What to do right now
- If Recuva marks a file as unrecoverable, it has usually been overwritten.
- For formatted, RAW or partition problems, use a tool with partition search and signature search.
- If recovered files will not open, try repairing them.
When Recuva gets stuck
Read the result state
Recuva shows each file as excellent, poor or unrecoverable. Poor and unrecoverable mean part of the content has been overwritten by other data, and another tool will usually see the same content.
Match the feature to the case
If the drive shows as RAW or a partition disappeared, you need a tool that finds partition candidates. If the file names are gone, you need signature search. If a spreadsheet or photo will not open, you need repair rather than recovery.
Scan again with FileFix Ultimate
Extract the portable ZIP onto another disk and scan the same drive. The source is opened read-only.
Repair files that will not open
If recovered JPEG, PNG, PDF, ZIP, DOCX, XLSX, PPTX or HWPX files will not open, run them through damaged file repair. Repairs are saved as new files.
Look for unsaved work separately
If the document was closed without saving rather than deleted, the unsaved file finder comes first. It checks Office AutoRecover, HWP backups and Notepad tabs.
Recuva and FileFix Ultimate compared
Both are free with no recovery size limit. Recuva's strengths are a simple wizard and secure deletion, and its long history means plenty of tutorials exist. Major new features have been rare in recent years.
FileFix Ultimate adds lost partition search, scanning of disk images (VHD, VHDX, E01), repair of damaged photos, PDFs and Office files, cell value salvage from spreadsheets that will not open, an unsaved file finder and SMART disk health. Version 1.0.4 adds video and audio repair and read-only access to ext4 NAS disks and Mac HFS+ drives.
What to check when installing
Some free installers offer to install other products, so read each screen before you click next. Whatever tool you use, never install it on the drive you are recovering from. Recuva is a trademark of its owner and is not affiliated with FileFix Ultimate.
When an alternative will not help
- Files Recuva reports as overwritten are usually in the same state in any tool.
- SSD data cleared by TRIM cannot be recovered by any program.
- Repair cannot create content that is no longer there.
How FileFix Ultimate helps
- Restores original names and folders from NTFS, FAT32 and exFAT records, with signature search when records are gone.
- Searches for lost partition candidates and scans disk images.
- Validates recovered files and repairs damaged ones into new copies.
- Includes an unsaved, temporary and AutoRecover file finder.
FileFix Ultimate is free, works offline and never writes to the drive you are recovering from. Check the signature before you run it.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a better free tool than Recuva?
It depends on the case. Recuva handles simple deletions well; formatted drives, lost partitions, damaged files and unsaved documents benefit from a tool with more features.
Does Recuva work on Windows 11?
Many people use it on Windows 11, but check Recuva's official page for its supported systems.
Files recovered with Recuva will not open. Why?
Part of the content may be overwritten, or the file was fragmented. Try damaged file repair to save what is readable; if that fails, the data was most likely overwritten.