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External hard drives are an essential part of the modern Mac experience. With Apple using SSD technology in their latest designs, your storage space is somewhat limited compared to previous generations’ traditional options.

If you invested in an external hard drive for your Mac, copying errors and other problems can cause data loss. Instead of fretting about those circumstances, grab one of the best recovery tools available today.

The best external hard drive data recovery tools for Mac will help you maintain easy access to your files and information with only a few clicks.

List of the Best External HDD Recovery Downloads for Mac

Although most external hard drives have Windows, Linux, and Mac compatibility, you must use the software for your core system to recover lost information.

If you prefer Apple products, that means you’ll need a Mac download. Here are the best options available right now.

1. Disk Drill for Mac

Disk Drill for Mac

If you want the top choice for external hard drive data recovery for Mac computers, Disk Drill is the download you want. It provides you with a comprehensive tool with numerous features that let you access the recoverable files found on your storage device.

Disk Drill for Mac AdvantagesDisk Drill for Mac Disadvantages
  • You receive proactive data protection while working to restore your external HDD’s missing files.
  • Several extra tools come with the download, including a duplicate file finder.
  • You can preview the recoverable information on your external hard drive with the free version.
  • The intuitive user experience makes the tool feel familiar almost immediately. 
  • Data recovery services take some time to complete.
  • You don’t have an option to scan single folders. 
  • Customer support options are limited to email, online chat, and published content.
  • 400+ file support is excellent, but it isn’t the best in the industry.

As long as your Mac can recognize the storage device, Disk Drill (https://www.cleverfiles.com/pro.html) lets you start the recovery process. After opening the software and selecting your external hard drive, all you need to do is click the “Search for Lost Data” button found in the lower right-hand part of the screen. 

After the recovery tool processes your storage device’s information, you’ll see a selection of found files. You can choose the thumbnail of each one to preview it. If you want to keep it, click on the “Recover” button.

On the left sidebar, you’ll see what file types are available to recover. That makes it a lot easier to filter results! You have access to advance options that can further drill into your data to find what you need.

Most people will take advantage of the $89 Disk Drill Pro offer. An Enterprise-level solution is also available for $399. Reasonable lifetime upgrades can get added to your order.

It’s compatible with macOS Big Sur and OS X 10.11.6 and above. Legacy versions are also available.

2. Ontrack EasyRecovery for Mac

Ontrack EasyRecovery for Mac

This application offers precise data recovery solutions for virtually any external storage device. It comes with a free trial, works for Mac OS X 10.7 and above, and gives you a useable tool for an affordable price.

Ontrack EasyRecovery AdvantagesOntrack EasyRecovery Disadvantages
  • It provides recovery services for damaged optical media.
  • Users can use this software to repair corrupted or damaged media files on external drives.
  • You receive up to 1 GB of data recovery services for free.
  • It’s less intuitive than other tools you’d use for external drives.
  • The software doesn’t offer a disk image creation feature during the recovery process.
  • It offers an interface meant more for professional users. 

You’ll notice that Ontrack EasyRecovery for Mac relies on a step-based wizard to provide a preferred outcome. Each step comes with several choices that aren’t always easy to understand.

Pricing starts at $85 for the Mac Home version, which is what most users will need for their external HDD recovery needs. Commercial options top out at $299.

You can find more information about the benefits of Ontrack EasyRecovery at this URL: https://www.ontrack.com/en-us/shop.

3. Wise Data Recovery

Wise Data Recovery

This external hard drive data recovery tool comes from the WiseCleaner family of Mac products. It allows users to quickly and easily recover common file types, including emails and photographs.

Wise Data Recovery AdvantagesWise Data Recovery Disadvantages
  • Users receive access to an intuitive interface that leaves relatively few questions.
  • Filtering options make it relatively easy to find files on an external hard drive.
  • A visual indication system shows you the health status of individual files. 
  • The scanning speed is remarkably fast.
  • The stoplight system could offer more information than stop, go, and maybe.
  • This tool requires you to start individualized operations for files found in different folders. 

Priced competitively at $23.98 monthly for the Pro version, you only need macOS X 10.6 or higher to take advantage of its services.

If your external hard drive crashed, you’re almost guaranteed to find the files you want to recover with this tool.

It provides support for hundreds of different options, including compressed archives. This feature works with all external hard disks, including SSD options you might be running with your Mac. 

You can discover more information about Wise Data Recovery (http://www.wisecleaner.com/wise-data-recovery.html) and its advantages on social media or its published website pages.

4. Tenorshare 4DDiG for Mac

Tenorshare 4DDiG for Mac

If you have some specific external hard drive data recovery needs, this Mac resource provides the niche services you might require. It features a three-step process that helps to locate, select, and recover what you need with its advanced algorithms.

Tenorshare 4DDiG AdvantagesTenorshare 4DDiG Disadvantages
  • It has one of the most comprehensive file scanning resources in the industry, offering 550+ file formats.
  • The interface is intuitive and simplified so that anyone can use it.
  • This tool works with virtually any external drive, including the option to recognize your iPhone.
  • It doesn’t support NTFS structures for external drives.
  • The recovery performance for external HDD files has below-average speed.
  • Zero filtering options are available for data or folder recovery.
  • It doesn’t keep track of your recovery information.

Since the monthly and annual subscriptions for this service is almost as expensive as the lifetime option, only one investment makes sense. You’ll pay $55.95 per month, $59.95 per year, or $69.95 for lifetime access.

You receive instant delivery by email after completing your purchase with Tenorshare (https://www.tenorshare.com/purchase/buy-data-recovery-mac.html). It’s fully supported for the latest macOS update while offering T2 Chip data recovery.

If your external storage device isn’t working, you can still recover files if there is access to a power source. From virus attacks to hardware value, not even a natural disaster can stop you from recovering the information you need with this resource.

5. Mac Disk Utility

Mac Disk Utility

Did you know that your Apple computer comes with a Disk Utility that facilitates information recovery? This feature allows you to restore one volume with another, creating an exact copy of the original. If you chose this option, any files on the destination volume get erased. 

Mac Disk Utility AdvantagesMac Disk Utility Disadvantages
  • This option comes preloaded on virtually all Apple computers and laptops.
  • It doesn’t require you to be online to provide the needed services.
  • You can quickly clone files to meet your needs. 
  • It doesn’t offer targeted file recovery.
  • If the original volume has errors, they’ll copy to the external drive. 
  • This option works more for boot drives, HDD clones, and startup routines outside of the time machine.

You’ll need to click on Launchpad to get started unless your Disk Utility is in the Dock already. Once you open it, select View before “Show All Devices.”

In the sidebar, you can choose the volume that requires restoration. Once you have it highlighted, select the Restore button. This volume is the one that gets erased to become a clone.

Click on the Restore pop-up menu. Choose the volume you want to copy before choosing “Restore” again. 

Click on the “Done” button to finish.

If you need to restore a disk where the damaged files are on another drive, this option makes sense. You would want to explore third-party utilities when you only have one copy of a deleted, corrupted, or damaged file.

Do You Need Help with Your External Hard Drive Recovery?

Mac computers provide a reliable resource for information saving, video streaming, and music creation. They’re highly rated products that retain their value much better than a – standard PC or Windows device.

When you need more storage for your Mac, an external hard drive is a sensible investment.

If you need more help finding recovery information for your external HDD, we highly recommend these online resources.

The Bottom Line for External Hard Drive Recovery

It only takes a moment for information to lose its way on your Mac. With these helpful recovery tools for external hard drives, that’s the same amount of time you’ll need to retrieve them.