win recovery

Have you ever been in a situation where an unexpected power outage, a sudden system crash, or an accidental click has deleted your crucial files? Considering the digital age we are in, most of our precious family photos, critical work documents, or essential research is in the form of data, and the loss of such data on a Windows system can be devastating.

Fear not; irrespective of the state of data loss, some tools can arguably recover most data. Dive into this article to discover the best Windows data recovery software, ensuring you’re never helpless when data loss occurs.

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Top 7 data recovery software for Windows 11/10

1. EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard

easeus

  • Supported platforms: Windows, Mac
  • Supported storage media: Hard drives, USB drives, SD cards, and more
  • Supported file formats (Windows):PEGs, TIFFs, PNGs, CRWs, NEFs, ORFs, DNGs, MP3s, WAVs, etc.

Right off the bat, EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard impresses with its top-class interface. Even if you’re not tech-savvy, navigating the software is easy. The high-end preview quality lets you see the files you’re about to recover, eliminating any guesswork.

One of the standout features of EaseUS is its ability to recover unlimited data. It can recover most of the data if you’ve lost a single file or an entire drive’s worth. Also, we found the fast scanning feature reliable as it quickly recovered most of the recently deleted files.

Usually, recovering lost data takes a lot of time, and there’s no point in retrieving a file if it’s corrupted or unusable. Thankfully, the quality of the recovered files remained intact, as if they were never lost in the first place.

The primary concern we felt with EaseUS is its pricing. At $59.95 for an annual subscription and $89.95 for a perpetual license, it’s pricier than some of its competitors, and users on a tight budget might not afford it.

Additionally, while the software is packed with features, it misses out on one key functionality: the ability to select a specific folder for scanning. This can be a bit of a hassle if you know exactly where you lost your data and want to focus on that area.

Most importantly, for those considering the free package, it’s worth noting that there’s a 2GB data recovery limit. While this might be sufficient for recovering small data, anything more substantial would require an upgrade.

2. Wondershare Recoverit

Recoverit 1

  • Supported platforms: Windows, Mac, Linux
  • Supported storage media: Hard drives, USB drives, SD cards, and more
  • Supported file formats (Windows): JPG, TIFF/TIF, PNG, BMP, GIF, PSD, CR2, WMF, ERF, RAW, etc.

One of the first things you’ll notice about Wondershare Recoverit is its intuitive interface. A simple theme enhances usability and especially benefits those who might not be tech-savvy.

Diving deeper into its features, Wondershare Recoverit stands out with its ability to support many file types and formats. This is particularly advantageous for professionals working across different platforms and media. For instance, a graphic designer who’s lost a mix of PSD, AI, and JPEG files would find this feature invaluable.

Another feature that deserves mention is the preview option. After scanning, the software lets you preview the files, ensuring you only retrieve what’s necessary.

Additionally, for those who’ve faced the frustration of corrupted video files, Recoverit offers a video repair feature. This ensures that your memories or work presentations remain intact, retaining their original quality.

While using Wondershare Recoverit, we had a laggy experience and observed slow hard drive reading and writing speeds, which need to be verified, as it consumed a lot of resources.

Regarding pricing, it is on the higher side, with a minimum of $69.99 for an annual subscription and a $119.99 perpetual license. However, on the bright side, Wondershare has provided flexibility by providing multiple plans.

3. iBoysoft

iBoysoft

  • Supported platforms: Windows, Mac
  • Supported storage media: Hard drives, USB drives, SD cards, and more
  • Supported file formats (Windows): PPT, PPTX, PDF, PDA, CRW, JPEG, JPG, PNG, PSD, etc.

One of the standout features of iBoysoft is its ability to recover data from various formats, including APFS, HFS+, exFAT, and FAT32. Additionally, the software permits users to preview files before recovery.

For those who’ve faced the agonizing wait of slow recovery processes, iBoysoft offers both Speedy and Deep Scan options. If you’re in a rush, the Speedy Scan might find your lost file instantly. But if finding the file turns out to be difficult, the Deep Scan searches deeper, ensuring nothing is left behind.

A significant advantage of iBoysoft is its efficiency. Whether you’re using a high-end machine or an older model, the software doesn’t demand much, ensuring smooth operation. Speaking of older models, iBoysoft works seamlessly on Windows versions ranging from Windows XP to the latest Windows 11.

However, the biggest issue of iBoysoft lies with the outdated interface. Additionally, while the software does allow file previews post-scan, it doesn’t offer a preview during the scanning process. Lastly, for those wanting the Bitlocker recovery feature, it’s sad to say it is locked behind the Professional Edition.

Regarding pricing, it is expensive as well, with a minimum of $69.95 for an annual subscription. Unfortunately, there is no perpetual plan, but the plan structure featuring Basic, Professional, and Technician makes it easier to choose the right plan.

4. Stellar Data Recovery

stellar

  • Supported platforms: Windows, Mac
  • Supported storage media: Hard drives, USB drives, SD cards, and more
  • Supported file formats (Windows): JPEG, JPG,MP4, WMV, DOCX, RTF, AIF/AIFF, M4A, ZIP, RAR, etc.

Stellar Data Recovery stands out as an effective data recovery tool, particularly for those who might not be tech-savvy. This is because of its user-friendly interface, guided three-step recovery process, and ability to retrieve lost files without hassle.

Patience is important while using this software, as its deep scans can be time-consuming, but on the bright side, the chances of recovering your precious data are significantly high.

The feature we loved the most was the ability to pause, resume, or save scans for later. Once the lost files are found, you can narrow the list using the sort, search, and preview features.

