THE BEST DATA RECOVERY SOFTWARES
No one is safe from unfortunate data loss. Whether you are the victim of a hard drive crash, accidental deletion of files, or even a virus infection from your PC, the loss of your documents, photos and videos might not be permanent.
Fortunately, there is software that specializes in recovering deleted files. While most are easy to find deleted files, data recovery depends on several parameters and can never be 100% guaranteed.
A file deleted from storage media is, in fact, not really. When a file is stored on a hard drive, the location it is in is shown as busy. Once this file is “deleted”, the storage area where the document was located is indicated as free. Physically, the file is still present on the storage medium, until new data is written back to it.
To hope to recover as many files as possible, you should therefore never work directly from the storage medium on which you want to recover your files.
The editorial staff of Telecharger.com has selected for you the best data recovery software that will allow you to recover your files, both on the hard drive of your PC, as well as on an external hard drive, a USB key and even a memory card. .
1. Recover all your data on hard drive, USB stick, memory card
Recuva
With its easy-to-learn interface, Recuva is aimed at both beginners and advanced users. The software is compatible with hard disks as well as with USB keys and memory cards.
Recuva Recuva – Recuva
Once opened, Recuva displays a wizard that will offer you, if you wish, to target the search for deleted files on a specific type of file (photos, videos, music, documents, etc.), and will ask you for the location on which you want to search (the whole computer, on a removable storage device, in the My Documents directory, in the recycle bin, etc.). If the first scan does not give a convincing result, Recuva offers an option to launch a deep scan of the disk (Deep Scan). This can take several hours, but will increase your chances of recovering your files.
When Recuva has finished its scan, the list of all recoverable items is displayed. All you have to do is select the files you want to find and click on the Recover button to start the recovery process.
Recuva for Windows (Free)
Recuva Portable for Windows (Free)
DiskDrill
Well known to Mac users, DiskDrill is now available on PC. This data recovery utility has a major advantage: a simple and intuitive interface, accessible to all.
Detecting both internal drives and external storage devices (USB drives, memory cards, and even iPods), DiskDrill has multiple recovery algorithms and performs quick scan and deep scan if necessary, until all recoverable files are found.
Once the scan is complete, all you have to do is select a backup directory, then click the “Recover” button to start file recovery. The free version of the utility can recover up to 500MB of data.
DiskDrill for Windows (Free)
DiskDrill for Mac (Free)
Microsoft File Recovery
For several months now, Microsoft has been offering Microsoft File Recovery, its own data recovery application. Completely free, it can be downloaded from the Microsoft Store, but is intended for an informed audience.
And for good reason, Microsoft File Recovery does not have a graphical interface. The application works entirely on command lines. It will allow you to recover accidentally deleted data from any storage medium (hard drive, SSD, USB stick, memory card, etc.).
The utility supports NTFS, FAT, ExFAT and ReFS file systems and offe
rs three modes of operation: Default (to recover recently deleted data), and Segment and Signature to launch a more in-depth search for corrupted or damaged storage devices. been formatted.
Microsoft File Recevory for Windows (Free)
PC Inspector File Recovery
Capable of operating on both NTFS and FAT12 / 16/32 file systems, PC Inspector File Recovery is capable of recovering your deleted data from hard drives, USB drives, memory cards, etc.
The program automatically detects the partitions of your disks, even if the boot sector is damaged or deleted. In addition to recovering your files, PC Inspector File Recovery restores the various timestamps of your documents. The tool can recover data on disks locally, but also on network storage media.
PC Inspector File Recovery for Windows (Free)
UndeleteMyFilesPro
UndeleteMyFiles Pro is, despite its name, completely free software.
UndeleteMyFiles UndeleteMyFiles – UndeleteMyFiles
The interface of the program is simple, and, after clicking on File Rescue and then selecting the volume on which you want to recover the deleted data (hard drive, usb stick, etc.), UndeleteMyFiles Pro launches a quick scan.
