MacBook Pro data recovery, M1 to M4

Apple silicon MacBook Pro models from 2020 onwards, in 13, 14 and 16-inch sizes.

Ask about data recovery Call 020 7237 6805

What decides whether the data can be reached

Every Apple silicon MacBook Pro has its storage soldered to the logic board and encrypted by hardware built into the processor. There is no module to remove and no way to read the memory chips separately.

Recovery from one that will not start is therefore a logic board repair with a specific goal: get the Mac to power up and stay up for long enough to copy the data. Liquid damage and failed power circuits are the usual causes, and both are repairable more often than owners are told.

Models, years and storage

Model	Years	Model number	Storage	How data is recovered
MacBook Pro 13-inch M1	2020	A2338	Soldered, Apple silicon	Storage is soldered and encrypted by Apple silicon. The original logic board must be working, and the password is needed.
MacBook Pro 13-inch M2	2022	A2338	Soldered, Apple silicon	Storage is soldered and encrypted by Apple silicon. The original logic board must be working, and the password is needed.
MacBook Pro 14-inch M1 Pro and Max	2021	A2442	Soldered, Apple silicon	Storage is soldered and encrypted by Apple silicon. The original logic board must be working, and the password is needed.
MacBook Pro 16-inch M1 Pro and Max	2021	A2485	Soldered, Apple silicon	Storage is soldered and encrypted by Apple silicon. The original logic board must be working, and the password is needed.
MacBook Pro 14-inch M2 Pro and Max	2023	A2779	Soldered, Apple silicon	Storage is soldered and encrypted by Apple silicon. The original logic board must be working, and the password is needed.
MacBook Pro 16-inch M2 Pro and Max	2023	A2780	Soldered, Apple silicon	Storage is soldered and encrypted by Apple silicon. The original logic board must be working, and the password is needed.
MacBook Pro 14-inch M3	2023	A2918, A2992	Soldered, Apple silicon	Storage is soldered and encrypted by Apple silicon. The original logic board must be working, and the password is needed.
MacBook Pro 16-inch M3 Pro and Max	2023	A2991	Soldered, Apple silicon	Storage is soldered and encrypted by Apple silicon. The original logic board must be working, and the password is needed.
MacBook Pro 14 and 16-inch M4	2024 onwards	On the base	Soldered, Apple silicon	Storage is soldered and encrypted by Apple silicon. The original logic board must be working, and the password is needed.

On a working Apple silicon Mac, deleted files are cleared quickly by the SSD. If something has been deleted, shut the Mac down and call us before doing anything else.

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

Can data be recovered if the processor itself has failed?

The encryption keys are tied to that processor, so recovery depends on it surviving. Most dead boards have a fault elsewhere, in power or charging circuits, and those can be repaired.

I forgot my password. Can you get in?

Not on a Mac with FileVault on. If you used your Apple Account as a reset option, or have the FileVault recovery key, the data can be unlocked.

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