6 Free Windows Data Recovery Programs Tested and Compared

Data loss is no longer a strange term since the existence of computing devices and digital data. Your important files may be deleted or lost due to various reasons, such as manual deletion, virus attack, disk file system failure, computer system crash, software failure, sudden power outage, etc. If you have suffered data loss and failed to recover the files from the Recycle Bin or backups, then seeking help from free Windows data recovery program becomes the best choice.

This article has collected several free data recovery software for Windows 10/11 for your reference. Before that, we would like to highlight a few precautions after losing files to increase the success rate of data recovery.

Things to Note After Data Loss on Windows

Here are some tips you need to take note of in case you reduce the chances of successful file recovery unconsciously:

• Stop using the hard disk immediately: The reason why the data recovery program can recover lost files is that the files are not really lost, but the area where they are located has been marked as available. Continuing to use the disk will cause new data to overwrite the lost data, thus making it impossible to recover the original files.
• Avoid restarting the computer repeatedly: Repeated reboots or hard drive unplugging and plugging may cause file system errors or even physical damage to the disk. This may greatly affect the success rate of file recovery.
• Use secure and read-only deleted file recovery software instantly: A professional and reliable file restore tool is the most significant premise for complete and secure data recovery.

Basic Criteria for Choosing Free Data Recovery Software

There are a lot of free Windows data recovery programs on the market. What aspects should you pay attention to when choosing one? Here are some points worth noting:

• Recovery capabilities: Optimal data recovery software should have strong data recovery capabilities, such as supporting the recovery of various types of files and being good at handling diverse data loss situations.
• Compatibilities: A powerful file recovery tool needs to support a diversity of file storage devices, including HDDs, SSDs, and so on. Also, it should be fully compatible with most Windows versions, including Windows 11, 10, and older systems.
• Ease of use: Since most users are not experts in the computer or software industry, clear software interfaces and simple operation steps cannot be ignored for recommended data recovery software.
• File recovery limitations: Most of the file recovery tools available in the market are not completely free. Therefore, it is very important to choose a tool that supports more free file recovery capacity.
• Technique support: You need to ensure that there is available customer support in case you need help during the recovery process.

Based on the above criteria, we recommend 5 free Windows data recovery programs for your reference.

How to Recover Shift Deleted Files With/Without Software

This article explains what Shift deletion does and how to recover Shift deleted files by using backup tools and professional data recovery software.

Read More

6 Best Free Windows Data Recovery Programs Recommended

Option 1. MiniTool Power Data Recovery—Best Overall Free Recovery Tool

MiniTool Power Data Recovery is a user-friendly Windows data recovery tool suitable for recovering deleted or lost files in various data loss scenarios.

It supports recovering documents, photos, videos, audio, archives, emails, etc. from desktop computer drives, laptop disks, and removable disks in NTFS, FAT, exFAT, ext2/3/4 file systems.

With its intuitive interface and powerful scanning features, it can help recover files lost due to accidental deletion, virus infection, hard disk failures, OS instability, partition loss, and more.

MiniTool Power Data Recovery FreeClick to Download100%Clean & Safe

MiniTool Power Data Recovery Pros:

• Comprehensive recovery capacities for all kinds of files and diverse data loss scenarios
• Strong compatibilities with storage media and file systems
• Concise interfaces and simple recovery steps
• Detailed data recovery steps and software function introduction in numerous tutorials on its official website
• Different software editions and frequent product updates available
• 7*24 technique support

MiniTool Power Data Recovery Cons:

• 1 GB of free data recovery capacity
• Lack of support for Windows 7

Best for: Users looking for an easy-to-use all-in-one Windows data recovery solution.

Option 2. Windows File Recovery—Best Completely Free Data Recovery Tool

Windows File Recovery is free unlimited data recovery software developed by Microsoft. It uses the Winfr command lines to recover deleted or lost files from HDDs, SSDs, and other types of disks.

It provides you with different recovery modes for recovering conventionally deleted files or files from formatted or damaged partitions.

Since this tool works through Command Prompt, you need to have a basic understanding of the recovery modes, file paths, file extensions, and command syntax.

Windows File Recovery Pros:

• Completely free with unlimited file recovery volume
• Wide support for file types, file systems, hard drive types, and data loss cases
• Quick file scanning and recovery process

Windows File Recovery Cons:

• Complex data recovery process with Winfr command lines
• Unintuitive interfaces and uncontrollable recovery process
• Lack of support for versions older than Windows 10 build 19041

Best for: Advanced users who need a completely free recovery tool without file recovery limits.

How to Use Windows File Recovery Tool & Best Alternative

This post introduces how to use Windows File Recovery and an alternative data recovery tool to recover deleted files on Windows.

Read More

Option 3. EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard—Best User-Friendly Recovery Software

EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard is a popular file recovery program designed for users who prefer a simple recovery process.

