Best File Recovery Software for Windows Computers

How to choose reliable file recovery software?

Data loss can occur due to a variety of reasons, such as hardware failure, software corruption, accidental deletion, or computer viruses. Regardless of the cause, data loss can be incredibly stressful for users.

To recover lost data safely and efficiently, it's essential to use reliable data recovery software. These tools can help you retrieve all lost data quickly and with minimal disruptions. But, there are various data recovery tools, how can you select a handy file recovery program, and what are the standards for a reliable data recovery tool?

Don’t worry, this list post is for all your questions. Now, let’s see what standard lines are important to judge an eligible file recovery program.

▶ No 1. Performance & Versatility

Many recovery apps have a common issue in that their rescue tools support only a limited range of file types. This limitation can be frustrating when trying to restore deleted photos, videos, music files, and more specific file types, such as XLS, DOC, or PDF files.

Another issue is that many recovery programs do not support external storage devices like external HDDs, memory cards, or USB flash drives. This is particularly inconvenient since most data loss incidents occur on external or portable storage devices.

To address these concerns, we recommend using versatile data recovery software with high performance. Such software should support various file types, file systems, and recovery from external storage devices while maintaining a high recovery rate. By opting for this type of software, users can recover lost data confidently and efficiently.

▶ No 2. Quick scanning

Time is a valuable commodity that no one seems to have enough of. It's unrealistic to expect users to devote an entire day to waiting for the scanning and recovering processes to complete when they need to access urgent data.

Effective data recovery software should prioritize speed to address this concern. High-performing software often includes options for high-speed scanning and even customized scanning for targeted file recovery.

A data recovery tool with fast scanning speeds and customizable scans for targeted file recovery can save time and increases efficiency, allowing users to recover lost data quickly and move on to more pressing tasks.

▶ No 3. File Preview service

A reliable data recovery program must include capabilities such as file preview, original quality preservation, and indicated recovery prospects. Before beginning the recovery procedure, users may identify which files they wish to recover using file preview. Original quality preservation guarantees that the recovered files retain their original integrity and do not suffer from data loss.

Additionally, data recovery software should display the recovery chances of each file to help users make informed decisions.

If data recovery software with file previews and original quality preservation can display recovery chances, users can experience a more efficient and effective data recovery process because these features ensure that users can recover lost files with confidence and peace of mind.

▶ No 4. User-friendly interface

Even if a data recovery app is the best in the world, it's useless if it can only be operated by the developers. Ease of use and a simple interface are essential features for any application. Many recovery programs boast flashy icons and purportedly high-tech features that serve little to no practical benefit.

End-users usually require a well-designed interface that delivers results without unnecessary complications. Therefore, we prioritize user-friendly data recovery software with a simple interface, removing superfluous elements and focusing on ease of operation for the average user.

Best 5 file recovery software for Windows PC

So, now based on the selection criteria of what we’ve listed in the above content, we collect some excellent file recovery programs for your option. You can clearly check all pros and cons of these tools and select a suitable tool according to your specific situation.

1. AOMEI Partition Assistant Professional

AOMEI Partition Assistant Professional is a Windows disk and drive manager which supports Windows 11/10/8/8.1/7/XP/Vista systems (the Server Edition supports Windows Server 2025/2022/2019/2016/2012(R2)/2008(R2)/2003).

This multifunctional tool has a “Recover Data” feature to easily and securely recover 200+ types of files from HDD, SSD, USB drives, SD cards, and other Windows storage media. Users can quickly scan the disk and retrieve lost files.

Step 1. Click “Recover” in the top toolbar and choose “Recover Data”.

Step 2. Select the drive where the deleted data is stored and click Start Scan.

Step 3. When the scan finish, all deleted files will be listed. Then, choose the target file you want to recover and click Recover file.

Step 4. Here, select a path to save the recovered file.

Step 5. When the recovery is over, click OK to exit it.

Besides the recovery function, this tool also has other practical functions like disk cloning, OS migration, app mover, disk wiping, disk speed test, etc. With only one tool, you can fix various PC problems when something wrong occurs.

