Recovering lost data from a MacBook SSD can be a complex and delicate job.
On a Mac, repeated attempts with Disk Utility can make the case worse. If the files matter, see Bot’s SSD recovery, which starts with a free diagnosis.
There are methods and programs you can use to try to recover data on your own, but the way SSDs work and the particularities of the macOS file system make the process much more delicate than on a traditional hard drive.
At a time when information is such a valuable asset, losing data from a MacBook SSD can have serious consequences – for individuals and businesses alike.
That’s why it’s essential to understand the risks, take preventive measures and know your recovery options to keep the information stored on devices as important as MacBooks safe and accessible.
In this article, we explain whether it’s possible to recover data from a MacBook SSD and what happens when you delete a file on one.
We also show you how to check whether TRIM is enabled and whether recovery is still possible if it is.
You’ll also see when you might need to recover files from your MacBook’s SSD and how to recover data from a MacBook with a built-in SSD.
Finally, you’ll learn how Bot’s professional data recovery service is priced and what the best option is for recovering data from a MacBook SSD.
Read on to find out!
Is it possible to recover data from a MacBook SSD?
Fortunately, recovering deleted files on a Mac is easy – as long as you haven’t emptied the Trash yet.
Once you empty the Trash or permanently delete files from a solid-state drive (SSD), recovering the data becomes much more difficult.
At Bot, we recover data from MacBook SSDs and from other Apple devices, such as:
- iMac (without a built-in SSD)
- MacBook Air (without a built-in SSD)
- MacBook Pro (2017 and earlier)
- Mac mini (without a built-in SSD)
- Mac Pro (without a built-in SSD)
- Apple AirPort
- Time Capsule
- iPhone and iPad.
What happens when you delete a file?
SSDs and hard drives handle deleted files very differently.
On a hard drive, the sectors that held the file are simply marked as free.
In most cases, the deleted data stays on the disk until new data is written over it – and during that time the file can still be recovered.
On an SSD with TRIM enabled, macOS tells the SSD which blocks no longer hold valid data as soon as the file is permanently deleted. The SSD controller then erases those blocks during its internal cleanup (garbage collection), often within seconds or minutes, to prepare them for new writes.
TRIM is a command from the ATA (Advanced Technology Attachment) standard; NVMe SSDs have an equivalent command. When it’s enabled, recovering deleted files from a MacBook SSD becomes much harder, and often impossible.
How do I check whether TRIM is enabled?
MacBooks with Apple SSDs ship with TRIM enabled by default.
You can check this setting in a few steps:
- Click the Apple menu, choose About This Mac and then System Report. Alternatively, hold down the Option key, click the Apple menu and choose System Information.
- In the left sidebar of the System Information window, under Hardware, click NVMExpress or SATA/SATA Express, depending on your MacBook’s SSD interface.
- In the right pane, look for TRIM Support. If it says Yes, TRIM is enabled.
Can files be recovered from the SSD even with TRIM enabled?
Things look better if TRIM turns out to be disabled, although that’s unlikely.
When TRIM is disabled, the SSD doesn’t know that the deleted data is no longer needed, so it keeps it.
In that case, the SSD only erases the data when new data needs that space, much like a hard drive.
In this scenario, the chances of recovering data from a MacBook SSD are much better.
Even with TRIM enabled on the MacBook, recovery may occasionally still be possible.
That’s because the SSD doesn’t always erase the trimmed blocks immediately: the internal cleanup depends on the controller and usually runs when the drive is idle.
If the SSD hasn’t finished that cleanup yet, there’s still a small chance of recovering the files.
So act fast: stop using the Mac as soon as you notice the loss, don’t install recovery programs on the same SSD and seek professional help as soon as possible.
When might you need to recover files from your MacBook SSD?
Every case of data recovery from a MacBook Air or MacBook Pro SSD is different.
Sometimes you know you’ve lost data; other times you don’t realize it until later.
Even so, there are warning signs that point to problems with the drive, which in turn can lead to lost files.
That’s why it’s worth knowing the signs that your MacBook needs you to back up the files on its SSD right away.
If you know these scenarios, you’ll be able to act quickly to recover your information if any of them happens to you.
Files permanently deleted from the SSD
This happens when you do one of the following four things:
- Use the keyboard shortcut Option + Command + Delete
- Choose Delete Immediately in Finder
- Empty your Mac’s Trash manually, or
- Leave items in the Trash for more than 30 days with the Remove items from the Trash after 30 days option turned on.
Logical problems on the MacBook SSD
These include:
- Accidentally deleting an APFS (Apple File System) volume or container
- Reformatting the drive
- Bad blocks
- Operations that corrupt the file system structure.
These scenarios can wipe out every file on the drive, including all your documents.
