How to recover file from Trash

Question

Windows user here. How am I supposed to recover file without using a command line? I run Mac OS X 10.8.5

Trash

It is grayed out because to original location does not longer exist. — Ruskes, Sep 21 '13 at 08:22
What if you dont know where to put it? Using disksweep, it isn't clear where they are from.... — , May 21 '14 at 14:55

mmmmmm · Answer 1 · 2021-05-01T15:41:28.180

It depends on how you trashed the file. Unfortunately there is no simple restore to original place. It only works if you trashed the file by using Finder or if the app used the correct API call (although reading the github issues for various command line utilities which try to use this, Apple have broken that API). Just moving the file to trash is not enough which is what a lot of programs do. I suspect this Finder behaviour was added in some version of OSX so old ones won't have it - or else I never trashed anything correctly.)

If you used the Finder to trash it see this other answer

If not :

What you do is copy the file from trash (Copy is on the pop up menu you show) and then navigate in Finder to where you want it to go and then paste it. If you have two Finder windows open you can drag and drop the file from Trash to where you want it.

score 9 · Answer 2 · answered Sep 21 '13 at 07:53

9

I always thought that MacOSX had a Restore Option for individual files. The screenshot shows how to "undelete" a file. It will be moved back to its original location.

Put Back Trash

answered Sep 21 '13 at 07:53

Chrisii

2,308

How do you get that option on the menu? – mmmmmm Sep 21 '13 at 08:02
I have this menu item on the very top, but it is greyed – Overdose Sep 21 '13 at 08:11
@Mark I didn't do anything special. I simply put a file into the trash. – Chrisii Sep 21 '13 at 09:01
5

It will not be there if the original location does not exist anymore. – Matteo Sep 21 '13 at 09:22
Maybe this is available only for single files? I have accidentally deleted a complete folder structure (more than 30k files over 1k folders) which I would like to "Put Back" – Daniel Sep 30 '14 at 21:29
No it does work for a folder – mmmmmm May 13 '19 at 14:19
SOrry confusion I meant No as a way of contradicting @Daniel. I agree that it does work for a directory – mmmmmm May 13 '19 at 15:14
@Mark, Sorry, I read it as does not, my bad. – user3439894 May 13 '19 at 15:19

score 6 · Answer 3 · answered Mar 01 '14 at 03:23

Option 1

With the item still in the Trash, right-click on it with your mouse and select Put Back. This will restore the item to where it was before you deleted it.

Note: If the original location no longer exists, then this will be greyed out!

put back item from Trash OS X

Option 2

Right-click the item in the Trash and select "Copy muCommander"
Once the item is copied, navigate in Finder to where you want to put it, and right-click in the background of the folder or your Desktop and select Paste Item.

Using Keyboard

Keyboard commands for OS X are:

Copy Command ⌘+C
Paste Command ⌘+V

The Cut command is a little bit of a bitch when it comes to files. Don't rely on it

score 2 · Answer 4 · answered Jul 02 '14 at 05:11

2

Why simple when you can do it complicated.

You can just drag'n'drop it from Trash to where you wana have it (probably the Applications Folder cause it is an Application).

answered Jul 02 '14 at 05:11

konqui

906

How to recover file from Trash

4 Answers4

Option 1

Option 2

Using Keyboard

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