How do I recover a file that went "missing" from my desktop on a MacBook Pro?

[dejsurvivor]

MacBook Pro 2020, 13" up to date software. It was a folder but I'm most interested in a couple of retirement plans in Excel.

The folder was full and I use it all the time. I last opened it 4 days ago. I went to recent Excel files and they are there, but it says they have been deleted. Time Machine was not enabled. Maybe I trashed the folder accidentally. Software has failed to find the folder and gives me a message about not being able to scan because of AFPS T2. Please help. Thanks.

I tried EaseUS and Disk Drill. Neither showed any of the files that are missing. I searched by type and by name. Thanks.

 

[Bla1ze]

MacBook Pro 2020, 13" up to date software. It was a folder but I'm most interested in a couple of retirement plans in Excel.

The folder was full and I use it all the time. I last opened it 4 days ago. I went to recent Excel files and they are there, but it says they have been deleted. Time Machine was not enabled. Maybe I trashed the folder accidentally. Software has failed to find the folder and gives me a message about not being able to scan because of AFPS T2. Please help. Thanks.

If it's not being found through traditional means and it's not backed up in your iCloud, you might want to consider signing up for the Setapp free 7-day free trial and downloading Disk Drill, which is a file recovery tool. - https://forums.imore.com/e?link=htt...setapp.com%2Fapps%2Fdisk-drill&token=wfLd5hXO

 

[dejsurvivor]

Tried Disk Drill with no luck. Also EaseUS. After scanning, I searched all Excel files, and then the names of the files, and folder. Nothing. Thanks.

 

[Just_Me_D]

Since you are using Microsoft Excel, sign in to Office 365 via a web browser and then check to see if your files are present therein. Check OneDrive, too.

 

[imwjl]

Since you are using Microsoft Excel, sign in to Office 365 via a web browser and then check to see if your files are present therein. Check OneDrive, too.

OP saying "desktop" is a concern. If it were in a OneDrive or SharePoint location a deleted file would be recoverable. There might be an option to revert to old version.

If the Mac has Time Machine configured and backups I'd say look there.

 

[Bla1ze]

OP saying "desktop" is a concern. If it were in a OneDrive or SharePoint location a deleted file would be recoverable. There might be an option to revert to old version.

If the Mac has Time Machine configured and backups I'd say look there.

Time Machine was not enabled.

Unfortunately, probably lost.