How to Recover Deleted DNG Files on a Mac and How to Open Them

The Digital Negative (DNG) file format is used to store RAW camera images. It saves uncompressed image data from various camera types, including Hasselblad, Pentax, and Leica. DNG files are often favored by experienced photographers because they preserve very high image quality.

A DNG file, therefore, is not the same as an original image file, such as an SR2 file. Instead, a DNG file consolidates all of the edits and changes into one file, reducing the number of files you have to store. The image quality from a DNG file is the same as from a RAW file, but the file size is 15-20% smaller. In other words, saving your data in DNG format saves hard drive space. Additionally, it means faster transfer times to your drives.

How to Recover Deleted DNG Files on a Mac DNG (Digital Negative) is an open-source digital negative format developed by Adobe for storing RAW image data. If you accidentally delete these crucial DNG files, don't worry – there's still a chance to get them back. This guide will show you several methods to recover deleted DNG files on your Mac. ## Restore with Time Machine Backup 1. **Ensure you have a Time Machine backup.** Time Machine is Apple's built-in backup software that regularly backs up your entire system, including deleted files. If you have Time Machine enabled and perform regular backups, you can use it to restore your DNG files. 2. **Connect the Time Machine backup drive.** Attach the external hard drive or network drive containing your Time Machine backup to your Mac. 3. **Open Time Machine.** Click the Apple icon in the top menu bar, then choose "System Preferences." In the "System Preferences" window, click "Time Machine." 4. **Select the location to restore from.** In the Time Machine interface, click "Browse Other Backup Disks." Find a backup in the timeline prior to when you deleted the DNG files. 5. **Locate and restore the DNG files.** Browse through the list of backed-up files and folders to find the folder containing your DNG files. Click the file, then click the "Restore" button in the bottom right corner. The file will be restored to its original location. ## Use Data Recovery Software 1. **Download and install a data recovery tool.** There are various third-party data recovery utilities available, such as Disk Drill, tools Data Recovery Wizard, or Stellar Data Recovery. Ensure you obtain the software from the official website or a trusted source. 2. **Run the data recovery software.** After installation, open the program and follow the on-screen instructions. Most programs will prompt you to select the disk or partition to scan. 3. **Scan for lost files.** Choose the hard drive that contained the DNG files, then initiate the scan. Scanning may take a few minutes to hours, depending on the size of the disk. 4. **Preview and recover the DNG files.** After the scan completes, the software will display all found files. Locate your DNG files, preview them to confirm they're intact, and then select them. Click "Recover" or a similar button to save them to a secure location. 5. **Note:** Data recovery software cannot guarantee a 100% success rate, especially if the files have been overwritten or damaged. Perform the recovery as soon as possible for the best chances. ## Check the Trash 1. **Open the Trash.** Click the Trash icon in the Dock or choose "Go" > "Trash" from Finder. 2. **Search for the DNG files.** Browse through the contents of the Trash to see if your deleted DNG files are there. 3. **Restore the file.** Once you find the file, click on it, then click "File" > "Put Back" in the top menu bar. This will return the file to its original location. 4. **Think before emptying the Trash.** If you no longer need the files, remember to check the Trash first, as once it's emptied, the files can no longer be recovered. ## Tips - It's essential to develop a habit of backing up important files regularly. In addition to Time Machine, consider using cloud storage services like iCloud or Google Drive. - After deleting files, avoid writing new data to the affected disk to minimize the risk of overwriting the files and increase the likelihood of successful recovery. - If the above methods fail, you might need to seek professional data recovery services. However, this can be expensive and is not guaranteed to work.

"A few days ago, I accidentally moved my DNG files to the Trash on my Mac, and today I emptied the Trash! Then, when I checked the DNG folder on my hard drive, all the files were missing. Now, I can't retrieve the deleted files from the Trash. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!"

