What to do right now
- winfr needs a source drive and a destination on a different drive.
- Start with /regular for recent deletions on NTFS; use /extensive otherwise.
- For previews and a graphical workflow, use a GUI tool that can also run winfr.
Using winfr, step by step
Install it from Microsoft Store
Search Windows File Recovery in Microsoft Store. It requires Windows 10 version 2004 or later. Install it on a drive other than the one you are recovering from if possible.
Open it as administrator
Start Windows File Recovery from the Start menu; it opens a command prompt with administrator rights.
Choose a mode
Use /regular for recently deleted files on an intact NTFS drive. Use /extensive for older deletions, formatted drives, and FAT or exFAT media such as SD cards.
Run a filtered command
Example: winfr C: E:\ /regular /n \Users\Name\Documents\*.docx recovers deleted Word documents from that folder to drive E:. The destination must be a different drive.
Check the recovery folder
winfr creates a folder named Recovery_ followed by date and time on the destination. Open the files to check them; winfr does not validate results.
Strengths and limits of winfr
winfr is made by Microsoft, is free and forces you to save to a different drive, which is good practice. It understands NTFS well and can search by file signature.
It has no graphical interface and no preview, so you only see results after recovery. Filters must be typed correctly, and Recycle Bin files come back with their internal $R names. It does not tell you whether a recovered file is intact.
Older versions of the tool used different modes, named /ntfs, /segment and /signature. Instructions written for those versions still appear online and do not match the current commands, which is a common source of confusion.
The graphical alternative
FileFix Ultimate does the same job with its own engines: choose a drive, pick a scan mode, browse the results by folder and type, preview, then save to another disk. If Windows File Recovery is installed, the Advanced engine mode can also run it as an external engine and merge its results with FileFix's own, without bundling or modifying it. You can use both: let FileFix run its own scan first, and add winfr as a second opinion for NTFS drives.
Limits that apply to every tool
- Files on internal SSDs with TRIM are usually unrecoverable.
- Overwritten files cannot be recovered.
- Physically failing drives should be imaged first or sent to a lab.
How FileFix Ultimate helps
- Graphical workflow with previews, folder view and filters by type, name and confidence.
- Can use winfr and PhotoRec as optional external engines if you installed them; nothing is bundled.
- Validates recovered files and labels partial or unverified ones.
- Supports FAT32, exFAT and disk images as well as NTFS.
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 an official GUI for Windows File Recovery?
No. Microsoft provides it as a command-line tool only.
Why does winfr say the source and destination must be different?
Saving to the same drive could overwrite the files being recovered. Every careful recovery tool enforces this.
Do I need winfr to use FileFix Ultimate?
No. FileFix Ultimate has its own engines. External tools are optional.
Which mode should I use for an SD card?
Use /extensive. The /regular mode only supports NTFS, while memory cards usually use FAT32 or exFAT.