6 Must Try Photo Recovery Software for Windows 11/10/8/7 (2024)

Artists, photographers, and ordinary people dedicated themselves to various fields, creating, editing, saving, sharing, and storing photos in their daily lives.

They may keep their precious photos on local hard drives on a Windows PC and also on an external storage device, etc.

No matter where they have stored the photos, the panic and “depression” they feel when those photos get lost may be the same.

With this, users can recover photos from Recycle Bin before permanent deletion. If unlucky, the pictures have been removed and gone for good; they must seek other methods.

In this case, sagacious users will turn to photo recovery tools for help. Users can easily get their deleted or lost pictures back using a delete photo recovery app.

Then, how to pick out the best one? This article lists 6 eligible apps out of specific standards. Now, before we show you the criteria, let’s take an overview of the ranking.

♦ Quick view of the best photo recovery software ranking

This will navigate you to the corresponding part quickly.

• 1. MyRecover
• 2. Recoverit
• 3. MiniTool
• 4. Recuva
• 5. PhotoRec
• 6. R-Studio
•  How to recover deleted photos without any difficulties?

What do we expect from the best deleted photo recovery app?

What should be taken into consideration when choosing good image recovery software?

We have picked out 6 tools that meet the following criteria.

Function. The efficiency of the tool is the priority. A good image recovery tool ought to be efficient in scanning users’ lost/deleted photos from the storage devices, and the more types of images it supports, the better. 

Ease of use. Users like easy apps. If an app offers no GUI and users have to operate it with commands, it puts too much pressure on them. 

Speed. An excellent deleted photo rescue app should be fast in scanning. Thus it saves users’ time. 

Compatibility. Multi-platform apps will be welcomed. Those single-platform apps that work with both the current OS and the old ones will be popular as well. 

Price. Most users are willing to solve their problems without costing money; when they need to pay for a better data recovery service, they will have their own budget.

Sometimes, these universal standards can help you pick other apps, like a suitable partition recovery tool.

Top 6 delete photo recovery software for Windows PC

Considering all these aspects, we pick out 6 eligible image recovery software. Before the detailed introduction, viewing the overall rating and comparison can be of great help for you to choose your one.

See the comparison - which one suits you best?

The indicators here are from the criteria introduced above. Respectively, they stand for:

Usability: how easy it is when used. 

Capability: recovery rate, which shows how functional/efficient it is. 

Speed: how fast it scans the hard drive and finds your data. 

Compatibility: how compatible it is with OS/File Systems/devices. 

Price: the price of the Pro/Personal Yearly version.

Check the comparison of the software on list.

Now, check the details of each tool in the following parts.

1. MyRecover – easy photo recovery software

◆ Overview

To recover deleted photos effortlessly, you need an effective delete photo recovery app to help you out. Among the tested tools, MyRecover stands out due to its comprehensiveness, convenience, competitiveness, and compatibility.

It works well with internal/external HDD/SSD/USB/SD cards, NTFS/FAT32/exFAT/ReFS, and is compatible with Windows 11/10/8/7 SP 1 & Server.

According to the test, it shows these advantages & disadvantages.

◆ Performance:

First of all, it provides a simple & clean user interface; and the 3 steps required for data recovery are as easy as ABC.

It allows users to select and recover files in 2 ways: recover from the original location and retrieve files in specific types.

What’s more, it successfully recovers intact photos from the original directory. Most of the filenames and paths remain complete.

With the help of Filter: Pictures, users can readily target and locate their needed images.

◆ Unique features:

• Over 200 recoverable data types, including 42 kinds of images: png/jpg/gif
• Non-overwritten files can keep their filenames/formats/directories/quality during recovery.
• Select files from specific folders to restore while scanning.

◆ Shortcomings:

• Lack of support for Mac/Linux systems.
• It does not support full-resolution preview.

◆ Price & version comparison

2. Recoverit

◆ Overview

Recoverit supports a wide range of recoverable data types and multiple storage devices. It recovers deleted/formatted photos and files from Windows PC/Mac/USB/SD card/digital camera, etc.

Also, it offers enhanced recovery: corrupted photo recovery & bootable disk in the Premium version.

◆ Performance:

It offers eye-pleasing UI design and thoughtful tips for the filters/recovery process, allowing users to learn the operation quickly.

What’s more, it offers 2 ways of data recovery: recovery from File Location & File Type. Files that have missing directories will be separately listed.

◆ Unique features:

• Provides enhanced photo/video recovery/repair.
• Support 1000+ file formats.
• Supports building bootable USB.

◆ Shortcomings:

• Only offers a 7-day refund.
• Free version users can only recover 100 MB of files in total.

◆ Price & version comparison

3. MiniTool Data Recovery Software

◆ Overview

MiniTool Data Recovery Software recovers 100+ types of files from internal/external storage devices, including graphics like JPG/JPEG/TIFF/GIF, etc.

Its performance in scanning and recovering photos is not that perfect, but it still can be of some help.

◆ Performance:

The GUI is simple and clean, adding no pressure for users. While scanning, users can preview the scanned pictures in full resolution (free versions users need to download the previewer first).

Before the scanning finishes, users cannot filter the current scanned files to target their wanted pictures. Thus, it takes more time for users to access the deleted photos.

◆ Unique features:

• Supports exporting current scan results and loading old scan results.
• Offers previewer in paid versions to view pictures in a large resolution.
• Enables users to recover data from dynamic disks.

◆ Shortcomings:

• It does better in full scan. Thus it requires more time for searching.
• The supported recoverable file types need to increase.
• Free version users need to download one more previewer package to preview the scanned pictures.
• It does not support filters before the scanning is finished.

