How to Free Recover Deleted PowerPoint File on Mac?

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PowerPoint for Mac is feature-rich presentation software that is available with Microsoft 365 for Mac. The software works as an alternative to Apple’s presentation app Keynote.

In case you delete your PowerPoint file by mistake, you must try to recover them through the methods presented in this blog. But before data recovery, know the conventional ways in which we delete a PowerPoint file in macOS.

Ways of Deleting PowerPoint File in macOS

• Deleting PowerPoint file by using Command + Delete keys
• Dragging and dropping PowerPoint file to Trash and then emptying it
• Deleting PowerPoint file by using Option + Command + Delete keys
• Deleting PowerPoint file by using Delete Immediately

The next sections explain various methods to recover deleted PowerPoint files in macOS.

1. Put Back Deleted PowerPoint File by Using Trash

When you’ve inadvertently pressed Command + Delete keys while a PowerPoint file is selected in Finder, then undo the deletion by instantly pressing Control + Z keys. If you realize your error afterwards, do the following steps:

1. Open Trash, then look for your deleted PPTX file.
2. Secondary-click the file, then select Put Back from the menu.

The PowerPoint file will restore to its actual Finder location.

Note: This method is not applicable if you empty Trash or use Option + Command + Delete keys. Then, try other data recovery tricks.

2. Restore Deleted PowerPoint File by Using Time Machine

The native backup and restoration application on Mac, Time Machine allows you to restore your PowerPoint file that got deleted from your Macintosh HD. Follow the next steps to perform the restoration:

1. Ensure your Time Machine backup drive is connected to your Mac.
2. Go to Time Machine > Enter Time Machine from the top menu bar.
3. Search your missing PowerPoint file by using Timeline or up/down arrow.
4. When you could locate your deleted PowerPoint file, press Space Bar to preview.
5. Select the PowerPoint file, then click Restore.

The PowerPoint file will restore to its original place.

Note: This method is ineffective in case you don’t have a Time Machine backup of Macintosh HD.

3. Recover Deleted PowerPoint File by Using PowerPoint App

PowerPoint for Mac allows you to salvage your new PowerPoint file that got deleted due to application or system crash. Follow the next steps to rescue deleted file:

1. Launch PowerPoint again after the crashing.
2. Find the rescued PPTX file.
3. Save the PowerPoint file to the required Finder location.

If you don’t find the recovered PPTX file, perform the following.

• Navigate to Finder > Go > Go to Folder. Or else, press Shift + Command + G keys.
• Enter the following line with your username, then click Go.

/Users/<username>/Library/Containers/com.Microsoft.Powerpoint/Data/Library/Preferences/AutoRecovery

• Open the PPTX file, then save the file at your desired location.

Note: This method is applicable, in case the auto-recovery option is activated. To check, launch PowerPoint. Navigate to PowerPoint > Preferences > Save. Make sure the ‘Save AutoRecover info’ checkbox is selected. Change the save minute from its default value of 10 to 1 to reduce loss.

4. Restore Deleted PowerPoint File by Using Temporary Folder

Perform the following steps to recover deleted PowerPoint file from the temporary folder:

1. Go to Applications > Utilities > Terminal.
2. Enter open $TMPDIR and press Return.
3. Select the folder name TemporaryItems.
4. Search for the deleted PowerPoint file.
5. Restore the file. Change the extension from .TMP to .PPTX.

Read More: How to Free Recover Deleted Excel File on Mac?

5. Recover Deleted PowerPoint File with Free Mac Data Recovery Tool

When none of the above methods help, use Stellar Data Recovery Free Edition for Mac to recover your deleted PowerPoint file. Follow the next steps to perform file recovery:

Download and install Stellar Data Recovery Free Edition on your Mac.

• Launch the software. In the ‘Select What To Recover’ screen, click Documents, then Next.
• In the ‘Select Location’ screen, select the drive wherein the PowerPoint file is deleted.
• Turn on Deep Scan, then click Scan.
• Click the Deleted List tab then preview the deleted PowerPoint file to check its integrity.
• Select the deleted PowerPoint file and click Recover.
• Specify a different save volume and click Save.
• Let the software recover PowerPoint files to the stated save volume.

Note: The free software permits you to recover up to 1 GB of PowerPoint files. Activate the software at your convenience to recover any type of files without any recovery limit. Why delay when you get a 30-day money-back offer with the software.

Conclusion

macOS has Trash and Time Machine applications to help recover your deleted PowerPoint files. Also, PowerPoint for Mac has built-in data recovery options to save your PowerPoint file that got deleted due to system or application crash. If all fails, Stellar Data Recovery Free Edition for Mac can be your saviour in recovering up to 1 GB of your deleted PowerPoint files.