Data recovery software is just one way to go.
Recuva
Lots of advanced options.
A wizard walkthrough makes it easy to use.
Ravi_Goel / iStock / Getty Images Plus
Works on most Windows operating systems.
Recuva is the very best free data recovery software tool available, hands down.
It’s very easy to use but has many optional advanced features as well.
Recuva v1.53.1087.
It’s always my first recommendation for anyone who wants one of these tools.
It can recover files from hard drives, external drives (USBdrives, etc.
), BD/DVD/CD discs, and memory cards.
This program can even undelete files from your iPod!
Undeleting a file is as easy as deleting one!
I highly recommend that you try Recuva first if you gotta recover a file.
I tested file recovery on Windows 11.
Wise Data Recovery
Scans for deleted files quickly.
There’s a portable option.
Can’t recover more than 2 GB of data.
Doesn’t show a file’s chance of usability before undeleting it.
Recovery doesn’t retain the original folder structure.
Wise Data Recovery is a free undelete program that’s really simple to use.
I like that the program installed very quickly and scanned my PC in record time.
It can check for deleted files on various USB devices like memory cards and other removal devices.
Most programs tell you how recoverable a file is before you attempt to undelete it.
This program does not do that, so that’s a bummer.
It also prevents you from undeleting more than 2 GB of data.
Theportable version of Wise Data Recoveryis available through Softpedia.
Download For:
Disk Drill
Organizes deleted files by category for easier viewing.
Lets you filter the results by size and/or date.
Puran File Recovery v1.2.© Puran Software
Supports a quick scan and a deep scan mode.
Works with several different file systems.
Lets you recover only 500 MB of data.
Has to be installed (no portable version).
Of course, my biggest complaint is the 500 MB recovery limit.
That’s quite small, especially if you have lots of stuff to retrieve.
The latest version works with 64-bit editions of Windows 11 and Windows 10, plus macOS 10.15 and newer.
Earlier versions work with older operating systems like Windows 8 through XP.
Pandora Recoveryused to be its own file recovery program but now exists as Disk Drill.
Works on Windows and macOS.
Lets you sort files by file bang out, date it was removed, and name.
Browse folders like you would in File Explorer.
CD Recovery Toolbox Free.© Recovery Toolbox
Supports previewing files prior to restoration.
Only 2 GB of data can be recovered.
EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard is another great file undelete program.
Orion File Recovery.© NCH Software
Recovering files is very easy to do with just a few clicks.
My favorite thing about this program is that the user interface is structured much like File Explorer.
It also does partition recovery!
ADRC Data Recovery Tools.© Adroit Data Recovery Centre Pte Ltd
Fortunately, there are nearly two dozen other options on this list!
Windows File Recovery
Microsoft-approved method.
Works with internal and external drives, including SD cards.
Works over the command line.
Must restore to a different drive.
It’s still uncomplicated, though.
Stellar Data Recovery Free Edition.
Glarysoft File Recovery Free
Viewing the list of deleted files is easy and user friendly.
Recovery to any folder you want.
Free recover maxes out at 2 GB.
Setup attempts to install another program with this one.
Doesn’t show a file’s recoverability odds.
Can’t be used portably, so you have to install it.
UndeleteMyFilesPro.© seriousbit.com
Glarysoft File Recovery Free is a user-friendly file undelete program.
Choose a drive, scan for deleted files, and then pick out the ones you want to recover.
Pausing the scan is also supported.
Restoration.
you might filter by file punch in, time deleted, size, and keywords.
It works with FAT, NTFS, and EFS file systems.
I tested v1 in Windows 10.
iBoysoft Data Recovery Free
Walks you through a short wizard to restore files.
Lets you recover the file to any folder of your choosing.
Results of a scan can be saved to a file.
Limits data recovery to 1 GB.
Must be installed to the drive (no portable option).
Doesn’t show the health of the file before you restore it.
Another free data recovery program is available from iBoysoft.
I found this to be useful for images, but nothing else.
This is great so that you don’t have to rescan the drive to continue sifting through the results.
Puran File Recovery
Two ways to view the list of deleted files.
Supports running as a portable version.
Scans NTFS and FAT12/16/32 file systems.
It’s easy to see whether the file can be recovered well.
Free for home use only.
Puran File Recovery is one of the better options I’ve seen.
I don’t like that it’s so outdated, but that doesn’t affect its functionality.
This tool will even recover lostpartitionsif they haven’t been overwritten yet.
It’s said to work with Windows 11, 10, 8, 7, Vista, and XP.
MiniTool Power Data Recovery
Has a clean, modern interface.
Undeletes files from several types of storage devices.
you might recover multiple folders simultaneously.
The scan for deleted files can be paused midway.
Recovers no more than 1 GB for free.
1 GB is enough to uncover probably 300 normal-sized images.
It’s reportedly available for Windows 11, 10, 8, and 7.
I tested it in Windows 11.
iBeesoft Data Recovery Free
Great for novice users.
Preview files up to 100 MB.
Search by category (e.g., only archives or docs).
Free only up to 2 GB of data recovery.
Zero advanced search options.
Must install it to the hard drive (no portable version).
