17 Free Data Recovery Software Tools (Updated April 2014)
Many free data recovery programs exist that can help recover your accidentally deleted files. These file recovery programs can help you recover, or "undelete" files on your computer.
Files you have deleted and then recently emptied from your Recycle Bin are often still present on your hard drive (or USB drive, or media card, etc.) and can be recovered using free data recovery software.
Important: You can greatly increase the chance of recovering a file by minimizing your computer use as soon as possible. See my File Recovery Software FAQ for more on this, plus answers to common questions I get about file recovery.
Undelete files you thought were gone forever with any one of these freeware data recovery tools:
1. Recuva
Recuva is the very best free file recovery
software available, hands down. It's very easy to use but has many
optional advanced features as well.
Recuva can recover files from hard drives, external drives (USB drives, etc.), BD/DVD/CD discs, and memory cards. Recuva can even undelete files from your iPod!
Recuva will undelete files in Windows 8 & 8.1, 7, Vista, XP, Server 2008/2003, and older Windows versions like 2000, NT, ME and 98. 64-bit Windows versions are also supported. There is also a 64-bit version Recuva available.
Piriform provides both an installable and a portable version of Recuva. I tested file recovery with Recuva v1.51.1036 using their portable version in Windows 8.1.
Undeleting a file with Recuva is as easy as deleting one! I highly recommend that you try Recuva first if you need to recover a file.
Recuva v1.51.1063 Review and Free Download
Recuva can recover files from hard drives, external drives (USB drives, etc.), BD/DVD/CD discs, and memory cards. Recuva can even undelete files from your iPod!
Recuva will undelete files in Windows 8 & 8.1, 7, Vista, XP, Server 2008/2003, and older Windows versions like 2000, NT, ME and 98. 64-bit Windows versions are also supported. There is also a 64-bit version Recuva available.
Piriform provides both an installable and a portable version of Recuva. I tested file recovery with Recuva v1.51.1036 using their portable version in Windows 8.1.
Undeleting a file with Recuva is as easy as deleting one! I highly recommend that you try Recuva first if you need to recover a file.
Recuva v1.51.1063 Review and Free Download
2. Puran File Recovery
Puran File Recovery is one of the better
free file recovery programs I've seen. It's very easy to use, will scan
any drive that Windows sees, and has a lot of advanced options if you
need them.
One particular thing to note - Puran File Recovery identified more files on my test machine than most other tools so be sure to give this one a shot in addition to Recuva if it didn't find what you were looking for.
Puran File Recovery will even recover lost partitions if they haven't been overwritten yet.
Puran File Recovery works with Windows 8, 7, Vista, and XP. It's also available in portable form for both 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows so it doesn't require installation.
Puran File Recovery v1.2 Review and Free Download
One particular thing to note - Puran File Recovery identified more files on my test machine than most other tools so be sure to give this one a shot in addition to Recuva if it didn't find what you were looking for.
Puran File Recovery will even recover lost partitions if they haven't been overwritten yet.
Puran File Recovery works with Windows 8, 7, Vista, and XP. It's also available in portable form for both 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows so it doesn't require installation.
Puran File Recovery v1.2 Review and Free Download
3. Glary Undelete
Glary Undelete is an excellent free file
recovery program. It's very easy to use and has one of the better user
interfaces that I've seen.
The biggest advantages in Glary Undelete include the easy "Folders" view, a Windows Explorer-style view of recoverable files, and a prominent "State" indication for each file, suggesting how likely a successful file recovery will be.
One disadvantage of Glary Undelete is that installation is required before you can use it and it asks you to install a toolbar, which you can of course decline. Aside from those facts, Glary Undelete is top notch.
Glary Undelete can recover files from hard drives and any removable media you might have including memory cards, USB drives, etc.
Glary Undelete is said to work in Windows 7, Vista, and XP, but it probably works fine in Windows 8 and versions older than Windows XP. I tested Glary Undelete v2.4 in Windows 7.
Glary Undelete v2.4 Review and Free Download
The biggest advantages in Glary Undelete include the easy "Folders" view, a Windows Explorer-style view of recoverable files, and a prominent "State" indication for each file, suggesting how likely a successful file recovery will be.
One disadvantage of Glary Undelete is that installation is required before you can use it and it asks you to install a toolbar, which you can of course decline. Aside from those facts, Glary Undelete is top notch.
Glary Undelete can recover files from hard drives and any removable media you might have including memory cards, USB drives, etc.
