Top File Recovery Freeware to Recover Deleted Files with Ease

How to recover important files when you delete them by accident? Here, you can try file recovery freeware WinfrGUI and MyRecover, which can recover deleted or lost files easily.

Penny

By Penny / Updated on November 26, 2024

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Is there any effective deleted files recovery software for Windows?

Accidentally deleting files or losing data is an all-too-common challenge in our daily computer use. Whether it’s due to a mistaken click, a system crash, or a hard drive failure, these situations often catch us off guard. Imagine the frustration and helplessness of losing a crucial work document or precious photos—it's a feeling most of us can relate to.

Fortunately, there are plenty of free file recovery tools available to help retrieve lost data. For instance, Windows File Recovery, developed by Microsoft, is a free and reliable tool capable of recovering files from hard drives, USB drives, and memory cards. If you find command-line tools too complex, its alternative, WinfrGUI, provides a more intuitive graphical interface for easier operation.

Additionally, there's another highly recommended free third-party data recovery software called MyRecover. Known for its ease of use and support for various data recovery scenarios, it’s an excellent choice to tackle file loss issues. In this guide, we’ll dive deeper into these tools and help you find the best solution to recover deleted files in Windows 10 with ease.

Recover Deleted Files

How to use Windows File Recovery to recover deleted files

Windows File Recovery is a file recovery freeware, which was released quietly by Microsoft in 2020 and can recover deleted or lost media/office/compressed files from healthy/corrupted/formatted HDD/SSD/USB/memory cards in Windows 10 2004 and above. Refer to the following steps on how to use it to restore deleted files.

Step 1. Get Windows File Recovery from the Microsoft Store first.

microsoft-store-get

Step 2. Check your disk file system. Navigate to This PC > right-click on the drive that has lost files > Properties.

check-file-system

Step 3. Choose a recovery mode.

File system Scenarios mode
NTFS Deleted recently Regular
NTFS Deleted for a while Extensive
NTFS Formatted disk Extensive
NTFS corrupted disk Extensive
FAT and exFAT Any Extensive

Step 4. Choose switches to help you narrow the scanning range.

Switches Meaning Supported mode(s)
/n Filter the scan range: scans for a specific file with its file name/path/type, etc. All
/y: Recovers specific extension groups. Signature
/k Recover system files. NTFS Segment​​​​​
/segment Segment mode; recovers files under NTFS drives using file record segments. Segment
/signature Signature mode; recovers files under all file system types using file headers. Signature
/u Recovers undeleted files, for example, from the Recycle Bin. NTFS Segment

Step 4. Run Windows File Recovery and enter the recovery command:

winfr source-drive: destination-drive: [/mode] [/switches]

The source drive refers to the drive that has lost files, while the destination can be anywhere you like, except the source drive – they cannot be the same.

Let’s take an example. You deleted a file named “paper” in D: drive 3 weeks ago, and you want to have it recovered to E: drive. Then you can enter: winfr D: E: /extensive /n *paper*

winfr-extensive-filename

A more convenient alternative to Windows File Recovery

As a command-line utility, though many users installed it on their devices, so many of them complained about its inconvenience, errors, usability, etc.

If you want to make file recovery easier, then you can try WinfrGUI in Windows 10. WinfrGUI operates on the same principle as Windows File Recovery, but more thoughtfully provides a graphical user interface, which facilitates users of different levels to recover deleted files.

 If there’s a stop during the recovery process, WinfrGUI still can recover deleted files from the scanned data.
Download Freeware Win 10 2004 and above
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Step 1. Select a partition to scan & a location to save.

Run WinfrGUI, select a partition where you have deleted files, and choose another location to store the recovered files according to your preferences.

select-a-partition-to-scan

Step 2. Choose scanning methods.

Choose a scanning method according to the File System & data loss scenarios. Advanced Settings are available if needed.

choose-scan-mode-to-recover

Step 3. Click “Start Recovery”.

Click Start Recovery to get all your deleted files back with ease.

click-start-recovery

Besides WinfrGUI, other data recovery software can also fulfill different needs of users. 

Similar to WinfrGUI, it also provides a friendly user interface. But it is more powerful, not only recovering lost data at a high speed & recovery rate. It also applies to comprehensive data loss scenarios in Windows. And it supports recover data from crashed computers. MyRecover can be an additional option for data recovery.

Powerful file recovery freeware - MyRecover

Although WinfrGUI is much simpler than Windows File Recovery, it completely invokes the computing logic of Windows File Recovery. Therefore, it still suffers from recovery lag, recovery failure, unresponsiveness, and various other problems.

MyRecover is an excellent choice for effectively recovering lost files and saving time and energy.

Icon MyRecover
Professional Windows File Recovery Tool
  • It has an easy-to-use interface and high success rate & fast recovery speed.
  • Recover 200+ file types, such as recover deleted Word documents, Excel, PPT, texts, Emails, images, videos, etc.from heath or damaged HDD, SSD, USB drive, SD card, and more.
  • Support filter, preview and recover deleted or lost files during the scanning process.
  • Apply to all data loss scenarios, such as lost or deleted partitions, virus infection, formatted disks, recycle bin recovery, computer crashed recovery, etc.
  • Support Windows 11/10/8/7 SP1 & Server and the all file systems, including NTFS, FAT32, FAT, exFAT, and ReFS.

Step 1. Open and run MyRecover > Find the location where you have deleted or lost data >  click Scan.

select-a-partition-to-scan

Step 2. It automatically scans your disk with Quick Scan & Deep Scan to maximize and optimize the data recovery.

scan-lost-data

Step 3. Select the files you want to recover and click the Recover x files button to recover deleted files in Windows 7, 8, 10, 11, etc. It will display the number of files to recover and its total size.

Recover Deleted Photos from SD Card

Conclusion

Losing important files doesn’t have to be a permanent setback. With the right tools, recovering your data is not only possible but also straightforward. Whether you prefer the official functionality of Windows File Recovery, the simplicity of WinfrGUI, or the advanced capabilities of MyRecover, each option provides a reliable way to retrieve your lost files without breaking the bank.

Remember, the key to effective file recovery is acting quickly and choosing the right software for your needs. By leveraging the power of these free tools, you can regain control over your data and ensure that no digital memory or essential document is left behind. Start your recovery journey today with confidence!

Penny
Penny · Editor
Penny works as an editor at AOMEI Technology, while she's a tester and editor for AOMEI Data Recovery Tools. She enjoys helping users with data recovery issues on Windows and iPhones using simple and practical solutions. Outside of work, she has a strong affection for pets, particularly giant pandas.