How to restore deleted files (ie. Apps, App package contents, etc.) to their original location without ‘Put back’ option.

I accidentally deleted some files from my MacBook Pro using the app 'Appcleaner'. There is no 'Put back' option when I right-click on these files from the trash (since files were deleted by Appcleaner, which is a third party app). Therefore, I manually dragged all the deleted files out of Trash Can and into my Applications folder, but some weren't restored properly. I would like to know how I could restore the apps I've deleted along with their package contents in their former places.


If worst comes to worst, I can’t recover my files the way that they were initially, can I restore them via my iCloud? I have everything on my MacBook Pro backed up on iCloud, but now I’m thinking that what I had before might have gotten overwritten by my now ‘damaged files’ since iCloud updated constantly.

MacBook Pro 13″, macOS 10.14

Posted on Oct 26, 2020 10:47 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Oct 26, 2020 11:00 AM

Many applications must be installed by a dedicated installer, since they require more than simply copying the app to the Applications folder. Presumably AppCleaner trashed the associated supporting files as well (from Library, ~/Library, etc.) so the app(s) that needed them will no longer run. You'll need to re-download the installer(s) from the app developers, and re-install the apps.


In general, Applications are not backed up to iCloud. They are backed up by Time Machine, but again the backup would consist of more than just the application file itself, and those backed-up supporting files would be in their normal (usually hidden) locations.

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Oct 26, 2020 11:00 AM in response to Amira_Clarke

Many applications must be installed by a dedicated installer, since they require more than simply copying the app to the Applications folder. Presumably AppCleaner trashed the associated supporting files as well (from Library, ~/Library, etc.) so the app(s) that needed them will no longer run. You'll need to re-download the installer(s) from the app developers, and re-install the apps.


In general, Applications are not backed up to iCloud. They are backed up by Time Machine, but again the backup would consist of more than just the application file itself, and those backed-up supporting files would be in their normal (usually hidden) locations.

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How to restore deleted files (ie. Apps, App package contents, etc.) to their original location without ‘Put back’ option.

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