Which is the best data recovery software for Windows 10?

Think of Windows File Recovery as Microsoft's own free tool for getting back accidentally deleted files. It's a Windows 10 data recovery software that you can download directly from the Microsoft Store. It works on internal and external drives, USBs, and even memory cards.

Here's the main thing: this tool is a command-line utility. That means there's no fancy interface with buttons to click. Instead, you have to type in specific commands to tell it what to look for and where to save it. It's not super intuitive if you're used to regular apps, which is why it's often recommended for more experienced users.

Step 1: Download the Tool

Step 2: Launch the Tool (Open Command Prompt)

• Press the Windows key on your keyboard, type "Windows File Recovery", and select the app from the search results .
• This will open a Command Prompt window, ready for you to type in your recovery command .

Step 3: Understand the Basic Command

The main command you'll use follows this basic structure :

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

• source-drive: is the drive where you lost the files (e.g., C:).
• destination-drive: is a different drive where you want to save the recovered files. This is critical: you cannot save files back to the same drive you're recovering from .
• [/mode] is where you choose your recovery mode: /regular or /extensive .
• [/switches] are additional options, like filters to find specific files (e.g., /n *.pdf) .

Step 4: Pick Your Recovery Mode

• Choosing the right mode is important for success .
• Regular Mode (/regular): Use this for recently deleted files on an NTFS drive (which is what your main C: drive usually is) .
• Extensive Mode (/extensive): Use this for older files, if Regular mode fails, or if you're recovering from a formatted or damaged drive. It works on all file systems (NTFS, FAT, exFAT) but takes much longer.

Step 5: Construct and Run Your Command

Now, put it all together. Here are a few examples to help you get started:

• To recover a specific file: winfr C: D: /regular /n my_important_document.docx .
• To recover all PDF files: winfr C: D: /extensive /n *.pdf .
• To recover multiple file types: winfr C: D: /extensive /n *.pdf /n *.jpg .
• To recover a specific folder: winfr C: D: /regular /n \Users\YourUsername\Documents\ .

Once you've typed your command in the Command Prompt window, press Enter. The Windows 10 data recovery software will ask for confirmation; type y and press Enter again to start the recovery process . The recovered files will be saved in a new folder on your destination drive, with a name like Recovery_<date and time> .