AOMEI FastRecovery
Fixed: Windows File Recovery There Was An Error Parsing Your Command
The "Windows File Recovery there was an error parsing your command" error indicates a problem with your command. Learn how to solve the issue or use professional data recovery tool.
By Lucas / Updated on August 26, 2024
In 2020, Microsoft launched Windows File Recovery, a tool for getting back lost files. Users can get it from the Microsoft Store. Microsoft says that Windows File Recovery can get back a lot of different types of lost files from local storage devices. These include photos, movies, documents, and more.
Although it has many great features, it is not very user-friendly for people unfamiliar with codes since it is a command-line app and not a graphical user interface.
A lot of people will be confused about how to use Windows File Recovery, and some will have problems while they're doing it. One of them is "Windows File Recovery: There was a problem parsing your command." We will talk about this problem and find a good solution in this piece.
Error: Windows File Recovery there was an error parsing your command
The error message "Windows File Recovery there was an error parsing your command" typically indicates that the command entered in the Command Prompt (CMD) is incorrect or improperly formatted. Windows File Recovery is a command-line tool, so the syntax must be precise to work properly. If you need to use Windows File Recovery, make sure that Windows File Recovery supports the file paths and wildcards: winfr source-drive: destination-drive: [/mode] [/switches]
Check command line syntax of Windows File Recovery
# 1. The source drive and the target drive
You choose the original drive and the destination drive, which is an important part of the Windows File Recovery command syntax.
And just to be clear, the source drive is where you lost the files, and the destination drive is where you want to store the files that have been restored.
Check to see if you've met these needs now.
1. The source drive and the target drive should be different.
2. Make sure that both the source drive and the destination drive have a valid drive letter. If they don't, you might get the error message "Windows File Recovery failed to create destination folder."
3: There should be a colon after both the source drive and the target drive. For example, the C drive should be written as C:
4: There is a space between the source drive and the target drive. For example, if you want to move files from the C drive to the D drive, the path would be C: D:.
# 2. Use of backslashes and slashes
The marks slashes and backslashes are mostly used in computers. When you use Windows File Recovery, the forward slash (/) represents a recovery mode or switch, and the backslash (\) represents a directory. For example, \Users\username\DataRecovery\ should be used to name a folder on the C: drive "DataRecovery."
1. When you use a restore mode or switch, don't forget the slash /.
2. There is no space between the slash (/) and the recovery mode or switch name, like /regular or /n.
3. There is a space between the switch pattern and the recovery mode pattern, like /extensive /n.
4. Use backslashes to show a folder, and don't forget to add one at the end of the folder name, like this: /n \foldername\
# 3. Directory
It's hard to show the location of the files, also known as "targeting" the files. For one thing, users don't always aim for the right place to find files. For another, the name of the file directory has to be very exact or the system won't be able to find the path that was given.
1. When targeting the file path, please offer the original location of the files, i.e., where the file was before deleting/missing.
2. To target the exact file path, go to the folder and copy the file path in the location bar.
3. If your deleted files were on the desktop, the correct file path is C:\Users\username\Desktop\foldername\.
4. If there are spaces in the file/folder name, please put quotation marks at the ends of the file/folder. e.g. "\Program Files\Clash for Windows\".
Employ handy Windows File Recovery alternative tool
We always want to save time and effort instead of battling with complicated commands and settings, don't you think? You might be able to avoid orders with AOMEI FastRecovery. It has advanced scanning methods and is backed by a smart team with more than 10 years of experience. It can help you easily get back lost files in Windows 10 or 11 in just 3 steps.
• Support all Windows 11/10/8/8.1/7 and all Windows Server 2025/2022/2019/2016/2012.
• The two main methods are Quick Scan and Deep Scan. Both methods will carefully look through your disk for lost or removed data. This makes data recovery simple, quick, and very likely to work.
• You can get back documents (like Word documents), pictures, music, videos, emails, compressed files, and more in more than 200 formats.
• You can quickly search for or sort lost files, see previews of them, and recover them while they're scanning if needed.
• It is easy to get back data that has been lost or wiped on an internal hard disk or external disk (HDD or SSD), USB, SD card, and other devices.
Step 1: Install and launch AOMEI FastRecovery on your computer.
Step 2: Select a location to scan first to find the lost data on your Windows.
Step 3: It Will take some time to scan and find the lost data. Wait patiently.
Note: AOMEI FastRecovery provides two scan modes, Quickly Scan and Deep Scan. The Quickly Scan will search for your deleted data in the fastest way. The Deep Scan will make further search for other missing data.
Step 4: After the scan is complete, here you can preview the recovered files, and select the ones you want to restore. Click "Recover".
Step 5. Select a folder path to store the recovered items and click "Select Folder".
Then the recovered files will be saved in the specified location.
Bonus tips: How to keep data and files safe
The message "Windows File Recovery "There was an error parsing your command" is taken care of in this post with some helpful hints and a good Windows data recovery tool called AOMEI FastRecovery.
Not being able to afford to lose data or files is something that no one wants to happen. It doesn't matter if you are a person or a business.
To prevent data loss, it is advisable to implement measures to ensure the security of your data:
❌ Do not go to or use malware and unsafe websites because they could attack and damage your files.
❌ Antivirus software can check your files and keep them safe.
❌ As you work on the file, save it every so often.
There should be at least three copies of your files in three different places. One should be on a portable hard drive, one should be in the cloud, and one should be on your computer.