It helps you recover lost or deleted files from your desktop computers, laptops, external hard drives, USB drives, etc. It also can recover files that have been inadvertently deleted, formatted, or lost due to a virus attack or system crash. It has simple interfaces and clear recovery steps, ensuring that you can recover your important data easily and quickly even if you are not tech-savvy.

EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard Pros:

• 2 GB free file recovery capacity (Only 500 MB is supported unless you share the product on social media)
• Quick scan process
• Available descriptions of folder type in the scan results window
• Unlimited remote customer assistants

EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard Cons:

• Limited file preview feature in the free edition
• More expensive Pro and Technician versions

Best for: Beginners who want a simple recovery process with minimal technical knowledge.

Option 4. Disk Drill—Best for Advanced Recovery Features

Disk Drill is another powerful data recovery tool for Windows 11/10/8/7. It is capable of recovering data from a variety of file storage devices including internal hard drives, SSDs, and other types of file storage media. It uses advanced intelligent algorithms so that it can help deal with various types of data loss.

Besides file recovery, Disk Drill provides additional features such as data protection tools and disk backup options, making it more than a basic recovery application.

Disk Drill Pros:

• A wide range of supported file types and real-life data loss scenarios
• Unlimited file preview

Disk Drill Cons:

• Slow software setup progress
• Up to 500 MB free recovery
• Complex and unclear interfaces
• Fewer software versions

Best for: Users who need extra recovery features beyond basic file restoration.

Option 5. Wondershare Recoverit—Best for Video and Media Recovery

Wondershare Recoverit is the last free Windows data recovery program we want to recommend. It can help restore deleted files in all file types from all storage media on Windows desktop computers and laptops.

It can help get your files back when the files are deleted due to human wrong operation, data transfer interruption, virus infection, disk improper formatting, software malfunction, and so on.

Wondershare Recoverit Pros:

• Quick and deep scan modes available
• Wide support for file types, file storage devices, file systems, file loss cases, etc.

Wondershare Recoverit Cons:

• Slow file preview
• Not cost-effective premium version

Best for: Users who need to recover corrupted media files such as videos and photos.

Option 6. Recuva—Best Lightweight Data Recovery Tool

Recuva is a lightweight free data recovery program developed by Piriform. It can recover deleted files from Windows computers, external hard drives, USB drives, memory cards, and other storage devices.

Its simple interface and small installation size make it a convenient option for users who only need basic file recovery after accidental deletion.

However, Recuva may not be the best choice for complex data loss situations, such as severely damaged drives or advanced partition recovery.

Recuva Pros:

• Completely free version with no recovery size limit
• Lightweight software with a simple and easy-to-use interface
• Quick scan

Recuva Cons:

• Limited recovery capabilities for complex data loss situations
• Less advanced features
• The interface and recovery process may feel outdated

Best for: Users who need a simple and free tool for recovering recently deleted files.

Bonus Time: Make Regular File Backup on Windows

Opting for a professional and free Windows data recovery program can greatly minimize the potential impact of data loss incidents. In addition, backing up your files regularly and in time is a significant process of protecting them from being permanently lost from your computer.

How can you make a file backup? Multiple ways are available.

Option 1. Transfer important files to a removable disk

This is the easiest way for data backup. You just need to purchase a reliable external hard drive with high quality and large storage space first. Then you can connect it to your computer and transfer your files to it for protection. However, this method has a disadvantage, which is that it is cumbersome to transfer the latest version of the data at any time.

Option 2. Upload or sync files to the cloud drive

There are many cloud backup services available for file synchronization and cloud backup. You can choose a favorite one to back up your data by considering factors such as free storage capacity, security, data transfer and download speed, cost, etc. Common cloud services include OneDrive, Google Drive, and Dropbox. 

Option 3. Use a professional data backup tool to create a file image

This is the most comprehensive and flexible backup method since professional Windows backup software usually provides you with versatile backup schemes and schedules. This saves you from the hassle of having your disk space taken up by large data backup files and having to perform manual backups every time.

MiniTool ShadowMaker is the ideal solution whether it is for pictures, videos, documents, game files, etc. If you haven’t used or heard of this software before, you can try the Trial Edition within 30 days for free to see if it suits you.

MiniTool ShadowMaker TrialClick to Download100%Clean & Safe

SD Card Recovery Software: Comparison & Data Recovery Steps

This post compares various SD card recovery software to help you choose the proper one, and explains how to recover data from the SD card.

Read More

Closing Words

You can feel free to use the free Windows data recovery program introduced above to get your deleted files back. They all have advantages and disadvantages in different aspects, and you can choose the one that suits you the most.

Should you encounter any issues while using MiniTool Power Data Recovery and MiniTool ShadowMaker, you can contact [email protected] for assistance. If you need help with other programs, you need to go to their official websites to find the contact information for the official support team.