Home > Questions

Files deleted from external HDD after running First Aid, how to recover?

I've had some issues with a Seagate external hard drive that wasn't recognized anymore by my MacBook Pro (High Sierra 10.13.6). Disk Utility saw the drive but said it wasn't mounted. I ran First Aid on the drive, which it did without any problems. After this, the drive was recognized by the computer again. But: one whole folder with lots of video material has disappeared from the external drive. I have checked the trash and other folders, it's not there. Why did this happen and what can I do?

Best Answered by

Amanda Wong

Answered on Tuesday, August 27, 2024

In the first place, you should know that First Aid won't erase any data on your external hard drive. There are some other reasons cause the video missing from the external hard drives. And there are some effective methods to recover deleted files from external hard drives on your Mac such as unhiding the files and running data recovery software.

Only issues associated with the file system format and directory structure of a Mac drive are checked for and fixed by Disk Utility First Aid. It shouldn't delete any data on your external hard drive. It seems that the folder with your video material was lost from the external hard drive before you repaired the disk.

According to your description, Mac won't recognize the external hard drive before you run First Aid, that is to say, there is something wrong with the file system format and directory structure. And such logical errors could also cause files lost from external hard drives. Then, you need to recover files disappeared from the external hard drive on Mac.

Method 1. Restore lost files from Mac Trash. Perhaps, you accidentally delete the folder, then, you can put the folder back from the MacTrash.

Method 2Recover and show hidden files on Mac. Perhaps, the folder is hidden by mistake.

Method 3. Recover missing videos with iBoysoft Data Recovery for Mac. Due to corruption, deletion, and some other error, the files are lost from the external hard drive, then you can try iBoysoft Data Recovery for Mac, professional data recovery software to restore them.