Mac data recovery, 2009 to 2026

How data is recovered from a Mac depends almost entirely on which Mac it is. A 2011 MacBook Pro and a 2021 MacBook Pro have nothing in common inside. Find yours below.

Ask about data recovery Call 020 7237 6805

Four generations of Mac storage

2009 to 2012: standard drives

A normal 2.5-inch or 3.5-inch SATA hard drive that can be taken out and recovered like any other.

2010 to 2017: removable SSD modules

Apple's own "blade" SSDs, in several incompatible shapes. They come out, but need the correct adapter to read.

2016 to 2020: soldered storage and the T2 chip

The SSD is part of the logic board. From 2018 the T2 security chip encrypts it, so it can only be read by that board, working, with your password.

2020 onwards: Apple silicon

M1, M2, M3 and M4 Macs follow the same rule as T2 models. No working logic board, no data.

Why the logic board matters on newer Macs

On a Mac with a T2 chip or Apple silicon, the encryption keys never leave the security hardware on the logic board. Removing the memory chips and reading them elsewhere produces only scrambled data. Recovery therefore means repairing the original board, at component level, until it runs for long enough to copy the data off.

That is logic board repair and data recovery in one job, and we do both in the same workshop. It is also the strongest argument for a Time Machine or iCloud backup on any Mac made since 2018.

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.

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.

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.

In this section

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