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How to Recover Lost Files After Reinstalling Mac in Recovery Mode

Wondershare Recoverit Authors

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

"Sadly, my macOS got corrupted and its login screen does not appear. I am thinking about reinstalling Mac OS, but I am also wondering if I reinstall OS X will I lose my files?"

It is quite easy and straightforward to reinstall macOS using an in-built recovery mode. You don't have to be a technical expert to do this task. That's why a lot of Mac users use the recovery mode for reinstalling their OS. But, there is a question always going in their user's mind when it comes to reinstalling OS X and it is that "does OS X recovery delete everything?"

So, if you're also one of those users having the same concern, then you have come to the right page. Here, you will get to learn everything about reinstalling Mac in recovery mode and what to do if you end up losing your important files after reinstalling macOS in recovery mode.

Part 1. Will Reinstalling OS X Delete My Files?

Many users when they use internet recovery mode to reinstall Mac OS, some questions might come to their mind, such as "if I reinstall OS X will it delete everything" or "does internet recovery mode erase data". Well, you need to first understand what is mac internet recovery is to know about answers to questions that are going in your mind.

1. What Is Mac Internet Recovery

Internet recovery is quite a helpful feature included in all OS X and macOS. The main principle of internet recovery is to troubleshoot OS X and restore the Mac system to its default settings. Moreover, internet recovery enables you to reinstall the macOS version when your interval drive is damaged and corrupt. It is also helpful if you've replaced your internet drive with a higher and new storage device, but you completely forgot to make a bootable version of your Mac OS X on USB media.

In case of internet recovery, your system downloads that macOS version that came with your specific Mac from Apple servers. Thus, it means you aren't downloading the most recent macOS version with internet recovery. However, it effectively tests the hardware components and memory for any problems. Well, internet recovery mode allows you to:

2. What Is Reinstalling Mac OS

Well, reinstalling macOS in recovery mode can aid you in replacing the current problematic OS X with a clean version easily and quickly. Generally, you have to reinstall OS X for troubleshooting purposes. The answer to the question "does reinstall macOS erase everything" is that simple reinstalling OS X won't delete your files either erase your drive or disk, making it perfect for troubleshooting.

You don't have to erase your Mac unless you are giving or selling your Mac or having a problem that needs you to erase the data. Thus, reinstalling OS alone from Mac recovery mode doesn't affect your data, files, user settings, apps, etc. It will only reinstall the fresh copy of OS X on your Mac.

If you are wondering how long does it take to reinstall OS X? Then, the short answer is it all depends on the speed of your internet connection and system.


Part 2. Data Loss during Reinstalling Mac in Recovery Mode

There is no doubt that basic reinstall Mac OS doesn't erase your data, but that doesn't mean at all your data and files are always kept safe. That's why we recommended that you should back up your data before you reinstall macOS using recovery mode. You never know when you have to go through a data loss situation. Keep in mind that there is no chance of losing your files if you have already created a backup somewhere else.

You might don't know that there are many factors that can cause data loss after reinstalling macOS. Here, we are going to list some of the factors you must know before you reinstall:


Part 3: How to Recover Lost Files after Reinstalling Mac OS?

Well, does reinstall OS X delete files on your Mac? As we mentioned earlier, there are chances of losing your important files when you reinstall or upgrade OS X. There is no doubt that it is quite frustrating to lose your crucial files. Luckily, there is a reliable way available you can try to get back your lost files.

1. The Best File Recovery Software for Mac

You can get rid of your frustration of losing important files with the help of RecoveritData Recovery software for Mac to recover lost files after reinstalling the OS, no matter whether it is the latest or earlier macOS. When it comes to Mac OS X file recovery, among various options, we recommend that you should give a try to Recoverit data recovery software for Mac. With the help of this software, you can easily and effectively recover files you lost after reinstalling the Mac OS. It can help you to get back various types of files, such as photos, videos, documents, archives, etc.

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In a case like recovering data after reinstalling Mac OS X or macOS, Recoverit data recovery software is sure to get back your lost data.

2. How to Recover Files on Mac in 3 Steps

You can get the Mac desktop folder or any other content back using Recoverit by following these steps.

Step 1: Select the Recycle Bin Recovery mode

Once the software is installed successfully on your Mac, run it. Now, you will be moved to the main interface of the software. Here, you need to choose the source hard drive location from where you've lost your files.

select-scan-location

Step 2: Scan the Location

Now, the software will start an "All-around" scan on the chosen hard drive to look for the lost files. This process will take a few minutes.

scan-location

Step 3: Preview and Recover

Once the scan completes, the software will display all files you can recover. So, choose those files you want to get back and hit on the "Recover" button.

recover-email

In this way, you can easily get your documents that were disappeared back on Mac. In case if the quick scan was not able to fulfill your requirements, then you can do a deep scan as well. To do this, click on the "All-around Recovery" and wait as Recoverit would extract data from your Mac's storage. While the deep scan would take more time than the quick scan, the results would also be far better.


Part 4. How to Prevent Losing Data When Reinstalling Mac?

Are you looking for tips for reinstalling Mac OS X without losing data? If so, here we have mentioned some tips and tricks that can help you to avoid losing data when reinstalling Mac.


Conclusion

We hope that you now got an answer to your question - "does installing OS X delete everything". The guide has covered all ins and outs of reinstalling Mac in recovery mode. We recommended Recoverit file recovery for Mac to users who want to recover files they get lost after reinstalling Mac OS X.

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