Mac Update Deleted Everything? Recover Lost Files After a Mac Update

TL;DR:

If files are missing after a Mac update, the data is usually still on the disk. First check the cheap fixes: Trash, Go to Folder (Finder > Go), and log into your admin account (updating from a guest account hides your files). Next restore from Time Machine, iCloud, or APFS local snapshots. If nothing works, scan the drive with Wondershare Recoverit before reinstalling macOS. To avoid this, back up with Time Machine and keep 20 GB free before updating.

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Missing files after a Mac update is a common scare, but a macOS update rarely deletes personal data — usually the files are hidden, the account changed, or the update interrupted. This guide explains why files go missing after an update to Sonoma, Ventura, Monterey, Catalina, or Big Sur, then walks you through nine recovery methods — from checking folders and Time Machine to APFS snapshots and professional tools like Wondershare Recoverit.

How Can Updating Mac Delete Files

Does upgrading your macOS delete files? Typically, a Mac update won't delete data, meaning an update won't delete your personal files and system data. If the latest Mac update deleted everything, there may be several different causes behind this:

Whatever the cause, most missing files can be recovered. Work through the nine methods below in order.

9 Ways to Recover Lost Files After Mac Update

Here are the best ways to recover missing files after a Mac update.

Way 1: Recover Files With a Recovery Tool (Wondershare Recoverit)

The easiest and most reliable way to recover files after a macOS update is to use a professional data recovery tool. Rated as a Leader in Data Recovery by G2 users, Wondershare Recoverit is your best choice to recover Mac data. It allows you to recover deleted, damaged, corrupted, and lost files, regardless of the cause.

Wondershare Recoverit

• Recovers data from 2000+ storage media, including HDDs, SSDs, USB drives, SD cards, etc.
• Enables recovery of data lost due to system crash, disk corruption, virus attack, and more.
• The user-friendly interface allows you to recover data in just a few clicks.

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Download and install the latest Wondershare Recoverit version for Mac and launch the program on your computer. Follow these steps to recover your Mac files:

1. Navigate to the main menu and select Hard Drives and Locations;
2. Find and click the Mac hard drive with lost files;

   

3. The program will automatically scan the selected drive for recoverable files;

   

4. Preview the scanning results to select the files you want to retrieve. If your documents or photos are corrupted, Recoverit will automatically repair them during the preview process.

   

5. Click Recover to get your lost files back and save them to a new location.

   

Video Tutorial on How to Recover Lost Files After a macOS Update

Way 2: Check All Folders on Mac Using the Go to Folder Option

It is a common situation to find all your desktop files or icons have disappeared on your Mac. This scenario is common among Mac users and happens suddenly and without explanation.

If that's the case with you, you can fix this by checking all files and folders on your computer using the Go to Folder option before attempting data recovery. This option gives you the latest overview of all files and folders on your Mac.

Here's how to use it to scan your Mac for lost files after an update.

1. Navigate to the Apple Menu and click the Go tab;
2. Select Go to Folder;

   

3. Type the file or folder's pathname to locate the missing files (try to spell as best as you can);
4. Open the file or folder you want to recover to check the content before recovery.

If this option doesn't help find your files, the following Mac data recovery techniques might give the desired results.

Way 3: Recover Lost Files After Mac Update Using Time Machine

Time Machine is a built-in data backup and recovery utility for macOS. It can help you backup all your Mac data and files to an external storage device. In case you lose all your data to a faulty Mac update, you can use a Time Machine backup to start again.

Time Machine can back up all your files, including calendars, documents, music files, photos, video files, etc. Connect your external backup device to your computer and follow these steps to recover your Mac files after an update.

1. Go to Finder and use the search bar to locate Time Machine on your Mac;
2. Navigate the menu bar to Time Machine and select Browse Time Machine backups;
3. If you can't locate Time Machine in the menu bar, navigate to Apple menu > System Settings > Control Centre > Time Machine > Show in Menu Bar;

   

4. Select the backup version (folders and files) you want to recover and click Restore;
5. Follow the instructions to retrieve your files.

Way 4: Retrieve Missing Files After Mac Update From iCloud Backup

If you have set up iCloud backup, you can use one of your file copies to restore your lost files after Mac update. Log into your iCloud account and follow these steps to recover lost files from an iCloud backup.

