Losing access to your data can happen to anyone — a drive failure, a system problem, accidental deletion, liquid damage or a damaged logic board. Documents, photos, projects and e-mails may seem lost, but in most cases the data still physically exists on the drive and can be recovered. MacLife recovers data from Macs, iMacs, MacBooks and external drives and media — using advanced techniques and specialist equipment.
The most common causes of data loss are drive failure (HDD/SSD), macOS system damage, logic board failure, accidental deletion, liquid damage and Fusion Drive split. The basic diagnosis is free. The recovery price depends on the method: logical read from PLN 300, drive clone from PLN 500, Fusion Drive from PLN 800, mechanical HDD repair (cleanroom) from PLN 1,000, NAND chip read from SSD from PLN 1,500. Most important: stop using the medium, do not format it and do not install the system — every write reduces the chance of recovery.
The most common causes of data loss
- HDD or SSD drive failure — mechanical (heads, bearings, platters), electronic (burnt controller) or logical (damaged file system, bad sectors).
- macOS system failure — a failed update, corrupted system files, damaged APFS/HFS+, kernel panic.
- Logic board damage — a damaged SATA/NVMe controller, a short circuit after liquid damage, a burnt power supply. Usually the drive itself is intact — the data is still there, the hardware just cannot read it.
- Accidental deletion — deleting files or formatting; the data often remains on the drive until you overwrite it with new data.
- Liquid damage — liquid damages the electronics, but the drive usually survives; data can be recovered even when the machine does not power on.
- Fusion Drive split — in 2012–2020 iMacs (HDD+SSD as one volume); failure of one component splits the data.
What we can recover
We recover practically all types of data — from single files to a full clone of the drive with applications and settings:
- Documents — Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Pages, Numbers, Keynote, PDF,
- Photos and videos — Photos library, RAW files, Lightroom/Capture One projects,
- Creative projects — Photoshop, Illustrator, Final Cut, Premiere, Logic, 3D projects,
- E-mails and contacts — mail, address book, calendars, notes,
- Code and databases — Git repositories, Xcode projects, MySQL/PostgreSQL/SQLite databases,
- Music — Music/iTunes library, lossless files, music projects.
How the recovery process works
We work in stages to maximise the chance of recovery and keep the original medium untouched:
- 1. Diagnosis and assessment — an interview (what happened and when, which data is critical), preliminary and hardware tests (SMART, controller, logic board).
- 2. Feasibility assessment — prognosis and the estimated percentage of recoverable data (90–100% in the best-case scenario).
- 3. Plan and quote — we present a report: what is damaged, which method, how much data, cost and time. We proceed only after your approval.
- 4. Recovery — using the chosen method (see below), usually on a copy of the medium, not the original.
- 5. Verification — we check integrity and whether the key files open correctly.
- 6. Transfer and handover — we save the data to your chosen medium and issue a report and invoice.
Data recovery methods and price list
We choose the method according to the type of damage. The basic diagnosis is free; in more difficult cases, electronics diagnostics costs PLN 349 incl. VAT, is always chargeable and is added to the cost of the service.
| Method | When | Time | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| A. Logical read | working drive, damaged file system | 2–8 h | from PLN 300 |
| B. Drive clone | drive with bad sectors, failure risk | 4–24 h | from PLN 500 |
| E. Fusion Drive | HDD+SSD split in an iMac | 1–3 days | from PLN 800 |
| C. Mechanical HDD repair | head/bearing failure (cleanroom) | 1–5 days | from PLN 1,000 |
| D. NAND chip read (SSD) | burnt SSD controller | 2–7 days | from PLN 1,500 |
Indicative "from" prices — we provide the final quote after the diagnosis. The basic diagnosis is free; the target medium for the recovered data is priced separately.
What NOT to do after data loss
Most permanently lost data is the result of DIY attempts. If the contents matter to you:
- Stop using the medium — every write can overwrite the deleted files.
- Do not format and do not run "First Aid" when the data matters to you.
- Do not reinstall macOS on a drive with important files.
- Do not open the drive yourself — a platter-based HDD requires sterile conditions (cleanroom).
- Do you hear clicking from the drive? Disconnect the power immediately — it is a symptom of mechanical failure.
The best protection is prevention — see how to make an Apple data backup.
Frequently asked questions
Can data be recovered from a Mac that will not power on?
In most cases, yes. The machine not booting does not mean the data is destroyed — the problem often lies in the logic board, the power supply or the system, while the drive itself is fine. We assess the condition during the free diagnosis.
How much does data recovery cost?
The basic diagnosis is free. The recovery price depends on the method: logical read from PLN 300, drive clone from PLN 500, Fusion Drive from PLN 800, mechanical HDD repair from PLN 1,000, NAND chip read from SSD from PLN 1,500. We provide an exact quote after the diagnosis.
I formatted the drive — will you recover the data?
Usually yes, as long as you did not write new data after formatting. That is why the most important thing is to stop using the medium immediately and not install the system on it.
What about the soldered SSD in newer Macs?
Newer Macs with Apple Silicon have memory soldered to the board, which makes recovery harder, but in many cases it is still possible — e.g. via the NAND chip read method. Leave the assessment to a specialist and do not experiment on your own.
Summary
Data loss is rarely a dead end — in most cases the data still exists on the drive and can be recovered, as long as you do not make things worse with DIY formatting or "repair" attempts.
The best first step is a free diagnosis: we will assess the condition of the medium, choose the method and give you a quote before you decide. Come to Warsaw or Poznań, or order a door-to-door courier.
Recover your data
Free diagnosis and recovery chance assessment, an individual quote before any work. Come to Warsaw or Poznań, or order a door-to-door courier.
[2] Apple Support – Disk Utility, Fusion Drive and the APFS file system
[3] MacLife – Apple service, diagnosis and service terms
The effectiveness and cost of recovery depend on the type and extent of the damage to the medium — the diagnosis assesses them. The most reliable data protection is a regular backup.