Data loss can strike at any time, whether it's a file you've accidentally deleted or a drive error that's wiped everything out. We will highlight the best free data recovery tools for Windows to help get your precious files back.

Along the way we'll show you how to check if your data is actually deleted, whether using a data recovery program is suitable for you, along with explaining how they actually achieve what they promise -- and no, it isn't magic. It's similar to how forensic analysts get deleted data from your phone.

If you've got a free data recovery tool that you recommend then please let us know in the comments section.

Check Your Data Is Actually Deleted

This might sound like an obvious step to some of you, but before attempting recovery you need to make sure that your data has actually been deleted from your drive.

The first place to check is the Recycle Bin. By default, the Recycle Bin will be an icon on your desktop, which you can double-click to load. If it's not there, press Windows Key + R to open Run, input explorer.exe shell:RecycleBinFolder and click OK. Perform a search for your file within the Recycle Bin using the search box.

recycle bin

If that doesn't help, maybe the data still exists somewhere else on your computer. Perhaps you accidentally moved it to another folder path, for example.

Press Windows Key + X and select File Explorer. Since we want to search the system, click This PC from the left-hand navigation. Now use the search box to begin looking for your file. Even if you can't remember the file name, you can use advanced search tips to narrow down the results.

file searching

If your file is definitely gone, it's time to attempt data recovery. Read on to find out how and what programs we recommend.

Can I Use a Data Recovery Program?

If you've lost data from your drive, then you might be able to use a data recovery program to recover it. However, the operative word there is might, for there are various factors that depend on recovery success, like how much data has been written to the drive since the loss or if the drive is failing in some way.

windows-blue-screen-of-death

If you've deleted a file, reinstalled the operating system, or formatted the drive, data recovery software can be used. Similarly, if you're suffering logical drive failures, like errors about your Master Boot Record, data loss following a power outage, or Blue Screen of Death, recovery software can help.

However, if your drive has mechanically failed, then there's nothing that any software can do to sort it out.

Mechanical Drive Failure

You shouldn't use recovery programs if your drive has suffered mechanical damage. That means anything which has physically harmed the drive. For example, something extreme like the drive being flooded or set on fire would fall under this banner.

windows-backup-facts-hard-drive-array

But it can also be less obvious. A hard disk drive is composed of moving parts, which means that sudden movement can have serious consequences. This is because it could cause the drive head to collide with the platter; simply put, this might scratch away your data.

Similarly, if you can hear a constant clicking within the drive then this is known as the click of death. It suggests a failure with the drive heads and, as the name suggests, is a sign that your drive is about to stop working.

hard-drive-lifespan-physical-damage

For more information on hard drive noises, check out our guide on what to do when your drive is making unusual sounds.

If you suspect your drive has suffered mechanical damage - even if it isn't causing data loss - then immediately stop using it. Recovery software can't solve anything here. Instead, your best chance of repair is to hand your drive to a company that specializes in mechanical recovery. They'll be able to use their specialized facilities, like certified clean rooms, to open your drive up and try to fix it.

How Does Data Recovery Work?

Deleting something from your Recycle Bin doesn't permanently remove a file. In fact, you can reinstall Windows from fresh and still not wipe previous data. This is because the actual data isn't removed, just information about where the data is stored.

permanently delete file

In layman's terms, the data is hidden and the space it occupied on the drive is flagged as available for being written to. As such, recovery tools can scan the entire drive, including these hidden areas, and pull your data back out. For more detailed information on this, check our guide on why it's impossible to recover from an overwritten drive.

With this in mind, if you've suffered data loss then you need to minimize your use of the drive as much as possible. This is because any further activity could create new data which is overwriting what you're trying to recover. Even something like browsing the Internet will be creating data through cache and cookies.

Windows also has its own file recovery tool.

The Best Free Data Recovery Programs

Data recovery programs come by the dozen and it's difficult to pinpoint one as being the best. You might find that one recovers more data than another, but mileage can vary. As such, this is a selection of our favorite free file recovery software.

Recuva

Recuva is from the same folks behind the respected CCleaner. One of the best things about Recuva is how easy it is to use. On launch, a wizard will guide you through the recovery process, asking you to select what type of files you want to recover and in which location.

By default, Recuva will perform a quick scan, which is incredibly fast. But you can perform a more advanced, deeper scan, if that first attempt doesn't bring up the data that you need.

recuva

If possible, Recuva will show you a preview of the file that it'll recover. This works for most image files, but doesn't work for something like a PDF. Nevertheless, you can also use the traffic light indicators next to each file to see how likely a successful recovery is going to be.

Handily, Recuva also comes in a portable version, which you can run from a USB drive. This means no installation is required and no hard drive space is used. Remember, you want to minimize the activity on your damaged drive, so this is great, if you don't have a second drive on your system.

Disk Drill

Previously a favorite with Mac users, Disk Drill is now available for Windows. Select the drive you want to recover from and the program will begin. You can look through the files as it performs the scan and you can even pause it, if you need to reclaim the system resources.

disk drill

You can filter the scan results by name (though as recovered data usually loses its original file name, this isn't often useful), file type, size, and modification data. Though it can take a little while to complete the scan, recovering the data is surprisingly quick.

Disk Drill also detects an impressive amount of lost data, though note this isn't the same as how much it can recover. Nevertheless, it managed to recover data that I thought would be long gone. Like Recuva, there's quick and deep scan options available, along with the ability to preview some files.

PhotoRec

Unlike Recuva and Disk Drill, PhotoRec doesn't have a fancy user interface and is powered via command line. Despite that, it's still pretty easy to use and it'll guide you through each step.

While it might not look the best, it puts its energy where it matters most: data recovery. And despite the name, PhotoRec recovers much more than just photos, supporting over 480 file extensions.

photorec

PhotoRec doesn't let you preview files, select which to recover, or offer different scan types. But it doesn't really matter. You tell it which drive to scan, where to place the recovered data, and off it goes. It's incredibly no frills, but its reliability and power means that it comes recommended.

Depending on how much data is recovered, it'll split your files across numbered folders in your selected location, which you can begin viewing as soon as the scan begins. If you want a program that is simple and powerful, PhotoRec is the one for you.

The Moral of the Story: Back Up Your Data

Hopefully one of the data recovery tools listed has reconnected you with your data, even if it's not all of it. But if you've had to go through this process, chances are you weren't backing up your data beforehand. Or if you were, then not thoroughly enough. Backing up is something that is paramount and one Windows habit you should cultivate.

For the all the information you need on backing up, check out our ultimate backup and restore guide to find out what programs you can use and how often you should backup.

What program do you recommend for data recovery? Do you have a story to share about data loss?