Mac Data Recovery

Get Your Data Back In No Time.

When your MacBook, iMac, or Mac Mini stops working and your files become inaccessible, trust the professionals at Five Star Data Recovery. We specialize in Mac data recovery for all types of Apple computers and storage devices — including models with T2 chips, APFS file systems, and soldered SSDs.

Whether you’re dealing with accidental deletion, hardware failure, or a macOS crash, our engineers use safe, proven methods to recover data from Mac systems. Our goal is to retrieve your valuable data — documents, media, creative projects, and more — quickly and securely.

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Mac Devices We Recover Data From

We provide data recovery mac services for nearly every type of Apple device, including:

MacBook Air (Intel and M-series)
MacBook Pro (all models and screen sizes)
MacBook
iMac (standard and Retina models)
Mac Pro
Mac Mini
Apple Time Machine backups
External hard drives formatted for macOS (HFS+, APFS)

No matter what kind of Apple device you’re using, if there’s data on it—we can help recover it.

Common Causes of Data Loss on Macs

Mac devices are known for reliability, but data loss can still happen. Here are some of the most common situations we see:

Accidental file deletion or disk formatting
File system corruption (HFS+, APFS)
macOS upgrade failure
Time Machine backup drive corruption
No power or startup failure
Liquid spills on MacBooks
Physical damage to SSDs or HDDs
Clicking or beeping internal drives
Failed mac hard drive recovery attempts from other services

In many cases, we can recover lost data even when the system is completely non-bootable.

Specialized Component-Level Recovery for MacBooks

Most modern MacBooks, especially those with M1 or M2 chips, have their storage soldered to the logic board. This is different from many PCs. This means traditional data recovery methods won’t work, and there’s no simple way to “remove the drive.”
At Five Star Data Recovery, we specialize in component-level Mac data recovery. Our team has the skills and tools to diagnose, repair, and extract data from logic boards when needed.
This type of recovery needs skilled micro-soldering and special Apple tools. Few labs in the U.S. provide these services.
If your Mac has no power, was liquid damaged, or has a failed onboard SSD, don’t give up hope. Our recovery process can help recover data from Mac hard drive systems even in complex chip-level scenarios.

Our Mac Data Recovery Process

We’ve developed a safe, transparent, and proven process for recovering data from Mac devices:

Free Diagnostic – We start with a full evaluation of your Mac or external drive. We determine the cause of failure and provide a quote before starting.
Drive Imaging or Board Repair – Depending on the situation, we either image the drive or perform component-level repair on logic boards to access data.
Deep Scan for Recoverable Data – We use professional recovery tools to do a deep scan. This helps us find lost partitions, deleted files, and corrupted volumes.
File Verification and Testing – We test recovered files for integrity and preview the results for your review.
Secure Return of Your Data – We return your data on a new drive or USB—never on the original failing drive.

Whether you need help recovering files from Time Machine backups or need full-scale Mac hard drive recovery, our process ensures the highest success rate possible.

What File Types Can Be Recovered?

We recover nearly all file types commonly used on macOS systems, including:

Photos (JPG, HEIC, RAW, TIFF)
Videos (MOV, MP4, ProRes, Final Cut Pro files)
Documents (Pages, Keynote, Numbers, DOCX, PDF)
Music (Logic Pro, GarageBand, WAV, MP3)
Email and archive files
Time Machine sparse bundles and disk images
Application and library files

From personal memories to creative projects, we help recover lost data for students, professionals, and enterprise users.

Recovering Data from Mac External Hard Drives

Many Mac users rely on external hard drives for extra storage, Time Machine backups, and transferring large media files. External drives can fail, too. This can happen if someone drops them, disconnects them the wrong way, or exposes them to power surges.

We recover data from all kinds of external storage devices for macOS. This includes USB, Thunderbolt, and FireWire drives. We work with file systems like HFS+, APFS, and exFAT. Common issues we see include:

Drives not mounting or recognized on Mac
“Disk not ejected properly” errors leading to corruption
Partitions appearing as unallocated or RAW
Clicking or non-spinning external drives
Time Machine volumes that no longer open or show backups

Our recovery process ensures your external drive is safely imaged, deeply scanned, and reconstructed—even if it’s been physically damaged. If the data matters, we can help recover it—even when the system says it’s gone.

Why Choose Five Star Data Recovery?

