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How to recover SSD storage from dead 16" MacBook Pro?

A mac repair shop said that by spilling water on my 16" MacBook Pro, it's fried. I need to recover the data off of its SSD -- where can I find a quality service that will safely remove my SSD from the laptop and install in an enclosure to use as a drive?

MacBook Pro 16″, macOS 11.4

Posted on Sep 11, 2021 5:20 AM

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Posted on Sep 12, 2021 5:25 AM

Thank you to all who replied. I will not be buying another MacBook Pro since knocking over my drinking glass of water turned a three thousand dollar computer into a brick. If this computer cannot be repaired, it obviously isn't worth $3k. I've reverted to my mid-2014 laptop and this is a much better machine -- better keyboard (backlit), better trackpad, better ports, and far more reliable.

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Sep 12, 2021 5:25 AM in response to HWTech

Thank you to all who replied. I will not be buying another MacBook Pro since knocking over my drinking glass of water turned a three thousand dollar computer into a brick. If this computer cannot be repaired, it obviously isn't worth $3k. I've reverted to my mid-2014 laptop and this is a much better machine -- better keyboard (backlit), better trackpad, better ports, and far more reliable.

Sep 11, 2021 4:53 PM in response to fried_laptop

If you don't have a backup, then your only option would be to contact a professional data recovery service such as Drive Savers or Ontrack to see if data recovery is possible. Both vendors provide free estimates and both are recommended by Apple.


Since the 2018+ models use a T2 security chip the Logic Board must be repaired at the board level in order to allow the T2 security chip to communicate with the SSD in order to decrypt the data on the SSD. A repair shop that specializes in repairing damaged Logic Boards can also attempt to repair the Logic Board, however, Apple prevents these independent repair shops from purchasing some of the necessary components from the component manufacturers so it may be impossible to fix the board. There is a five star repair rated independent repair shop in NYC that specializes in repairing Apple Logic Boards (RRG - unable to link to them as the link will be removed). If the T2 security chip was damaged or corrupted, then there is absolutely no way to recover any data since the T2 security chip has the encryption keys to the hardware encrypted data on the SSD.

Sep 11, 2021 5:42 AM in response to fried_laptop

fried_laptop wrote:

A mac repair shop said that by spilling water on my 16" MacBook Pro, it's fried. I need to recover the data off of its SSD -- where can I find a quality service that will safely remove my SSD from the laptop and install in an enclosure to use as a drive?


?


And the "mac repair shop" hands this back to you..(?) Their advise is a bit suspect.


What happened to your backups:

3-2-1 Backup Strategy: three copies of your data, two different methods, and one offsite.



You will need to contact the Apple Support for data recovery from a soldered SSD in MacBook Pro. An Apple store is the last hope if you want to recover data from a dead or water damaged MacBook that has a T2 chip.


You can read more about Intel Macs with the T2 chip and all solder compents.

https://iboysoft.com/mac-data-recovery/apple-t2-chip-data-recovery.html


Make an appointment for a "hardware issue"—

https://www.apple.com/retail/geniusbar/


Outside the USA

https://locate.apple.com/country


Call Customer Support (800) MY–APPLE (800–692–7753)

or on line https://getsupport.apple.com/

or call AppleCare Support at 1-800-APLCARE (800-275-2273)


Outside the USA—Contact Apple for support and service by phone

See a list of Apple phone numbers around the world.

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201232


If you have AppleCare+ it will cover a large portion of accidental damage.

https://www.apple.com/support/products/mac.html

How to recover SSD storage from dead 16" MacBook Pro?

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