How to put back/recover a file deleted from iCloud Drive in Finder without going to iCloud.com

[BBDDVV]

New to Mac, not new to iOS/iPadOS.

For years I'm storing all my data in the cloud, iCloud for personal files using iPhone and iPad, OneDrive for work.
I was (still am btw!) excited to finally get a MacBook Air (M1), singed in to my Apple account and started discovering Sequoia and all its niceties.

However, I can't find an easy way to put back/recover a file that was stored in iCloud Drive and deleted in Finder. The file appears in the Trash folder, but selecting it and opening the context menu shows no Put back or Restore command. I searched online and the only solution I found so far was to go to iCloud Drive's Recently Deleted folder in Safari. After selecting the file here there is a Recover command that puts the file back to where it was deleted from, and after some time it also disappears from Trash.

Surely there must be a more elegant way than this, especially as this works as expected for a file that I deleted from a OneDrive folder in Finder: selecting this file in the Trash folder and opening the context menu shows a Put Back command that puts the file back to where it was deleted from.

I hope I'm missing something (e.g. a way to have the Recently Deleted folder appear insider iCloud Drive in Finder?), as the closest I am now is a Safari shorcut to go to iCloud Drive that I positioned right above the Trash can on the desktop.

Grateful for any tips, thx!

 

[MacCheetah3]

However, I can't find an easy way to put back/recover a file that was stored in iCloud Drive and deleted in Finder. The file appears in the Trash folder, but selecting it and opening the context menu shows no Put back or Restore command.

🤔 iCloud Drive files offer the same Put Back option as any other files in the Trash, for me, that is.

I searched online and the only solution I found so far was to go to iCloud Drive's Recently Deleted folder in Safari. After selecting the file here there is a Recover command that puts the file back to where it was deleted from, and after some time it also disappears from Trash.

If you empty the trash, that is probably the method required.
I haven’t attempted to restore a recently deleted iCloud Drive file via Time Machine — that I can recall.

 

[BBDDVV]

oh, thanks, that strengthens my belief that I must be missing something obvious ;-)

This is what I'm seeing

 

[NoBoMac]

Working for me as well. Thought maybe sequence of events, so deleted a file in iCloud, showed basically same screen as above on Mac but have the Put Back.



Wild speculation: trying to delete something from an app-specific folder? Things get wonky in that situation as app related iCloud folders can be hidden/protected. Do an "ls" on ~/Library/Mobile\ Documents to see all the hidden things or see following link.

Designing with CloudKit - iCloud - Apple Developer

CloudKit provides a comprehensive feature set that lets you develop powerful cloud apps effortlessly.

developer.apple.com

 

[BBDDVV]

Working for me as well. Thought maybe sequence of events, so deleted a file in iCloud, showed basically same screen as above on Mac but have the Put Back.

View attachment 2490308 View attachment 2490309

Wild speculation: trying to delete something from an app-specific folder? Things get wonky in that situation as app related iCloud folders can be hidden/protected. Do an "ls" on ~/Library/Mobile\ Documents to see all the hidden things or see following link.

Designing with CloudKit - iCloud - Apple Developer

CloudKit provides a comprehensive feature set that lets you develop powerful cloud apps effortlessly.

developer.apple.com

Thx, but no, just deleted a file (mp4, exported from iMovie, not the project itself) that I moved in a subfolder I created myself. Just tried some other files (jpg and pdf) and same thing, no Put Back... :-(

Interesting to see (?) that I have a Keep Downloaded that you guys don't have?

When using the File pull down menu instead of the context file; then Put back is listed grayed out (consistent with not being present in the context menu):

Note: didn't mention before, I'm on Sequoia 15.3.1

 

[NoBoMac]

Guess two, which I don't use: Desktop and Documents turned on for iCloud? Sounding like it.

From Apple:

You can find deleted files in the Recently Deleted folder in the Files app or on iCloud.com for 30 days.

