Why these Macs are different
On Macs with a T2 security chip (Intel models from 2018 to 2020) and on every Mac with Apple silicon (M1 and later), the SSD is soldered to the logic board. Everything written to it is encrypted, and the key lives inside that board's security chip.
That has two consequences:
- The storage chips can't be removed and read elsewhere. Without the original security chip the data is unreadable.
- The only way to your files is to get the original logic board working well enough to start up and unlock.
Be wary of any service that offers to "remove the chips" from a 2018-or-later Mac. Because of the encryption, that approach cannot work.
What we do
We're a board-level repair lab. We trace the fault on your logic board, whether that's a shorted component after a spill, a failed power circuit or damage from a drop, and repair it. Once the Mac starts, you or we unlock it with your login password and we copy everything to a new drive.
Often the repair isn't permanent enough to hand the Mac back as fixed. That's fine: it only has to run long enough to get your data out.
What you'll need
Your Mac login password. On these Macs it's part of what unlocks the encryption. If you can't remember it, tell us when you call so we can talk through your options before any work is done.
Deleted files and erased disks
Deleted files on an SSD are a different problem. SSDs clear deleted data in the background (a process called TRIM), usually within minutes or hours. Recovery is sometimes possible if you stop using the Mac straight away, but it's far less certain than on an old hard drive.
If the files were in iCloud Drive, Photos or a Time Machine backup, check there first. We can help with a damaged Time Machine drive.