10 Free recovery software for lost or deleted files

Lost your photos, documents, videos, music or any other important files? Don’t panic. There still are many chances to recover them up.

With tons of free software to recover lost or deleted data out there, you can restore your accidentally deleted files or archives from the most commonly used storage devices – internal and external hard drives, portable devices such as memory cards, flash drives, digital cameras and even smartphones easily. Here is a small list with at least 10 free lost files recovery software to help you get your stuff back.

Is it really possible to recover deleted files?

Yes. When you delete a file on windows and then empty the recycle bin right away, the file still stays on the data storage device were you removed it from, whether it is a hard drive, flash drive or even a memory card.

This happens because, windows only removes the reference of the deleted archive from the place where it keeps its files and then free up some space for new data entrance. While the space is not occupied yet, it is still possible to recover the files that were previously located there.

How to recover deleted files?

Before using one of the programs listed below, it is important to take some precautions in advance. Here are some useful tips on how you can deal with an accidental data deletion.

1 – It is highly recommended to not store any new file in the storage device were the deleted file was located. A new file can overwrite the one that you are trying to recover and make even harder or almost impossible to get it back.

2 – If you need to recover the files that were in the system unit (generally disk C), don’t install any new program on your computer. The best thing to do is use a portable recover program for recovering. Download it on another computer and then put it on a flash drive.

3 – Also, make sure you keep your system as unaltered as possible. Don’t open and close programs randomly. This can help creating new temporary files that might occupy the deleted archive or file space.

4 – After launching any of the data loss recovery tools, save the recovered files on another drive. Never save them in the same disk where you deleted or lost them previously.

Following these recommendations, you can increase the chances of successfully recovering your deleted or lost file. Try one of these following free data recovery software and get your stuff back in no time.

Lost data recovery programs:

1 – Recuva

Recuva is a free data recovery software that allows you to easily recover files that where deleted from an internal or external hard drive, memory cards, flash drives and other kinds of data storage devices. Recuva is also available in portable versions and, it is compatible with almost every popular windows versions, from XP, 7, 8 and as well as windows 10.

2 – Disk Drill

Disk Dril is a free program that lets you recover deleted or lost data on windows easily. With Disk Dril you can recover documents, pictures, videos, music and many other archives deleted from an internal and external hard drive, flash drive, memory cards and other devices. It is compatible with every windows versions.

3 – QPhotoRec

QPhotoRec is one of the most efficient lost data recovery programs. Despite the name, it recovers all kind of deleted files, not only photos but also, documents, videos, music and others. It works for internal and external HD’s, flash drives, memory cards and is also compatible with all windows versions.

4 – Power Data Recovery

Power Data Recovery is another free program to recover lost or deleted files or data, it can help you get back files deleted from a hard disk, memory card, flash drives, formatted or deleted partitions, CD/DVD, etc. When it comes to compatibility it works with any windows versions that are still in use – XP, Vista, 7, 8 and windows 10.

5 – DiskDigger

DiskDigger is a free recovery software that offers an easy way to recover different kinds of deleted files and archives such as documents, videos, music, photos and others deleted from internal and external HD’s, flashdrives, memory cards and other extensions. It is compatible with every windows versions.

6 – iCare Data Recovery Free

iCare Data Recovery is a powerful free data recovery software that allows you to recover deleted files and archives from a hard drive, flash, SD card, digital camera and other medias. It is compatible with windows 10, windows 8, 7, Vista and XP.

7 – Lazesoft Data Recovery

Lazesoft Data Recovery is a free program that allows recover deleted archives from HD’s, memory cards, flashes. It is compatible with any windows versions and also offers a boot disc to help you safely recover windows lost partitions.

8 – Data Recovery Wizard Free

Data Recovery Wizard Free is another free tool to help you get your stuff back. It allows you easily restore different formats of deleted archives deleted from hard drives, memory cards, flashes and other devices. It is compatible with every windows versions.

9 – Undela

Undela is another free recovery program that help you recover archives and files deleted from a hard drive, flash, memory card, digital camera and other storage devices. It works on windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8/8.1 and Windows 10.

10 – Wise Data Recovery

Wise Data Recovery is free software that allows you to easily recover in a fast way all your deleted files or archives. It is available in an installable and also portable version, and it is compatible with windows 10, 8, 7, and XP.

Did I miss something, is there something you want to add? Please, leave it in the comments. I would be glad to hear a response from you.