Doesn’t restore to original folder; must pick one manually.
That, or pay for the full edition.
iBeesoft’s file recovery program is super easy to use.
The program itself is free from ads and simple to understand.
I tested data recovery with this program in Windows 11, and it worked just as advertised.
It also works on Windows 10, 8, and 7.
The Mac edition can only recover 200 MB of data.
iCare Data Recovery Free
Portable version is available.
Lets you preview files.
Search through the results list.
Supports lots of file types.
Can’t pause a scan and resume it later.
Windows users can download this program as a portable tool or a normal, installable program.
It’s said to work with Windows 11, 10, 8, and 7.
CD Recovery Toolbox
Designed specifically to undelete files from discs.
Program is simple to use.
Supports several Windows operating systems.
Won’t recover files from hard drives (because it isn’t built for that purpose).
CD Recovery Toolbox is a completely free and unique file recovery program.
One obvious con is the inability of this program to recover files from hard drives or portable media drives.
However, it isn’t designed to do that.
I tested it successfully in Windows 7.
Lets you run a scan for specific file types or all types.
Scans many types of storage devices.
Also deletes data permanently.
Setup might venture to install unrelated programs.
you could also scan the entire drive to search for all file types.
It should work fine in Windows 11, 10, 8, 7, Vista, and XP.
ADRC Data Recovery Tools
Extremely small file size.
Works from any portable location (doesn’t need to be installed).
Really simple user interface that’s easy to grasp.
Doesn’t work in Windows 8 or newer.
Hasn’t been updated since 2008.
ADRC Data Recovery Tools is another great, free file recovery program.
I also tested v1.1 in Windows 8 and 10, but was unable to get it to work.
SoftPerfect File Recovery
It’s really easy to use.
Works from any portable location like a flash drive.
you’re able to search for deleted files by file extension and file name.
Lets you restore more than one file simultaneously.
Supports only two file systems (however, they are the most popular).
you’re free to’t preview an image file before restoring it.
It’s discontinued, so it won’t receive updates.
SoftPerfect File Recovery makes it very easy to search for recoverable files.
Anyone should be able to use this program with very little trouble.
It will undelete files from hard drives, memory cards, etc.
Any rig on your PC that stores data (except for your CD/DVD drive) should be supported.
SoftPerfect File Recovery is a small, 500 KB, standalone file, making the program very portable.
Feel free to run File Recovery from a USB drive or floppy disk.
Scroll down a bit on the download page to find it.
According to the developer’s website, 64-bit versions of Windows operating systems are also supported.
I tested v1.2 in Windows 10 without any issues.
Stellar Data Recovery Free Edition
Steps you through a wizard.
Lets you choose where to restore the data.
Preview documents and images before recovery.
Limits recovery to just 1 GB total.
Can’t undelete any file over 25 MB (unless you pay).
Poorly designed search tool.
Must restore files to a separate hard drive.
A unique feature in this program is the preview option you have while the scan is taking place.
PhotoRec
Undeletes files from all types of storage devices.
Works on Windows, Linux, and macOS.
Too easy to recover files you don’t want to undelete.
No graphical user interface.
It’s limited by itscommand-lineinterface and multiple-step recovery process.
It can get back deleted files from hard drives, optical drives, and memory cards.
PhotoRec should be able to undelete files from any storage machine on your PC.
If another tool hasn’t worked, give this one a try.
I just don’t recommend making it your first pick.
It also runs on Mac and Linux.
UndeleteMyFiles Pro
Walks you through a short wizard to undelete files.
Includes a unique feature that lets you restore deleted files from a system backup.
Lets you browse the deleted files in two view modes.
The search tool supports searching for deleted files by attribute, size, etc.
Also lets you delete files permanently.
Might not work as advertised in Windows 11/10.
UndeleteMyFiles Pro is another free file recovery program.
Don’t let the name fool youit’s entirely free, even though it says “Pro.”
Tree ViewandDetailed Vieware the two viewing perspectives you could choose from.
Emergency Disk Imageis a handy feature included in UndeleteMyFiles Pro.
However, I also tested v3.1 on Windows 10 and found that it didn’t work as it should.
Restoration
Really easy to use.
Several ways to sort the results.
Can search for empty deleted files.
Lets you overwrite the deleted data.
Might not work in Windows 11/10/8.
Can’t restore a whole folder at once, just single files.
Doesn’t say how recoverable the file is before you restore it.
The thing I like most about Restoration is how incredibly simple it is to recover files.
This program can recover files from hard drives, memory cards, USB drives, and other external drives.
I successfully tested it with Windows 7, and didn’t run into any problems.
However, v3.2.13 didn’t work for me in Windows 11, 10, or 8.
Why These Programs?
I didn’t mention options that are shareware/free trials, nor ones that won’t undelete reasonably sized files.
FAQ
Law enforcement agents use forensics tools to search computers for digital evidence.
Yes, but file recovery programs probably won’t help if the hard drive is physically damaged.
In that case, you oughta get it professionally serviced.
A bug in iOS can cause the Attempting data recovery message on your iPhone.
So,kickstart your iPhoneandupdate iOS.