Glary Undelete is said to work in Windows 7, Vista, and XP, but it probably works fine in Windows 8 and versions older than Windows XP. I tested Glary Undelete v2.4 in Windows 7.
Glary Undelete v2.4 Review and Free Download
4. Pandora Recovery
Pandora Recovery is another excellent free
file recovery software program. It's super easy to use and has the best
wizard to help you undelete files that I've seen in any file recovery
app.
A more advanced "Surface Scan" is available in Pandora Recovery that should recover more files than the standard search as long as they are of a popular format.
Pandora Recovery will undelete files from hard drives, memory cards, etc. Nearly anything that stores files that you can also connect to your PC should be supported.
Pandora Recovery lists support for Windows Vista, XP, Server 2003, and 2000 but it worked perfectly well for me in Windows 7.
You will need to install Pandora Recovery to your hard drive which is a major reason I haven't ranked it higher than some other file recovery tools.
Pandora Recovery v2.1.1 Review and Free Download
A more advanced "Surface Scan" is available in Pandora Recovery that should recover more files than the standard search as long as they are of a popular format.
Pandora Recovery will undelete files from hard drives, memory cards, etc. Nearly anything that stores files that you can also connect to your PC should be supported.
Pandora Recovery lists support for Windows Vista, XP, Server 2003, and 2000 but it worked perfectly well for me in Windows 7.
You will need to install Pandora Recovery to your hard drive which is a major reason I haven't ranked it higher than some other file recovery tools.
Pandora Recovery v2.1.1 Review and Free Download
5. SoftPerfect File Recovery
SoftPerfect File Recovery is another superb
file undelete program. It's very easy to search for recoverable files.
Anyone should be able to use this program with very little trouble.
SoftPerfect File Recovery will undelete files from hard drives, memory cards, etc. Any device on your PC that stores data (except for your CD/DVD drive) should be supported.
Windows 8, 7, Vista, XP, Server 2008 & 2003, 2000, NT, ME, 98, and 95 are all supported. According to SoftPerfect, 64-bit versions of Windows operating systems are also 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.
SoftPerfect File Recovery v1.2 Free Download
SoftPerfect File Recovery will undelete files from hard drives, memory cards, etc. Any device on your PC that stores data (except for your CD/DVD drive) should be supported.
Windows 8, 7, Vista, XP, Server 2008 & 2003, 2000, NT, ME, 98, and 95 are all supported. According to SoftPerfect, 64-bit versions of Windows operating systems are also 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.
SoftPerfect File Recovery v1.2 Free Download
6. EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard
EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard is another great file undelete program. Recovering files is very easy to do with just a few clicks.
My favorite aspect of EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard is that the user interface is structured much like Windows Explorer. While that may not be everyone's ideal way to display files, it's a very familiar interface that most people are comfortable with.
EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard will undelete files from hard drives, optical drives, memory cards, and pretty much anything else that Windows sees as a storage device. It also partition recovery!
Please know that Data Recovery Wizard will only recover a total of 2 GB of data before you'll need to upgrade. I almost didn't include this program because of that limitation but since most situations call for undeleting much less than that, I'll let it slide.
Data Recovery Wizard supports Windows 8, 7, Vista, and XP, as well as Windows Server 2012, 2008, and 2003.
EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard v7.5 Free Download
My favorite aspect of EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard is that the user interface is structured much like Windows Explorer. While that may not be everyone's ideal way to display files, it's a very familiar interface that most people are comfortable with.
EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard will undelete files from hard drives, optical drives, memory cards, and pretty much anything else that Windows sees as a storage device. It also partition recovery!
Please know that Data Recovery Wizard will only recover a total of 2 GB of data before you'll need to upgrade. I almost didn't include this program because of that limitation but since most situations call for undeleting much less than that, I'll let it slide.
Data Recovery Wizard supports Windows 8, 7, Vista, and XP, as well as Windows Server 2012, 2008, and 2003.
EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard v7.5 Free Download
7. Wise Data Recovery
Wise Data Recovery is a free undelete program that's really simple to use.
The program installed very quickly and scanned my PC in record time. Wise Data Recovery can scan various USB devices like memory cards and other removal devices.
An instant search function makes it really quick and easy to search for deleted files that Wise Data Recovery has found. A Recoverability column shows the likelihood of a file being recovered with Good, Poor, Very Poor, or Lost. Just right-click to restore a file.
Wise Data Recovery works with Windows 8, 7, Vista, and XP, including the 64-bit versions of each. There's also a portable version available from PortableApps.
