How to Recover Files Deleted by RM Command on Mac: 3 Methods

If you used the RM command (with or without its extensions) on Mac and deleted files that turned out to be important, you have a limited time frame to recover your data before it’s gone forever. The command is fast and silent, and it completely skips the Trash folder.

In this article are 3 safe methods to recover RM files on Mac, as well as in-depth information about the RM command and the most important factors that affect your chances of recovery. Read on.

What is RM Command in Mac Terminal

In the context of Unix (Mac) and Linux systems, the RM command is an erase or “remove” tool. It’s handy for users who often work from the Terminal or for quick batch deletion. Depending on how you type it, the RM command can accomplish different things:

The RM command is a powerful tool that can help users manage their files more efficiently. But what if a user accidentally used the RM command for files they don’t want to delete? Is it still possible to recover their files? Let’s find out in the next section.

Is it Possible to Undo RM Command on Mac

Yes! It’s possible to undo the RM command’s effects on your Mac and recover RM files. When the RM command (or any other deletion tool) deletes a file, it doesn’t actually erase it. While that file is missing from Finder and even if the RM command skips the Trash folder, your data still resides in your file system. However, it has been marked by the RM command to be overwritten by new files saved to the drive.

But once you actually save new files over the data RM deleted, it’s pretty much gone forever. In other words, you have a limited window of opportunity to restore your data.

How to Recover RM Files on Mac

Due to how powerful the RM command is, to recover deleted files from terminal, you’ll need to either rely on backups or use a third-party tool called data recovery software to extract your files directly from the file system. And as we mentioned earlier in the article, you’ll need to act fast – every minute that passes can eat into your deleted data.

Method 1: Time Machine Backup

Time Machine stores “snapshots” of files and folders in their current state. If you created a Time Machine backup before deleting your data with the RM command, you can restore a snapshot of your files that Time Machine captured before you deleted them.

To recover your RM folders and files using Time Machine:

Step 1. Make sure your Time Machine backup drive is securely connected to your computer. Then, open System Preferences > Time Machine.

Step 2. Tick the box beside Show Time Machine in menu bar and close the window.

Step 3. In Finder, open the folder that stored the files you want to recover. On the Apple menu bar, click Time Machine button > Enter Time Machine.

Step 4. To the right of the main window, you can use the arrow buttons to locate the snapshot that contains your deleted files. Click on the files and folders you want to recover and click Restore to return them to their original location.

Method 2: iCloud Backup

If you enabled iCloud for the files and folders you wanted to save, there’s a good chance that they’ve been uploaded to the cloud. Even if you deleted your data from the iCloud folder on your Mac, the iCloud server stores recently deleted data for 30 days.

To recover your data from an iCloud backup:

Step 1. Log in to iCloud.com and click Account Settings.

Step 2. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click Restore Files under the Advanced section.

Step 3. Tick the boxes beside the files you want to recover. Then, click Restore. This should send your files back to their original folder.

Method 3: Data Recovery Software

If you were unable to create iCloud or Time Machine backups, you need to use a third-party tool called data recovery software. As long as your files haven’t been overwritten, data recovery software can retrieve and rebuild data directly from your computer’s file system.

For this article, we’ll be using Disk Drill. It’s powerful and easy to use, and it provides excellent support for macOS files and file systems. To use Disk Drill to recover data deleted with the RM command:

Step 1. Download and install Disk Drill.

Step 2. Launch the Disk Drill app (Finder > Applications).

Step 3. From the main window, select your system drive (usually labeled “Apple SSD”). If you executed the RM command on an external drive, connect it to your computer and select that instead. Then, click Search for lost data.

Step 4. Once Disk Drill is done scanning your drive, click Review found items.

Step 5. Use the search bar (click the magnifying glass in the top-right corner) and the filter sidebar to locate your files quickly. You can also preview your files by hovering your mouse beside their file names and clicking the eye button that appears.

Step 6. Once you’ve found the files you want to recover, tick the boxes in the leftmost column to select them. Then, click Recover.

Step 7. In the window that appears, select a location where Disk Drill will save your recovered data. We highly suggest saving it to a separate drive to avoid overwriting your files. Then, click Next to restore your data.

Conclusion

The RM command is a powerful command line tool that works fast to erase your files. And once those files get overwritten by new data, even the most powerful data recovery software will struggle to recover them. To avoid unwanted (and permanent) consequences from using the RM command, we suggest creating Time Machine and iCloud Backups regularly.

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