Photographers often save their images in DNG format. However, digital photos can get lost anytime. Here are the most common reasons for DNG file loss:

• ❌ Accidentally deleting or tampering with DNG files on a Mac
• ? Even if you didn't delete the photos, the storage disk may be hacked
• ? Over time, DNG files can become infected with viruses or get corrupted

Priceless memories that you'd wish to keep forever could be lost due to data loss. Fortunately, there are intelligent DNG file recovery tools that can restore photos in high resolution, complete with timestamps and filenames. You won't have to worry about organizing or cataloging a large number of photos recovered from a storage device.

This post will show you how to use Mac Data Recovery Software and other methods to recover DNG files.

• Solution 1: Recover DNG Files with Mac Data Recovery Software
• Solution 2: Restore DNG Files from Mac's "Recently Deleted" Folder
• Solution 3: Retrieve DNG Files from iCloud on Mac
• Solution 4: Recover Deleted DNG Files from Mac's Time Machine Backup
• Solution 5: Recover Deleted DNG Files on Mac via Terminal

Fix 1: Recover DNG Files with Mac Data Recovery Software

If you accidentally or otherwise delete your DNG files, we recommend using the Data Recovery Wizard for Mac to locate and restore them. This Mac disk recovery software thoroughly scans your Mac's hard drive, enabling you to easily recover deleted, lost, or formatted files. Additionally, the tool offers up to 2 GB of free recovery service. You can give it a try with the Data Recovery Wizard for Mac Free.

Why we recommend this app:

• It enables you to recover deleted files from emptied Trash on Mac in just 3 simple steps.
• It can recover almost all existing photo file formats, including JPG/JPEG, TIFF/TIF, PNG, BMP, GIF, PSD, CRW, etc., as well as videos, audio files, documents, and more.
• It can recover deleted photos or images from the Mac hard drive or external storage devices like USB drive, SD card, or external hard drive.

Here's a guide on how to recover deleted DNG files on Mac using a recovery tool.

Note: You can click “Disk Backup” on the left to create a backup first. In case of hard drive failure or accidental loss of photos, you can restore them from the backup image.

Step 1: Scan the Lost Photos

Select the location where you lost your valuable photos and then click on the “Start Scan” button to search for lost files.

Step 2: Choose the photos you want

The “Mac Data Recovery Wizard” will immediately start scanning the disk volume you've selected. The scan results will be displayed in the left pane. You can quickly filter out your previously lost photos by “Path” and “Type.”

Step 3: Recover Lost Photos

Select the photos you want to restore, then click the “Restore” button to get them all back in one fell swoop.

Solution 2: Recover DNG Files from the 'Recently Deleted' Folder

How long ago was your DNG file deleted? The Mac system automatically retains data for 30 days after deletion. You can check the "Recently Deleted" folder to see if the file you accidentally removed is there.

Step 1: Click on “Sidebar” – “View” – “Show Hidden Files.”

<strong><a id="step2" name="step2">Step 2.</a></strong> Find the desired files in the Recently Deleted folder, and put them back where they belong.

In older versions of macOS, you'll find Recently Deleted at the top of the Photos app.

Solution 3: Recover DNG Files from iCloud on Mac

Most people use iCloud as the main repository for all their digital stuff, from calendars to photos. You can save all the pictures you take with an iDevice in the iCloud Photo Library, or you can upload pictures from a memory card to a Mac and send them to all your devices to view whenever and wherever you want.

How to Recover Photos from iCloud on a Mac:

Step 1: Visit iCloud.com in any web browser (you might be asked to sign in).

Step 2. Tap on “Photos,” then choose “Albums” from the top menu.

Step 3: Choose the album labeled “Recently Deleted.”

Step 4. Select the photos you want to recover and click “Restore.”

Solution 4: Recover Deleted DNG Files from Mac Time Machine Backup

If you have Time Machine backup enabled, your Mac regularly backs up automatically to a backup disk. So, Time Machine can help you restore any DNG files that you accidentally deleted from your Mac.

