How to recover an overwritten file on Mac

Nearly 330 million terabytes of data are generated and stored every day, and everyone is contributing to it by generating, capturing, copying or using it. Saving a new file also counts. However, whenever we save a new file on our Mac, we tend to delete another file or replace it with the new file directly. If we realize this is an accident, we now need to recover overwritten files that the Mac deleted from the desktop, which may cause problems in the future.

This happens too often, especially if you are a busy multitasker, so understanding how to recover seemingly deleted replacement files from your Mac is an essential skill that you may need to use more times than you think. Let us learn more about what you can do and tools that can help your Mac recover replaced files.

The problem lies	Solution
Replaced files do not appear on Mac	Install Disk Drill and use the Search for Lost Data feature. Install Get Backup Pro to backup important files.
Unexpected overwrite file	Use Time Machine to select the old version of the file that was replaced before it was replaced and click "Restore".
Unexpectedly replace files in iCloud backup	Log in to iCloud > Settings > Advanced > Recover Files > Recover Required Files > Click "Recover Files".
Unable to log in to iCloud to retrieve files	Install and use CloudMounter to access iCloud files from the Finder menu of your Mac.

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What is an overwritten file?

Before you start looking for ways to retrieve replacement files that your Mac hides on its hard drive, take a moment to understand what exactly is being overwritten or replaced files, because it is different from files that are just deleted.

The most common example of choosing to overwrite a file is when you save a new project, you receive a message like "This file already exists, do you want to replace it?" At this point, if you select "Replace", the original file will be overwritten with the new file. Usually, you will receive a message like this when the file name you save is the same as the file name of another file on your Mac.

Although the overwritten file is a file that is replaced by another file, this does not mean that the data it references will be deleted immediately. The actual data contained in the original file is stored on the drive of your Mac and will not be deleted immediately when you click "Replace". In many cases, the original data takes days, weeks, or even months to be covered. Before that, you have time to retrieve it!

Where did the replaced files go?

The overwritten file can be considered as having two parts: a reference to the original data, namely, icons, thumbnails and everything they represent; and the actual data referenced by the file, namely a large number of 1s and 0s stored on the hard drive.

Once the file is replaced, all references to the original data are deleted, but the data itself remains on the hard drive for a period of time before being deleted.

How to recover replaced files on Mac with one click

Let's start with a foolproof method to retrieve replaced files that are not displayed by your Mac even if you don't have any backups available. Yes, this is possible.

The best data recovery software can use advanced algorithms to scan the entire hard drive of your Mac bit by bit to detect files whose references no longer exist (because they have been replaced or overwritten). Disk Drill is such an excellent tool.

Designed to help with any type of data loss disaster, Disk Drill is a top-level utility that can recover overwritten files hidden in its hard drives and recover data regardless of the cause of the loss. compatible with all popular devices, Disk Drill can easily recover deleted files from Apple and Android to USB and SD cards, and can also dig deeper into the hard drive if needed.

Recover valuable data in just a few clicks, enjoy a quick and easy backup, or perform tests to see the actual available space on your Mac – Disk Drill can do it all!

Here is how to use Disk Drill to recover replaced files on your Mac:

1. Start the application and select Search for lost data next to the drive name you want to recover from.
2. Wait for Disk Drill to scan the hard drive and show you a list of recoverable files.
3. Locate your file and click "Recover".

Use Time Machine to restore overwritten files on your Mac

The Mac operating system also has a built-in tool that allows you to recover accidentally lost overwritten files or any other data. Time Machine is a backup mechanism for macOS, designed to work with local storage, network connections, and external disk drives.

If Time Machine is enabled on your Mac, it creates incremental backups of files in your hard drive and other selected locations, so you should be able to return, find and restore any older versions with a few clicks.

Here is how to use Time Machine to recover replaced files on your Mac:

1. Open Finder and go to the folder containing the overwritten files.
2. Go to the Time Machine icon in the menu bar and click "Enter Time Machine".
3. Select the old version of the folder before the file was replaced.
4. Click Recover and select the file you want to keep (old, new, or both).

While it can help your Mac recover replaced files, Time Machine is not the most flexible backup software, as it only works at preset time intervals and backs up every file stored on your hard drive, whether you need it or not. If you want to improve your backup game, try Get Backup Pro.

