One of the best ways to recover lost data on your computer, Mac or Windows is to use a data recovery tool. They make data recovery easy and many of them even recover the data regardless of how it was deleted in the first place. Data recovery programs are a dime a dozen. So many of them flock the market that it is increasingly very difficult to find the right one for your particular circumstance. This is why we have decided to list the top free data recovery software in the market for both Windows and Mac to help you to recover deleted files free. It is our hope that our detailed analysis of each one of these programs will go a long way in helping you find the right tool for you. We have included some of the most popular tools but also some new ones you may not have heard of.
Part 1: Top 5 Free Software to Recover Deleted Files for Mac
1# Recoverit (IS) for Mac
It is one of the best data recovery programs in the business. Not only is it 100% safe, it is also very easy to use and gives you more options when it comes to data recovery. You can use it to recovery different types of data including document, photos, music, videos and so much more.
What Can Be Recovered on Mac? If you want to recover deleted data in Mac OS X: sensitive business documents, photos, videos, etc. Then AnyRecover for Mac can easily recover all them.This Mac data recovery software supports more than 1000+ file types no matter if it is deleted, lost or formatted. Using a data recovery tool is one of the best ways to recover deleted files on Mac. There are lots of reliable data recovery tools available on the market that can help you recover any kind of data. IMyFone AnyRecover is a recommended tool because of its several unique advantages.
Pros:
- It comes with a lot of features designed to make data recovery very easy and super-fast
- You can use this program to recover more than 200 types of data
- It is safe for your system because it utilizes read-only technology
2# Free Disk Drill
This is another great data recovery tool that can be used for scanning, recovery, restoring and ultimately protecting the Mac system. It can be used to recover just about any type of data from your Mac’s hard drive as well as any type of disk media including USB, Flash Drives and even Memory cards.
Pros:
- It is a highly effective data recovery program
- Scanning with disk drill is fast and you can even preview the contents of the file before recovery
Cons:
- The basic version is free but lacks some of the more valuable features
3# Lazesoft Mac Data Recovery
Lazesoft Mac Data Recovery is another data recovery program that can be useful when you want to recover lost data. It is useful when you want to recover deleted Mac data from an internal hard drive, external hard drive, USB flash disks, memory cards and more. It can recover data even if the partitions have been damaged, reformatted or deleted.
Pros:
- It is highly effective in data recovery, even recovers data from a disk that is damaged or has been formatted
Cons:
- Some customer reviews were negative. Most complaining of malfunction
4# M3 Free Mac Data Recovery
It may not be as popular as the others we have seen on this list but M3 Free Mac Data Recovery works well to recover deleted data from files that have been lost. It even allows you to preview the files before recovery and can also be used to recover data from external storage devices.
Pros:
- It is safe and reliable
- Can be used to recover data from external storage devices
Cons:
- Only recovers data that has been lost after the trash was emptied
- It is relatively new, with few reviews that are generally not good.
5# TestDisk
The TestDisk download will come with two programs; TestDisk and PhotoRec. The TestDisk program in particular is a very powerful data recovery program for Mac users. It is very useful in recovering lost partitions and making non-bootable disks bootable again. It is highly reliable able to recover just about any type of data that has been lost under any circumstance.
Pros:
- It is very reliable and quite useful in data recovery
- You can use it to recover all types of data including photos, videos, music and documents
- It can even recover files that have been lost due to virus attacks
Cons:
- When you first install the program it can be hard to figure out how to use it
- Scanning a partition may take a while
Part 2: Top 6 Free Softwares to Recover Deleted Files for Windows
The following are the top choices when you want to recover lost data on Windows.
1# Recuva
Recuva is a free program that is useful when recovering data from just about any Windows disk. It can recover all types of data from, your hard disk and even external storage devices such as USB drives. It is almost effortless to use and has pleasing interface that makes navigation very easy. It however lacks some of the additional features you will find on more sophisticated data recovery programs for Windows.
Pros:
- It is easy to use and can undelete any type of data
- It comes with a secure-delete feature
- It also has a portable version that runs from a USB stick
Cons:
- Not as powerful as some of the other programs
- Marks some files as 'unrecoverable'
2# Recoverit (IS) for Windows
It is another of the most powerful data recovery programs in the market. It can be used to recover all types of data regardless of the circumstances leading up to the data loss. The program comes with an easy to use and very pleasing user interface although there is also a tutorial if you get stuck. The program also enables for deep scanning just in case the normal scanning mode failed to yield the missing data.
