I updated my MacBook and my files disappeared

Question

Level 1

12 points

I updated my MacBook and my files disappeared

Hello,

I updated my MacBook a couple of days ago and have been trying to understand where my files have disappeared to since then. I have looked at the several options that are available to include:

Time Machine (Nothing is available there)
iCloud restore (The folders on iCloud are empty as well)
Deactivating iCloud (Nothing changed)

So, what the heck is going on? Why did Apple sneak such a move into an update? I need my files back as they are EXTREMELY critical. Please advise on how to immediately recover my data.

Thanks,

Andrew

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

MacBook Pro 13″, macOS 11.6

Posted on Nov 8, 2021 2:51 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

V-V

Level 1

17 points

Nov 9, 2021 12:41 PM in response to muguy

My desktop files disappeared after an update too and I found them in the 'icloud drive' so I would reactivate it and look.. Finder - I-cloud drive- there you will see folders, it makes all these folders automatically of your files, desktop, downloads, pages etc (It varies in your icloud preferences...) It doesn't consider these files as needing to be restored.. they are there..

Let us know if you find them!

Reply

Answer 2

V-V

Level 1

17 points

Nov 9, 2021 12:45 PM in response to Miller222111

My desktop files disappeared and I found them in the 'icloud drive' so I would reactivate it and look.. Finder - I-cloud- it makes all these folders automatically of your files, desktop, downloads, pages etc It varies in your icloud preferences... It doesnt consider these files as needing to be restored.. they are there..

Let us know if you find them!

Reply

Answer 3

tygb

Level 9

65,010 points

Nov 8, 2021 11:14 PM in response to Miller222111

See the article View and restore past versions of documents on Mac - Apple Support

Reply

Answer 4

Miller222111 Author

Level 1

12 points

Nov 9, 2021 12:25 PM in response to muguy

@muguy,

Thanks for the response. Unfortunately, I didn't even know Time Machine existed until this issue arouse. I'm just frustrated that such a maneuver occurred during an Apple update. Let me know if you think of any other options for restoring my files.

Best,

Andrew

Reply

Answer 5

Miller222111 Author

Level 1

12 points

Nov 9, 2021 2:56 PM in response to V-V

Thanks for the response. Unfortunately, locations to include those mentioned below all lead to empty folders.

1.) Time Machine (no backups found here)

2.) iCloud drive (Clone of my original files setup, but with empty folders)

3.) iCloud on the browser (Clone of my original files setup, but with empty folders)

4.) Reactivating iCloud (Clone of my original files setup, but with empty folders)

I noticed the new folders that were created after my update. However, all locations appear to have kept the folder names, but are empty. I had used up my 5GB from Apple before the update, so there would have been no place for my data to go if removed from my local MacBook.

Thanks again for all responses,

Andrew

Reply

Answer 6

V-V

Level 1

17 points

Nov 9, 2021 3:31 PM in response to Miller222111

gosh so sorry!.. an update like that should have warned you/ us .... it would have given you an option to buy more storage on Icloud or you could have moved them to another platform... they shouldn't assume that the owner has all the room on Icloud when they only give 5GB to begin with.. that is are real life negative consequence and they lost some loyalty and funds for additional cloud room .. if you find a fix to this let us know..!

Reply

Answer 7

muguy

Level 10

91,502 points

Nov 8, 2021 7:40 PM in response to Miller222111

Hopefully you made a Time Machine backup before you upgraded so that you have access to your files there.

Reply

I updated my MacBook and my files disappeared

Similar questions