For extreme cases, the software offers a bootable recovery drive, enhancing the chances of retrieving data from internal drives. And if all efforts fall short, Stellar provides a professional recovery service at an extra cost.

Regarding pricing, Stellar offers the standard plan, which is reasonably priced at $59.99/year, ideal for basic recovery tasks. You must check out Premium and Technician Plans if you need advanced features.

The free plan, though limited to recovering just 1 GB of data, can be a quick fix for small data loss. Plus, the free trial lets users ensure their lost files can be located before making a purchase, which is usually locked by most.

5. Tenorshare 4DDiG

4ddig

  • Supported platforms: Windows, Mac
  • Supported storage media: Hard drives, USB drives, SD cards, and more
  • Supported file formats (Windows): JPEG, JPG, MP4, WMV, DOCX, RTF, AIF/AIFF, M4A, ZIP, RAR, etc.

4DDiG is a data recovery tool that stands out for its user-friendliness, making it accessible to both novices and tech enthusiasts. With 4DDiG, you can recover over a thousand file formats, ensuring that almost any lost file can be retrieved.

Its three-step recovery process simplifies what could be a daunting task, and its ability to perform RAW file recovery delves deep into the raw data, enhancing the chances of successful file restoration.

Moreover, the software’s selective recovery feature is a boon for those who know exactly where they lost their data. Instead of scanning an entire drive, users can pinpoint specific folders or drives, saving precious time.

Furthermore, 4DDiG’s compatibility with various internal and external storage devices broadens its utility. Regarding pricing, whether annual ($45.95) or perpetual ($79.95) is reasonably affordable.

However, there’s a catch. While the free scan lets you see the recoverable files, you must purchase a license to save them. Additionally, while 4DDiG boasts a faster scan time than its competitors, larger drives might require patience. But considering its comprehensive features and affordability, it’s a small price.

6. R-Studio Data Recovery

r studio

  • Supported platforms: Windows, Mac, Linux
  • Supported storage media: Hard drives, USB drives, SD cards, and more
  • Supported file formats (Windows): JPEG, JPG, MP4, WMV, DOCX, RTF, AIF/AIFF, M4A, ZIP, RAR, etc.

R-Studio Data Recovery software is a robust tool with many features to help you recover lost data. The user interface, while feature-rich, is complex, and the operating steps can be complicated, making it less friendly for novice users.

One of its standout features is its ability to easily recover data from damaged, deleted, and formatted partitions. Moreover, R-Studio can recover files from devices with unknown file systems, including DVDs, floppy drives, USB drives, and other removable media.

This is particularly useful when dealing with older storage devices or those that Windows doesn’t recognize. While some might find this inconvenient, R-Studio Data Recovery software offers a perpetual license ($49.99 for Windows, $79.99 for Mac and Linux) and no annual subscriptions.

Additionally, the ability to customize known file types can make finding specific files easier, saving you time and effort.

The lack of a preview function can be inconvenient, as it doesn’t allow you to see the files before recovering them. This could lead to unnecessary recovery of unwanted files, taking up valuable time and storage space.

Another downside is the absence of a pause button during scanning. If you need to stop the process for any reason, you’ll have to start all over again, which can be frustrating and time-consuming.

7. Recuva

recuva

  • Supported platforms: Windows
  • Supported storage media: Hard drives, USB drives, SD cards, and more
  • Supported file formats (Windows): JPEG, JPG, MP4, WMV, DOCX, RTF, ZIP, RAR, etc.

Recuva is a powerful tool with many features to help you easily retrieve lost data. Despite its features, the user interface is simple and intuitive, making it a friendly option even for new users.

It is known for its free version, which has arguably become one of the best options for looking for a quick, no-cost data recovery solution. The software’s ability to analyze data damage and its contents is a standout feature, providing users with a comprehensive understanding of their data loss situation.

With Recuva’s quick scan mode, you can swiftly retrieve your file, saving you from potential hours of redoing your work. For more complex data loss scenarios, like a system crash, the deep scan mode is handy, digging deeper into your system to recover lost files.

On the other hand, the advanced mode, which allows you to set up scanning rules and preview files, is a lifesaver when dealing with large data and needing to recover specific files.

However, Recuva is not without its drawbacks. The scanning speed is relatively slow, which can be frustrating when you’re in a hurry to recover your data. Moreover, the recovery results can sometimes be unstable, leading to partially recovered or corrupted files.

Another limitation is that Recuva is only available for Windows. However, for a mere $19.95, upgrading to Recuva Professional, which offers additional features and premium support, is ideal for those on a tight budget.

Conclusion

Data loss is quite often in the digital era, but thankfully, there are many solutions available to assist you in recovering your lost files. The top data recovery tools for Windows have all been discussed in this article, each with its features, advantages, and disadvantages. Here is a recap for each.

  • EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard stands out for its unlimited data recovery and high-quality file restoration, despite its higher price point.
  • Wondershare Recoverit features an intuitive interface and extensive file format support, while iBoysoft offers efficient recovery processes and compatibility with older Windows versions.
  • Stellar Data Recovery is user-friendly and offers a professional recovery service, and Tenorshare 4DDiG is known for its user-friendliness and affordability.
  • R-Studio is a robust tool best suited for technical users, and Recuva shines as a free, easy-to-use option, especially for Windows users.

The selection of data recovery software mostly depends on your unique requirements, budget, and technical proficiency. To make an informed choice and guarantee that you’re never left helpless when data loss occurs, it’s essential to go through this article, and if you’re unsure, we suggest trying each tool’s trial version.

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