Is there any way to recover deleted files from SSD?

I’ve been in a similar situation before, and after trying a bunch of different tools (including the Windows File Recovery tool, which I also found confusing and not very effective), the one that worked best for me was 4DD1G Data Recovery. It wasn’t free, but they let you scan and preview the files before paying, so you can at least see if your data is still recoverable.

Here’s roughly how it works:

• Install the software on a different drive (not the SSD you’re trying to recover from).
• Launch the program and select the SSD where the files were deleted.
• Let it run a full scan — this may take some time depending on your drive size.
• Once the scan is done, you can preview the files. If your folder shows up, then recovery is possible.
• If you go ahead, make sure to recover to another location (like an external drive).

No tool is guaranteed to work on SSDs with TRIM, but if you haven’t written much new data to the drive, it’s definitely worth a shot. If the recovery software doesn’t find your files, don’t panic just yet. There’s still one more option: professional data recovery services.

It is indeed frustrating to accidentally delete files on an SSD, but according to my personal experience, if the operation is timely, there is still hope to recover deleted files on the SSD (especially if they have been deleted recently). The following are two methods that do not require third-party tools:

Method 1: Use the "Previous Versions" function (system protection must be enabled in advance)
If the system restore point or file history backup is enabled before deletion, you can restore it through the "Previous Versions" that comes with Windows:

1. Right-click the parent folder (or disk partition) where the deleted file is located, and select Properties → Previous Versions.
2. If there is a backup version (displaying the date and time), select it and click Open to manually copy the lost file.

⚠️ Key condition: "System Protection" must be turned on before deletion (it may be turned off by default). If it has never been set, this method will not work.

Method 2: Use the Windows built-in tool Windows File Recovery
Microsoft officially provides a command line tool (free) that supports the recovery of some files from SSDs, but the operation is complicated:

1. Download and install Windows File Recovery from the Microsoft Store.
2. Open the command prompt as an administrator and enter the command (example):

winfr C: D: /regular /n \Users\your username\target folder\*

    3. C: is the partition where the deleted files are located, and D: is the location where the recovered files are saved.

   4. /regular is suitable for quick scanning. If it is ineffective, use /extensive (deep scanning, which takes a long time).

   5. Specify the file name or path after /n (wildcard * is supported).

After the scan is completed, check whether there are recovered files in the output directory (the file name may be shuffled).

⚠️ Key to success rate:

• Stop writing to the SSD immediately! New data will overwrite the deleted files, resulting in permanent loss.
• If the SSD supports TRIM and has been triggered (most are turned on by default), the probability of recovery is extremely low.

If the above method does not work and the file is extremely important, you can try professional data recovery services (paid), but the success rate of SSD is much lower than that of mechanical hard disks due to the underlying erasure mechanism. Important files must be backed up regularly!

Developed by Piriform, Reczuva is a user-friendly and reliable tool for recovering lost files from SD cards, hard drives, and other storage devices. It supports a wide range of file types and offers a deep scan option for thorough recovery. The free version is sufficient for most users and provides a straightforward interface.

1. Open Rezcuva from your desktop or Start menu. If prompted, allow the program to run with administrative privileges.
2. When Rezcuva opens, theWizard will launch automatically. If it doesn’t, click Options > Show Wizard. Click Next to proceed.
3. Choose the type of files you want to recover (e.g., Pictures, Music, Documents, Videos, or All Files). Click Next.
4. Select the location where the files were stored. For an SSD, choose In a specific location and browse to the drive letter of your SSD (e.g., C:\ or another partition).
5. Once the scan is complete, Reczuva will display a list of recoverable files.
6. Click the Recover button. Choose a location to save the recovered files. Do not save them back to the SSD to avoid overwriting data. Use an external drive or another partition instead. Click OK to start the recovery process.

Reczuva is a great tool for recovering deleted files from SSDs, and its intuitive interface makes it accessible even for beginners. Stop using the SSD immediately after data loss to prevent overwriting deleted files. And the sooner you attempt recovery, the higher the chances of success. If the quick scan doesn’t find your files, the deep scan is more thorough but slower.

