Best 10 File Recovery Software for PC of 2025 [Free & Paid]

Since people heavily rely on computers for work and study, the issue of data loss has become a severe problem that people face regularly. It can happen to anybody when they're using a computer. No matter how careful they are, data loss is an ever-present risk. That's why you can see people are searching for the best data recovery software for PC when any of the following incidents happen.

Table of contents
How File Recovery Software for PC Works
Top 12 Best File Recovery Software for PC
Tips on How to Choose Recovery Software
How to Improve Recovery Success Rate
Conclusion
FAQs

How File Recovery Software for PC Works

It scans storage devices, including built-in PC hard drives and external USB or SD cards, for deleted, unsaved, or otherwise inaccessible data. When something is lost, it is still stored in its original location. In other words, it isn't actually gone until that space is needed and occupied again, which gives people the opportunity to locate and reconstruct it from the remaining data using tools.

Here is how the process typically goes:

  1. Analyzing the Drive: The file recovery software for PC takes a low-level evaluation of your hard drive or device, discovering erased documents that still exist.
  2. Recovering the Data: At this level, it locates any file pieces or remains left over before and goes about rebuilding them, determined by algorithms that will fit the portions of files back together.
  3. File Recovery on PC: Once your missing data is found, the software shows you a list of files that can be recovered, and you determine what to restore.

Simply put, the PC data recovery software accesses your data in its raw form on the storage and provides the possibility to get back lost data. The ease with which a file can be recovered also depends on how long it was deleted and if new data has overwritten the old.

Top 10 Best File Recovery Software for PC

When you type in "data recovery app for PC" in the Google search box, you will get many results. It's hard for you to choose the best ones. If you are worried about this, check out the following 10 options. They can all recover deleted and lost files from a Windows PC, but some features are different. Choose the one that's tailored to you.

1. iBeesoft Free Data Recovery

iBeesoft Free Data Recovery could be the best free file recovery software for PC. It offers all the features that the full version has. It can restore data lost because of deletion, system crash, hard drive format, partition loss, hard drive inaccessible, etc. Besides the 99.85% recovery success rate, it can even repair corrupted files due to partial data overwritten during the loss process.

Pros:
Recover and repair damaged videos, photos, and documents, ensuring that all the recovered files are openable.
Allows users to recover up to 2GB files for totally free. It's enough for ordinary documents and a few photos recovery.
Supports 3000 file types, 2000 storage devices, and all data loss scenarios.
Cons:
The scanning speed is a little bit slow.
Only common data types can be previewed before recovery.

2. Recuva

There are two versions of Recuva: the Free Version and the Professional Version. The only difference is that the latter can retrieve files from virtual disks, but it requires payment. Both versions support most branded hard drives, memory cards, USB sticks, and floppy disks. This is a lightweight file recovery freeware that supports multiple languages in addition to the English version.

Pros:
The free version is totally free, and the professional version is low-cost.
Recuva comes with a very clear and simple interface, easy-to-use.
It's suitable for beginners to recover lost files from a PC.
Cons:
It doesn't support many file formats.
No automatic update.

3. Disk Drill

It is a comprehensive file recovery software that comes with features for data recovery, monitoring, byte-for-byte backups, and clean-up trash. Not considering its high price, Disk Drill is also a great management tool for Windows PC.

Disk Drill recovers data lost in almost any file loss scenario, including unexpected deletion, system crash, virus attack, storage damage/corruption, etc. It supports hundreds of file formats and is compatible with most storage device file systems.

Pros:
Shows recovery chances and allows to preview before recovery.
High capabilities with file types and storage devices.
Cons:
Only recovers 500MB of data with the Disk Drill basic version. To saved more files, you need to pay for the advanced version.
Not able to create bootable disks.
High price for advanced versions.

4. Stellar Data Recovery

It is a popular data recovery software tool for PC home users. Its interface is very simple, and it comes with easy features, namely recovering daily files, including lost photos, videos, email files, documents, and more. It supports various data storage devices, recovering data from formatted, encrypted, and corrupted hard drives. The premium version repairs damaged and corrupted videos and photos.

Pros:
The easy-to-use interface is very friendly to individuals.
Allows byte-to-byte backup creation.
The free version allows 1GB of data recovery.
Cons:
Three versions are available: basic, professional, and premium, which makes it hard for users to choose.
Higher prices for advanced features.
No real-time recovery during a scan.

5. EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard

EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard is one of the best file recovery software for Windows. There is a free version for data recovery up to 2GB. If you wish to recover more, you'll need to upgrade to a paid version. It allows you to retrieve files from HDDs, SSDs, Flash drives, USB drives, SD cards, and more.

Pros:
Compatible with Windows 11, 10, 7, and Server. No matter which Windows OS you are using, you can use the tool to find lost data.
The user interface is straightforward, making the recovery process easy for users of all levels.
The tool offers a preview function so you can view the files you want to recover before you save them.
Cons:
This plan is relatively expensive when you have lost lots of data.
Deep scans are very time-consuming. Therefore, this tool may not be suitable when you need to access lost data immediately.

6. R-Studio Data Recovery Software

R-Studio is an advanced data recovery solution tailored for IT professionals. It is the tool for you if you do heavy file recovery jobs, thanks to the broad functionality that R-Studio offers. The tool also offers a smart monitoring tool that periodically checks the health of your device so you can mitigate data loss by preventing drive failure.