Once this is complete, a pop-up will appear showing you the number of documents found that can be retrieved. To access it, all you have to do is select the volume in the left column, then select the files that you can recover by clicking on Recover, and finally choose a destination directory. Simple and efficient.
UndeleteMyFiles Pro for Windows (Free)
Puran File Recovery
Puran File Recovery, on the other hand, can perform an in-depth search to find all the files that can still be recovered on a hard drive or an external storage device (USB sticks, memory cards, etc.) in FAT12 / 16/32 formats. and NTFS.
Very easy to use, Puran File Recovery only asks you to select the storage medium on which the files have been deleted, then to choose the type of search to perform. After performing a first quick scan, the tool displays the items found to be recoverable.
It is quite possible to re-run a more in-depth analysis by checking the appropriate box to find more elements. This type of research obviously takes longer than traditional analysis, but increases your chances of recovering your data. The list of found recoverable files then appears in the lower window of the program. It is also possible, by checking the box provided for this purpose, to display the files found with their native tree structure.
The recovery is then done very easily, by selecting the items to save and then clicking on the Recover button.
Download Puran File Recovery for Windows (Free)
Glary Undelete
Compatible with most file systems (NTFS + EFS, FAT, NTFS), Glary Undelete is able to recover your deleted files, both on hard drive, USB stick or memory card.
The program knows how to search for compressed files, can find fragmented documents and even offers the option of recovering encrypted files. Once the scan is started, the list of recoverable data is displayed directly in the main window of the software. Search results can be filtered by name, date, size, etc. to make it easier for you to find your most important documents.
Then just select the files to recover and then click on the Recover button which will start the file recovery process.
Download Glary Undelete for Windows (Free)
RecoveRX
Who better than a storage device manufacturer to offer a data recovery tool? Transcend demonstrates this perfectly with its RecoveRX utility, an easy-to-use recovery software primarily intended for the general public
Compatible with hard drives as well as SSDs, memory cards and other USB keys, RecoveRX is able to recover all types of file formats: images, videos, documents, etc. Its main advantage lies in an intuitive interface incorporating a real recovery wizard that guides you through the different stages of the process. Indeed, upon opening, RecoveRX displays the list of detected devices on which it is able to search for deleted files. The next st
ep offers you to select the file extensions to search first for each type of file.
All items recovered by RecoveRX are automatically backed up to the root of your PC’s system drive in a directory called Recovered Files. Remember, however, to choose a directory or backup device that is different from the system drive to avoid overwriting to the system drive and running the risk of negating your chances of recovering deleted files.
RecoveRX for Windows (Free)
RecoveRX for Mac (Free)
Wise Data Recovery
The Wise Data Recovery utility is capable of recovering data both from your PC hard drive and from external storage devices such as USB drives, memory cards and other external hard drives.
Very easy to use thanks to its perfectly intuitive interface, Wise Data Recovery operates on any type of file. You can thus recover your documents, photos, videos very easily after launching the analysis of the media concerned.
To ensure that data recovery works correctly, Wise Data Recovery requires you to use another storage medium to recover erased data, to ensure that no data can be written to the medium. source, which would lead to permanent loss of compromised files.
Finally, note that while Wise Data Recovery allows you to recover your deleted files individually, it is also able to find complete directories.
Wise Data Recovery for Windows (Free)
Wise Data Recovery Portable for Windows (Free)
Undelete 360
After selecting the storage medium on which to recover your data, Undelete 360 launches an in-depth scan to find your files.
The program, which works with hard drives as well as USB sticks and memory cards, supports file systems formatted as NTFS, NTFS5, FAT12, FAT16 and FAT32.
Capable of recovering all types of files, Undelete 360 displays the recoverable items in a list showing the file name, status, size, and date of creation. To make sure you are getting the correct items, the utility offers a preview window where you can preview the file. The recovery of the files is done very simply, by selecting the different elements, then clicking on the Recover button.
