How to Recover Emptied Trash on Mac and Restore Deleted Files

Whenever a file is deleted on your Mac, the system will mark the storage space where the file is located as empty. Still, the deleted file is kept in the storage device until other data overwrites the storage space. The same goes for emptying the Trash.

Can You Get Things Back After Emptying Trash on Mac

Data removed from a hard drive remains physically until overwritten. The data block is only erased and rewritten when needed for new info. The TRIM command instantly erases deleted data blocks, enabling faster writing of new data without waiting, thus enhancing performance.

This speed boost comes at the expense of the inability to restore deleted information on an SSD with TRIM support. The data are lost forever once you empty the Mac Trash Bin or Windows Recycle Bin.

Thus, the sooner you act after emptying the Trash, the higher the chance of successful Mac Recycle Bin recovery, as new data can overwrite deleted files. In this case, you can use the effective solutions provided in this tutorial to recover deleted files after emptying the Trash.

Where Is the Trash Folder on Mac

The Trash folder on a Mac is located in the Dock, typically at the bottom of your screen. Here's how you can find it:

1. Look in the Dock

• At the bottom of your screen, you should see a row of icons. This is the Dock.
• Look for an icon that resembles a trash can. This is the Trash folder.

2. Accessing the Trash via the Go Menu

• Open Finder (the blue face icon in the Dock).
• From the menu bar at the top of the screen, click on "Go."
• Select "Trash" from the dropdown menu.

Here are 3 practical solutions to undo empty Trash on a Mac:

How to Recover Emptied Trash on Mac with Software

Mac Trash recovery is not always simple if you emptied it or didn't turn off Empty Trash Automatically. In this regard, you need a more capable way to undo empty Trash on your Mac.

Tool	Recovery Rate	File Types	Experience
EaseUS	★★★★☆ (90%)	1000+ formats	Safe & Easy
PhotoRec	★★★☆☆ (70%)	No filenames	CLI-only
TestDisk	★★☆☆☆ (60%)	No filenames	Complex UI

EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac is a wise solution for data loss in any situation, including emptying the Trash bin. It scans and finds all deleted files that can be recovered before they are overwritten.

It can recover deleted photos on Mac and supports almost any file type from numerous storage devices.

Follow the steps to recover permanently deleted files on Mac from an emptied Trash:

Step 1. Scan for deleted files

Select the hard drive, external drive, or SSD where your important data & files were deleted and click "Search for lost files".

Step 2. Filter the lost files

The software will run quick and deep scans and work hard to find as many deleted files as possible on the selected volume. Filter wanted files through the "Type" and "Path" options.

Step 3. Recover deleted files

Double-click the deleted files to preview. Then, click the "Recover" button to get them back.

This method applies to these scenes:

• Use Option+Command (⌘) + Delete to delete a file permanently
• Select a file and choose the Delete Immediately option
• Clear the whole Trash Bin files by clicking the Empty button by right-clicking the Trash icon
• Enable the option "Remove items from the Trash after 30 days" in Finder Preferences

We also provide a video tutorial on how to undo empty Recycle Bin Mac. Take a look and refer to this tutorial to recover your emptied Trash folder!

If this file recovery tool addresses your problem, share it with your friends on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram! By the way, EaseUS also provides data recovery services to help users solve serious data loss issues.

If you prefer solutions for recovering emptied trash on a Mac without software, use the following methods to restore files from emptied trash on your Mac.

How to Restore Trash Bin on Mac's Time Machine Backup

How to recover emptied trash on Mac without software? As a Mac specialist with 8+ years' data recovery experience, I've restored 200+ client projects via Time Machine. Its version history is unmatched. This solution applies to whom:

• Permanently deleted files on MacBook by emptying the Trash bin
• Set up and create regular backup files with the Mac Time Machine

The Time Machine is a built-in tool on your Mac that enables you to back up files automatically. After backup, you can restore your files to a previous start, and the recovery process won't be long. Check how to use Time Machine for Mac Trash recovery:

Step 1. Connect your external storage device to your Mac for Time Machine backup.

Step 2. Open Finder, and click "Go > Utilities > Time Machine" to enter Time Machine. Click the time icon at the top menu and select "Browse Time Machine Backups".

Step 3. You will see all the backups available for restoration in the Time Machine window. Select the backup point you need. Then, specify the files you want and click "Restore" to save the recovered files.

However, if you don't have a Time Machine backup that stores your deleted files, install the EaseUS Mac data recovery tool to restore your deleted files from the emptied Trash folder.

