How to Recover Deleted TXT File on Mac (7 Proven Methods)

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Accidentally deleting an important TXT file on your Mac can be frustrating - especially if it contains crucial notes, scripts, logs, or documentation. Whether you deleted it by mistake, emptied the Trash too soon, or lost it during a system crash or power outage, don't panic. In most cases, deleted files can still be recovered - if you act quickly and use the right approach.

In this guide, we'll explore 7 proven methods to help you recover deleted .txt files on macOS, ranging from simple Trash recovery to advanced data recovery software and cloud backups.

7 Methods to Recover Deleted or Lost TXT Files on Mac

Method 1. Check the Trash Bin for Deleted Text Files

Why It Works:

When you delete a txt file on macOS, it's usually moved to the Trash instead of being permanently deleted. This is your first line of defense.

Steps to Recover from Trash:

Step 1. Click the Trash icon in your Dock.

Step 2. Browse through the files or use the Search bar to locate the deleted .txt file.

Step 3. Right-click the file and choose Put Back.

This will return the file to its original location.

What If You Emptied the Trash?

If you've emptied the Trash, you'll need to proceed with one of the following methods. Once the Trash is cleared, the file is no longer accessible through the standard user interface.

Method 2. Restore Lost TXT Files from Time Machine Backup

What is Time Machine?

Time Machine is Apple’s built-in backup utility that automatically saves snapshots of your entire system, including documents like .txt files.

How to Recover Using Time Machine:

Step 1. If your Time Machine backup disk is external, connect it.

Step 2. Access the original folder containing the TXT file.

Step 3. Choose Enter Time Machine or Browse Time Machine Backups after clicking the Time Machine symbol in the navigation bar.

Step 4. To access an earlier iteration of the folder, use the timeline slider on the right.

Step 5. Locate the missing .txt file, select it, and click Restore.

Limitations:

• Only works if Time Machine was already set up.
• If the file was deleted before your last backup, it may not be recoverable.

Method 3. Check File Versions via Auto Save or "Revert To"

Some Mac applications like TextEdit support Auto Save and version history. Even if you deleted or changed the file, a previous version might be accessible.

How to Use "Revert To":

Step 1. Open TextEdit or the app you used to create the TXT file.

Step 2. Go to File > Revert To > Browse All Versions.

Step 3. Use the timeline interface to view and restore previous versions.

⚠️Note:
This only works for documents saved using apps that support Apple's versioning system and saved on your local drive or iCloud.

Method 4. Recover Deleted TXT Files with Mac Data Recovery Software

If the above methods didn't help, data recovery software can often restore deleted .txt files - especially if you act quickly before the data is overwritten.

Donemax Data Recovery for Mac is a powerful yet easy-to-use data recovery application for macOS. It can easily and quickly recover permanently deleted or lost TXT files on Mac or from external storage device.

Step 1. Download and install Donemax Data Recovery for Mac on your Mac, then run it from Launchpad.

Step 2. Choose the drive where you delete or lose the TXT files. Donemax Data Recovery for Mac supports to recover lost TXT files from local HDD/SSD and external disk, USB flash drive, memory card, etc.

Step 3. Click on Scan button. Donemax Data Recovery for Mac will deeply scan the selected drive and find all recoverable files including lost TXT files.

Step 4. After scanning, you can click Type > Documents > txt to find the lost TXT files.

Before recovery, you can preview the TXT file.

Step 5. Select the wanted TXT files, click on Recover button to save them.

Donemax Data Recovery for Mac allows you to save up to 200MB files for free.

★ Final Thoughts on Recovery Tools

While third-party tools aren't always free, they provide one of the best chances to restore deleted .txt files after Trash has been emptied or if you never used Time Machine. 

⚠️Note: If the TXT files are deleted by data erasure software - such as Donemax Data Eraser for Mac, they are lost for good, can't be recovered by any data recovery software.

Method 5. Recover TXT Files from iCloud or Cloud Storage Services

If you had synced your .txt file with iCloud Drive, Dropbox, Google Drive, or other cloud platforms, there's a good chance it's still recoverable.

How to Restore from iCloud:

Step 1. Visit iCloud.com and log in.

Step 2. Go to iCloud Drive.

Step 3. Check for the file or go to Recently Deleted (in the bottom-right corner).

Step 4. Select the file and click Recover.

Dropbox, Google Drive, etc.:

• Go to the Trash/Recycle Bin or Version History on the web version.
• Restore the file with one click.

Benefits:

• Cloud services often keep deleted files for 30 days.
• Some offer file versioning, letting you restore older versions of a file.

Method 6. Use Terminal for TXT File Recovery (for old macOS versions)

For experienced users, Terminal can be used to search for remnants of deleted .txt files.

Try This:

sudo find / -name "*.txt" 2>/dev/null

Or search recently modified files:

sudo find / -mtime -1 -name "*.txt"

You may also try recovering raw data from your drive using tools like PhotoRec (from the TestDisk suite), but this requires more technical skill.

Caution:

• Misuse of Terminal commands can harm your system.
• This method is not recommended for beginners.

Method 7. Recover Lost TXT Files from External Backups

If you have cloned your Mac to an external hard drive before the TXT files get lost, you can restore the lost TXT files from the external hard drive backup.

For example, if you've create a bootable clone backup for your Mac with Donemax Disk Clone for Mac, you can quickly restore the lost TXT files from the external hard drive backup.

Just connect the external hard drive to your Mac, open it via Finder. Then find the TXT files, copy them back to your Mac.

Tips to Prevent TXT File Loss on Mac in the Future

After recovering your file, it's a good time to implement some preventative practices to avoid future data loss:

1. Set Up Time Machine:

• Use an external drive or Time Capsule.
• Automate hourly, daily, and weekly backups.

2. Use Cloud Syncing:

• Save .txt files to iCloud Drive, Dropbox, or Google Drive.
• These services offer both real-time syncing and trash folders for accidental deletions.

3. Enable Auto Save:

• Use apps that support macOS Auto Save and versioning features.
• Check your app preferences for save intervals.

4. Manual Backups:

• Periodically copy important files to USB drives or external SSDs.

5. Install File Recovery Software Now:

• Apps like Donemax Data Recovery for Mac can help recover permanently deleted files and repair damaged drive.

Conclusion

Recovering a deleted TXT file on your Mac is usually possible, especially if you act quickly. From simply checking the Trash to using professional-grade recovery tools, there's a method for every situation. If you regularly work with important .txt files - whether for coding, documentation, or notes - setting up backup and versioning strategies can save you future headaches.

Donemax Data Recovery for Mac is a good option for TXT file recovery if you can't restore the deleted TXT file from trash or backups. It can deeply scan the drive and find the lost TXT file. Then you can easily get the deleted TXT file back.