iMac data recovery

From the 2009 aluminium iMac with a desktop hard drive to the 24-inch Apple silicon models.

Ask about data recovery Call 020 7237 6805

What decides whether the data can be reached

Most iMacs made between 2009 and 2019 contain a mechanical hard drive, alone or paired with a small SSD as a Fusion Drive. Those drives are now old, they run warm behind the screen, and they are the single most common cause of a slow or dead iMac.

Reaching the drive means removing the display, which is held by magnets on older models and by adhesive from late 2012. The drive is then recovered like any other. Later models changed everything: the 2020 27-inch, the iMac Pro and every 24-inch iMac have encrypted storage tied to the logic board.

Models, years and storage

Model	Years	Model number	Storage	How data is recovered
iMac 21.5-inch	2009 to 2011	A1311	3.5-inch hard drive, optional SSD	The drive is removed and copied directly. The Mac does not need to work.
iMac 27-inch	2009 to 2011	A1312	3.5-inch hard drive, optional SSD	The drive is removed and copied directly. The Mac does not need to work.
iMac 21.5-inch, slim	2012 to 2017	A1418	2.5-inch hard drive, Fusion Drive or SSD module	The drive and any SSD module are removed and copied. A Fusion Drive needs both.
iMac 27-inch, slim and 5K	2012 to 2017	A1419	3.5-inch hard drive, Fusion Drive or SSD module	The drive and any SSD module are removed and copied. A Fusion Drive needs both.
iMac 21.5-inch 4K	2019	A2116	Hard drive, Fusion Drive or SSD module	The drive and any SSD module are removed and copied.
iMac 27-inch 5K	2019	A2115	Hard drive, Fusion Drive or SSD module	The drive and any SSD module are removed and copied.
iMac 27-inch 5K	2020	A2115	Soldered SSD, T2	Storage is soldered and encrypted by the T2 chip. The original logic board must be working, and the password is needed.
iMac Pro	2017	A1862	SSD modules, T2	The modules are paired with the T2 chip and can only be read in the original, working iMac Pro.
iMac 24-inch M1	2021	A2438, A2439	Soldered, Apple silicon	Storage is soldered and encrypted by Apple silicon. The original logic board must be working, and the password is needed.
iMac 24-inch M3	2023	A2873, A2874	Soldered, Apple silicon	Storage is soldered and encrypted by Apple silicon. The original logic board must be working, and the password is needed.
iMac 24-inch M4	2024 onwards	Under the stand	Soldered, Apple silicon	Storage is soldered and encrypted by Apple silicon. The original logic board must be working, and the password is needed.

An iMac is heavy and its glass is exposed. For recovery from a 2009 to 2019 model you can often send just the drive if someone can remove it for you. Otherwise contact us before sending the whole machine.

What to do now

Do not keep trying to start it. Each attempt can make a failing drive or a damaged board worse.
Have your Mac login password ready, and your FileVault recovery key if you turned FileVault on.
Find the model number: "Model A" followed by four digits, printed on the underside or the foot of the stand.
Tell us whether there is a Time Machine or iCloud backup, even an old one.

Recovery starts with a professional evaluation, charged at £94.80. It tells you what has failed and what can be recovered, and you then receive a fixed price for the recovery itself.

We collect drives and devices by insured courier from anywhere in the UK, or you can post yours tracked and insured, or bring it to the workshop in London SE1. See how to send a drive safely.

Common questions

What is a Fusion Drive, and why does it matter?

It is a hard drive and a small SSD that macOS presents as one volume. The data is spread across both, so both are needed to rebuild it. See Fusion Drive recovery.

Do I have to send the whole iMac?

For models up to 2019, the drive alone is usually enough. For the 2020 27-inch, the iMac Pro and all 24-inch models, the whole machine is needed.

Get a price from a technician

Tell us the make, the model and what has gone wrong. A technician replies with a price and the quickest way to get your laptop to us – normally the same working day.

020 7237 6805

Creative IT workshop
Unit 1, 80 Willow Walk, London SE1 5SY
Monday to Saturday, 9am–6pm