Mac users often experience data loss issues, which can be caused by accidental deletion, system malfunction, or compatibility problems. When faced with such situations, one needs to use a free unlimited Mac data recovery software to restore the data to its original state. This is where PhotoRec for Mac comes into play!

PhotoRec is a reliable tool for Windows and Mac users to recover files from various devices. It's an open-source data recovery software for Mac that you can use to find lost data. This detailed guide will show you how to download and use PhotoRec for Mac for data recovery.

For users who find PhotoRec too difficult to use, we also recommend Data Recovery Wizard for Mac as an alternative. Don't worry! We've got you covered whether you're a beginner or an experienced user.

 

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Why Choose Alternatives to PhotoRec for Mac

While PhotoRec for Mac is a free and open-source tool, it can be difficult to operate for first-time users. The complex and time-consuming technical process might delay the recovery of data, especially in urgent situations.

PhotoRec command

In this case, other solutions should be used. An alternative is Data Recovery Wizard for Mac – a simple data recovery tool for all levels of expertise that can restore permanently deleted files on Mac.

Tool Data Recovery Wizard is a powerful data recovery tool that makes it easy to recover lost or deleted files on a Mac. The interface and recovery method of Data Recovery Wizard is simpler than PhotoRec, allowing users to quickly recover deleted data with just a few easy steps.

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Comparison between Mac Data Recovery Wizard and PhotoRec for Mac

Expert Rating:

Mac Data Recovery Wizard

  • For beginners, the tool offers a clear and visually appealing interface with pop-up tooltips for different buttons, guiding users quickly to locate and recover lost files.
  • The user interface is very straightforward, highlighting the search and recovery buttons, enabling one to become a data recovery expert in just three steps.
  • The recovery process is simple, even for large-scale data loss, with a single checkbox and a button click to complete the recovery.
  • It provides both free and paid versions, with the free version supporting data recovery up to 2 GB, while the paid version has no capacity limit.

PhotoRec for Mac

  • For novices, PhotoRec's interface can be overly complex, lacking visual cues or tooltips, making navigation difficult.
  • Users may find challenges with PhotoRec due to its many advanced features that require time to learn and familiarize before use.
  • The recovery process through PhotoRec can be lengthy, especially when dealing with extensive data loss.
  • This is a free and open-source software, hence no cost is involved for data recovery.

If you have no experience with data recovery or command lines, it's recommended that you install a simpler and faster tool to get your lost data back as soon as possible. Download and install this reliable software for free, then follow the instructions to recover your lost and deleted files:

Here are the methods to recover deleted data from a Mac:

Step 1: Search for the missing file

Select the disk location where you want to search for lost files (it can be an internal HDD/SDD or an external hard drive), and then click the “Search Lost Files” button.

Note: Before you proceed with data recovery, it's recommended that you click “Disk Backup” from the left sidebar and create a backup of your HDD/SSD to prevent further data loss. After the backup, the software can recover data from the disk image, and you can use your HDD or SSD again.

Recover Data Step 1

Step 2: Preview the scan result

The program will immediately scan the selected disk volume and display images, documents, audio, video, and email in the left pane.

Recover Data Step 2

Step 3: Select the files and recover them.

Click on the data to preview it, then click the "Recover" button to get it back.

Recover Data Step 3

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Download PhotoRec for Mac for free.

There are several ways to download PhotoRec for Mac, but one of the easiest is by using Homebrew, a package manager for macOS. Homebrew simplifies the installation process and makes upgrading quick. Here's how to download PhotoRec using Homebrew:

Step 1. Install the Homebrew package manager in the terminal with the following command:

Enter the following command in your terminal to install Homebrew:

/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/master/install.sh)"

Step 2: Once Homebrew is installed, type brew install testdisk in Terminal and press "Enter." This command will install TestDisk, which includes PhotoRec.

Alternatively, you can download PhotoRec from its official website. Here's how:

Step 1: Visit the PhotoRec official website and download the pre-compiled binary for macOS.

Download the PhotoRec setup

Step 2: Unzip the downloaded ZIP file and open the "testdisk-7.2-WIP" folder. This contains both TestDisk and PhotoRec.

Step 3: Run the “PhotoRec” binary from the folder as an administrator.

Run PhotoRec

In this way, users can promptly download and install PhotoRec on Mac to leverage its advanced data recovery capabilities.

How to Use PhotoRec for Mac to Recover Lost Files

While using PhotoRec for Mac to recover lost or deleted files is a straightforward process, it requires attention to detail. If you're in a hurry and need to recover data quickly, you might consider using a faster and more user-friendly tool.

The following steps explain how to use PhotoRec correctly:

1. On your Mac, open the “Terminal” app, then type sudo photorec and press Return. This command will give PhotoRec the permissions it needs to scan your storage device.

Step 2. Choose the "Storage Device" you want to scan for missing data. This could be your built-in or external hard drive, an SD card, or any other connected device.

Select the storage device from which data is missing

Step 3: After selecting the storage device, determine the file system type that the device uses.

Identify File Structure

Step 4. Choose the “Folder” where you want PhotoRec to save the recovered files. It's recommended that you choose a specific location, like the “Downloads” folder, for easy access later.

Select the folder to restore the files from

Step 5: PhotoRec will start searching for recoverable files on the selected media. Once the scan is complete, the recovered data will be saved to the designated location.

Note: When the recovery is finished, PhotoRec will display a message confirming the amount of data that has been restored. You can then browse to the designated target folder to check your recovered files, which should be viewable and usable just like any other file on your computer.

Conclusions

PhotoRec for Mac is very useful for data recovery on Apple computers. It's effective, although basic data recovery and computer users might find it a little complicated. For those users, Data Recovery Wizard for Mac is a better option. Its simple interface and recovery methods make it easier for users of all skill levels to recover lost data.

Protecting sensitive assets requires reliable data recovery software, regardless of your level of expertise. By understanding the capabilities and limitations of PhotoRec and exploring alternative tools like Data Recovery Wizard, users can make informed choices. The objective is to equip users with the right tools and knowledge to swiftly and effectively recover lost data, thereby providing reassurance and minimizing incidents of data loss.

FAQ for PhotoRec on Mac

Here are some common questions about PhotoRec for Mac that might be helpful while downloading or using the tool:

1. What is PhotoRec for Mac?

PhotoRec for Mac is a free, open-source file recovery program that retrieves files from hard drives, SD cards, USB drives, and other devices.

Is PhotoRec totally free?

Yes, PhotoRec is completely free to use and can be downloaded directly to your Mac.

3. Does PhotoRec work on an M1 Mac?

Yes, PhotoRec is compatible with M1-based Mac computers. It works on M1 Macs and can be used to recover lost or deleted data just like on any other Mac system.