When it comes to recovering files from Mac devices, experience matters. Here’s why customers across the U.S. trust Five Star:

Expert knowledge of Apple file systems (APFS, HFS+, encrypted drives)
Component-level micro-soldering and SSD chip-off capabilities
Transparent pricing and no data, no charge policy
Secure in-house recovery lab—no outsourcing
Free round-trip nationwide shipping
High success rates—even with complex Mac failures

We’re one of the few labs that can handle M-series MacBooks, failed Time Machine drives, and heavily corrupted volumes with confidence.

Testimonials from Satisfied Clients

When my MacBook Pro suddenly wouldn’t turn on after a liquid spill, I thought I had lost everything. Five Star Data Recovery performed a full component-level repair and managed to extract all of my important photos, documents, and work files. They explained the entire Mac data recovery process clearly and were upfront about pricing. Highly recommend for anyone with a non-booting MacBook!

Jessica M.

Burbank, CA

I spilled coffee on my MacBook Air and it wouldn’t power on afterward. After hearing good things about Five Star Data Recovery, I brought it in. Their engineers performed component-level board repairs and successfully recovered my data. The turnaround time was fast, and the pricing was exactly what they quoted—no surprises. I’m so grateful!

Omar V.

Sherman Oaks, CA

My iMac with a Fusion Drive fell off my desk during a home renovation, and it wouldn’t turn on afterward. I thought the data was gone for good. Five Star Data Recovery handled everything from diagnosing the damage to performing a cleanroom-level recovery on the hard drive portion of the Fusion Drive. They were able to recover nearly 100% of my important files. I can’t thank them enough!

Sarah W.

Glendale, CA

Nationwide Mac Data Recovery

Free Round Trip Shipping

Even though our recovery lab is located in California, we serve clients all over the country. Our free round-trip shipping makes it easy to get your device to us securely.

We will send you a prepaid shipping label and instructions. After we recover your data, we will return it on a new drive for free. You don’t need to leave your home or office to work with one of the most trusted names in Mac data recovery.

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Start Your
Mac Recovery Today

If you need to recover data from a Mac hard drive, MacBook, or external drive, don’t wait. The longer you delay, the more complicated the recovery may become. Contact Five Star Data Recovery today for a free diagnostic or start your case online. If you need simple file recovery or deep Mac data recovery, we are here to help. We will recover your lost data with care and precision.

See Why Thousands Trust Us With Their Important Data

Data loss is stressful — but working with us doesn’t have to be. Watch how our team handles each recovery with care, professionalism, and precision. From diagnostics to delivery, we offer flat-rate pricing, honest communication, and proven results — all from our secure Glendale lab.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can you recover data from a Mac that won’t boot after a macOS update?

Yes. macOS updates can sometimes cause boot failures or file system corruption. We specialize in recovering data from Macs that won’t boot after failed updates or system crashes.

2. Do you work on both Intel-based and Apple Silicon (M1/M2) Macs?

Yes. We recover data from all Mac models, including older Intel-based systems and the latest Apple Silicon (M1 and M2) Macs. Each type has unique recovery challenges, but we’re equipped to handle both.

3. Can you recover data from a Mac with liquid damage?

Absolutely. Liquid damage can cause short circuits and motherboard failures, making the Mac unbootable. Our engineers specialize in component-level recovery and can often retrieve data even from heavily damaged logic boards.

4. Do you offer clean room recovery for Mac hard drives?

Yes. If your Mac uses a traditional spinning hard drive (HDD) and has internal mechanical damage (e.g., clicking sounds), we will perform the recovery inside our Class 100 clean room to ensure maximum data safety.

5. Can you recover data from a Mac with FileVault encryption enabled?

Yes, we can recover data from FileVault-encrypted Macs as long as you can provide the password or recovery key. Without the encryption credentials, recovery is not possible due to Apple’s built-in security protocols.

6. Is there a risk of voiding my Apple warranty during data recovery?

In most cases, data recovery involves opening the device or working on internal components, which can void your manufacturer warranty. If data preservation is your priority, we recommend proceeding with recovery first, then addressing any warranty concerns later.

7. Can you recover data from a Mac Fusion Drive?

Yes. At Five Star Data Recovery, we specialize in iMac Fusion Drive data recovery. A Fusion Drive stores data across both an SSD and a traditional hard drive, so both parts must be recovered and combined to rebuild the full volume. We start by creating sector-by-sector images of both drives, then use specialized tools to reconstruct the CoreStorage logical volume. This allows us to safely extract your files while keeping your original drives untouched. Whether the failure is logical or hardware-related, we’re equipped to handle both.

8. Do you offer emergency Mac data recovery services?

Yes. For critical situations, we offer both Expedited Service and Expedited Plus Service, giving you priority turnaround with 24/7 engineer availability. Visit our Pricing Page for full details.