Wise Data Recovery v3.44 Free Download
The program installed very quickly and scanned my PC in record time. Wise Data Recovery can scan various USB devices like memory cards and other removal devices.
An instant search function makes it really quick and easy to search for deleted files that Wise Data Recovery has found. A Recoverability column shows the likelihood of a file being recovered with Good, Poor, Very Poor, or Lost. Just right-click to restore a file.
Wise Data Recovery works with Windows 8, 7, Vista, and XP, including the 64-bit versions of each. There's also a portable version available from PortableApps.
Wise Data Recovery v3.44 Free Download
8. Restoration
The Restoration file recovery program is similar to the other free undelete apps on this list.
The thing I like most about Restoration is how incredibly simple it is to recovery files. There are no cryptic buttons or complicated file recovery procedures - everything you need is on one, easy to understand program window.
Restoration can recover files from hard drives, memory cards, USB drives, and other external drives.
Restoration supports Windows Vista, XP, 2000, NT, ME, 98, and 95. I successfully tested Restoration with Windows Vista.
Like some of the other popular file recovery tools on this list, Restoration is small and does not need to be installed, giving it the flexibility to be run from a floppy disk or USB drive.
Restoration v3.2.13 Free Download
The thing I like most about Restoration is how incredibly simple it is to recovery files. There are no cryptic buttons or complicated file recovery procedures - everything you need is on one, easy to understand program window.
Restoration can recover files from hard drives, memory cards, USB drives, and other external drives.
Restoration supports Windows Vista, XP, 2000, NT, ME, 98, and 95. I successfully tested Restoration with Windows Vista.
Like some of the other popular file recovery tools on this list, Restoration is small and does not need to be installed, giving it the flexibility to be run from a floppy disk or USB drive.
Restoration v3.2.13 Free Download
9. FreeUndelete
FreeUndelete is self explanatory - it's
free and it undeletes files! FreeUndelete is another great file recovery
tool, very similar to other undelete utilities around this rank in my
list.
The major advantage of FreeUndelete is its easy to use interface and "folder drill down" functionality (i.e. files available for recovery are not listed in a big, unmanageable listing).
FreeUndelete will recover files from hard drives, memory cards, and other similar storage devices in or connected to your PC.
FreeUndelete supports all versions of Windows - 7, Vista, XP, etc. I successfully tested FreeUndelete with Windows Vista.
Note: OfficeRecovery.com's website is often down. You can also download FreeUndelete from MajorGeeks.com.
FreeUndelete v2.1 Free Download
The major advantage of FreeUndelete is its easy to use interface and "folder drill down" functionality (i.e. files available for recovery are not listed in a big, unmanageable listing).
FreeUndelete will recover files from hard drives, memory cards, and other similar storage devices in or connected to your PC.
FreeUndelete supports all versions of Windows - 7, Vista, XP, etc. I successfully tested FreeUndelete with Windows Vista.
Note: OfficeRecovery.com's website is often down. You can also download FreeUndelete from MajorGeeks.com.
FreeUndelete v2.1 Free Download
10. ADRC Data Recovery Tools
ADRC Data Recovery Tools should be able to undelete files from any non-CD/DVD storage device like memory cards and USB drives, as well as hard drives, of course.
Data Recovery Tools officially supports Windows XP, 2000, and 95 but I successfully tested data recovery with this program on Windows Vista.
ADRC Data Recovery Tools is a standalone, 132KB program making it a very portable file recovery tool that will easily fit on any removable media you might have.
ADRC Data Recovery Tools v1.1 Free Download
11. CD Recovery Toolbox
According to the publisher, CD Recovery Toolbox should help recover files from discs that have been scratched, chipped, or have surface spotting.
One obvious con is the inability of CD Recovery Toolbox to recover files from hard drives or portable media drives. However, the program isn't designed to do that so I haven't held that fact against it.
CD Recovery Toolbox works in Windows 8, 7, Vista, XP, Server 2003, 2000, NT, ME and 98. I tested CD Recovery Toolbox successfully in Windows Vista.
CD Recovery Toolbox v2.1.0.0 Free Download
12. UndeleteMyFiles Pro
UndeleteMyFiles Pro is another free file
recovery program. Don't let the name fool you - it's entirely free even
though it says "Pro."
Tree View and Detailed View are the two viewing perspectives you can choose from. You can also preview files, which sounds nice, but all it does is restore the data to a temporary folder and then open it.
Emergency Disk Image is one of the included tools in UndeleteMyFiles Pro. This tool takes a snapshot of your entire computer, places all the data in one file, and then lets you work through that file to file deleted data that you want to restore. This is very handy because after the image file has been made, you don't need to worry that new data written to your hard drive will replace any important deleted files.