Pros:
- It is highly powerful and almost always recovers the missing data
- It can recover all types of data including photos, music, documents and videos
- It is easy to use and works very fast
3# Puran File Recovery
Puran File Recovery is another free file recovery program for windows that is also very useful in scanning disks and recovering the missing files from the disk/ it provides a super easy way to navigate the partitions to find the missing data. It even provides a way to preview the data before recovery, making it easy for the user to determine that they are indeed recovering the data they want.
Pros:
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- It can be used to search for and recover up to 50 different file types
- It is 100% free to use
- A filter allows you to select the file type you would like to download, reducing the time it takes to scan the drive for the file.
Cons:
- Scanning is very slow especially when recovering data-heavy files such as videos and images
- It cannot be used to recover data from external storage devices
4# Glary Undelete
Glary Undelete is another one of the more reliable free data recovery programs for Windows users. It comes with a clean, easy to sue interface that makes it the ideal software for novices and experts. It particularly has a great way of organizing the results into folders and file types to make it easy for you to find the data you want to recover.
Pros:
- It comes in a small package making it easy to download
- Allows for advanced searching by data and size
Cons:
- Scanning is a bit slow
- It lacks some of the really useful features you will find on other more advanced programs
5# Wise Data Recovery
This is another free data recovery program for Windows whose major selling point is that it comes in a familiar interface (looks a little like Windows Explorer). This makes it very easy to use even if you have never used this type of data recovery program before. It is also ideal for data recovery purposes, allowing the user to recover data from both external and internal hard drives. The program also goes further by having features that can recover data from MP3 players and even cameras.
Pros:
- Very quick to install
- It will show you the recoverability of a file
- Can be used to recover multiple files at once and even has a portable version
- Has an advanced search utility
Cons:
- Recovered files may not remain in their original folder structure
- It can be a little bit slow and lack a deep scan feature
6# Pandora Recovery
This is a great program to help you recover NTFS formatted drives and is a free program that is very easy to use. It can be used to recover just about any type of data but will only work for computer drives and not on external storage devices. It is also not useful when you want to recover photos but has a unique feature that will help you recover individual emails.
Pros:
- It can quickly locate and recover deleted files of all types
- A built in preview feature allows you to see the files before recovery
Cons:
- It can only recover files from NTFS formatted disks which means it will not help if you want to recover data from USB drives and memory cards
- The program has been known to hang a few times during operation and is also a little slow when scanning
Mac users aren’t unfamiliar with accidental data loss. From system crash to virus/malware attack and hardware malfunction, there could be a number of reasons behind data loss. If you are a Mac user and you are looking to restore/retrieve deleted files Mac, then you will be glad to know that there are a number of ways to rescue your lost data. You may think that a deleted file is lost forever, but this is not the case. With a reliable data recovery method, you can easily undelete files on Mac. Read on to learn about some of the most effective Mac undelete methods.
Part 1. How to Recover Deleted Files on Mac Even Emptied Trash
How to Recover Deleted Files on Mac Even Emptied Trash
Using a data recovery tool is one of the best ways to recover deleted files on Mac. There are lots of reliable data recovery tools available on the market that can help you recover any kind of data. iMyFone AnyRecover is a recommended tool because of its several unique advantages. Not only is this tool compatible with all old and new macOS versions, but it is also suitable for both beginners and advanced users. Furthermore, you can even use this software to recover deleted files from emptied Trash on your Mac.
Features of AnyRecover:
All-inclusive data recovery. AnyRecover is capable of recovering 1000+ file types.
Recover lost/deleted data from anywhere. Supported storage mediums include internal and external hard drives, flash drives, memory cards, camcorders, digital cameras, and more.
It allows you to preview your lost files before recovery.
Highest successful data recovery rate in the market, find your lost files with lighting-fast speed.
100% safe data recovery. AnyRecover protects your current data as it recovers lost files without overwriting the existing ones.
Steps to Recover Deleted Files on Mac Via AnyRecover:
Step 1. Launch iMyFone AnyRecover on your Mac and use its interface to navigate to the location where your files were stored before deletion and then click on the Start button.
Step 2. AnyRecover will start the all-round scanning process to find all the deleted files on your selected location. Wait till the scan is completed.
Step 3. Once the scan is complete, you will see the list of recoverable files in the left pane. Simply choose the files that you want to recover and then click on the Recover button to start the data recovery process.
How to Recover Deleted Files on Mac Via Time Machine Backup
Time Machine is a very useful backup and recovery tool that comes pre-installed on Mac. When enabled, it backs up all your data on regular basis and allows you to restore it whenever you need it. Using it to restore your desired data on your Mac is pretty straightforward as all you need to do is connect your Mac to the Time Machine backup disk, navigate its timeline to the date before data deletion, and restore your selected data.