So, kinda lines up. For Mac, iCloud.com, i*OS, Files app to recover. But still odd design choice.

(But like I said, I have never used iCloud drive to sync all my files, manually manage what I want on all device)

 

[MacCheetah3]

Interesting to see (?) that I have a Keep Downloaded that you guys don't have?

When using the File pull down menu instead of the context file; then Put back is listed grayed out (consistent with not being present in the context menu):

View attachment 2490367

iCloud 'Keep Downloaded' Option Included in iOS 18 and macOS Sequoia

In iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia, Apple has added a new "Keep Downloaded" option when browsing items in iCloud, allowing users to...

www.macrumors.com

For me, the Keep Downloaded option does not appear when the file is in the Trash bin, only when it’s in the iCloud Drive folder or a subfolder of iCloud Drive.


🤔 🤷‍♂️ I agree we move to:

Desktop and Documents turned on for iCloud?

Add your Desktop and Documents files to iCloud Drive - Apple Support

Learn how to share your files from your Mac Desktop and Documents folders to all of your devices with iCloud Drive.

support.apple.com

 

[BBDDVV]

Guess two, which I don't use: Desktop and Documents turned on for iCloud? Sounding like it.

From Apple:



So, kinda lines up. For Mac, iCloud.com, i*OS, Files app to recover. But still odd design choice.

(But like I said, I have never used iCloud drive to sync all my files, manually manage what I want on all device)

Thanks again, but not even this :-(, that option is off, and has never been on earlier...

iCloud 'Keep Downloaded' Option Included in iOS 18 and macOS Sequoia

In iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia, Apple has added a new "Keep Downloaded" option when browsing items in iCloud, allowing users to...

www.macrumors.com

For me, the Keep Downloaded option does not appear when the file is in the Trash bin, only when it’s in the iCloud Drive folder or a subfolder of iCloud Drive.


🤔 🤷‍♂️ I agree we move to:

Add your Desktop and Documents files to iCloud Drive - Apple Support

Learn how to share your files from your Mac Desktop and Documents folders to all of your devices with iCloud Drive.

support.apple.com

I'm having this option regardless if the file is in Trash or not... 🤷‍♂️

Thanks again for all the tips!

 

[Fishrrman]

Another "Fishrrman ridiculous reply™" :

OP... what IS the file you're trying to "put back"?

Is it just a jpg file, as we see highlighted in reply 5 above?
Or is it an mp4 file?

What happens if you try to OPEN the file?
Will it open?
(regardless of the app)
If it won't open with a double-click, can you control-click on it and choose an app to open it?

If you can open and view the file, can you do this:
From the file menu, choose "Save As", and save it as a NEW file somewhere else that is accessible (such as the desktop)?

Get the new file saved somewhere safe, and then get rid of the old [problem] one...

 

[MacCheetah3]

I found these:

Put Back Option Missing on Mac? Here’s How to Recover Your Files

If the Put Back option is missing from the Trash folder on your Mac, you can one of these 4 methods to get around it and restore your files.

news.macgasm.net

Why is there no "Restore" or "put back" button in my trash?

There is no restore option when I right click a folder in my trash. Did I do something wrong with my computer to cause it to do away with this option?

apple.stackexchange.com

Despite the insight, when combined with:

I can't find an easy way to put back/recover a file that was stored in iCloud Drive and deleted in Finder.

It brings up more questions than answers.

As a long shot… ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ You could delete the iCloud Drive -> Trash and iCloud Drive DS_Store files. Maybe it would correct things.

In Terminal (app):

rm ~/Library/Mobile\ Documents/.Trash/.DS_Store

rm ~/Library/Mobile\ Documents/.DS_Store

 

[BBDDVV]

Another "Fishrrman ridiculous reply™" :

OP... what IS the file you're trying to "put back"?

Is it just a jpg file, as we see highlighted in reply 5 above?
Or is it an mp4 file?

