How to Fix Windows File Recovery Not Working

Why Windows File Recovery not working?

▶ Overview of Windows File Recovery

Windows File Recovery is a command-line utility for the Windows operating system developed by Microsoft that allows users to recover lost data from local and external storage devices. It debuted with the Windows 10 2004 update and is now available for Windows 10 and subsequent versions. This utility is very effective for recovering data that were deleted or lost inadvertently owing to a variety of factors such as hardware failures, file corruption, or formatting.

Windows File Recovery is a useful tool for people who need to recover vital data that they thought had been lost. However, because it uses a command-line interface, it may be less user-friendly than third-party file recovery applications with graphical interfaces. And sometimes, it can confront some errors that will make it not work as usual.

▶ Possible reasons for Windows File Recovery not working

Windows File Recovery may not work as expected under certain circumstances. There are several reasons why it might not function as intended.

• File overwriting: If new data has been written to the same storage location where the deleted files were located, the chances of successful recovery are reduced. Overwritten data can be challenging or impossible to retrieve.

• Failed drives: If the storage device itself is physically damaged or experiencing hardware failures, the tool may not be able to access the data or may encounter errors during recovery.

• Secure deletion: If the files were securely deleted using tools that overwrite data multiple times or with encryption, the recovery process may be significantly more difficult or impossible.

• File system corruption: If the file system on the storage device is severely corrupted, Windows File Recovery may struggle to navigate it and recover files effectively.

Although Windows File Recovery is a useful tool to search a file system for deleted files, when you launch the app or issue a command, you may also receive the message “WinFR requires admin privileges to run” or "winfr.exe is not recognized as an internal or external command".

In this case, first, you need to decide which circumstance is more urgent, fixing Windows File Recovery, or recovering your lost data files. Any operation may cause overwritten on your missing files and the more operations you perform, the less possibility of data recovery there are.

In the rest of the page, we’ll separately show you how to fix Windows 10 File Recovery not working and how to quickly recover lost data via a professional tool. You can directly skip to the meet part to solve your first issue.

Quickly recover data while Windows File Recovery not working

If you put data recovery in the primary place, then a third-party data recovery tool is your best option.

AOMEI FastRecovery is a user-friendly software designed for the retrieval of deleted or lost files, encompassing a wide range of data types like documents, images, videos, audio, emails, and more. This tool can recover data from internal and external storage devices, including disks, USBs, CDs/DVDs, and various file storage devices.

Compared to Windows File Recovery, this tool offers a more intuitive experience due to its straightforward interface and clear data recovery process. With just simple steps, users can efficiently restore lost files caused by a variety of factors, including accidental deletions and automatic file removal by Windows.

The software also breaks the OS limitation of Windows File Recovery. It is fully compatible with Windows 11/10/8/7 and Windows Server 2025/2022/2019/2016/2012.

Step 1. Install and launch AOMEI FastRecovery. Choose the exact partition or disk where your data lost and click Scan.

Step 2. Then, the recovery tool start to scan and search. lt will execute the “Quickly Scan" first for finding your deleted data fast, and then execute the “Deep Scan" for searching other lost data.

Step 3. Once the scan is completed, all deleted files, recycle bins and other missing files will be displayed. Please select the file you would like to recover and then click "Recover".

Step 4. Then, select a folder path to save your recovered files.

Step 5. Wait patiently for this process of recovering ends.

How to fix Windows File Recovery not working error

Now, if you successfully finish data recovery, we can try to fix the failed Windows File Recovery tool.

Method 1. Reinstall Windows File Recovery program

When dealing with most software-related issues, reinstalling the program might be the most effective solution. whether you experience the winfr.exe is not recognized problem or other errors that prevent the Windows 10 recovery utility from working, you may remove Windows File Recovery and reinstall it to see whether everything is back to normal.

Step 1. Press the Windows +X keys and select “Apps & features”.

Step 2. Enter “Windows File Recovery” in the search box and select it.

Step 3. Click “Uninstall”. Wait for the uninstallation to complete.

Step 4. Restart your computer and launch Microsoft Store to reinstall Windows File Recovery.

Navigate to "Settings" > "Accounts" > "Your info" to see if the account is administrator. If the logged-in account is not the administrator's, please change it before reinstalling Windows File Recovery.

Method 2. Update to the latest Windows operating system

Windows File Recovery is only accessible in Windows 10 versions 2004 and later. As a result, ineligible versions of Windows may be to blame for the "Windows File Recovery tool is not working" problem. In this case, you must update your Windows version to the appropriate version.

Step 1. Press Windows + I key combinations to open Windows Settings.

Step 2. Click Update & Security from the settings list.

Step 3. Choose the Windows Update tab, then click Check for updates in the right panel and follow the instructions on your screen to finish the update process.

Step 4. Restart your computer and check whether the Windows File Recovery tool is working now.

Method 3. Use SFC and DISM CMD

When system files are corrupted, Windows File Recovery may also fail. You may use DISM and SFC to scan and repair faulty system files.

Step 1. Press the Windows + Q keys and input “CMD” in the search box. Select “Run as administrator”.

Step 2. Input the following command lines, and press Enter after each one:

sfc / scannow

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

Step 3. Wait for the commands to execute and restart your computer and Windows File Recovery.

To sum up

When Windows File Recovery not working, here are solutions to fix the failed tool and quickly save your lost files. Sometimes there will be nothing in the target folder, which means Windows File Recovery will be unable to recover the data. It might be permanently erased. Making regular backups in daily life is thus the best way to avoid data loss.