Can I recover data from RAID hard drive(s) on Mac?

[Taging1981]

I ran into a pretty serious problem, and I’m hoping someone here might help me figure it out.

 

Here’s the situation: I have a RAID array, and unfortunately, I accidentally lost quite a bit of data due to my own mistake. Now I’m wondering - does anyone know if it’s possible to recover data from a RAID setup directly on my Mac Pro? I’d greatly appreciate any suggestions or guidance you can offer

 

My resolve: I recovered the files with Disk Drill - it turned out to be easy, just like download the movie you want from the website, three clicks and you're done. Definitely recommend it! 👍

Edited June 18, 2025 by Taging1981

[UrbanExplorer7]

Yo @Taging1981, quick question - what RAID setup do you have exactly? (RAID 0, 1, 5…?) Also, is this setup on an external device, internal Mac drives, or maybe even some kinda virtual RAID? Could you also give us a rundown on how exactly the files went missing? The more details, the better.
Oh, and STOP using the device where this RAID is configured, like right now! Every extra second of use might overwrite your lost files and tank your recovery chances.

[Taging1981]

I have a RAID 0 setup with two Toshiba drives - one is 2TB, the other 8TB - they are in an ORICO 2 enclosure (here’s the exact one I found on Google so you know what I mean).
How did I manage to lose my files? Well, that’s pretty embarrassing. I thought I had emailed all my work files, so I went ahead and deleted them. But later I was told the files never arrived, and the email wasn’t there either. I checked the mail app and realized the message never actually sent, and the attachments were gone. Of course, now those files are gone, and the only chance I’ve got left is recovering them from this RAID 0 array

[PixelDreamer5]

Yeah your case sounds simple - nothing serious happened to your RAID, so just plug your Orico into your computer and run a quick scan with some RAID data recovery software for Mac. Any RAID 0 compatible app will work fine, so pick whatever feels easiest to you.

 

Here’s what I’d suggest from my own experience:

• Disk Drill. This one’s my personal go-to for Mac recovery. It automatically rebuilds your RAID if it didn’t do so automatically, and scanning it takes just one click. Basically, if you’re looking for an easy recovery option, just launch it and start scanning.
• R-Studio. More pro-level recovery software. It can reconstruct damaged RAID arrays, and offers tons of advanced settings in that area. But honestly, you probably won’t need any of that, since your RAID setup is working fine. Extra options could just confuse you at this stage.
• Cisdem Data Recovery. Similar idea to Disk Drill, but I’d call it just an alternative option. The interface is simple, RAID scanning works easily, but in my tests, Disk Drill usually finds more data.

All these apps let you scan first to check results before you have to buy, so test ‘em out freely. But remember: don’t save ANYTHING new on your RAID - even durin recovery.

[UrbanExplorer7]

Yeah, gotta agree with @PixelDreamer5’s ranking here, but personally, I think Cisdem doesn’t belong on that list
Lemme just hype up Disk Drill for a sec. I know your situation’s slightly different, but did you know this thing can even recover data remotely from a NAS? Like, most RAID recovery software makes you physically connect each drive individually (huge pain in the ass btw ). But Disk Drill can literally SSH into your NAS and scan it as easily as a regular disk - no sweat
Plus, it handles practically every RAID setup imaginable - RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 0+1, RAID 1E, hardware, software, hybrid RAIDs, you name it. They’ve got the full rundown on their site if you wanna nerd out more: https://www.cleverfiles.com/raid-recovery.html

That’s why I think it’s the top choice for RAID 0 recovery on your Mac

[PixelDreamer5]

R-Studio also supports recovery over network - not just Disk Drill does that

[UrbanExplorer7]

Yo dude, hold up - nope, that’s not how it works. They definitely don’t do NAS recovery like that. They do network recovery from other PCs remotely, yeah, but that’s totally not the same thing as pullin’ files from NAS. Check this out from their official site: https://www.r-studio.com/DataRecovery_over_Network.shtml - good luck findin’ even a single mention of NAS in there

[Taging1981]

@PixelDreamer5 and @UrbanExplorer7, thanks a lot for the suggestions! I’ll go give scanning my RAID a try now and then come back to let you all know if it worked out. Probably going to start with Disk Drill - @UrbanExplorer7 made it sound pretty convincing.
Thanks again, guys! Really appreciate the help.

[PixelDreamer5]

21 minutes ago, UrbanExplorer7 said:

Yo dude, hold up - nope, that’s not how it works. They definitely don’t do NAS recovery like that. They do network recovery from other PCs remotely, yeah, but that’s totally not the same thing as pullin’ files from NAS. Check this out from their official site: https://www.r-studio.com/DataRecovery_over_Network.shtml - good luck findin’ even a single mention of NAS in there

Ah man, I thought their network recovery handled NAS too - my bad, gotta admit I was wrong there! But in my defense, I’ve never had a NAS or even dealt with one personally, so I think I deserve a pass on this one 🙂

[UrbanExplorer7]

“Ignorance of the law excuses no one” 😂 Welp, you’re busted now, bro!
Kidding, kidding - you’re good

[D_Harris_05]

@Taging1981, you might also give UFS Explorer a shot. It’s capable of recovering RAID setups like the local ones you have. Additionally, it handles NAS recovery tasks just as well as Disk Drill does - though I realize that’s not directly relevant to your particular scenario. I mention this mostly for @UrbanExplorer7’s sake, haha

[Taging1981]

@D_Harris_05, thanks for the suggestion, but you’re just a bit late - I already managed to recover all the lost files using Disk Drill! Good thing I followed the advice right away and didn’t get a chance to save anything new to the RAID.

 

It went exactly as @PixelDreamer5 described - I plugged in the RAID, opened Disk Drill, and it immediately recognized the RAID correctly as RAID 0. Then I just clicked 'Search for lost data', selected the files to recover, and that was it. Seriously, it was so straightforward even my grandpa could handle this.

 

Big thanks to everyone for helping me out and saving my files! You’re the best!

[UrbanExplorer7]

U r welcome. But seriously, next time maybe hold onto those files a bit longer after sendin’ them out. Wait till you’re absolutely sure you don’t need ‘em anymore, yeah? Just playin’ it safe

[oleksandr-lukashyn]

Pretty decent discussion here. Gotta say, it turned into a nice little “who knows more about RAID and NAS” contest. 😄

 

For anyone who runs into data recovery on RAID, here’s a short list of tips:

1. ❗️ After data loss, stop using your RAID. ❗️ This prevents deleted/lost/missing files from getting overwritten with new data. If that happens, recovery may be incomplete or fail entirely.
2. If you have a redundant setup like Mac RAID 1, 5, 6, or 10, and the reason for data loss is a failed disk, just recover the data from the working part of the array. If you’re on a non-redundant RAID, or the data loss wasn’t caused by disk failure—go to the next step.
3. Pick a proper RAID recovery Mac software that supports your specific RAID configuration, file system type, and the types of files you’re trying to get back (in terms of signature scanning). I suggest checking out Disk Drill, R-Studio, UFS Explorer for macOS. (In this thread, TS managed to recover files with Disk Drill.)
4. Have patience and start the scan. RAID volumes are usually large, so scanning takes time. Just wait it out or watch for the files you need—some tools let you preview them while scanning.
5. Once scanning is complete, save the files to another device, not the original RAID, to avoid overwriting anything.

That’s it. Following these 5 steps should help you get your files back from a RAID on macOS.

 

But if you’re using a non-redundant setup (RAID 0, JBOD) and the disk is physically damaged, I recommend going to a professional data recovery service.