After having tested the Stellar Data Recovery for Windows, today we will examine the MAC version to see what new features this version brings to the table. The Stellar Data Recovery is a powerful tool that recovers data for all data loss scenarios. Be it an accidental deletion, drive formatting with no backup, drive corruption, disk errors, system errors, and more, this DIY data recovery software has got your back. Recovering lost or deleted Mac files gets simpler and faster with the trusted Stellar Data Recovery Free for Mac (formerly known as Stellar Phoenix). The powerful and accurate DIY tool helps recover and restore lost files for various data loss scenarios such as drive failure, accidental deletion, malware attack, and volume failure.

The data lost can be recovered from corrupted, damaged, deleted, or formatted Mac volumes. Stellar Data Recovery comprehensively scans (formatted, deleted, or damaged) volumes and finds all the lost data, such as documents, emails, pictures, audio, video, and all other files. After scanning, the software displays all the recoverable files and folders in a tree view structure.

The major file systems supported by the software are Macintosh file systems – APFS, HFS, HFS+, Windows file systems – NTFS, FAT, FAT16, FAT32, and exFAT, Linux file systems – EXT2, EXT3, and EXT4. It can recover lost data from existing volumes, lost drives, unallocated partitions, CD/DVDs, lost partitions, non-booting Mac, and crashed computers. Most interestingly, the data lost can even be recovered from a disk image (a compressed file data backup method in which a solid-state drive (SSD) or hard drive’s data can be copied and stored on any storage device and later can be used to recover data in case of system failure). Also, it can recover data from optical discs and supports all CD/DVD formats and common file systems such as ISO 9660, Joliet, UDF, and Rock Ridge.

Stellar Data Recovery has several features that help in recovering data easily and efficiently. It has features like deep scanning of a volume, auto-refreshing drive lists, and previewing availability during the scan process. The software also allows you to stop and save your scanned information so that you can resume data recovery at a later stage, create an image of a volume, or complete a hard drive. Additionally, you can filter your data using the search option. The search option along with the tree view structure makes it easy to identify and recover the desired files and folders.

There are minimal requirements for the software to work, an Intel-compatible (x64-based processor), 4 GB minimum (8 GB recommended) memory, space at your local Hard Disk (250 MB for installation files, and a MacOS (64 Bit only) Sequoia 15, Sonoma 14, Ventura, Monterey, Big Sur, Catalina 10.15, 10.14, 10.13, & 10.12.

The Stellar Data Recovery for MAC v12.xx boasts improved features to enable faster and smoother data recovery. The highlight of the present version is an all-new, modern, and flexible user interface supporting personalized themes for Mac users and also adds several important features:

• The new version brings improved data recovery results for files, folders, documents, e-mails, photos, music & other important data across diverse data loss scenarios including accidental deletion, drive formatting, system crash, unrecognized volume etc. It can quickly recover data from FileVault encrypted storage devices, emptied 'Trash,' encrypted APFS partitions along with support for 4k drive.
• A number of user-friendly features have been added to the software for enabling easy retrieval of data. The users can preview and easily access data with the help of 'On-the-Fly' creation of Classic tree and File Type tree during a scan. With the new "pause and resume" scan, they can pause a scan, save the recoverable files and resume the scan.
• The latest release is fully compatible and optimized for the latest macOS Sequoia 15.0 edition. Additionally, it can run on Mac devices powered by the Apple M1, M2 & M3 chips without the need to disable the SIP or add the KEXT. The release also supports fragmented MOV & MP4 video recovery for removable thumb drives and memory cards. Supports Mac devices secured by Apple's latest second-generation T2 chip to ensure safe and fast data recovery processes.
• In addition to data recovery, multimedia repair functionalities have been refined in the latest release. The improved in-built photo and video repair utilities are available with the Premium and Technician editions. The Technician edition is also equipped with newly-added, advanced file recovery capabilities. These include virtual machine recovery for VMDK, VDI, VHD and VHDX file types and extended support for Linux file system such as EXT2, EXT3, EXT4.
• Do More with Personalized Themes: Enhance your experience, Choose from three Striking Themes with smooth User Interface (Dark Theme, Light Theme, Vibrant Theme)
• Optimize your Mac for better performance & smooth running with "Speedup Mac" feature in the software.

