When files are accidentally deleted from your computer, phone, or other devices, it can be incredibly frustrating trying to recover them. Thankfully, there are free apps available that specialize in finding and restoring deleted files. In this comprehensive guide, we will look at the top free options for deleted file recovery across various platforms.
What causes files to be deleted and become unrecoverable?
Before diving into the free recovery apps, it’s important to understand what causes file deletion in the first place. When you delete a file on your device, it is not immediately erased from your storage. Instead, the space it was occupying is simply marked as available to be overwritten by new data. As long as that space has not been overwritten, recovery is often possible.
However, there are certain actions that can cause deleted files to become truly unrecoverable:
- Using disk cleanup utilities that wipe free space
- Saving new files that take up the space previously occupied by deleted files
- Formatting the drive or device that contained the deleted files
The key is to avoid these actions as soon as you realize important files have been deleted, so you don’t overwrite the old data.
Recovering deleted files on Windows
Let’s start with the best free deleted file recovery apps for Windows computers:
1. Recuva
Recuva is one of the most popular and powerful free data recovery tools available for Windows. It can retrieve accidentally deleted files from your hard drives, external USB drives, memory cards, and other storage devices.
Key features:
- Ability to scan both internal and external media
- Recovers a wide range of file types including documents, audio, video, emails, and more
- Includes a “secure overwrite” tool for permanently deleting confidential files
- Support for both FAT and NTFS file systems
- Easy wizard-based interface for guiding you through the recovery process
Recuva is undoubtedly one of the best free choices for recovering deleted files on Windows.
2. Puran File Recovery
Puran File Recovery is another freeware tool specialized in restoring deleted files on Windows. It can recover data not just from hard drives but also optical media like CDs and DVDs.
Key features:
- Lightweight and easy to use
- Scan internal and external drives
- File preview capability
- Ability to recover from formatted disks
- Supports most common file types
While the interface is fairly simple, Puran File Recovery is an efficient recovery tool especially for retrieving multimedia files like photos, videos, music, etc.
3. Wise Data Recovery
Wise Data Recovery is free data recovery software with advanced deep scanning capabilities. It can dig down to recover files that other programs may miss from inaccurately overwritten sectors.
Key features:
- Recovery from deleted or damaged partitions
- Retrieve files after malware infection
- Advanced recovery algorithms for accurate file restoration
- Supports hard drives, flash drives, memory cards, and other media
Wise Data Recovery makes an excellent complement to simpler tools like Recuva with its highly advanced scanning and file carving functions.
Recovering deleted files on Mac
Mac users also have great free options for recovering deleted files. Here are the top free Mac data recovery apps:
1. Disk Drill
Disk Drill is an excellent free recovery app for Mac OS X. It offers a simple recovery process while still providing robust scanning of internal or external drives.
Key features:
- Quick and deep scan options
- Previews files before recovery
- Protects data with Recovery Vault
- Retrieves 200+ different file formats
- Easy to use interface
Disk Drill makes file recovery accessible on Mac, even for novices. Its ample features and intuitive workflow earn it top marks.
2. PhotoRec
PhotoRec is a free, open source utility designed for recovering photos, videos, documents, and other files on Mac OS X and Linux systems. It aims for simplicity in use and configuration.
Key features:
- Recovers data from formatted or damaged filesystems
- Supports most common file types like JPG, PDF, ZIP, MP3
- Works on any type of media including memory cards and USB devices
- Straightforward interface and recovery process
For a no-frills Mac recovery app, PhotoRec hits all the main needs. It may require some technical skill to master fully.
3. TestDisk
TestDisk is another popular free and open source recovery app for Mac. It mainly focuses on partition recovery but can also undeletes files in some cases.
Key features:
- Recovers deleted partitions and repair partitions
- Works with disks having damaged filesystems
- Retrieve some deleted files
- Supports several filesystem types
For partition recovery, TestDisk is one of the top free tools on Mac. It requires some advanced knowledge but offers features lacking in other apps.
Recovering deleted files on Android
Losing files you want to keep is just as much a risk on Android mobile devices as computers. Try these excellent free Android apps for file recovery:
1. DiskDigger
DiskDigger is an outstanding recovery app available free for Android. It offers great results without extreme complexity.
Key features:
- Easy to use with clear results
- Recovers a wide array of file types
- Supports internal device storage and SD cards
- Free version allows up to 500 MB of recovery
For quick, painless file recovery directly on an Android device, DiskDigger is hard to beat and accessible for everyone.
2. DigDeep
DigDeep takes an advanced approach to digging up deleted files on Android phones and tablets. It offers tools more typical of desktop software.
Key features:
- Deep scan for fully deleted files
- Retrieves both media and documents
- Filter scan by file types
- Support for internal and external Android storage
DigDeep requires more technical skill than some recovery apps but offers a more sophisticated set of data recovery tools for Android users.
3. UndeleteMyFiles Pro
UndeleteMyFiles Pro brings professional-grade deleted file recovery to Android devices with advanced capabilities.
Key features:
- Fast scanning of Android devices
- Preview files before recovery
- Retrieve both internal and external files
- Completely free without ads or upgrade nags
With robust features rivalling desktop software, UndeleteMyFiles Pro is a great choice for trickier Android file recovery jobs.
Recovering deleted files on iPhone or iPad
The iOS platform also has free tools available for recovering deleted files:
1. TouchCopy
TouchCopy offers an extremely simple way to recover deleted photos, contacts, music, and other files on an iPhone or iPad.
Key features:
- Straightforward one-click recovery process
- Recovers photos, messages, notes, app data, and more
- Free version allows up to 500 recoveries
- Available for Windows and Mac
For quick recovery of recently deleted iOS files, TouchCopy makes the process smooth and frustration-free.
2. iMyFone iBypasser
iMyFone iBypasser provides advanced iOS file recovery capabilities along with additional handy features.
Key features:
- Recovers up to 35+ file types
- Retrieves data from lost or broken iOS devices
- Removes screen passcodes
- Downgrade iOS versions when needed
While recovery remains its focus, iMyFone iBypasser expands beyond a typical undelete app with iOS utility features.
3. Primo iPhone Data Recovery
Primo iPhone Data Recovery makes recovering lost iOS files simple yet packed with advanced options.
Key features:
- Intuitive three-step recovery process
- Scans iOS devices, iTunes, and iCloud backups
- Preview found files before recovery
- Retrieve photos, messages, contacts, notes, and more
Primo iPhone Data Recovery hits the sweet spot between an easy workflow and customizable scanning for optimum file recovery on iOS.
Conclusion
Accidentally losing important files can be a catastrophe. Fortunately, free data recovery apps provide a means to get back deleted files across Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, and other platforms.
Options like Recuva, Disk Drill, DiskDigger, and TouchCopy offer accessible undelete capabilities for common file types on major operating systems. More advanced utilities like Wise Data Recovery, DigDeep, and iMyFone iBypasser provide deeper scanning functionality and recovery tools for trickier situations.
The key with any file recovery app is to avoid overwriting the deleted data you want to restore. Once you realize files are missing, install one of these trusted free tools above to get started on recovery before it becomes impossible.
With robust undelete solutions now freely available, a few accidentally deleted files don’t have to ruin your whole day and result in data loss disasters.