Undelete 360 for Windows (Free)
2. Recover Wi-Fi connection passwords
WiFi Password Revealer
It often happens that you can forget your home Wi-Fi password when you want to connect a mobile device such as a smartphone, tablet or even a portable console. While it is possible to find the Wi-Fi connection password on Windows, the manipulation to do so is far from intuitive.
You have to enter several connection settings menus before you can finally find the password and be able to display it in plain text on the screen. To avoid this, there are utilities that take care of recovering the connection password for you very quickly. This is what, for example, the WiFi Password Revealer utility offers.
Once opened, the program is responsible for finding all the Wi-Fi passwords (WEP / WPA) that you could have entered and saved on your machine. WiFi Password Revealer even allows you to directly copy a selected password and paste it directly into the login window, handy if you are used to imagining long passwords, but still provide security for your connection.
Wi-Fi Password Revealer for Windows (Free)
Wireless KeyView
Another possible alternative to find the password of your Wi-Fi connection: WirelessKeyView.
This free utility works the same as Wi-Fi PassWord Revealer. WirelessKeyView will also dig directly into the intricacies of your computer to find the history of Wi-Fi passwords saved in your PC connection settings.
Its use is also childish since WirelessKeyView directly displays all the usernames and connection passwords stored on your machine. All you have to do is copy the required password and paste it directly into your login window. If you want to keep a physical copy of your Wi-Fi connection passwords, WirelessKeyView offers to export them to a text file which you can then print. However, be careful to secure the storage of this sensitive data to avoid any unpleasant surprises.
WirelessKeyView for Windows (Free)
3. Recover software passwords and serial numbers
recAll
recAll is software that specializes in recovering software passwords and serial numbers.
recAll recAll – recAll
Here again the program takes you by the hand by offering an assistant who takes care of everything, or almost. Your computer is fully scanned and all recoverable items appear in a list including the name of the application, the recovered account login ID and password, and, in the case of software, the registration keys that will allow you to install them and activate them again on your computer. Once all the data has been found, recAll offers you to export it to a file (text, html, csv, etc.) that you can consult later.
recAll for Windows (Free)
ProduKey
Lighter than recAll, ProduKey is very easy to learn. The software does not require any installation and instantly displays the list of licensed software installed on your machine, along with their product ID and associated product key.
Right-clicking on a line allows you to copy the product identifier or its activation key. If you want to recover all this precious data at once, ProduKey allows you to save all perfectly organized data in a text file, including product name, identifiers and activation keys, etc.
ProduKey for Windows (Free)
4. Retrieve your personal data from Google and Apple online services
Google TakeOut
Google TakeOut is an online platform offered by Google to allow users of its services to upload their data.
Thanks to it, it is possible to recover all the personal data associated with Google applications and services: purchases and reservations, news, calendars, Googe Chrome data (favorites, history, passwords, etc.), but also contacts, Google files Drive, emails and attachments received in Gmail, and much more.
After selecting all the items you want to recover, Google Takeout generates a zipped archive containing all of your data.
Upload your personal data to Google TakeOut (Free)
Apple ID Data & Privacy
In the same vein as Google, Apple offers users of its products and services to easily recover all their personal data through its Apple ID D service.
However, you can easily recover it using MiniTool Partition Recovery. This utility specialized in the recovery of deleted, damaged or inaccessible partitions, will allow you, in a few clicks, to go back and find your precious data. Just follow the steps offered by the software wizard to quickly find missing partitions.
MiniTool Partition Recovery for Windows (Free)
TestDisk and PhotoRec
If none of the previous software has worked for you, try your luck with TestDisk. This utility, which operates on the command line, is however intended for advanced users.
Thanks to it, you can recover lost partitions, but also repair corrupt partition tables. TestDisk can recover the boot sector of your partitions, but also rebuild them. In addition to dealing with lost and corrupted partitions, TestDisk can recover your deleted files regardless of the file system used. Note that the utility cannot recover data stored on the partition from which it is run. If you are looking to recover data from your PC hard drive, you will need to connect your PC as an external hard drive in another machine.
