How to Recover Deleted Files Without Backups: I Tested 5 Free Tools

Last updated on December 6th, 2025 at 11:03 am

Ok, I will tell you the truth I have panic-deleted several files more than I would like it to be known. Last month, I emptied what I believed was a junk folder and three weeks of notes on work were wiped. No backup. Classic mistake.

And this was when I entered the black hole of free recovery tools. I have tried five of them and tried to find out the ones that really work and which are simply wasting your time. Here’s what I found.

The Good News About Deleted Files

Here is one of the things that caught my attention, when you delete a file and empty the recycle bin you are not deleting it. The computer simply claims that the space is free to some new items. The information is stored at that point until it is over-written.

That’s your window. The sooner you do something, the greater your chances.

5 Free Tools I Actually Tested

1. Recuva (My Top Pick for Starting off with)

I began with Recuva, as people suggest it to everyone. Turns out, they’re right.

It has got a neat wizard that takes you through all these. You select the kind of file you need (documents, photos, whatever), its location and press scan. It took me approximately three minutes to restore a deleted PowerPoint.

What I liked: There were no perplexing menus. Just works.

The caveat Though the deep scans are time-consuming when you are scanning a large drive.

2. Windows File Recovery ( Command Line Fans ).

I was surprised by the official tool of Microsoft. It is not offered by Microsoft Store but the thing is it is command-only.

I heard that I could feel good about that, but in case you are not comfortable, do pass this one. It worked, when I tried it on a new Word document, which I had just deleted. When you understand its syntax, it is not complicated.

Benefit: Windows enthusiasts who would like to buy something official at Microsoft.

3. PhotoRec (The Ugly But mighty one).

PhotoRec resembles the one during 1995, and that is not what you should think. This tool was able to recover files that were not found by Recuva.

It is open-source and supports Windows, Mac and Linux. I was able to use it to retrieve some old JPEGs on a formatted USB. Found about 80% of them.

The gimmick: The interface is crude, but gets down into the deeper side than fancier applications.

4. TestDisk

I also tested TestDisk when I intentionally damaged a partition to find out what it was capable of doing. It has been developed by the same developers of PhotoRec.

This is not a simple file recovery utility, it is a one that is used when your drive is not even recognized properly. Terminal, many scary-looking options. But it rectified partition problems which would have involved me several hundred dollars at a repair shop.

When: You are desperate and you need it because you have no other tools with you.

5. disk DRill (The Feature-Rich Option)

Disk Drill is also slick and can also handle 400+ file formats. Free version restored approximately 1GB of my test files.

The preview feature was a plus to me, you get to know whether the files have been destroyed or not before restoring them. Spared me the trouble of re-reading pathetic files.

Interesting fact: Free version has restrictions, but it is sufficient to face most of one-time crises.

How to Recover files: The quick guide.

Here’s what worked for me:

Please immediately discontinue the use of the device. Seriously. All the files you are saving could overwrite the deleted information. In case, it is in your personal computer and you have a dire need to download recovery software, use another machine.

Pick the right tool. Recuva is a good place to start off with most people. It is the simplest and manages 90 percent cases.

Copy files that have been saved to another place. Stop them not into the very drive where you are restoring data. I use an external USB drive. This can eliminate the event of overwriting other already deleted files that you are yet to recover.

Try a quick scan first. Deep scans can take hours. Minutes of deleted files are snared by quick scans.

What I Learned the Hard Way

SSDs have become more troublesome than obsolete hard drives. They operate under a programme named TRIM which proactively overwrites the deleted information. When you are on SSD (the majority of the modern computers), you must move quickly, that is, you may have a few minutes but no more.

What is more, TRIM can be initiated by the re-booting of your computer following the deletion of something. Don’t do it.

Free tools will do surprisingly well in simple deletions. You do not require the high costs of software unless an individual is dealing with physical damages or corrupted drives.

FAQs

Can I really recover files after emptying the Recycle Bin?

Yes, absolutely. It has already been done to me several times. Recycle Bin is only a backup mechanism – deleting it will not delete genuine information.

It overwrites the file contents already but the file name is no longer in use and the data remain stored in your drive hence overwritten by other files. That is why it is important to act fast. The more you take to delete files and the longer the time period, the greater will be the probability that something will overrule your lost files.

Why didn’t any recovery tool find my deleted files?

A few reasons this happens. When you used an SSD and time elapsed, it is likely that TRIM erased its data and it is here to stay. None of that was cleared by new files. At times the files may be fragmented (dispersed throughout the drive) and may therefore be difficult to reassemble. Even, good tools are hard pressed, and the file system might be corrupted. The drive can also be damaged physically, another option is when a professional recovery service using special equipment will be required.

Bottom Line

I have tried enough recovery tools, which are the ones that work. Recuva provides most individuals with the desired task of recovering deleted information without any hustle.

However, here is the moral of the story: I now have automatic back-ups running. It was an interesting thing to test all these tools and never to use them again. That’s the goal.

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