How to Recover Deleted Download Folder on Mac OS X

Sue Wayne

Aug 03, 2023 • Filed to: Solve Mac Problems • Proven solutions

The download folder on Mac can often contain important files. We have all deleted quite a lot of folders in a bid to get back some precious space on our Macs, and the in-built utility for disk cleanup is a handy tool in such cases. However, the problem here is that it is quite possible that these tools also delete your downloaded files. That is not all - many other reasons can lead to the deletion of the downloads folder on your Mac, including accidental deletion by using the wrong commands on the shell, improper or interrupted copy-paste functions, and so on.

Generally, the trash bin has any deleted files - but once you have deleted them from there, then recovery may not be so obvious. This is where you need software to recover the deleted download folder in Mac.

How is it possible to get back the deleted downloads folder?

Once you have emptied the Trash Bin as well, then the files do not just disappear from your Mac. That specific area is juts marked to be overwritten - and unless any other files or folders are placed there, your files are still in the Mac, and there for you to recover. However, you cannot access them as easily- but to make it all simpler for you, a Mac data recovery software is what you need.

Part 1: Recoverit Data Recovery for Mac Recover lost Data

You cannot just use any Mac data recovery software. You need one that helps you to recover the deleted download folder on Mac with ease and is reputed as a data recovery tool for Mac. This is where Recoverit Data Recovery for Mac comes in.

Recoverit Data Recovery for Mac is amongst the most trusted Mac recovery software and can help you to recover the deleted download folder on Mac without any difficulty. Some of the reasons as to why it is the best in the area include:

In addition to recovering deleted download folder on Mac OS X:

Part 2 Guide to Recover Deleted Download Folder on Mac

As mentioned earlier, one of the biggest benefits of using Recoverit Mac data recovery software is the simplicity and ease of use that comes along with it. Using it to recover the deleted download folder on Mac is as simple as 1-2-3!

Step 1. Selecting a disk

To recover deleted files on Mac, you can select the hard drive partition where you lost your important downloads.

Step 2. Scan for deleted files

Recoverit will start scanning deleted files, which will display some recoverable files after the first scan.

Step 3. Select specific files for recovery

When the scan completes, the results will be displayed in the form of a list of files that can be recovered from the drive/partition. You can search, sort, and filter through these results to find the specific files or folders that you want to recover. Once done, click on Recover, enter the path of the place where you want those files to be saved.

Part 3 Tips for Recover Download Folder files on Mac

How to maximize the chances of recovery

Even the best Mac data recovery software does not guarantee a 100% recovery rate to recover the deleted download folder on Mac. For maximizing the chances of recovering your deleted data on a Mac, a few tips like the ones given ahead can be helpful:

• Once you realize that you have deleted a folder or file that you need to recover, avoid using the particular memory area or partition to avoid the deleted folder from being overwritten.
• The memory scan may take a lot of time- you should avoid using your Mac during that time to speed things up.
• Do not install any non-trusted or non-genuine recovery software, as they could do more harm than good.
• Do not use any software for ‘permanent deletion’ since they could make recovery hard or even impossible.

How to avoid such situations in the future

No matter how careful you may be, recovery will never be 100%. You should avoid situations that need you to recover the download folder on Mac. A few tips on doing the same are:

• Before you delete any file from the Trash, be sure that it will not be required in the future. A period of at least 30 days should be there between sending a file to the recycle bin and deleting it.
• When you are using shell commands, especially for deletion, be very careful about what you are typing. A simple error like typing ‘c’ instead of’ could have disastrous consequences.
• If you are using any utility for deleting files and disk cleanup, then avoid automatic cleanups. Be aware and sure about what it is deleting to have better control over it all.

Thus, with all the knowledge above, you should not only be able to recover the download folder on Mac with ease, but also avoid any such situation in the future.