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Can't see files on external drive connected to MacBook Pro but space is taken

I took my failed 2007 MacBook Pro to a repair shop, and they recovered my files to an external hard drive. However, when I plug the drive into my 2013 MacBook Pro, no file shows up. There are several folders on the drive, and the one labeled "Users" takes 103GB of data. How come when I open the folder, it's empty?

Best Answered by

Jenny Zeng

Answered on Tuesday, August 27, 2024

Is FileVault enabled on that old MacBook Pro where the files are restored from? If so, the files are encrypted and hidden from users. You can reveal them by pressing Command + Shift + . Inside it, you'll likely find a .sparsebundle file, which requires the password of the user account used on the failed Mac to unlock the contents when double-clicked.

If that doesn't work, you can open iBoysoft Data Recovery for Mac to view the files. It can initiate a thorough scan on your external drive and allow you to preview the found files for free. It's also compatible with Intel-based, T2, M1, M2, and M3 Macs running Mac OS X 10.11 El Capitan and later.

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Also read:

How to See All Files on Mac Hard Drive (Including the Hidden Ones)