To use TestDisk, first create a log containing technical information and scan results for your media by clicking “Create”. Then select the partition from which you want to recover lost data before choosing the type of partition table. By default, Testdisk selects the correct one.
To search for your data, then select Undelete. TestDisk displays the list of recently deleted files. Highlight the line with your files and press the C key on your keyboard to copy the items.
Navigate through your directories using the directional arrows on your keyboard, press Enter to enter the directory and press C again to paste your files.
Working hand in hand with TestDisk, PhotoRec is dedicated to photo recovery. It works on any medium regardless of its file system. PhotoRec can recover files from corrupted partitions as well as damaged or formatted file systems and supports over 180 file formats.
TestDisk for Windows (Free)
TestDisk for Mac (Free)
TestDisk for Linux (Free)
Gparted
Another option available to you, Gparted. The program, best known to Linux users for managing partitions on a hard drive, is also capable of recovering lost partitions.
And it is through the Live version, including a bootable version from CD or USB stick, that you can use Gparted Live to recover an accidentally deleted partition or repair a damaged partition. You just need to create the bootable CD or USB stick using the corresponding ISO disk image and then start your computer on it. Gparted Live then runs in its own environment and allows you to view your partition tables to manipulate them.
Gparted LiveCD (Free)
Gparted LiveUSB (Free)
6. Recover data from a PC where Windows no longer starts
Paragon Rescue Kit Free
Paragon Rescue Kit Free allows you to revive a PC that can no longer boot.
Paragon Paragon – Paragon
The tool creates a bootable CD or USB key with which you can start your PC and access its data for backup. It can be used free of charge, but requires registration on the site of its publisher, Paragon, who will send you a registration key by email to activate the software.
Once the recalcitrant computer has been started with the Paragon Rescue Kit Free CD or USB stick, you can back up the data on your disks, restore a disk, a partition or just a few files, transfer files to an external storage medium, correct booting the system, editing the registry, or cleaning up Windows user passwords by removing any user and administrator password.
Paragon Rescue Kit Free for Windows (Free)
7. Recover data on Android smartphone or iPhone
Undeleter Recover Files & Data
Undeleter Recover Files & Data mobile app specializes in Android data recovery.
Undeleter Recover files and data Undeleter Recover files and data – Undeleter Recover files and data
To work, it requires a rooted Android smartphone, but allows you to find documents accidentally deleted from your smartphone. To do this, the app scans the directory you have indicated to it beforehand (on the internal memory or the microSD card) and displays the list of deleted items that can be recovered.
Note, however, that in its free version, Undeleter Recover Files & Data only allows you to recover image files. You can then choose to save the files found on the phone memory, or simply upload them to Google Drive and Dropbox.
Undeleter Recover Files & Data for Android (Free)
MoboMarket
Another convincing solution to recover data on an Android smartphone or an iPhone: MoboMarket.
This program is designed to manage files and documents stored on your devices, but also has a particularly interesting toolkit. It allows you to recover data stored on smartphones to save them on your PC, with a view to transferring them later to a new device.
MoboMarket’s “Toolbox” thus allows you to create backups of many files: contacts, SMS, call logs, photos, applications, and even music, a very practical option especially for iPhone owners who would like to transfer stored music. on their phone to their computer. To do this, select the type of items to back up, MoboMarket takes care of creating a complete backup of this data which it stores in a dedicated directory.
MoboMarket for Windows (Free)
DiskDigger photo recovery
Never safe from mishandling, you may unintentionally delete precious photos stored on your smartphone or tablet. Rest assured, however, nothing is lost forever. DiskDigger photo recovery offers you to recover your mistakenly deleted photos in a few very quick steps.
Working without the need to root your device, DiskDigger photo recovery offers to scan the contents of your smartphone and then display all the deleted files it has detected and can be recovered.
To find your images, all you have to do is select the items to recover and then tell DiskDigger photo recovery where you want to recover the data. Be careful to select a directory that you are sure to find among the many files in the memory of your device.
DiskDigger photo recovery for Android (Free)