Get Backup Pro is a neat utility with a lot of customization options that make backup and folder synchronization tasks very fast and you can do it anytime, anywhere. Choose from four reliable backup methods: simple copy, clone, increment, or version. Get Backup Pro allows you to schedule backups in stealth mode, backing up to 60% of your archive space by doing incremental or compressed backups!

How to undo file replacement on Mac through cloud backup

If you are used to backing up files to cloud services like iCloud, you can recover unexpectedly overwritten files within 30 days from the date of occurrence.

Here is how to retrieve replaced files on your Mac from iCloud backup:

1. Log in to iCloud.com with your account credentials.
2. Go to Settings➙Advanced➙Recover Files.
3. Locate the file you want to recover, and select the check box next to its name.
4. Click "Recover File".

Other cloud storage services such as Google Drive, Dropbox, and OneDrive offer similar methods to recover overwritten files that Macs no longer have. Here are the general steps you need to follow:

1. Connect to cloud storage services.
2. Use the search function of this tool to find the files to be recovered.
3. Select the file and perform recovery using the tool's interface.

To improve Mac storage capabilities, simplify workflows in the cloud, and give yourself more choices when you need to quickly help your Mac recover replaced files, try CloudMounter.

CloudMounter allows you to access your data faster by skipping the hassle of logging into different cloud accounts from your web browser. CloudMounter connects your cloud storage account to your Mac's Finder, so you can think of it as a local drive and use files in the cloud without leaving the native interface of macOS. Add encryption for enhanced security and eventually forget to run out of storage again!

How to retrieve replaced files in Mac app

Some word processing and spreadsheet type applications in macOS have a native version management system that saves replaced files in their history in case you need to return them in the near future. Here are the file recovery options available in most popular office tools: Apple Pages and Numbers, Microsoft Word, and Excel.

Here is how to undo file replacements in Apple Pages and Numbers:

1. Open the file you have overwritten.
2. Go to the File menu and select Restore to.
3. Click "Browse All Versions".
4. Locate the version you want to restore and select Restore.

While the Microsoft Office system does not integrate directly with Apple's version control framework, it still includes the option to recover overwritten files that cannot be found by the Mac. The method is as follows:

1. Open the replaced file in Microsoft Word.
2. Select the document name in the title bar and click "Browse Version History".
3. Locate the version you want to restore, and then click "Open Version".
4. Save the file with a new name.

To restore overwritten files in Excel, follow these steps:

1. Open your worksheet and click File in the menu bar.
2. Go to "Restore" ➙ "Restore to last save".
3. Check out the list of old versions and find the version you want to restore.
4. Click Restore or Restore Copy.

Other applications have similar features, so it's worth checking out before moving to a more complex approach to recovering files that your Mac has overwritten.

FAQ: How to undo a file replacement on a Mac?

In addition to the tips and solutions outlined in the above guide, here are some answers to common questions on how to recover deleted overwritten files on your Mac.

How to recover files replaced by files with files with the same name on your Mac?

To recover files replaced by files with the same name, name the new file a different name, and then use your backup and good recovery tools to find and restore the original files on your Mac.

How to recover replaced files on your Mac without Time Machine?

To recover replaced files on your Mac without Time Machine, first check your trash and iCloud - sometimes, the files may still be there. If not, consider using a recovery tool like Disk Drill, which can recover deleted files, no matter how they are lost. In the application, select the location you want to scan, click "Search for lost data", wait for the scan to complete, and then restore your file with one click.

How to restore overwritten folders on your Mac?

To restore overwritten folders on your Mac, use Time Machine to find and restore overwritten folders to be restored.

Tip to use ChronoSync Express to meet all your folder-related needs, including how to recover replaced folders on your Mac and to know what is happening on your computer when your computer is not around you. ChronoSync Express provides convenient features such as syncing to other Apple devices, running automatic backups, and keeping data secure and organized.

Although overwriting files or folders can make recovery more difficult, you have now learned about all the best options. You can stick with your Mac's native Time Machine or use more efficient and professional data recovery tools like Disk Drill and Get Backup Pro. Additionally, if you use some cloud storage services at the same time, CloudMounter connects them to your Mac's Finder and ensures your files are secure. If you need the perfect application to sync and back up folders – ChronoSync Express is ideal for you!

All four applications—Disk Drill, Get Backup Pro, CloudMounter, and ChronoSync Express—are now available for free. how? With the seven-day trial of Setapp, it's a platform with over 240 great Mac and iOS utilities. Check out Setapp's top recovery software or browse the "All Apps" section to select the app that suits your needs!

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