If you’ve accidentally replaced a file on your Mac and want to recover the original, here’s what you can do depending on your situation:
1. Check Time Machine (If You Have Backups)
If you use Time Machine, macOS’s built-in backup feature, you can recover the previous version of the file:
Connect your Time Machine backup drive (if it’s not already connected).
Open Finder and navigate to the folder where the replaced file is located.
Click the Time Machine icon in the menu bar (or launch it from System Settings > General > Time Machine).
Use the timeline or arrows to go back to a point before the file was replaced.
Select the original file, click Restore, and it’ll be copied back to its original location.
2. Look for Previous Versions (Without Time Machine)
Some apps on macOS, like TextEdit, Pages, or Word, support a "Versions" feature that autosaves previous states of a file:
Open the file in the app you used to edit it.
Go to File > Revert To > Browse All Versions in the menu bar.
Browse through the saved versions, find the one you want, and restore it.
3. Check the Trash
If you replaced the file by dragging a new one into the same location, the original might still be in the Trash:
Open the Trash (in the Dock).
Look for the original file by name or date.
Right-click it and choose Put Back to restore it to its original location.
4. Undo the Action (If Very Recent)
If you just replaced the file and haven’t done much since:
Press Command + Z in Finder to undo the last action. This works only if the replacement was done manually (e.g., dragging a file over another).
5. Check Temporary Files or Autosave
Some apps create temporary or autosaved copies:
Open the app you were using and check File > Open Recent or look for an autosave folder (e.g., ~/Library/Autosave Information/ in your user folder via Finder’s Go > Go to Folder).
Search for the replaced file’s name in Spotlight (Cmd + Space) to see if a temp version exists.
6. Use Data Recovery Software (Last Resort)
To recover a replaced file using Panda Data Recovery on your Mac, start by downloading and installing the software from its official site. Launch the program, then select the location where the original file was stored likely your hard drive or a specific folder. Initiate a scan, choosing between a quick scan for recent losses or a deep scan for more thorough recovery. The software will display recoverable files, including previews, allowing you to verify the original file before proceeding. Once identified, select it and click "Recover," saving it to a different location to avoid overwriting.