Stellar Data Recovery for Mac offers several different versions, depending on various needs and price ranges. The Free version can be used for most users with up to 1GB of recover data. There are five different editions (Free edition, Standard edition, Professional edition, Premium edition and Technician edition) while the Toolkit version includes all versions available together (Windows/Mac/Linux). To know more about these editions, click here.

Key features of Stellar Data Recovery for MAC:

1. Deleted File Recovery: Recovers all the accidentally deleted files.

2. Recovery from Lost Drive/Unallocated Partition: Recovers data from unallocated, uninitialized, unidentified, and RAW partitions on a hard disk.

3. Partition Recovery: Recovers data from damaged, deleted, formatted, and lost partitions on any storage media device.

4. Data Recovery from Non-Booting Mac/Crashed Computer: Provides the option to recover data from a non-booting Mac for M1, M2, M3, M4 and T2 chip systems. Supports recovery from all versions of Mac.

5. Raw Recovery Support: Raw recovery of volumes and hard drives to search data based on signatures.

6. Deep Scan: ‘Deep Scan’ performs a comprehensive signature-based search to maximize the recovery in tough cases of data loss. Deep Scanning is particularly useful for recovering the files that couldn’t be found with normal scanning.

7. Image Creation: Supports the creation of images for hard disks and volumes for recovery.

8. Preview Support: Supports previewing of files before recovery for most file types. User can also save the data during scanning of file systems APFS, HFS+, NTFS, ExFAT and FAT32.

9. Save and Resume Recovery Session: Save and resume recovery option to recover data at a later stage without scanning the drive again.

10. T2 chip security macOS Support: Supports data recovery from systems with T2 security chips.

11. M1, M2, M3 and M4 chip technology macOS Support: Supports data recovery from systems with M1, M2, M3 and M4 chip.

12. Encryption Support: Supports encrypted file systems.

13. Support for Apple Time Capsule: Supports Apple Time Capsule on Sparse Bundle disk images.

14. Support for Time Machine: APFS supports recovery from Time Machine Backup drive.

15. Drive Information Display: Option to display drive details which offers better information about selected volume and hard drive.

16. Unicode Support: Support for Unicode Drive Name/Image.

17. Auto-Refreshing of media: Newly added media is automatically added to the display list.

18. Advanced options for customization: The software provides options such as Preferences (Preview, Supported File Types, Add/Edit Header, and Filter) and Search that can be used for recovering data according to personal requirements.

19. File System Support: Supports multiple file systems such as:

• Macintosh file systems – HFS, HFS+, and APFS

• Windows file systems – NTFS, FAT, FAT16, FAT32, and exFAT

• Linux file systems – EXT2, EXT3, and EXT4

• CD/DVD file systems – CDFS, UDF

20. Simultaneous Scanning for File Systems: Supports scanning of multiple file systems simultaneously and offers the best possible scan results.

21. Supported File Types: Supports more than 300 file types by default. Also, it supports adding and editing unlimited custom file types.

22. File Vault Recovery: Supports recovery from APFS File Vault.

23. Support Large Sector in Drive: The software provides 4K/2K sector in drive to Search Lost Partitions, Create Image, Scan and Preview. Provides 4K/2K sector in the drive to perform recovery process for all file systems (APFS, HFS+, FAT32, NTFS, ExFAT, EXT2, EXT3, and EXT4). 

24. Support APFS Encrypted Drive Recovery: Supports recovery from APFS encrypted drive.

25. Support APFS Fusion Drive: APFS supports fusion drive option.

26. Virtual Machine Recovery: The Technician edition of the software supports Virtual Machine Recovery. The image formats supported are: VMDK, VDI, VHD, and VHDX.    

27. Support for Multiple Drive Types: Recovers data from desktop and laptop hard drives, external hard drives and pen drives, memory cards, SSD drives, SD cards, etc.