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MacBook Data Recovery – Air, Pro and Neo
A MacBook that will not turn on, has had coffee spilled over the keyboard, or shows a flashing folder can hold years of work and photos. Because modern MacBooks have their storage soldered to the logic board, you cannot simply remove the drive and plug it into another computer. Getting the data back needs specialist board-level and data recovery skills.
Data Retrieval Ltd recovers data from every MacBook generation – from older models with removable hard drives and SSDs to the latest M5 MacBook Air and M5 Pro / M5 Max MacBook Pro.
MacBook Models We Recover
| Range | Models |
|---|---|
| MacBook Neo | Apple’s entry-level MacBook introduced in 2026. |
| MacBook Air (Apple silicon) | M1 (2020), M2 13″ and 15″ (2022–23), M3 (2024), M4 (2025) and M5 (2026). |
| MacBook Pro (Apple silicon) | M1, M1 Pro/Max; M2, M2 Pro/Max; M3, M3 Pro/Max; M4, M4 Pro/Max; M5 (2025) and M5 Pro/M5 Max (2026) – 13″, 14″ and 16″. |
| Intel with T2 chip (2018–2020) | MacBook Air 2018–2020 and MacBook Pro 13″, 15″ and 16″ 2018–2020 – encrypted soldered SSD. |
| Intel 2013–2017 | MacBook Air and MacBook Pro Retina with removable Apple proprietary SSD modules, 2016–2017 Touch Bar models, and the 12-inch MacBook. |
| Older models | Pre-2013 MacBook, MacBook Pro and MacBook Air with 2.5-inch hard drives or SATA SSDs. |
Common MacBook Data Loss Situations
- Liquid spill – MacBook dead, or turns on then shuts off
- No power, no chime, or fans spinning with a black screen
- Flashing folder with a question mark or a circle with a line through it at start-up
- Stuck on the Apple logo or progress bar after a macOS update
- Accidentally erased or reinstalled macOS (recoverable on older Macs; on T2 and Apple silicon Macs an erase destroys the encryption keys)
- Physical damage after a drop, cracked chassis or bent board
- Failed hard drive or SSD module in pre-2016 models
How Modern MacBook Recovery Works
Modern Macs: on Macs with a T2 chip (2018–2020 Intel models) and all Apple silicon Macs (M1 to M5 and later, and MacBook Neo), the SSD is soldered to the logic board and encrypted by the Secure Enclave. The data can only be read through the original board, so recovery means repairing that board to a working state – replacing failed power components, reworking damaged circuits after liquid spills, and so on. Removing the storage chips does not work on these Macs. If FileVault is on, you will also need your login password.
What to Do Before You Send Your Device
- Switch the device off and leave it off – every power cycle can make physical damage worse
- Do not run CHKDSK, Disk First Aid, fsck or recovery software on a drive that clicks, beeps or is slow
- Do not open the drive or swap the circuit board – modern boards hold drive-specific adaptive data
- Do not reinstall the operating system or initialise the disk when prompted
- Keep liquid-damaged devices unpowered and bring them in as quickly as possible
Why Choose Data Retrieval Ltd?
- Free initial assessment and a clear, no-obligation quote before any work starts
- In-house London laboratory – your device is never outsourced
- Cleanroom facilities for head, platter and motor work
- Professional tools including PC-3000 for firmware repair and imaging
- ICO registered (Reg No: ZA060744) – your data is handled under UK GDPR
- Same-day diagnostics, with an emergency service for business-critical cases
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you recover data from a MacBook that got wet?
Often, yes. Switch it off immediately, do not charge it, and do not put it in rice. We clean and repair the logic board to the point where the Mac starts, then copy the data from its internal SSD.
Will you need my password?
If FileVault is enabled – which it is by default on most recent Macs – yes, we need your macOS login password to unlock the data once the Mac is working. We handle it in confidence and under UK GDPR.
Speak to a Data Recovery Engineer
Call 020 7064 4996 or email info@dataretrieval.org.uk and an engineer will talk you through the next steps. You can drop your device at one of our London locations, arrange a courier collection, or book your recovery online. See our pricing and how the process works.