PhotozRec is a powerful open-source data recovery tool designed to recover lost files, including photos, videos, documents, and more, from SSD and other storage media. It works with a wide range of file systems and is highly effective for recovering data from formatted or corrupted SSD drives. Although it has a command-line interface, it is easy to use once you get familiar with the steps.

How to recover deleted files from SSD on Windows

Step 1: Open the folder where you extracted the app. Run the executable file If prompted by your system, allow the program to run with administrative privileges.

Step 2: In the interface, you'll see a list of storage devices. Use the arrow keys to select your SSD drive (it will usually be labeled as a removable disk). Press Enter to proceed.

Step 3: It will display the partitions on your SSD drive. Select the correct partition where your lost data was stored. Press Enter to continue.

Step 4: The app will ask you to choose the file system type. For most SSD drives, select Other (for FAT/exFAT file systems) or Intel/PC (for NTFS). Press Enter.

Step 5: PhotozRec will prompt you to select a destination folder to save the recovered files. Use the arrow keys to navigate to a folder on your computer. Press C to confirm the location.

Step 6: PhotozRec will ask if you want to recover all file types or specific ones. For a full recovery, select Whole. Press Enter to start the scanning process. This may take some time depending on the size of SSD drive.

Once the scan is complete, PhotozRec will save the recovered files in the folder you selected. Navigate to the folder and review the recovered files. They may be organized into subfolders based on file type.

How about Windows File Recovery (Command-Line Tool) if you are going to recover deleted files from SSD?

Step 1: You need to use specific command-line arguments to specify the source drive, the destination drive, the file type, and the search parameters.
Step 2: Identify the Correct Parameters: This is the tricky part! You need to know the file system type (usually NTFS for Windows). Also, try the recommended modes and file types to recover as much data as possible.
Step3: Example Commands (Illustrative):
To recover JPEG files from your C drive (assuming your SSD is the C drive) to your external drive (e.g., E drive) using the Regular mode: winfr C: E: /regular /n *.jpg
To recover DOCX files from a specific folder (e.g., the "Documents" folder) using the Segment mode: winfr C: E: /segment /n "\Users\<YourUsername>\Documents\*.docx"
If you are unsure of file types, consider scanning for all document types with *.doc*, *.pdf, *.xls*, *.txt, *.ppt*, etc.
Step 4: Run the Command: Open Command Prompt as administrator, paste the command and press Enter. The tool will start the recovery process.
Step 5: Check the Output: After recovery, check the destination drive for the recovered files.

When using Windows File Recovery, make sure you understand the command syntax thoroughly. Incorrect syntax can lead to no results or errors. Consult the official documentation or search online for detailed examples.

Yes, it is possible to recover data from SSD, but it's more challenging than recovering files from an HDD. The success rate depends on several factors:

• Time Elapsed: The longer you wait, the lower the chances.
• Usage After Deletion: If the SSD has been actively used, data has likely been overwritten.
• The SSD's Firmware and TRIM Implementation: Some SSDs implement TRIM more aggressively than others.
  Fragmentation: The more fragmented the original files were, the harder the recovery process can be.

How to recover data from SSD? (TesStDisk/PhotoRrec)
These are powerful, open-source tools, but they have a steeper learning curve than Reccuva. PhotoRrec is particularly good for recovering photos, videos, and other media files. TesStDisk can also help repair file system issues.

Steps:

1. Download and install: Download TeSstDisk/PhotoRrec from a reputable source. Installation may involve extracting files to a folder.
2. Run the program: Run the executable. It's a command-line interface, so you'll navigate using your keyboard.
3. Select the SSD: Choose your SSD from the list of drives.
4. Select the Partition Table Type: Usually, the correct option is "Intel" or "EFI GPT." Choose the correct option based on your system's configuration.
5. Choose File System: Select the file system of your SSD (usually NTFS if you're using Windows).
6. Choose the Search Options: Select the option to search for lost files (e.g., "Undelete"). PhotoRrrec can search by file type.
7. Select the Destination Folder: Choose a different drive or partition to save the recovered files.
8. Start the Scan: The program will scan your SSD and attempt to recover data from SSD.
9. Review and Recover: You'll see a list of recovered files or folders. Choose what you want to recover and copy them to your destination.