Pros:
Customize your searches; this way, you can fine-tune the recovery process to suit your needs.
You can further customize your search by analyzing and editing the RAW content of drives and files.
Cons:
Casual users will find this tool more expensive than its alternatives.
The tool is too complex for beginners.

7. Recoverit

Recoverit is self-acclaimed advanced and feature-rich data recovery software for PCs that comes with both free and paid versions. Although it may not be as effective as officially advertised, it can indeed help you retrieve lost files in many situations.

Pros:
Enhanced picture and video recovery makes it possible to repair damaged parts.
It contains a bootable drive that can be used to restore data from a crashed system or a PC that won't reboot.
Cons:
The price for Recoverit is relatively high, given its advanced features. It is one of the most expensive file recovery software on the market.

8. Prosoft Data Rescue

As one of the PC data recovery software tools, in addition to basic recovery, Prosoft Data Rescue is equally useful even if the device is severely damaged or corrupted. Besides, it allows users to preview, organize, and sort recovered data before they finalize the recovery process.

Pros:
If you are using this program for the first time, then you will be able to recover 1GB of files for free.
The cloning feature can save files from hard drives that have hardware problems.
Cons:
Unable to recognize lost partition.
Deep scans can be time-consuming, especially when the device is damaged.

9. IObit Undelete

To quickly restore deleted files in Windows 11 or 10, then IObit Undelete is a no-nonsense tool worth considering. You can use an external device to run it, hence minimizing the chances of overwriting lost data during installation. This is helpful if you have lost data from your computer's internal disk and there are no partitions.

Pros:
100% free file recovery software for PC.
Marks the status of recoverable files (Excellent, Good, Poor).
Cons:
The tool's deep scan is slow and does not always recover complex file types or data lost some time ago.
No dedicated customer support.

10. DiskInternals

DiskInternals is a lesser-known data recovery tool for PCs that works in Windows 11, 10, 8, 7, Vista, 2008, XP, 2003, and 2000. You can use it whether you are just recovering an accidentally deleted file or you are an IT professional in a large organization.

Pros:
The official website can recommend appropriate tools based on the data loss scenario.
It even scans encrypted information that is not visible.
Cons:
No scan button, so it's hard to tell where to start.
The files recovered by the trial version have watermarks.

Tips on How to Choose Recovery Software

Finding the right data recovery software for your PC is very important. It determines the final result of file recovery. If you don't know which to choose, take the following information as a reference:

  1. Make clear your recovery needs

    Did you accidentally delete data, or did your system crash, making it impossible to reboot and regain data? Knowing how you lost your data will help you choose a tool designed to help with that specific situation.

  2. System and Device Compatibility

    No matter which version of Microsoft Windows your PC is running or the file system of your storage device, before you install a PC data recovery software tool, you must check whether they can work with each other.

  3. Assess user friendliness

    There is no point in installing an application that you might not use. It is especially true if you are good for a paid recovery tool. Go for tools with a simple interface cle, or instructions and a step-by-step wizard.

  4. Check the supported file types

    Before you download recovery software for your PC, make sure it is compatible with the file systems you use. Does the tool support emails, photos, videos, documents, etc? Is it compatible with file formats such as .docx, .pdf, .jpg, .png, .mp3, and .mp4. What about file systems like NTFS, FAT32, and exFAT?

  5. Evaluate scanning performance

    The speed and depth of the scan are a key factor you must look into before you choose data recovery software for a PC. Check whether the system offers options for deep scans and quick scans. This way, you can choose the most appropriate scan depending on time constraints.

  6. Check for free trials

    The best data recovery tools for PCs allow you to test the tool for yourself before paying for a premium. If you are not looking for free data recovery software for PC, go with a tool that allows you to check out its features and functionality before you pay.

How to Improve Recovery Success Rate

When using data recovery software for a PC, you want to recover most or all of your data. But how do you do that? The following tips will help you increase your data recovery success rates.

  1. Stop using the affected drive

    When data is lost, stop using the affected drive immediately. Do not browse the internet, download software, or save new documents. This way, you lower the chances of overwriting any lost data and making it impossible to recover even with the best data recovery software in the market.

  2. Use the right software

    Not all data recovery software for PCs works the same. To boost your chances of recovering data, use software that is compatible with your PC and the file types you want to restore.

  3. Run a deep scan

    A deep scan goes beyond recovering recently deleted files to scouring your hard drive for files you may have lost to complex issues. Although it will take longer than a quick scan, a deep scan will increase the chances of recording data you lost a while ago through a system crash or corruption by malware.

  4. Use a different device

    Want to know a critical mistake people make when recovering lost files? Installing recovery software for Windows on the affected device. They end up overwriting the very files they are trying to recover. Don't make the same mistake. Use a different device to retrieve your lost files.

  5. Recover data to a different location

    It's not enough to recover your lost files from a different device; you must also save the recovered files in a different location. Why? Because saving to the original location might overwrite other lost files, making them impossible to recover.

  6. Use professional services for critical data loss

    While free data recovery software for Windows 10 or 11 may be sufficient for recovering accidentally deleted files, you may need a more professional alternative when data is lost due to a system crash or malware attacks or when vast volumes of data are lost.

Conclusion

Data recovery does not have to be complicated. The best data recovery software for PCs can easily recover lost data. With the above tools, you will be well-armed if you lose important files. Determine the best between a paid and free version to suit your needs. Most importantly, remember to put strategies in place to protect your data from loss as you go forward.

FAQs

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