Disk Drill for Mac 4 Introduces T2 chip support, RAW Formats Recovery, More

mac data recovery software for macOS big sur

There’s only a small handful of apps that we would recommend all users of macOS to install, and Disk Drill has been among them since its first public release in 2010. After a decade of active development, Disk Drill for Mac has just reached version 4, giving existing and new users alike a lot to be excited about.

disk drill 4 review

According to its developers, CleverFiles, the fourth version of Disk Drill for Mac is the biggest update in the history of this data recovery app. Not only does it improve everything from the user interface to data recovery performance, but it also introduces several new features, reinforcing Disk Drill’s position as the best data recovery solution for Mac.

Disk Drill for Mac 4 highlights:

  • Redesigned user interface
  • Faster and more powerful data recovery algorithms
  • Time Machine recovery
  • Support for even more file formats
  • Compatibility with macOS 11 Big Sur
  • The ability to recover T2-protected storage devices
  • Secure file deletion
  • and more…

Refined Data Recovery Experience 

Comparison of Disk Drill 3 vs Disk Drill 4
Disk Drill for Mac 3 (left) vs. Disk Drill for Mac 4 (right).

When you first launch the latest version of Disk Drill for Mac, you notice that the user interface has changed quite a bit. It now more closely matches the user interface of the Windows version of Disk Drill while respecting Apple’s design guidelines (Dark Mode is fully supported) and feeling like it was made by Mac users, for Mac users.

Listed in the middle of the main window are all available storage devices, including internal and external hard drives, RAID arrays, USB flash drives, memory cards, iOS and Android smartphones, and so on. The right pane displays more information about the selected devices and the available recovery methods. The left pane provides convenient access to recent recovery sessions, additional tools, and more data recovery options.

Just like before, users can begin recovering lost data with a single click. The difference is that the button you need to click is now called “Search for lost data” instead of “Recover.” When you click it, Disk Drill automatically runs all recovery methods in the optimal order to deliver the best data recovery results possible. You can, of course, manually select any recovery method yourself, such as Quick Scan or Deep Scan, but there’s no need to.

Disk Drill 4 active scan
Disk Drill for Mac 4 during an active scan.

Disk Drill for Mac 4 features updated FAT32, NTFS, HFS+, and APFS recovery algorithms that can improve recovery efficiency by up to 200 percent compared with the previous version. You can now easily recover many new image, video, and audio file formats, which brings the total number of supported file extensions to well over 400. In addition to regular storage devices (including T2-encrypted Macs), Disk Drill for Mac 4 can recover data directly from Time Machine backups and disk images (DSK, BIN, DAT, RAW, and DD).

Unlike many other data recovery apps for Mac, the latest version of Disk Drill doesn’t force you to wait for a scan to finish before you can review found items and resume work on your computer. That’s because you can pause an active scan at any time or go through recoverable files while Disk Drill is still analyzing your storage device.

Disk Drill 4 scan results
Scan results in Disk Drill for Mac 4.

The popular preview panel has been integrated directly into Disk Drill’s main window, so you can simply select any recoverable file and instantly see its preview. Narrowing down scan results has never been easier thanks to readily available results filters. And just like with the older version of Disk Drill for Mac, undeleting all selected files is a simple matter of clicking the Recover button.

More Than Just a Data Recovery App 

Disk Drill has always been more than a simple data recovery app because its developers recognize that data loss is a complex problem that requires an equally complex solution. That’s why the latest version of Disk Drill for Mac comes with even more handy tools, not to mention improved versions of tools all long-term users of Disk Drill are already familiar with.

With the new Data Shredder tool, users can securely delete sensitive files in a way that makes them impossible to recover—even with Disk Drill. There’s also a tool called Free Disk Space Erasure, which is great for ensuring that files that have already been deleted will stay deleted.

Disk Drill 4 dark mode
Disk Drill for Mac 4 with Dark Mode enabled.

Best of all, all tools that come included with Disk Drill for Mac 4 are completely free despite being just as capable as paid alternatives. If you want to try everything the new and improved version of Disk Drill has to offer, then you can download the trial version directly from CleverFiles.

 

The trial version lets you test everything Disk Drill for Mac 4 brings to the table, but it can’t save recoverable files to your computer. To do that, you need to purchase the PRO version for $89 (one-time payment). With a purchase of Disk Drill PRO for Mac, you also get a license for the Windows version of this leading data recovery app, so you’ll be well-equipped to solve just about any data loss problem you may run into.

David Morelo is a seasoned technology writer with a decade of professional experience and a Bachelor's degree in English Linguistics. He also holds a Google Cybersecurity Certificate. At Macgasm, he mainly writes product reviews and in-depth guides, with a focus on macOS and iOS. David's tech journey began at the age of 11, when he assembled his first Windows PC and later used it to explore the Linux world. His curiosity eventually led him to the Hackintosh community and, soon after that, to the nearest Apple store. Today, he's an avid Mac and iPhone user who enjoys the coziness of the Apple software ecosystem because it helps him stay productive. His contributions have also been featured on platforms like CleverFiles, Make Tech Easier and Insanely Mac, and many others.