How to Undo Empty Trash on Mac
Emptying the trash on a Mac is a common task that helps manage disk space and keep your computer organized. However, sometimes you might accidentally delete important files and want to undo the empty trash action. In this article, we will guide you through the steps to undo empty trash on Mac and retrieve your deleted files.
1. Open the Finder
The first step is to open the Finder on your Mac. You can do this by clicking on the Finder icon in the Dock or pressing Command + Space and typing “Finder” in the Spotlight search bar.
2. Access the Trash
Once the Finder is open, you will see the Trash icon on the left sidebar. Click on it to open the Trash folder.
3. Check for Recently Deleted Items
In the Trash folder, you will find all the files and folders that have been deleted. However, if you have recently emptied the trash, the deleted items might not be visible. In this case, you need to check the “Recently Deleted” folder.
4. Open the Recently Deleted Folder
Click on the “Recently Deleted” folder to view the deleted items that are still recoverable. This folder keeps the deleted items for a certain period, usually 30 days, depending on your Mac’s settings.
5. Select the Deleted Items
Scroll through the list of deleted items in the “Recently Deleted” folder and select the files or folders you want to restore.
6. Restore the Deleted Items
With the desired items selected, right-click on them and choose “Put Back” from the context menu. Alternatively, you can drag and drop the items back to their original location on your Mac.
7. Confirm the Action
After selecting “Put Back,” a confirmation dialog will appear. Click “OK” to restore the deleted items to their original location.
8. Check the Restored Items
Once the restoration process is complete, navigate to the original location of the deleted items to ensure they have been successfully restored.
9. Empty the Trash Again (Optional)
After undoing the empty trash action and restoring the deleted items, you may want to empty the trash again to free up disk space. To do this, simply right-click on the Trash icon and choose “Empty Trash.” You can also press Command + Option + Backspace to empty the trash.
In conclusion, undoing an empty trash action on a Mac is a straightforward process. By following these steps, you can easily retrieve deleted files from the “Recently Deleted” folder and restore them to their original location. Remember to regularly empty the trash to maintain disk space and keep your Mac organized.