1. Navigate to iCloud Drive;

   

2. Click the Recently Deleted folder to see if it contains your recently deleted files;
3. Check other folders as well (if Recently Deleted doesn't contain the files you want to recover);

   

4. Once you find the files you want to recover, select them and click Recover.

Way 5: Log Into a Different Administrator Account

Logging into a different user account can also help you find your missing Mac files. Sometimes, a Mac update deletes your old user account profile.

However, the home folder remains after deletion, making file recovery possible. All you need to do is add your old account back, log into it, and search for your files.

Here's how.

1. Click the Apple icon and select Log out xxx (your username);
2. Use your previous account credentials to log into your old account and search for the missing files;
3. If you can't log in using your old profile, try the alternative route: Apple icon > System Preferences > Users & Groups;

   

4. Click the padlock and enter your old password to restore your old account;
5. Log into your old account and locate the missing files.

Way 6: Recover Lost Data After Mac Update Using APFS Snapshot

Mac computers allow you to use the recovery tool to retrieve your data from an APFS snapshot. This option is similar to the System Restore option in Windows OS.

If you have Time Machine enabled, macOS automatically keeps local snapshots of your startup disk on APFS — including versions taken before the update. Even without an external backup drive, you can restore a pre-update file version from these snapshots.

An APFS snapshot contains the current state of your macOS, including the latest macOS version, your files, the health of the target hard disk, etc. If your hard drive is APFS-based, follow these steps to restore your macOS to the previous state using APFS snapshot.

1. Restart your computer and press and hold the Command and R keys to enter Recovery Mode;
2. In the macOS Utilities menu, select Restore From Time Machine Backup and click Continue;

   

3. Select the APFS snapshot of the Mac startup disk and click Continue;

   

4. Select the snapshot you want to retrieve your files from and click Continue;

   

5. Your Mac will reboot automatically when the recovery process is complete.

After your Mac restarts, look for the lost files to see if the process was successful.

Note: The APFS snapshot feature will only work if the target hard disk is formatted with APFS file system.

Way 7: Reinstall macOS

If nothing above finds your files, reinstalling macOS is the last software option. A standard reinstall replaces system files but keeps your personal data and apps — it doesn't erase your home folder. Recover anything critical first, then boot into Recovery:

Intel Macs: press and hold Command + R at startup.
Apple silicon Macs: press and hold the Power button until the startup options appear.

Follow these steps to reinstall macOS.

1. In the Startup options window, select Reinstall macOS Monterey and click Continue;

   

2. Select the system hard drive as a startup disk and select Install;
3. Follow the installation wizard to complete the reinstallation process.

Way 8: Restore Lost Files by Downgrading Your OS Version

Downgrading your macOS version can solve system problems in the following situations:

• When the latest beta version contains buggy updates;
• When a new macOS version isn't compatible with your current system settings.

If your Mac keeps deleting or losing data after installing the latest updates, revert to the previous macOS version to fix the issue and ensure system compatibility with the newest version. Since downgrading will erase all your data, you should back up all your Mac data before proceeding with this method.

Note: This method will only work if you've already backed up your data with Time Machine.

Note: The Shift + Option + Cmd + R key combo below is for Intel Macs only — it loads the macOS version your Mac shipped with. Apple silicon Macs use the startup options screen (hold Power) instead.

Follow these steps to downgrade to the previous OS version using macOS Recovery on Intel Mac.

1. Shut down your Mac and turn it back on;
2. Press and hold Shift + Option + Cmd + R to load the macOS Utilities menu;
3. Navigate the menu to the Reinstall macOS option and select Continue;
4. Select your startup disk and click Install;
5. Follow the install wizard to install your macOS version;
6. Once the process is complete, use your Time Machine backup to restore your files.

Way 9: Contact Apple Support

If nothing seems to work and you can't get your files back with any of these methods, contact Apple Support to get professional help. Submit a help ticket online, write an email, or give them a call, and a data recovery professional will look into your case and give you viable recovery options.

Summing Up

Before any macOS update, back up with Time Machine, free up at least 20 GB, and update from your admin account — not a guest session. If files still go missing, work in order: check folders and Trash, restore from Time Machine / iCloud / APFS snapshots, then scan with Wondershare Recoverit before reinstalling macOS.