There's a nice search option in UndeleteMyFiles Pro that lets you search by file location, type, size, and attributes.
Something I really didn't like about UndeleteMyFiles Pro is that the recovery process doesn't tell you if a file is in a good state of being recoverable like most of the other software in this list.
I test UndeleteMyFiles Pro in Windows 8 without any issues.
UndeleteMyFiles Pro v3.1 Free Download
Tree View and Detailed View are the two viewing perspectives you can choose from. You can also preview files, which sounds nice, but all it does is restore the data to a temporary folder and then open it.
Emergency Disk Image is one of the included tools in UndeleteMyFiles Pro. This tool takes a snapshot of your entire computer, places all the data in one file, and then lets you work through that file to file deleted data that you want to restore. This is very handy because after the image file has been made, you don't need to worry that new data written to your hard drive will replace any important deleted files.
There's a nice search option in UndeleteMyFiles Pro that lets you search by file location, type, size, and attributes.
Something I really didn't like about UndeleteMyFiles Pro is that the recovery process doesn't tell you if a file is in a good state of being recoverable like most of the other software in this list.
I test UndeleteMyFiles Pro in Windows 8 without any issues.
UndeleteMyFiles Pro v3.1 Free Download
13. TOKIWA DataRecovery
TOKIWA DataRecovery is an effective file recovery program and is very similar to many others on my list.
The best thing TOKIWA DataRecovery has going for it is its ease of use. It has a single program window where you can scan for files to recovery, sort the files, and undelete them. There are no complicated procedures at all.
TOKIWA DataRecovery can recover files from hard drives, memory cards, USB drives, and other external drives.
DataRecovery supports Windows 7, Vista, XP, 2003, 2000, NT, ME, 98, and 95. I successfully tested TOKIWA DataRecovery with Windows 8.
TOKIWA DataRecovery is a standalone, 412KB file making it a completely portable tool suitable for a USB drive or floppy disk.
TOKIWA DataRecovery v2.4.7 Free Download
The best thing TOKIWA DataRecovery has going for it is its ease of use. It has a single program window where you can scan for files to recovery, sort the files, and undelete them. There are no complicated procedures at all.
TOKIWA DataRecovery can recover files from hard drives, memory cards, USB drives, and other external drives.
DataRecovery supports Windows 7, Vista, XP, 2003, 2000, NT, ME, 98, and 95. I successfully tested TOKIWA DataRecovery with Windows 8.
TOKIWA DataRecovery is a standalone, 412KB file making it a completely portable tool suitable for a USB drive or floppy disk.
TOKIWA DataRecovery v2.4.7 Free Download
14. PC Inspector File Recovery
PC Inspector File Recovery is another good
free file recovery program with an arguably "deeper" search for deleted
files than other similar undelete programs.
PC Inspector File Recovery can recover files from most hard drives, external drives, and memory cards.
PC Inspector File Recovery supports Windows XP, 2000, NT, ME, and 98. I tested PC Inspector File Recover in Windows 8 and it ran as advertised.
I'd recommend trying PC Inspector File Recovery only if another, higher rated file recovery program didn't do the job for you. The not-so-easy-to-use interface, lack of Vista support, and long hard drive scan times keep this file recovery app out of the Top 10.
PC Inspector File Recovery v4.0 Free Download
PC Inspector File Recovery can recover files from most hard drives, external drives, and memory cards.
PC Inspector File Recovery supports Windows XP, 2000, NT, ME, and 98. I tested PC Inspector File Recover in Windows 8 and it ran as advertised.
I'd recommend trying PC Inspector File Recovery only if another, higher rated file recovery program didn't do the job for you. The not-so-easy-to-use interface, lack of Vista support, and long hard drive scan times keep this file recovery app out of the Top 10.
PC Inspector File Recovery v4.0 Free Download
15. Orion File Recovery Software
Orion File Recovery Software is a free file
recovery program from NCH Software that's basically the same as most of
the other programs in this list.
A nice wizard prompts you to scan for specific file types at launch of the program, like documents, images, videos, music, or a custom file type. You can also scan the entire drive to search for all file types.
Orion file Recovery Software can scan any attached hard drive, whether internal or external, flash drives, and memory cards for deleted data. Then you can search through the files with an instant search function, while easily identifying the recovery potential of each file.
A nice addition to Orion File Recovery Software is also functions as a data destruction program, so you can scrub all the files it finds to make them unrecoverable for future scans.
