May 09, 2022
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macOS 12 Monterey and macOS 11 Big Sur have been released for quite a while, many users may have updated or plan to update to these versions. Most of the time, we get a perfect mac update and enjoy all the way to the next update. However, we may run into troubles when updating mac to the latest macOS Monerery, Big Sur or Catalina version.
Among all troubles, "Missing files after mac update", "I updated my mac and lost everything" are main complaints when users update the system. This could be devastating, but relax. With advanced recovery programs and an existing backup, we are able to recover your missing files after mac update to Monterey, Big Sur or Catalina.
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Free DownloadNormally, it won’t delete everything when updating to a new version of macOS, since a macOS upgrade is meant for adding new features, updating Mac apps, fixing bugs, enhancing performance. The whole updating process won’t touch your files saved on Mac drive. If you updated your Mac and deleted everything, this can be caused:
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Whatever the reason is, we are here to save you from this disaster. In the following part, we’re going to demonstrate how to recover missing files after Mac update.
Recovering lost data from Mac is not a particularly difficult affair. You just need a helpful, dedicated and high-efficiency tool, like Cisdem Data Recovery for Mac. It can recover variety of files whether it’s caused by macOS update, accidental deletion, system crash, sudden power off, emptying recycle bin or other reasons. Apart from Mac internal drive, it can also recover deleted, formatted and lost files from other removable devices.
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Time Machine is a piece of backup software that was integrated into the Mac operating system, it can be used to back up your files automatically to an external hard drive. Mac update deleted everything? Time Machine can help you recover lost photos, iPhone pictures, documents, calendars, etc. easily. But only if you have backup files as I said.
Sometimes Time Machine shows you errors due to the wrong operation or Mac performance. It’s not always successful to recover missing files after mac update. At this time, try Cisdem Data Recovery.
One great benefit that macOS offers to its users is the expanded storage space on iCloud, if you have turn on iCloud Drive, the missing files after mac update are just moved to your iCloud Drive and you need to turn this feature off.
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If the box before Desktop & Document Folders is deselected in the fist place, you can try to recover missing files from iCloud backup. That’s to say, you just need to login into iCloud website, choose the files and click the Download icon to save all the missing files onto your mac.
Don’t be surprised that you are recommended to doing so. Yes, I am quite sure you know which account and how you should login into, but sometimes, macOS update just deletes your old user account profile but keeps the home folder, and that’s the reason why your files are gone and missing. In this case, you just need to add your old profile back and login into again.
Most of the times, we cannot pinpoint the exact reasons causing missing files after mac update and it is a challenge to find back the missing files especially when you are not quite proficient at using your Mac. In this case, you are recommended to manually check each folder on your mac and find the missing files.
Notes: If there is any folder named as Recovered or Recover-related under an user account, you should never miss these folders, please carefully check each sub folder for missing files.
The last but not the least method to recover data when mac update deleted your files is contacting the Apple Support team. Yes, they are professional and what you need to do is submitting a form online, give a call or write emails as instructed on the contact webpage.
You can take the simple measures below to avoid missing files after mac update to Monetery, Big Sur or Catalina:
It is true that you should try different ways to recover the missing files after macOS update, the issue can be easy or difficult, as long as you find the appropriate method to fix it. Generally speaking, if you have backed up your mac, you can easily find back the missing files via Time Machine or other online storage service, otherwise, you are recommended to use Cisdem Data Recovery, which can guarantee that most of the missing files can be restored.
Peter has always had great enthusiasm for writing, programming and web development. He likes writing about software and technology, his works are featured on some tech blogs or forums like Tom's Hardware, CNET, etc.
Jothany
I updated to Catalina beta version yesterday and lost the files, it did worked when i followed your instructions to deselect iCloud drive, thanks very much.