Viruses and malware
Malicious software disrupts the normal operation of your computer. Viruses, for example, can do serious damage: harm your Mac, steal data, delete files and more.
A common case is documents that can no longer be opened because they were corrupted by viruses or malware. When this happens, you need to recover the information quickly and remove the threats from your Mac.
Physical damage to the MacBook SSD
If a MacBook is dropped, overheats or comes into contact with liquid, part of the SSD – or the whole drive – may be damaged, putting the stored data at risk.
How to recover data from a MacBook with a built-in SSD
If you have a Time Machine backup, you can use this built-in macOS feature to restore files on a MacBook with a built-in SSD.
Just follow these steps:
- First, connect your Mac to the Time Machine backup drive and enter the password if prompted.
- Then open the folder where the file was stored (optional).
- Next, click the Time Machine icon in the menu bar and choose to browse the backups. If you can’t see the icon in the menu bar, you can add it: click the Apple menu, go to System Preferences (System Settings in newer versions of macOS), select Time Machine and check Show Time Machine in menu bar.
- Find the file you need in the Time Machine backup timeline, using the mouse or the arrows.
- Select the files you want and press the Space bar to preview them.
- Finally, click Restore, wait for the process to finish and check that the file is back in its original location on your MacBook.
Keep in mind that regular backups are essential to prevent data loss, especially for important documents – they protect you against viruses, hardware failures and accidents.
How do I recover data from a MacBook with a failed built-in SSD?
At Bot, we recover data from any MacBook, including those with electronic, battery or similar problems and the newest models (2018 onwards, with the T2 chip or Apple M1, M2 and M3), even in complex cases and with no guarantee of results.
For MacBooks with a built-in SSD, we recover data from every model: from the 2016 and 2017 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Pro with Touch Bar to the models with the T2 chip and Apple M1, M2 and M3, with no guarantee of results, as these are complex cases.
We have the professional equipment needed to extract data from the built-in SSD, even when the MacBook Pro’s logic board is burnt out.
How much does it cost to recover data from a MacBook SSD?
The price of recovering data from a MacBook SSD depends on how complex the case is.
Bot specializes in data recovery across many operating systems and device manufacturers – MacBooks included.
To give you an idea of the cost, our service is priced by complexity level – you’ll find the current values on our pricing page. The levels are:
- Level 1: low-complexity cases
- Level 2: medium-complexity cases
- Level 3: high-complexity cases
Bear in mind, though, that these levels are based on the cases we handle every day.
The final price can vary. The only way to get an exact quote is through our diagnosis (standard diagnosis is free; express options are also available).
To get started, click this link.
What’s the best way to recover files from a MacBook SSD?
When the files lost from the MacBook SSD are important and DIY attempts aren’t working, professional help is the best way to improve your chances of a successful recovery.
If you go down this route, make sure you choose a reliable, experienced company.
Here’s why it pays to turn to a specialist to recover files from your MacBook SSD:
- You avoid making the data loss worse with complex, risky techniques that aren’t meant for inexperienced users
- You have better chances of a successful recovery, because the work is done by highly trained professionals with specialized tools
- You have clear turnaround times, instead of the uncertainty of trying it yourself.
Read next
Conclusion
Recovering data from a MacBook SSD can be a complex and sensitive task that calls for a careful, professional approach.
As SSDs become the main form of storage, it’s increasingly important to understand the risks of data loss and what can be done to recover it.
From accidental deletion to technical failures, the data on an SSD can be at risk.
Prevention is crucial, but when data loss does happen, turning to recovery specialists is the best way to get your valuable data back.
And that’s where we come in!
Bot’s data recovery services can help you recover lost, deleted, corrupted or damaged files from the main Apple computers and devices:
- iMac (without a built-in SSD)
- MacBook Air (without a built-in SSD)
- MacBook Pro (2017 and earlier)
- Mac mini (without a built-in SSD)
- Mac Pro (without a built-in SSD)
- Apple AirPort
- Time Capsule
- iPhone and iPad.
We specialize in Macs with a built-in SSD, such as the 2016 and 2017 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Pro models with Touch Bar and the 2018-and-later models with the T2 chip or Apple M1, M2 and M3.
We have all the professional equipment needed to extract data from the built-in SSD, even when the MacBook Pro’s logic board is burnt out.
Our team of highly trained professionals offers turnaround times of up to 48 h, 24 h or 12 h.
For your convenience, we collect your MacBook free of charge (islands not included).
We also put your experience first: the data we recover is delivered cleaned up and organized.
We use state-of-the-art equipment and our own tools to separate your valid files from corrupted ones and from irrelevant files generated by the recovery process.
Lost data on your MacBook? Trust those with more than two decades of experience and more than 200,000 cases: Start your MacBook recovery with us now!