What happens if you try to OPEN the file?
Will it open?
(regardless of the app)
If it won't open with a double-click, can you control-click on it and choose an app to open it?

If you can open and view the file, can you do this:
From the file menu, choose "Save As", and save it as a NEW file somewhere else that is accessible (such as the desktop)?

Get the new file saved somewhere safe, and then get rid of the old [problem] one...

tried with mp4, jpg and pdf. They all open fine.

The problem is not that I can't move the file elsewhere, but that once it's in the Trash accidentally or on purpose-but-then-change-my-mind (action done in Finder), I can't find a way to put it back/restore it to where it was located before, from either the trash or Finder (when Trash would be listed in Finder). In iOS/iPad OS, all of this can be done from within the Files app, was hoping to do the same in Finder in MacOS.

 

[BBDDVV]

I found these:

Put Back Option Missing on Mac? Here’s How to Recover Your Files

If the Put Back option is missing from the Trash folder on your Mac, you can one of these 4 methods to get around it and restore your files.

news.macgasm.net

Why is there no "Restore" or "put back" button in my trash?

There is no restore option when I right click a folder in my trash. Did I do something wrong with my computer to cause it to do away with this option?

apple.stackexchange.com

Despite the insight, when combined with:

It brings up more questions than answers.

As a long shot… ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ You could delete the iCloud Drive -> Trash and iCloud Drive DS_Store files. Maybe it would correct things.

In Terminal (app):

rm ~/Library/Mobile\ Documents/.Trash/.DS_Store

rm ~/Library/Mobile\ Documents/.DS_Store

thanks for the links, will have a look at them later!

update: that second link describes what I'm seeing, not sure where/how to run that script.

What just struck me however is that in the Files app in iOS/iPadOS, iCloud Drive is listed under Locations, next to OneDrive. In Finder however it's listed under its own header, with OneDrive still listed under Locations.
Also, on the iPad, Locations has a Recently Deleted entry under it where I find the recently deleted files from iCloud Drive and OneDrive, and, in this Recently Deleted folder I can simply Restore a file to its original location (also for files deleted from iCloud Drive):

Q: both the second link of the previous post seems to hint at a Trash in Finder, and the Files app on iPadOS having a Recently Deleted folder under Locations -> is it possible to also have this Recently Deleted item under Locations in Finder? I looked in the View settings but that seems to be the wrong place anyway (that covers what to show for files that are being shown, not about to show in the Sidebar). I know it would +- double as the Trash can, but maybe that would work in my case (as it does on iOS/iPadOS)?

 

[Fishrrman]

OP wrote:
"The problem is not that I can't move the file elsewhere, but that once it's in the Trash accidentally or on purpose-but-then-change-my-mind (action done in Finder), I can't find a way to put it back/restore it to where it was located before, from either the trash or Finder"

Do you understand that if you do what I asked you to try above -- that is, use the "Save as" command to create A NEW FILE -- then it doesn't matter what happens to the old one anymore.

The new file should be able to be moved wherever you want it to be.

Hmmm... just don't put it "into the cloud" again...

 

[MacCheetah3]

Oh My G…!!! The 💡⚡ just happened. I think, I put the puzzle together.

Are you typically deleting iCloud Drive files via Files (i.e., iOS/iPadOS)?

I did a test; if I delete a document/media via Files, there’s no Put Back option. As stated in the linked articles, only Finder (i.e., macOS) adds the Put Back flag (and relevant data). I assume, Apple feels there’s no reason to on iOS/iPadOS or no need to mimic the function precisely across the platform.

Ultimately, in conclusion, I recommend performing iCloud Drive housekeeping on your MacBook Air — or at least most of it.

 

[benwiggy]

iCloud is not a substitute for a proper backup, such as using Time Machine.

 

[BBDDVV]

First of all, thanks again for the continued support everyone!