Follow these instructions to recover deleted files on Mac via Time Machine backup:
Recover Deleted Files Mac Free
Step 1. Connect your Mac to Time Machine backup disk.
Step 2. Use the Finder to launch Time Machine.
Step 3. Once it is launched, scroll back through Time Machine until you find the files that you wish to restore.
Step 4. Preview and select those files and then click on the Restore button to recover it.
How to Retrieve Deleted Files on Mac Using Terminal
This is a more advanced method to retrieve deleted files on Mac but it is also one of the fastest ways to undelete files as compared to some other methods. However, keep in mind that this method will only work if you have not yet emptied the Trash. Using Terminal command is definitely worth a try, especially if you don’t want to use any third-party tool to recover your deleted files on Mac.
Follow these instructions to retrieve deleted files on Mac using Terminal:
1. On your Mac, navigate to Finder > Applications > Utilities and then find and launch the Terminal application.
2. In Terminal command interface, input and execute this command: “cd .Trash”.
3. Next, input the name of the deleted file that you wish to retrieve in this format: “mv filename ../” (“filename” here is the full name of your chosen file). Then press the Enter key.
4. If everything goes right, your specified file will be restored. You can then exit the Terminal and locate the restored file via Finder.
How to Restore Deleted Files on Mac with Undo Options
Mac’s “Undo” options are a simple but very useful way to quickly undelete or restore deleted files. However, keep in mind that in order to restore deleted files via this method, you will need to use the Undo option immediately after deletion. Also, you cannot use this method to restore deleted files if you have emptied the Trash.
Following are two ways to use the Undo option to restore deleted files on Mac:
1. After deleting the file, simply select the Undo Move option. It is located in the Edit menu.
2. To undo the delete operation, use ‘command + Z’. The file will be undeleted.
Bonus Tip: Keep Regular Backups to Avoid Data Loss on Mac
The best way to avoid data loss is to create regular backups of your valuable files. For this purpose, iCloud is a great option. You simply need to set up iCloud on all your Apple devices. Once you do that, your data will be automatically synced with iCloud and stored as a backup.
Before you can use iCloud Drive for storing backups, it is recommended that you perform these steps:
1. Update your Mac to the latest macOS.
2. Set up iCloud on your Mac as well as your other Apple devices.
3. Make sure to use the same Apple ID to sign into iCloud on all of your devices.
After performing the above steps, follow these instructions on your Mac:
1. Navigate to Apple menu > System Preferences and select Apple ID. On macOS Mojave or earlier versions, you don’t have to select Apple ID.
2. Next, click on iCloud and sign in using your Apple ID if prompted.
3. After that, select iCloud Drive.
4. Now use the interface to set your desired apps on your Mac to use iCloud.
Frequently Asked Questions About Deleted/Lost Files Recovery on Mac
Recover Files Mac Free Software
Is it possible to recover deleted files on Mac?
Yes, and there are several ways to do it. Some of the most common methods include:
1. Recovering deleted files from Trash.
2. Restoring deleted data via Time Machine backup.
3. Using a data recovery tool to find and recover the deleted files.
How to recover permanently deleted files from my Mac?
Generally, you can restore deleted files from Trash. However, if you have emptied the Trash and the files are permanently deleted, then you can either use Time Machine backup to restore the files or use a third-party data recovery tool, e.g. iMyFone AnyRecover, to get your data back.
How to undelete files on Mac without software?
Using a data recovery software is one of the best ways to undelete files on Mac. However, if you don’t want to use a software to recover your files, then there are four primary ways to do it:
Recover Files From Trash Mac Free
1. Using Trash to restore your deleted files (only works if Trash is not empty and still contains the deleted files).
2. Undeleting files via Mac Terminal.
3. Using the Undo option (only works if you perform the action immediately after deleting a file).
4. Using a Time Machine backup to restore your deleted files (only works if you have backup of your data before the files got deleted).
How do I recover deleted files on my Mac for free?
You can use the trial version of iMyFone AnyRecover to preview deleted files on your Mac for free. However, keep in mind that trial version has limited features and you may need to purchase the full version in order to recover all your deleted data.
Recover Word Files For Mac
Conclusion
Recover My Files For Mac Free
In conclusion, there are many reliable ways to recover deleted files on Mac. Two of the most efficient solutions include using Time Machine backup and using a third-party data recovery tool. Which method you use depends on your personal preferences. If you don’t want to use any third-party tool to recover your data, then you should use Time Machine to restore your data. On the other hand, if you don’t mind installing a third-party data recovery tool, then it is recommended that you give iMyFone AnyRecover a try. This tool can help you recover all kinds of data on your Mac quickly and efficiently.