left sidebar. If it doesn’t, there may be a hardware problem with the drive.
- Run First Aid: Select your drive, and click the First Aid button. This feature will check the drive for errors and attempt to repair them.
If Disk Utility cannot repair the drive, don’t worry; there are still options but you’ll have to go a little further.
The big guns – go for Third-Party Data Recovery Software
If Disk Utility’s First Aid fails to resolve the issue, it’s time to consider Mac Data Recovery Software. These applications scan your drive to locate lost or corrupted files and allow you to recover them.
Some popular data recovery programs include:
- Stellar Data Recovery: Stellar is another great tool, offering deep scanning capabilities and a wide range of file recovery options.
- Disk Drill: Known for its user-friendly interface, Disk Drill offers powerful recovery features for both external and internal drives.
- EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard: This software is highly regarded for its ease of use and strong data recovery performance.
Most of these programs offer a free trial version that allows you to scan your drive to see if the files can be recovered. If recoverable data is found, you can decide whether to purchase the full version to complete the recovery.
Restore data from a Backup (If Available)
While external drives bring a lot of benefits, they come with some risks as we’ve discussed, so having a backup option is a nearly iron clad way to prevent data loss in the event your drive fails. Apple offers Time Machine for easy backups, and taking a semi-regular backup of your external drive to some other place (another drive, a NAS, or similar) gives you options.
Time Machine makes it simple to restore your files back to the external drive or to another storage location.
How to restore from Time Machine:
- Connect your Time Machine backup drive to your Mac.
- Open Time Machine from the System Preferences menu.
- Browse through your backup history to find the point in time when the external drive was last successfully backed up.
- Select and restore your files.
If you don’t have a backup, this step is unfortunately not an option, so continue with data recovery efforts.
Last option, is to seek professional help
If you’ve tried all of the above and still cannot recover your data, you may need to seek professional data recovery services. These specialists have access to advanced tools and techniques that can sometimes recover data even from severely damaged drives. However, this can be costly, so it’s generally a last resort option.
When choosing a data recovery service, look for reputable companies with positive reviews, transparent pricing, and success stories. Some companies even offer a no-recovery, no-charge policy, which ensures that you only pay if they can recover your data.
Preventing Future Data Loss
After successfully recovering your data, take steps to prevent future data loss:
- Back up regularly: Use Time Machine or another backup solution to ensure that you always have copies of your important files.
- Safely eject your drive: Always eject your external drive safely using the “Eject” option in Finder to avoid corruption.
- Use a reliable drive: Consider investing in a quality external drive with a good reputation for durability and reliability.