OP wrote:
"The problem is not that I can't move the file elsewhere, but that once it's in the Trash accidentally or on purpose-but-then-change-my-mind (action done in Finder), I can't find a way to put it back/restore it to where it was located before, from either the trash or Finder"

Do you understand that if you do what I asked you to try above -- that is, use the "Save as" command to create A NEW FILE -- then it doesn't matter what happens to the old one anymore.

The new file should be able to be moved wherever you want it to be.

Hmmm... just don't put it "into the cloud" again...

I understand but I want to keep using iCloud Drive, it works flawless for me for years in iOS/iPadOS, and was looking forward to adding a MacBook in the mix. I'm frequently accessing the same files on different devices.

Oh My G…!!! The 💡⚡ just happened. I think, I put the puzzle together.

Are you typically deleting iCloud Drive files via Files (i.e., iOS/iPadOS)?

I did a test; if I delete a document/media via Files, there’s no Put Back option. As stated in the linked articles, only Finder (i.e., macOS) adds the Put Back flag (and relevant data). I assume, Apple feels there’s no reason to on iOS/iPadOS or no need to mimic the function precisely across the platform.

Ultimately, in conclusion, I recommend performing iCloud Drive housekeeping on your MacBook Air — or at least most of it.

It's actually the opposite for me at the moment (🤷‍♂️), doing the file management in iOS/iPadOS works fine, including Recover deleted files from iCloud Drive. For some reason this doesn't work (yet, still hopeful when seeing the screenshots of others that have the Put Back option(!)) on my MacBook (of course signed in with the same user, and having admin rights).
This is a screenshot of the Recently Deleted folder on my iPad, allowing me to Recover the file that was deleted from a folder in iCloud Drive (it also doesn't matter on what device I deleted this file). For me the Recover option is only there in iOS/iPadOS and on icloud.com/iclouddrive/

 

[MacCheetah3]

It's actually the opposite for me at the moment (🤷‍♂️), doing the file management in iOS/iPadOS works fine, including Recover deleted files from iCloud Drive. For some reason this doesn't work (yet, still hopeful when seeing the screenshots of others that have the Put Back option(!)) on my MacBook (of course signed in with the same user, and having admin rights).

I understand. I’ll explain it another way. If I delete (i.e., “Move to Trash”) an iCloud Drive document/media on my Mac (via Finder), it appears in the Trash, where I have the Put Back and other options. That same file also appears in the Recently Deleted folder on my iPhone/iPad (i.e., in Files), where I can use the Recover command, if I want. If I delete the document/media in Files, it shows up in Recently Deleted in Files and the Trash on my Mac. However, that file won’t have the Put Back option on my Mac.

Deleted on Mac:
• Put Back (macOS)
• Recover (Files (i.e., iOS/iPadOS))

Deleted on iPad/iPhone:
• Recover (Files (i.e., iOS/iPadOS))
• Need to manually move (e.g., drag) the file out of the Trash back to iCloud Drive, etc (i.e., no Put Back)

Does that clear things up?

 

[BBDDVV]

I understand. I’ll explain it another way. If I delete (i.e., “Move to Trash”) an iCloud Drive document/media on my Mac (via Finder), it appears in the Trash, where I have the Put Back and other options.

... and that is exactly what I am also after, but for some unknown reason this doesn't work for me, yet ;-)

That same file also appears in the Recently Deleted folder on my iPhone/iPad (i.e., in Files), where I can use the Recover command, if I want. If I delete the document/media in Files, it shows up in Recently Deleted in Files and the Trash on my Mac. However, that file won’t have the Put Back option on my Mac.

aha, that's new to me, haven't tried that. Somewhat curious behavior that this only works one way 🤔

Deleted on Mac:
• Put Back (macOS)
• Recover (Files (i.e., iOS/iPadOS))

Deleted on iPad/iPhone:
• Recover (Files (i.e., iOS/iPadOS))
• Need to manually move (e.g., drag) the file out of the Trash back to iCloud Drive, etc (i.e., no Put Back)

Does that clear things up?

yep, perfectly clear! Seems we're in the opposite boats ;-)