How to Recover Data If TRIM Is Enabled On Your SSD Drive

You'll need to enable the TRIM option if you want to get the most out of your SSD. It streamlines the system's operations by logically arranging the data. It may be a real disaster because even with a backup, there is a chance that the data on the solid-state drive will be lost. The complexity of the TRIM feature makes data recovery more challenging. However, there is little chance of making it possible. Read our guide to learn how.

Is It Possible to Recover Data from SSD if TRIM Is Enabled?

If your Mac is set up to use the TRIM command, there is the only possibility of recovering lost data in case you have the good fortune to retrieve the data just before the command is run on your SSD.

Before we continue to talk about the issue, it is essential to have a solid understanding of what the TRIM command on an SSD actually performs. The TRIM command, also referred to as TRIM in the ATA command set, is an in-built capability that assists the operating system in determining which blocks on an SSD are no longer in use and so can be deleted to make more storage space available.

As a consequence, TRIM is reasonably helpful in enhancing the speed of the system regarding the amount of time required to write data on the SSD utilized by the system.

What is the TRIM function?

When you remove information from your Mac, that data becomes unreachable. Despite this, it will continue to be stored on your storage drive until it is replaced by more recent information. When new data is received, the system clears away the currently used block before writing the most recent data in its place. This process occurs whenever new files are received. Because of this, there is a delay, and as a result, the overwriting process includes some more waiting time.

In conjunction with the directives from TRIM, the macOS will physically erase the data as well as remove it from the storage block. It helps save time that you would otherwise require to write new data to your SSD, which in turn enhances the efficiency of your Mac computer.

Data Recovery from SSD with Enabled TRIM Using Target Disk Mode

If you have discovered that you have accidentally removed crucial information from an SSD device. Please follow these instructions in case of an emergency. There is still a possibility that you can retrieve it. You will need an extra Mac to do it.

Here are steps to take to have your files back with Target Disk Mode:

Use the correct cable to connect your Mac with the erased SSD to the functional Mac.
Turn on the Mac with the erased SSD. After that, immediately press and hold the T key. You should see the disk icon on your new Mac.
Double-click the drive on a new Mac to access its files.
To copy your files to the functional Mac, drag them to the desktop.
When the file transfer is complete, the old Mac can be discarded by dragging its disk icon to the Trash on the new computer.

Data Recovery Using Time Machine

You can attempt to restore data from a TRIM-enabled SSD that you have deleted using a Time Machine backup from a disk that is not the system drive.

Here are the steps to restore files using Time Machine:

Enter the Utility menu in Recovery Mode by pressing and holding the Command and R keys on an Intel-based Mac. Hold down the Power button on an Apple Silicon Mac.
Click on Restore from Time Machine.

Restore from Time Machine

Select Time Machine backup > Continue.
Choose a disk from which to restore data.
Look through the recent backup dates and select the required one > click Restore.

Select the needed backup

Restart your Mac.

Data recovery software is your only hope if you haven't made any backups. If your macOS hasn't deleted the data per TRIM's feature, the deep scan feature will find it for you.

Data Recovery Using Stellar Data Recovery Professional

There is little chance of restoring your files using restoring software like Stellar Data Recovery Professional using its deep scan.

Follow the next steps in recovering files from erased SSD:

Install Stellar Data Recovery Professional on your Mac by downloading it from the official website.
In the 'Select What To Recover' screen, choose to Recover Everything, then click Next.

Stellar Data Recovery Professional > Select what to recover

Select the SSD in the 'Select Location' screen, toggle Deep Scan on, and then click Scan.

Stellar Data Recovery Professional > Recover From > Deep Scan

Following the scan, preview the files and select the necessary ones.
Choose Recover.
Click Save after selecting an external hard drive to store the recoverable files.

Wrapping Up

SSDs are great for performance, but if you accidentally delete any crucial information while they are TRIM enabled, it will be extremely difficult, if not impossible, to get it back. If you follow our instructions, you'll have a fighting chance of getting back some of your lost data.