Mac Data Recovery
We recover data from hard drives and SSDs in iMac, MacBook and Mac mini computers, from Fusion Drive and from Time Machine backups. On the most recent Macs, with the drive soldered to the board, each case is assessed first. Our own laboratory in Carcavelos, recovering data since 2004, with an ISO 5 (Class 100) cleanroom and a success rate of 98.40% in 2025 across all services, audited every year.
Free collection request
Technical Diagnosis in 2 hours* and free collection in mainland Portugal.
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In short
Switch off the Mac and do not reinstall macOS. On Macs where the drive can be removed, fill in the online request and send us only the drive: collection is free in mainland Portugal. On the most recent Macs, with the drive soldered to the board, contact us before sending: those cases are assessed case by case.
Mac data recovery in the laboratory
We recover data from hard drives and SSDs in iMac, MacBook, MacBook Pro, MacBook Air and Mac mini computers, and from Time Machine backups, also when they are on a NAS. In iMacs with Fusion Drive, the SSD and the hard drive work as a single volume, and so the two are worked on together. For the hard drives of iMacs and MacBooks, we have more than 10,000 parts in stock (donor heads and electronic boards).
On the most recent Macs the drive is soldered to the board and the data is tied to the computer itself. On those models recovery is assessed case by case: on some models it is possible and on others it is not. If the drive is protected with FileVault, we will need the password or the recovery key, which may be stored in your Apple account. We are the only data recovery laboratory certified to ISO 9001 and ISO 27001 in Portugal.
Symptoms: what your Mac is telling you
| What happens | Likely cause and what to do |
|---|---|
| A folder with a question mark appears at startup | The Mac cannot find the drive: a fault in the drive or in the connection. Do not reinstall macOS. |
| The drive makes clicking noises or the Mac becomes very slow | Hard drive with damaged or weak heads. Switch off the Mac. |
| Disk Utility does not show the drive | Fault in the drive or the SSD. Do not use “First Aid” over and over again. |
| It asks for a password you do not know (FileVault) | The drive is encrypted. Look for the recovery key in your Apple account before sending. |
| The iMac with Fusion Drive no longer starts up | One of the two parts of the Fusion Drive has failed. Send both, or contact us. |
| You deleted files or Time Machine failed | Logical fault. Stop using the drive. See deleted file recovery. |
Types of fault
Older iMacs and MacBooks: heads, motor, electronics.
Removable SSDs and Fusion Drive; soldered ones are assessed case by case.
Drives with FileVault: the password or the recovery key is needed.
Deleted files, erased drive, damaged Time Machine backups.
Most common causes: dropped laptops, liquids, wear of iMac hard drives, interrupted macOS updates and human error (deleting or reinstalling by mistake).
What you should never do
Reinstalling macOS or erasing the drive in Disk Utility writes over the data.
Outside a cleanroom, dust contaminates the platters of the hard drive and the damage may be irreversible.
If the drive makes noise, is slow or the Mac has been dropped, switch it off: each attempt can ruin the data.
How much it costs to recover the data from a Mac
* The 2 hours are counted in order of arrival and within opening hours. Encrypted drives or drives tampered with before arrival may need an Advanced Diagnosis, at a cost, always stated beforehand. In some cases an initial amount is requested, stated in the quote: if there is recovery, it is deducted from the price; if there is not, it covers the recovery attempt and is not refunded.
Other devices
How it works, in 7 steps
- Online request
- Sending the device
- Diagnosis
in 2 hours* - Final quote
- Recovery and file list
- Payment
- Data delivery
The recovery only starts after you accept the quote. See the full process
Frequently asked questions
Do I send the whole Mac or only the drive?
On Macs where the drive can be removed, send only the drive. On the most recent Macs, with the drive soldered to the board, contact us before sending: those cases are assessed case by case.
My Mac has a soldered drive. Is there still a chance?
It depends on the model: in some cases it is possible and in others it is not. That is why we assess each case before the customer sends the computer.
My Mac has FileVault. Do you need the password?
Yes: the Mac password or the FileVault recovery key, which may be stored in your Apple account. Without it, the data stays encrypted.
I have an iMac with Fusion Drive. What do I send?
Fusion Drive combines an SSD and a hard drive in a single volume, and the two are worked on together. Contact us or send both parts.
Do you recover Time Machine backups?
Yes, also when the backup is on a NAS.
Is the recovered data delivered in a format the Mac can read?
We deliver the data on media formatted in exFAT, which can be read on Mac and Windows, or in NTFS, if you prefer.
What if I accept the quote and then there is no recovery?
You pay nothing for the recovery service or anything else; return shipping costs are separate. In some cases an initial amount is requested before work starts, always stated in the quote: it is deducted from the price if the recovery succeeds and, if it does not, it covers the attempt and is not refunded. If you accept and do not pay the initial amount within 5 working days, the device goes into storage, at a cost of 1 EUR + VAT per day, up to a maximum of 60 days. After that period, the device is recycled free of charge and the storage remains payable.
Still not convinced?
See what our clients say.
Data recovery laboratory in Portugal since 2004, with a cleanroom and ISO 9001 and ISO 27001 certification. Your satisfaction is our priority, and that is what the more than 1,900 reviews from our clients say.
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