2. R-Studio

R-Studio is a powerful data recovery software designed to retrieve lost data from various file systems, including NTFS, exFAT, FAT, and HFS+. The software's intuitive interface allows users to navigate the program with ease, making it a popular choice for both home and business users.

One of R-Studio's key strengths is its ability to recover data from damaged or corrupted storage devices such as hard drives, flash drives, and memory cards. With support for RAID and NAS devices, the software can even recover data from networked storage solutions.

R-Studio offers customizable scans for targeted file recovery, making it an efficient tool for retrieving specific files quickly. The software also includes a preview feature, allowing users to view recovered files before confirming their restoration.

Additionally, R-Studio offers advanced features like virtual RAID reconstruction, allowing for the recovery of data from damaged or broken RAID arrays. This makes it a valuable tool for businesses that rely on RAID setups for data storage.

In all, unlike other data recovery programs on the market, R-Studio is primarily aimed at experts who are already familiar with the ins and outs of data recovery. It supports all popular file systems and partition layout techniques, as well as damaged or deleted partitions.

3. PhotoRec

PhotoRec is a powerful and free data recovery software that specializes in retrieving lost digital photos and videos. The software is compatible with Windows, macOS, and Linux, making it a versatile tool for users on different operating systems.

One of PhotoRec's notable features is its ability to recover data from various storage devices, including hard drives, memory cards, USB flash drives, and CD-ROMs. The software supports an extensive range of file formats, including popular photo and video file types such as JPEG, PNG, AVI, and MP4.

PhotoRec's user interface may appear basic, but the software's command-line interface offers advanced configuration options for tech-savvy users. It also prioritizes user privacy by not writing anything to the drive being scanned, ensuring that there is no risk of overwriting or further damaging any lost data.

What’s more, PhotoRec offers customizable scan options, allowing users to target specific file types and locations within the storage device. The software also includes a preview feature, enabling users to review recovered files before restoring them.

PhotoRec's text-only user interface is notorious for frightening inexperienced users away, although the data recovery method is rather self-explanatory. Sure, novices may benefit from additional guidance, but that's what the official material is for.

4. Recuva

Recuva is a popular and user-friendly data recovery tool designed to retrieve lost or deleted files from various storage devices. It is compatible with Windows operating systems, including the latest Windows 10.

Recuva boasts an intuitive interface that makes it easy for users, even those without technical expertise, to navigate the program. The software supports various file systems such as FAT, NTFS, exFAT, and ReFS, increasing its versatility in recovering data.

One of Recuva's key features is its ability to recover data from damaged or corrupted storage devices, including hard drives, USB flash drives, memory cards, and iPods. The software can also recover data lost due to system crashes or viruses.

It allows users to customize scans based on specific file types or locations within the storage device, allowing for targeted recovery. The software also includes a preview feature, enabling users to view recovered files before proceeding with the restoration process.

This tool also offers both free and paid versions, with the paid version providing additional features such as automatic updates and premium customer support.

The user interface of Recuva is reminiscent of the Windows XP era. Recuva was published during the transition phase from Windows XP to Windows Vista. Rucuva's most recent significant upgrade (v1.53) was issued in 2016, and the program has only gotten minor changes since then.

5. Wondershare Recoverit

Recoverit from Wondershare is a comprehensive data recovery program that can recover lost or deleted files from a variety of storage media such as hard drives, memory cards, USB flash drives, and more. Because the program is compatible with both Windows and macOS, it is available to a wide range of users.

Recoverit features a user-friendly interface, allowing users to navigate the program with ease. The software supports various file systems such as FAT, NTFS, exFAT, and APFS, enabling it to recover data lost due to system crashes, viruses, or accidental deletion.

One of Recoverit's standout features is its advanced Deep Scan mode, which can recover data from damaged or corrupted storage devices that other software may not be able to detect. The software also supports RAID and RAW file recovery, further increasing its versatility in recovering lost data.

Recoverit allows users to customize scans based on specific file types or locations within the storage device, making it easy to target recovery efforts. The software also includes a preview feature, enabling users to view recovered files before restoring them to their original location.

To wrap up

We've built an interactive file recovery software selector to save you time in determining the best option for your needs. You can check your case to select a suitable tool. But if you want an all-around PC tool, then AOMEI Partition Assistant is your best option.