7 Easy Ways to Recover Files from a Mac That Won’t Boot

When a Mac won’t start up, it can feel stressful, especially if you have important files stored on it. The good news is that there are several ways to recover data from a Mac that won’t boot. The right method depends on how badly the system is damaged, whether the issue is with the hardware or software, and what tools you have available. 

Below is a detailed explanation of different approaches, written in simple language.

Key Takeaways

• Always try Safe Mode or Recovery Mode first before advanced methods.
• Target Disk Mode and Share Disk are great if you have another Mac.
• A Time Machine backup is the fastest way to recover lost files.
• Use professional software or repair services for severe issues.
• Regular backups (external or cloud) prevent future data loss headaches.

1. Use Target Disk Mode (for Intel Macs) or Share Disk (for Apple Silicon Macs)

• If you have another Mac available, you can connect the non-working Mac to it using a Thunderbolt or USB-C cable.

• On Intel Macs, restart your Mac while holding the T key to enable Target Disk Mode. This makes the Mac’s storage appear like an external drive on the working Mac.

• On Apple Silicon Macs, you can start the Mac in Recovery mode, then choose Share Disk from the options.

• Once connected, you can copy important files to the other Mac.

2. Use macOS Recovery and Disk Utility

• Turn off your Mac and restart it while holding Command (?) + R (Intel) or Power button (Apple Silicon) until you see recovery options.

• Open Disk Utility and check the drive. Sometimes the startup problem is due to disk errors that can be repaired.

• If the disk mounts, you can back up files to an external drive before reinstalling macOS.

3. Boot in Safe Mode

• Safe Mode starts macOS with only the essential system files.

• On Intel Macs, hold Shift while starting. On Apple Silicon Macs, hold the Power button, then choose your startup disk and hold Shift.

• If the Mac boots in Safe Mode, you can access your files and copy them to an external drive.

4. Use an External Bootable Drive

• If you have a backup Mac or another computer, you can create a bootable macOS installer on a USB drive.

• Start your Mac from this USB drive (hold Option on Intel or use Recovery on Apple Silicon to select the drive).

• Once booted, you can try accessing the internal storage and moving files to another device.

5. Recover Data from Time Machine Backup

• If you used Time Machine to back up your Mac, data recovery becomes much easier.

• Connect your Time Machine drive to another Mac or to your repaired Mac after reinstalling macOS.

• You can restore all files, apps, and system settings from the backup.

6. Use Professional Data Recovery Software

• If the Mac still doesn’t boot but the drive is detectable, you can use tools like Disk Drill, Stellar Data Recovery, or EaseUS.

• These programs can scan the drive and recover files even from corrupted partitions. You’ll usually need to connect the Mac’s storage to another working computer.

7. Seek Professional Repair or Data Recovery Services

• If none of the above works, or if the Mac has serious hardware issues (like a failed SSD or motherboard), professional data recovery services may be the only option.

• These services can be expensive, but they specialize in recovering files from damaged Macs and drives that are otherwise inaccessible.

Final Thoughts

When your Mac won’t start up, your chances of recovering data depend on how quickly you act and what tools you use. Always try simple methods first, like Safe Mode or Recovery, before moving on to advanced solutions like Target Disk Mode or external boot drives. To avoid future problems, it’s best to keep regular backups on an external drive or cloud storage.

FAQs

Q. How do I restore my Mac when it won't boot? 

A. Start in Recovery Mode, use Disk Utility to repair the drive, or reinstall macOS.

Q. Can you recover data from a computer that won't turn on? 

A. Yes, by removing the drive, using recovery tools, or professional services.

Q. Is it possible to retrieve data from a dead MacBook? 

A. Yes, if the storage is intact, data can be recovered with another Mac or recovery software.

Q. Can you recover data from a MacBook that won’t turn on? 

A. Yes, using Target Disk Mode, backups, recovery tools, or expert data recovery services.