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Waoper's avatar
Waoper
Iron Contributor
Jun 23, 2025

How to recover data from a deleted partition in Windows 11 for free?

My external drive is not showing up correctly in Windows 11 file explorer and it reminds to format the drive before using it. In fact, the computer has one internal ssd and hard drive. I deleted the wrong partition in disk management utility.

How can I recover data from a deleted partition in Windows 11? I don't want to lost the data.

Thanks

6 Replies

  • HaydenMiller's avatar
    HaydenMiller
    Iron Contributor

    No worries. You can still recover data from lost or deleted partition in Windows 11/10 with the help of partition recovery software!

  • Nobel_Baynes's avatar
    Nobel_Baynes
    Iron Contributor

    To recover data from a deleted partition in Windows 11 or Windows 10, follow these steps carefully. Stop using the drive immediately to avoid overwriting data. Here's a structured approach.

    Preparation

    Do NOT write new data to the drive (saving files, reinstalling OS, etc.).

    Use another physical drive to install recovery software and save recovered files.

    Tools needed:

    1. A working Windows PC.
    2. External storage for recovered files.
    3. Data recovery software (options below).

     

    How to recover data from deleted partition in Windows 10/11:

    Step 1: Connect the drive to another PC via SATA/USB (or use your PC if the OS is intact).

    Step 2: Install/run recovery software from a separate drive.

    Step 3: Scan the affected drive:

    • Select the drive (e.g., Disk 1, Unallocated Space).
    • Use "Deep Scan" or "Full Scan" mode.

    Step 4: Preview & recover files:

    • Filter results by file type (documents, photos, etc.).
    • Save recovered files to a different drive (not the original!).

     

    Critical Tips

    Avoid overwriting: Never save recovered files to the same drive.

    Physical drive issues: If the drive makes clicking noises or isn’t detected, consult a professional.

    Backup first: Image the drive using ddrescue (Linux) or HDDSuperClone before recovery attempts.

    Professional help: For critical data, use services like DriveSavers ($500–$2500).

     

  • ThomasKing's avatar
    ThomasKing
    Iron Contributor

    If you're thinking about recovering data from a deleted partition in Windows 10, there are a few downsides you should keep in mind. Even after recovery, the files often come back with weird names or no names at all. Sometimes, they’re jumbled or in different folders than before. You gotta spend extra time sorting through what’s what. Recovery tools aren’t perfect. You might get most of your data back, but some files could be corrupted, incomplete, or just not recoverable. It’s frustrating when you see a bunch of recovered files but they’re all damaged or unusable.

    Scanning a large drive can take hours, especially if you're doing a deep scan. And depending on your PC’s specs, it might be painfully slow. So, patience is key here. Using third-party recovery tools to recover data from a deleted partition in Windows 10, especially free ones, can sometimes be risky. They might have malware or adware, or just not be trustworthy. Always download from legit sources—otherwise, you’re risking your data security. No matter how good the tool, there's no 100% guarantee you'll recover everything. Sometimes, the data is just too damaged or overwritten to be saved.

  • AndrewUias's avatar
    AndrewUias
    Iron Contributor

    If your drive's partition was deleted and you want to restore it, you can try to use Disk Management or Diskpart to Rebuild Partition.

    Using Diskpart to recover data from a deleted partition in Windows 10:

    1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator.
    2. Type diskpart and press Enter.
    3. List disks: list disk.
    4. Select your external drive: select disk # (replace # with your drive number).
    5. List partitions: list partition.
    6. Create a new partition with create partition primary.
    7. Format it: format fs=ntfs quick.
    8. Assign drive letter: assign.

     

    Warning: This will overwrite the partition table; only do this if you want to recreate a partition and are okay with losing existing partition info (but data recovery is better if you try to recover first).

    If the data is critical, consider consulting professional data recovery services to recover data from a deleted partition in Windows 10. Free tools are effective but may not recover everything, especially if data has been overwritten.

  • ZaZero's avatar
    ZaZero
    Iron Contributor

    Hey! From what I’ve picked up and experienced myself, trying to recover data from a deleted partition in Windows 11 isn’t usually super risky if you’re careful. But there are some things to watch out for to avoid messing things up further.

    First off, if you’re planning to recover data, don’t install recovery tools on the same drive or partition you’re trying to recover from. That can overwrite the data you want to save. Instead, use a different drive or an external one—like a USB stick or an external HDD—so you don’t accidentally write over the deleted partition.

    Also, it’s a good idea to avoid doing any system updates or installing new software until you’re done with the recovery. Sometimes, even minor things can cause issues if the system writes to the disk during recovery.

    In my own experience, I once tried recovering data from a deleted partition in Windows 11 and was super cautious—using a trusted recovery tool and working from a different drive—and it worked out fine. But I’ve also seen people get into trouble when they rush or aren’t careful, leading to permanent data loss.

  • Provencecass's avatar
    Provencecass
    Iron Contributor

    Recovering data from a deleted partition in Windows 11 for free follows a similar process as in Windows 10. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you recover your data without cost:

    Important Tips:

    • Stop using the drive immediately to prevent overwriting data.
    • Use a different drive to save recovered files.
    • Download recovery tools only from trusted sources.

     

    How to recover data from a deleted partition in Windows 11

    1. Download Phot0Rec and TastDisk
    2. Run Phot0Rec
    - Navigate to the folder containing phot0rec_win.exe.
    - Right-click the phot0rec_win.exe file and select "Run as administrator".

    3. Select the Drive
    - When Phot0Rec opens, you'll see a list of disks.
    - Use arrow keys to select your external drive (the one with the deleted partition).
    - Press Enter.

    4. Choose the Partition Type
    - Usually, Phot0Rec auto-detects partition types:
    - For Windows, select Intel/PC partition unless it's a GPT disk.
    - Press Enter to proceed.

    5. Select the Partition or Disk to Search
    - If your deleted partition shows up, select it.
    - If not, choose "Whole disk" to scan all unallocated space.
    - Confirm your choice by pressing Enter.

    6. Choose the Filesystem Type
    - For Windows, select "NTFS/NTFS" or "ext2/ext3" based on your drive.
    - For most Windows-formatted drives, NTFS is correct.

    7. Select the Destination for Recovered Files
    - Important: Choose a location on another drive or partition (not the one you're recovering from).
    - Use arrow keys to navigate and select the destination directory.
    - Confirm your selection.

    8. Start the Recovery Process
    - Phot0Rec will now scan the drive and recover files.
    - The process can take some time depending on the drive size and data.

    9. Review Recovered Files
    - Recovered files will be saved in the selected folder.
    - Files may have generic names but can be identified by extension and content.

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