(Recommended) Top Rated Data Recovery Software for Windows

What is the top rated data recovery software for Windows? Get the best data recovery software for Windows and other relevant tips on this page.

By @Penny Last Updated October 24, 2024

Why is data recovery needed?

Accidental/intentional deletion, unrecognized format, inaccessibility of files or folders, corrupted files, unexpected system shutdowns, and error messages are data loss reasons.

If you’re in a data loss dilemma, you’ll be eager to seek data recovery solutions like the best data recovery software for Windows.  

What is the best data recovery software for Windows?

Which one is the top rated data recovery software for Windows? How to select the best software to recover deleted files? Are you bothered by these issues? If it happens to be your case, please don’t worry because the following two types of data recovery software can address your concerns.

Case A. Powerful Windows File Recovery

Launched by Microsoft, free Windows File Recovery dedicates to recover the lost files from your internal and external hard drives, USB drives, SSD, and SD cards.  

And it can help you recover the lost Word document, PPT, ZIP, PDF, JPG, JPEG, MPEG, and other files. One of the most significant demerits is that the command-line software interacts with users via command lines instead of the GUI (graphical user interface).

If you can accept this drawback, it’s inevitable for you to recover the deleted files using CMD. Then resemble the basic command format with your selected mode and switches.

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

Notes:✎...
Windows File Recovery only works with Windows 10 and above.   
The source drive (where to store your needed files before data loss) cannot be the same as the destination drive (where to store recovered files).
Two basic (Regular and Extensive) modes and the other two advanced (Segment and Signature) modes can support four (NFFS, FAT, exFAT, and ReFS) file systems.   

Let’s start selecting a suitable mode and switches by following the first three steps.

Step 1. Check the file system of your source drive: Click “This PC” > right-click on your source drive > “Properties.”

If your source drive is an external hard drive like the USB sticks, please connect it to your PC first.

Step 2. Select the “Regular” or “Extensive” mode after figuring out the file system of your source drive and data loss scenarios.

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 3. Select some common switches from the form below.

Switch              

Description

Supported          modes

/y:

Recover specific extension groups, comma-separated

Signature

/p:

Saves a log file of the recovery operation in a different location than the default location on the recovery drive (for example, D:\logfile).

All

/a

Overrides user prompts, which is useful in a script file.

All

/u

Recovers undeleted files, for example, from the Recycle Bin.

NTFS Segment

/k

Recovers system files.

NTFS Segment​​​​​

/g

Recovers files without primary data streams.

NTFS Segment

/e

To keep your results manageable and focus on user files, some file types are filtered by default, but this switch removes that filter. 

NTFS Segment

/e:

Specifies which file types are filtered.

NTFS Segment

Step 4. Click “Get” to download Windows File Recovery from the Microsoft Store, then install and “Open” it on your PC.

Step 5. Let’s show how it works.

If you’re going to recover the recently deleted Excel files from the source drive (C drive) to the destination drive (E drive), and you cannot remember the specific filename of it, you can resemble your needed command lines with a wildcard “*”.

For example, you can copy “C: E: /segment /n* .xlsx” in the command prompt window.

Step 6. Please input “y” to start the recovery process. Then you can go to the destination saved path to check it. If you want to stop it, please stop the “Ctrl + C” keys.

Case B. Top 1 data recovery software for Windows

Without a doubt, Windows File Recovery could be regarded as one of the top rated data recovery software for Windows because of its rich functions. Nevertheless, it cannot be the best data recovery software due to a lack of GUI (graphical user interface).

Are you looking for the best software to recover deleted files? MyRecover might be your best choice because quite a few users have lavished praise for it.

Let’s have a closer look at the highlights of MyRecover:  

Functionality:

  • Besides HDD, you can use it to recover the deleted/lost files from portable devices such as SSD, USB sticks, and SD cards.
  • Recover 200+ types of data: Word, Excel, PPT, Photos, Videos, Audios, Audios, Emails, and Compressed files.
  • Get the original path, filename, and format for the deleted files.
  • Search your targeted files by entering their filenames in the search bar.
  • Run Quick Scan and Deep Scan automatically to find all the deleted files and other lost files on your computers.

User-friendliness:

  • Support NTFS, FAT32, exFAT, and ReFS file systems in Windows 11, 10, 8, 7, and Windows Server.
  • An intuitive graphical user interface and three operating steps can help you out.

Better to act than to think! Download it now to save you from deletion, disk formatting, or other data loss scenarios.

Download SoftwareWin 11/10/8/7/Server
Secure Download

Step 1. After running the software, hover the mouse over the drive, and click Scan.

Step 2. Search your needed files during the scanning process or wait patiently to see all the deleted files and other missing files.

Step 3. Go to the Deleted files folder, choose your targeted files, and click the “Recover x files” button. Please remember to store them in your specified saved path.

You can also go to the Other missing files folder if you need.

Q&A for data recovery and data loss prevention tips

This post lists two top rated data recovery software for Windows. Given that the former software could dampen many users’ sprits, the latter tool seems as a better choice. And there are other relevant tips for you.