Mac that won't boot, a flashing question mark, a failed drive or files you've lost? We recover MacBook, iMac, Mac mini and Mac Pro data — APFS, FileVault and Fusion Drives — wherever the drive can still be read, with an honest answer either way.
$ bdr diagnose /dev/disk2 → Device: MacBook Pro (2015) · 512 GB SSD → Status: WILL NOT BOOT — question-mark folder → Client: Hayes, M. · Fishponds BS16 $ bdr engineer-working → Drive removed: imaged read-only → APFS container: rebuilt from image → FileVault: unlocked with your key $ bdr verify → ✓ documents — 31,200 files → ✓ photos — 18,400 files → ✓ Mac recovered — data back
If your Mac won't boot, keeps showing a question-mark folder, or Disk Utility offers to erase or repair the drive, stop. Reinstalling macOS, erasing the disk or running First Aid can overwrite the files we need to recover. Don't reset the Mac, and if it has a soldered drive, don't keep forcing it to restart. Power it down and talk to us — and if you have your FileVault recovery key, keep it safe.
From a Mac that won't boot to a failed Fusion Drive, these are the Mac and MacBook failures we recover from most — startup, logical, hardware and encrypted.
We work on every Mac and MacBook — Intel and Apple Silicon, MacBook, iMac, Mac mini and Mac Pro. The model and the fault decide what's possible, and we always tell you honestly.
MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, iMac, iMac Pro, Mac mini, Mac Studio and Mac Pro · Intel, T2 and Apple Silicon (M1 to M4) · APFS and HFS+ · Fusion Drives, FileVault and Time Machine. On 2018-and-later Macs the storage is soldered and encrypted — we recover it wherever the Mac still reads.
Mac data recovery starts with reaching the drive safely. Where it's removable we take it out and image it; where it's soldered but the Mac still reads, we image it in place — then rebuild your APFS or HFS+ volume and recover your files.
Tell us the Mac, the year and what happened — won't boot, deleted files, spilled a drink. We diagnose it and send a written quote, usually within 48 hours, with an honest view of what's possible.
We take a read-only image of the drive on specialist hardware, so your original is never written to and a failing drive is read gently.
Where FileVault is on and you have the password or key, we unlock the volume; then we rebuild the APFS or HFS+ structure, or the Fusion Drive, from the image.
We recover your files and folders intact, and where the structure is damaged we carve documents, photos and videos straight out of the data.
We check the recovered files actually open and the folders are complete before anything is returned to you.
We return your data on a new drive, or you can download it free for recoveries up to 75 GB.
We recover MacBook, iMac, Mac mini and Mac Pro — Intel and Apple Silicon — rebuilding APFS, HFS+ and Fusion Drives and reading the storage wherever the Mac still allows it.
Tell us what happened and we will get back to you, usually within one working day.
We will be in touch shortly. For anything urgent, call 0117 332 1137.
One fixed price to recover a single Mac or drive — with a free diagnostic and a written quote before any work starts.
A snapshot of recent Mac and MacBook recoveries across won't-boot, failed drives, Fusion Drives and liquid damage. Names redacted, results verified.
The drive had a failing file system. We removed the SSD, imaged it, unlocked FileVault with the owner's key and recovered everything.
The HDD half had failed. We recovered both halves separately and rebuilt the Fusion volume to recover the data.
The board was damaged but the SSD was removable and intact. We pulled it, imaged it and recovered the lot.
The drive had a head fault. We replaced the heads, imaged it and recovered the family's photos and documents.
Nothing had overwritten the data yet. We imaged the drive and carved back the documents and photos in full.
The drive was healthy and readable. We imaged it and recovered the deleted folders straight away.
Reviews from real Bristol and South West clients whose Macs and MacBooks we recovered.
My MacBook Pro just wouldn’t start and showed a flashing folder — I thought years of photos were gone. They recovered every one of them. I cannot recommend them enough.
