Forced to update 2018 TT and now all my past files are GONE, HELP

[Abcitydiver]

Hi,

I have TT home and business ON MY MAC LAPTOP. Help, where did my two returns go (for two different people) I need to use them to populate 2019 returns. 

[macuser_22]

There is not need to update 2018 in order to transfer to 2019.  All that is needed is the .tax2018 file.

Updating TurboTax cannot delete any .tax file, it does not have the capability to do so since the .tax files are totally separate from the software and are just like any other Mac file.

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/tax-data-file/help/find-your-tax-data-file-in-mac/01/26206

[Abcitydiver]

Thanks for trying to help but:

1) The software would not launch without accepting an update

2) Before I posted, I had already read "how to find my tax file". Likely a dozen times, even though i KNOW HOW TO SEARCH for files.

3) it literally does not exist on my computer, not even in the trash.

4) I still am praying for another way to do my 2019 taxes based on my 2018 - I have the PDF's (THANK GOD)

without having to input it all from scratch.

5) Problem NOT solved :(

[macuser_22]

TurboTax CANNOT delete a file.  TurboTax does not have that capability.  Only a Mac command can do that.    If the files are gone than something else happened.  Do you have another used account?   Perhaps they are in that account.   Do you do regular backups or use Time Machine?    If no backups and they are gone then they are gone and there is not other way to recover.