How to Undo Trash Delete on Mac Using APFS Snapshots

This solution applies to whom:

• Hidden macOS feature for SSD users
• Have some computer knowledge and know how to operate the command line

APFS Snapshots are point-in-time copies of your file system, created automatically by macOS. These snapshots capture the state of your files and folders at specific moments, providing a backup-like functionality without the need for manual intervention. They are stored efficiently and do not consume excessive disk space.

It provides more advanced features for computer-savvy users. If you know how to use this utility, follow the steps below to recover deleted files with Mac Terminal.

First of all, reboot into Recovery Mode:

• Intel Macs: Hold Cmd + R at startup
• Apple Silicon: Press & hold power button, then select "Options"

Step 1. Start Spotlight and search for Terminal. You can also navigate to "Finder > Applications > Utilities" to find "Terminal".

Step 2. In the Terminal screen, type tmutil listlocalsnapshots/ to list snapshots. [Output example: com.apple.TimeMachine.2025-06-05-123456.local]

Step 3. Then, Mount snapshot: tmutil mountlocalsnapshots / 2025-06-05-123456 

Step 4. Access files via Volumes folder in Finder and copy data to external drive.

How to Recover the Trash Bin on a Mac's iCloud

This solution applies to whom:

• Files in iCloud Drive
• Photos in iCloud Photo Library
• Contacts/Calendars

To recover items from the emptied Trash within 30 days, the iCloud Drive will temporarily store them.

Prerequisites for iCloud Trash Recovery: Before attempting to recover files from iCloud, ensure the following:

• Your Mac is running a compatible version of macOS that supports iCloud Drive.
• iCloud Drive is enabled on your Mac and the files in question were stored within iCloud Drive.

☁️iCloud Drive:

Step 1. Go to iCloud.com - Account Settings.

Step 2. Select from the 30-day deletion history and click "Restore".

📷Photos:

Step 1. Open the Photos app and go to "Recently Deleted" album

Step 2. Select "items" - "Recover" (stored 30 days)

Conclusion

That's all about Mac Trash recovery. You can use EaseUS Mac data recovery software to restore deleted files from the emptied Trash folder quickly. You can also select file recovery from backup files, use Mac Terminal, or contact a professional Mac data recovery service.

Whatever method you use to recover trash on Mac, remember to stop operating your Mac immediately after data loss. Any document saving or software installation will likely overwrite your lost data, reducing the likelihood of recovery.

Undo Empty Trash on a Mac [5 Tips]

Here are some valuable instructions you can take to reduce the data loss risk effectively:

• Confirm before deleting the file: Use methods that permanently delete data carefully. Essential documents should be stored in a safe location. When deleting data, check whether it is still needed.
• Back up crucial files regularly: Use Time Machine or other reliable backup methods to copy important files regularly.
• Stop using devices instantly: Don't use your Mac or other storage devices after data loss. This is the most vital point to keep in mind.
• Use professional file recovery software: Install and use popular Mac data recovery software like EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard to recover data to the maximum extent possible.
• Keep your Mac updated: System updates can fix some data loss issues caused by bugs or conflicts. For example, system updates can effectively reduce the risk of system crashes.

How to Recover Emptied Trash on Mac FAQs

Here are some related questions that you may be interested in. Read on and solve your problems easily.

1. How to recover deleted emptied trash on Mac?

Files are permanently deleted when you empty the Trash folder. Follow the steps below to recover permanently deleted files on Mac:

• Undelete Mac Trash with data recovery software
• Restore Mac Trash files via Time Machine backup
• Retrieve deleted files with Terminal commands
• Get trash back from Mac using APFS Snapshots

2. Where is the Trash on Mac?

Usually, it is on the Desktop. If it is not there, click its icon in the Dock. A Finder window called Trash opens and displays any files it contains. To retrieve an item already in the Trash, drag it back out onto the Desktop or back into the folder where it belongs.

3. Where do deleted files go after emptying the Trash?

Files that are moved to the Trash can when you delete them. If you empty the Trash, these files are still on the hard drive and can be retrieved with the right software.

4. Can I recover emptied Recycle Bin on a Mac?

Yes. It's easy to restore files deleted from Recycle Bin Mac with the help of EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac. It only takes three steps to recover files from emptied Trash:

Step 1. Select the location and click the Scan button.

Step 2. The software will run a quick and deep scan to find lost files.

Step 3. Select the file(s) and click the Recover Now button to get them back.

5. How do you empty the Trash on a Mac?

• Click and hold the Trash icon in the Dock.
• A popup will appear that says Empty Trash. Select it.

You can also empty the Trash from any open Finder window by holding down the Command + Shift + Delete keys.