Our iMac died when the Fusion Drive failed, with all the family’s stuff on it. They rebuilt it and got everything back. Worth every penny and lovely people to deal with.
I spilled a glass of wine into my MacBook Air the night before a deadline. They recovered all my work off it. Fast, fair and completely honest.
My Mac mini’s hard drive was clicking and two other places said it was dead. These replaced the heads and got the photos back. Genuine experts.
I erased my iMac by mistake before the backup had finished. They recovered my whole dissertation. Brilliant service and a fair fixed price.
I emptied the Trash on my MacBook with a folder of work still in it. They got it all back the next day. Honest, skilled and reassuring.
Send us your device for a free diagnostic, and tell us a little about what happened — an engineer will review it and confirm your exact quote in writing before any work begins.
Recovering your data starts with getting the device to us. Pack it safely, add your contact details, and send it over — after we run a free diagnostic, we’ll confirm your exact price in writing before any work begins.
Posting it in? We recommend a tracked, insured service. Prefer to drop it off? You’re welcome Monday–Friday, 9am–5:30pm — please still package the device as above.
If you need more information on our data recovery service, fill out the form with more detail about your issue and an engineer will review it and give you a custom quote.
We’ll be in touch shortly. For anything urgent, call 0117 332 1137.
The questions we are asked most about recovering a Mac or MacBook.
Usually, yes, as long as the drive itself can be read. A Mac that won't start, hangs on the Apple logo or shows a question-mark folder normally has a failing or corrupt drive, not lost data. Where the drive is removable or the Mac still powers on, we image it and recover your files.
No we don't recover from soldered SSD, T2 or Apple Silicon (M1 to M4) drives as success rate is low so we decided to stop doing them in 2023.
Often, yes. A disk that won't mount, or that macOS calls not readable, usually has a corrupt APFS or HFS+ volume rather than lost data. We image the drive read-only and rebuild the file system to recover your files. Don't let Disk Utility erase or repair it first.
Probably not, if you act quickly. On a readable Mac drive, deleted and Trashed files usually stay on the disk until something overwrites them. Stop saving to the Mac and contact us — the sooner we image it, the better the chance of getting it all back.
It is a fixed £300 + VAT to recover a single Mac hard drive, with a free diagnostic and a written quote first. If the drive is failing, has a hardware fault, we take 50% of the fee upfront, so most jobs are no fix, no fee.
On most jobs, yes. For a failing drive or hardware work we take a 50% deposit upfront and the rest is only due if we recover your data — so if we can't, you are not left with the full bill. On soldered Macs where recovery isn't possible, there is nothing to pay beyond the free diagnostic.
Every Mac and MacBook — MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, iMac, iMac Pro, Mac mini, Mac Studio and Mac Pro, Intel and Apple Silicon, going back to the old SATA and Fusion Drive models. The year and the fault decide the method.
Yes, where you have the login password or the FileVault recovery key and the drive can be read. We unlock the volume with your key and recover the files. Without the password or recovery key, you will need a decryption service, contact us for full details on that service.
Turn it off, don't plug it in, and don't try to power it on or dry it with rice. On older MacBooks the drive is removable and usually fine, so we can recover it; on soldered models we don't recover those models.
Most logical recoveries — deleted files, corrupt volumes, won't-boot Macs with a readable drive — are done within 2 to 3 working days. Failing drives and Fusion Drives that need more work usually take a little longer — 3 to 4 working days. The free diagnostic is normally finished within 48 hours.
You can drop hard drive off at our Bristol location Monday to Friday, 9am to 5:30pm, or post it to us fully insured. Include your name, address, phone number and email, and your FileVault recovery key if the Mac is encrypted, so we can book it in and quote before any work begins.
Free diagnostic, a fixed £300 + VAT per Mac, and no fix no fee on most jobs — MacBook, iMac, Mac mini and Mac Pro recovered, with an honest answer either way. Start your recovery today.