Orion File Recovery Software works with Windows 8, 7, Vista, and XP. The installer tries to install other NCH Software programs during setup, but just deselect those options if you wish not to install them.
Orion File Recovery Software v1.09 Free Download
A nice wizard prompts you to scan for specific file types at launch of the program, like documents, images, videos, music, or a custom file type. You can also scan the entire drive to search for all file types.
Orion file Recovery Software can scan any attached hard drive, whether internal or external, flash drives, and memory cards for deleted data. Then you can search through the files with an instant search function, while easily identifying the recovery potential of each file.
A nice addition to Orion File Recovery Software is also functions as a data destruction program, so you can scrub all the files it finds to make them unrecoverable for future scans.
Orion File Recovery Software works with Windows 8, 7, Vista, and XP. The installer tries to install other NCH Software programs during setup, but just deselect those options if you wish not to install them.
Orion File Recovery Software v1.09 Free Download
16. BPlan Data Recovery
BPlan Data Recovery is a file recovery
program like the others in this list. It may not look as nice as similar
software, but it can recovery many different types of deleted files.
I found BPlan Data Recovery to be a bit difficult to navigate around. It was hard to know what I was doing because of the layout of the results. That said, it still managed to find and recover images, documents, videos, and other file types.
BPlan Data Recovery works with Windows 8, 7, Vista, and XP. I tested BPlan Data Recovery in Windows 8.
There's an option for getting the ZIP or EXE version of the installer from the download page, but they both result in the same installation. There is not a portable version of BPlan Data Recovery.
Note: Make sure you run BPlan Data Recovery as an administrator in Windows 8 or Windows 7. The program won't work unless it has administrative privileges.
BPlan Data Recovery v2.62 Free Download
I found BPlan Data Recovery to be a bit difficult to navigate around. It was hard to know what I was doing because of the layout of the results. That said, it still managed to find and recover images, documents, videos, and other file types.
BPlan Data Recovery works with Windows 8, 7, Vista, and XP. I tested BPlan Data Recovery in Windows 8.
There's an option for getting the ZIP or EXE version of the installer from the download page, but they both result in the same installation. There is not a portable version of BPlan Data Recovery.
Note: Make sure you run BPlan Data Recovery as an administrator in Windows 8 or Windows 7. The program won't work unless it has administrative privileges.
BPlan Data Recovery v2.62 Free Download
17. PhotoRec
The free PhotoRec file recovery tool does the job but it isn't nearly as easy to use as other programs on my list.
PhotoRec is limited by its command-line interface and multiple step recovery process. However, my greatest problem with PhotoRec is that it's very difficult to avoid recovering all deleted files at once, not just the one or two you're after.
PhotoRec can recover files from hard drives, optical drives, and memory cards. PhotoRec should be able to undelete files from any storage device on your PC.
PhotoRec supports Windows 7, Vista, XP, Server 2003, 2000, NT, ME, 98, and 95. I tested PhotoRec in Windows Vista.
If another file recovery program hasn't worked, give PhotoRec a try. I just don't recommend making it your first pick.
PhotoRec v6.14 Free Download
PhotoRec is limited by its command-line interface and multiple step recovery process. However, my greatest problem with PhotoRec is that it's very difficult to avoid recovering all deleted files at once, not just the one or two you're after.
PhotoRec can recover files from hard drives, optical drives, and memory cards. PhotoRec should be able to undelete files from any storage device on your PC.
PhotoRec supports Windows 7, Vista, XP, Server 2003, 2000, NT, ME, 98, and 95. I tested PhotoRec in Windows Vista.
If another file recovery program hasn't worked, give PhotoRec a try. I just don't recommend making it your first pick.
PhotoRec v6.14 Free Download
"Why have you only included 17 free data recovery programs?"
True,
there are many more file recovery programs than those listed above, but
I've only included true freeware file recovery programs that also
undelete wide ranges of files.
I didn't include file recovery programs that are shareware/free trials, nor ones that won't undelete reasonably sized files.
If you still need help with a file recovery issue, see my Get More Help page. I'm also happy to hear your thoughts on additions or changes to this list.
I didn't include file recovery programs that are shareware/free trials, nor ones that won't undelete reasonably sized files.
If you still need help with a file recovery issue, see my Get More Help page. I'm also happy to hear your thoughts on additions or changes to this list.
17 Free Data Recovery Software Tools (Updated April 2014): 17 Free Data Recovery Software Tools Reivews of the Best Free File Recovery & Undelete Software for Windows
