TestDisk
Free GPL tool to restore lost partitions and unbootable disks on Windows
How to recover deleted files on Windows
Recovering a deleted file on Windows depends on a few concrete things: what kind of problem you have, where the files lived, and how much the tool lets you restore without paying. This page lists four tools, all free and all rated tier B. None reached tier A, so we do not single out a clear winner.
Read more
The differences are practical. TestDisk, version 7.3, targets lost partitions and disks that no longer boot, which is a different job from undeleting one document. Recuva, at 24.5 MB, is aimed at files removed from the Recycle Bin, camera cards and MP3 players. Wise Data Recovery is the smallest download at 11.4 MB, and Disk Drill is the largest at 210.9 MB. Match the tool to the failure first, then compare size and update date.
Apps in this category
Disk Drill
Disk Drill 6.3.1398.0: file recovery from drives, cards, phones and RAID
Recuva
Free Piriform undelete tool for Windows 10, a 24.5 MB download
Wise Data Recovery
Freeware Windows recovery tool with a free 2 GB limit and 11.4 MB installer
__NAME__
__LINE__
Top 5 picks
TestDisk
TestDisk from CGSecurity is the one to read about if a partition has vanished or a disk will not boot. Version 7.3 was updated on November 29, 2025, and the download is 28.9 MB. It is licensed GPL-2.0-or-later and priced at 0. The listing frames it around partition repair, not single-file undeletion, so check that fit first.
Disk Drill
Disk Drill from CleverFiles supports the most sources: internal, external and virtual drives, memory cards, RAID arrays, iPhones, iPads and Android devices. Version 6.3.1398.0 was updated on June 23, 2026, and the download is 210.9 MB. It is strongest on Mac, which matters on a Windows page.
Recuva
Recuva from Piriform is the plainest fit for everyday undeleting. Its listing names files removed from a Windows computer, the Recycle Bin, a digital camera card or an MP3 player, plus recovery after a crash. Version 1.55.0.133 was updated on June 22, 2026, at 24.5 MB. It is freeware priced at 0.
Wise Data Recovery
Wise Data Recovery from WiseCleaner.com, Inc. is the smallest of the four at 11.4 MB. It lists photos, documents, videos and email, and sources such as local and external drives, USB drives, SD cards and phones. The free allowance covers 2 GB of recovered data. Version 6.2.2 dates from July 18, 2025, the oldest update among the four.
Questions and answers
Which tool fits files deleted from the Recycle Bin?
Recuva names the Recycle Bin directly in its listing, alongside Windows drives, camera cards and MP3 players. Disk Drill and Wise Data Recovery describe deleted files more generally, without naming the Recycle Bin.
Can TestDisk bring back a lost partition?
That is its stated purpose. TestDisk 7.3 is described as software for recovering lost partitions and making non-booting disks bootable again. It is free under GPL-2.0-or-later and is 28.9 MB.
Are any of these tools tier A or ad-free?
No. All four are tier B, and none is marked as ad-free.
Related categories
Best-of lists
Start from where the files were lost. For an SD card, Recuva and Wise Data Recovery both support card-based sources, and Wise caps its free allowance at 2 GB. For a missing partition, TestDisk is the closest match. Searches such as recover deleted files on Windows 10 or Windows 11 are common, so check the developer page for compatibility before installing. Recuva and Disk Drill were both updated in late June 2026, while Wise Data Recovery has not changed since July 2025.