Click the clock icon pointing downward to access the Time Machine. Selecting this symbol will bring up the Time Machine options.

Step 2. Make sure Time Machine is turned on in the menu bar. The Time Machine icon should now appear in the menu bar. You're ready to go.

Step 3: Select “Enter Time Machine” from the menu. You'll see all of your Time Machine backups displayed on screen. To restore a file or folder, find it in its original location.

Step Four: Click the “Recover” button to restore the file to its original state and move it back where it belongs.

Solution 5: Recover Deleted DNG Files on Mac via Terminal

If you want to recover a deleted file on Mac without using any software, using Terminal on Mac is a good option. However, keep in mind that on a Mac, Terminal commands only work forundeleting files from the Trash. If you have emptied the Trash, you can turn to a Mac file recovery app for assistance.

Follow these steps to recover deleted data on your Mac using Terminal:

Step 1. Double-click on “Terminal” in “Finder” > “Applications” > “Utilities” to open Terminal on Mac.

2. Type the command cd .Trash on your Mac, then press Return.

Step 3: Type "ls -al ~/.Trash" and press Enter to continue. This command shows you the contents of your Trash.

4. Type in "mv filename../" and press "Return." Make sure that "filename" matches the actual name of the file, including the ".dng" extension at the end.

Step 5: To exit the terminal, simply type “quit” into the terminal.

Your home directory will contain the files that were recovered from the Terminal. You can view these files by navigating to their location.

Many Mac users have already confirmed the effectiveness of these methods. If any of them help you recover DNG files on Mac, share one of the solutions on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or another social media website!

How to Open and View DNG Files on a Mac

DNG is an proprietary image file format created by Adobe, aimed at establishing a standard raw format for digital photography.

How to Open a DNG File

DNG files can be opened in many popular image viewing programs. Here are some programs you can use to open and view a DNG file:

• Adobe Photoshop
• Google Picasa
• Lightroom & Photoshop Elements
• Apple Photos
• Apple Preview
In English:
• Adobe Photoshop
• Google Picasa
• Lightroom & Photoshop Elements
• Apple Photos
• Apple Preview

On Windows or Mac, open the DNG file with your regular image viewer app. Right-click the image in the file browser window or on the desktop. On a Mac, you'll need to Command-click.

How to Convert DNG Files

You can use free online apps to convert your DNG files to several formats, including PNG, JPG, and BMP.

Alternatively, you can use the Adobe DNG Converter to convert your raw image files in CR2 format to DNG.

Last Words

Photos are often lost or accidentally deleted, and priceless memories go with them. Apart from that, virus attacks can also result in the loss of your DNG or other image files. When this happens, stop using the device where these photos were stored immediately, and use the Data Recovery Wizard tool on your Mac. The sooner you do it, the higher the chances of a full recovery of your DNG files.

Frequently Asked Questions on Recovering Deleted DNG Files on Mac

After learning how to recover deleted DNG files on Mac, you might have more questions. Check here to see if your answer is included.

How to recover deleted DNG files?

The "Data Recovery Wizard for Mac" tool can recover deleted DNG files. This disk recovery utility thoroughly scans your Mac hard drive. You can easily restore deleted, lost, or formatted DNG files in just three simple steps.

2. Where are DNG files stored?

The default folder that Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Photoshop Elements, and Adobe Lightroom use to store DNG profiles is automatically used as the location to save DNG profiles that you create with the ColorChecker Passport.

3. Are DNG files the same as RAW files?

Though a DNG file is typically 15-20% smaller than a raw file, there's almost no difference in quality. The original raw file can also be embedded within the DNG, which doubles its size but provides a useful backup. DNG files also discard some information to save space and make editing and storage easier.

How to Prevent DNG Files from Getting Lost?

• Invest in a reliable antivirus program.
• Always back up your files; make it part of your workflow.
• Use cloud storage or any online service provider as a secondary means of file backup.
• Maintain your storage devices according to the manufacturer's instructions.