4. Recuva

◆ Overview

Recuva supports searching and showing image formats only, which is pretty convenient for users who want to recover deleted photos from their digital cameras, local drives, USBs, etc.

In addition, if you know the file location, it saves more time by scanning the specified location only.

◆ Performance:

With the provided Recuva Wizard, users can easily follow the guide to choose the source drive/ file type to scan; that is to say, users can save time by searching the exact folder/directory and the specific type.

In addition, quick and deep scans’ scanning durations differ a lot. The quick scan can only be as short as 2 minutes, while the deep scan can last over 1 hour.

What is disappointing is that it offers no preview for pictures, which is quite inconvenient.

◆ Unique features:

• Enables users to customize their searching file type/location.
• Offers Recuva Wizard to guide users.

◆ Shortcomings:

• The deep scan takes too much time.
• No preview is available.
• The filenames & paths are more likely to be lost.

◆ Price & version comparison

5. PhotoRec

◆ Overview

PhotoRec, as the name shows, is image recovery software. Not exclusive to photo recovery, it also assists users in recovering other types of data, like documents, music files, videos, etc.

As a command-line app, it is more suitable for users with expertise like commands and parameters.

If you are new to computers or unfamiliar with the required knowledge, it is not recommended. Find some PhotoRec alternatives to help you.

◆ Performance:

Firstly, without GUI, it costs a pretty good amount of time for users to learn how to use it. All the operations are required to be completed with keyboards.

The process is relatively long & complex: users need to choose source drive > select file system (users need to check the file system manually) > choose scanning mode > select destination.

Besides, users can specify the destination of the recovered files. But the original paths/filenames cannot be kept.

◆ Unique features:

• Supports flexible search for specific file types.
• It is multi-platform: Windows /Mac/Linux/DOS/Sun Solaris, etc.

◆ Shortcomings:

• No GUI, not user-friendly.
• Low scanning speed.
• The filenames and paths will be lost.

◆ Price & version comparison

It’s free & open source.

6. R-studio

◆ Overview

R-Studio features its comprehensiveness. It supports multiple file systems, data loss situations, and file types. This app scans the chosen places or the whole drive. Also, it offers in-depth data analysis in the Tech version.

It is advanced, though it is demanding as well. It provides a great load of functions and options, and correspondingly, the GUI isn’t designed to be simple and clear enough. So, it will be pretty challenging for common users.

◆ Performance:

While scanning, it shows the sector-to-sector scanning process; after scanning, you can see files organized according to your needs and preferences: files can be sorted by extensions (types).

It also supports previewing scanned files at quite a high resolution.

The Demo version does not support recovering files larger than 256 KB. 

◆ Unique features:

• Supports data recovery from hard disks with bad sectors.
• Offers in-depth file analysis in Technician version.
• Functions on local and network disks.
• Supports flexible parameters.

◆ Shortcomings:

• The GUI design is pretty intricate for users to handle.
• The price is relatively high for users who need multiple licenses.
• The demo version only supports the recovery of files small than 256 KB.
• No refund. Products cannot be refunded after purchase.

◆ Price & version comparison

How to recover deleted photos without any difficulties?

With all these details of overall reviews, performances, pros & cons, and prices, you will be able to figure out which photo recovery software suits you best.

With efficiency, ease of use, compatibility, price, and other criteria are taken into consideration, MyRecover is standing-out and worth trying.

Developed by AOMEI, the benchmark of the data recovery industry, embedded with advanced scanning algorithms that are automatically executed in an optimal order to provide the best data recovery results.

with this tool, you can effortlessly recover permanently deleted photos on computers.

Now, let's look at some of the main features of this software💯:

Here are three steps to recover photos for PC with a professional Windows data rescue tool that can greatly save your time and effort and get you out of trouble.

Step 1. Install and run the software > Hover the mouse over the drive saved deleted files before, and click Scan. If you want to recover photos from an external hard drive or SD card, connect it to your computer first.

Step 2. It will automatically find deleted or lost pictures, you can click each folder from the Scanned files list to browse data.

Step 3. Go to Deleted files > navigate to the original location > select the pictures you need to restore > click Recover x files. Or go to Other missing files > Image > select your wanted photos to restore.

Suggested: Backup Windows photos to avoid data loss

Actually, in the event of data loss, remedies will be limited. The best way to protect your files is to make regular backups on Windows. Here, it is highly recommended to use a free file backup software- AOMEI Backupper Standard to make it.

As the best free file backup software, AOMEI Backupper Standard can help you back up photos (family pictures and videos) in a simple and efficient way. You can use it to backup files in Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7/XP/Vista. It’s an automatic file backup, and full/incremental/differential backup features can greatly help you backup your important files without any data loss.

Now, download this tool and follow the easy steps below to back up Windows photos with this utility.

Step 1. Launch AOMEI Backupper Standard > click File Backup under the Backup tab.

Step 2. Click Add File/Add Folder to choose the files or folders which you want to backup.

Step 3. After selecting the files, choose a backup destination to save your photos. You can backup files to external hard drive, NAS network location, or other locations Windows can detect.

Step 4. Finally, click the Start Backup button to start the process

Note: If your computer fails due to a disaster, you can use its Create Bootable Media tool to start your computer, and then use the above software to recover your computer from an unexpected system crash or startup error.

Frequently asked questions

This post gathers a list of eligible photo recovery software for Windows out of the criteria: capability, usability, compatibility, and price. Among the ranking tools, MyRecover can be your firm helper in image recovery.

Using it, you could effortlessly recover deleted photos from healthy/formatted internal and external storage media.

Besides the info provided above, you may need more related information about data rescue apps. Check it out.