Top 16 Unerase Freeware for Windows 10/11 and Mac
The digital era has brought convenience and speed to our fingertips, but it also comes with its own set of challenges. One of these is the accidental deletion of files. Fortunately, there are numerous free undelete tools available that can help you rescue your lost data. Here's a roundup of the top 16 unerase freeware for Windows 10/11 and Mac in 2024.
- Table of contents
- Part 1. What is Unerase Freeware?
- Part 2. 16 Best Unerase Freeware for Windows 10/11 and Mac
- Part 3. Tips for Effective Use of FreeUnerase Software
- Part 4. Unerase Freeware vs. Premium Recovery Software
- Part 5. FAQs
What is Unerase Freeware?
Unerase Freeware refers to free programs that allow users to recover or "unerase" files that have been accidentally deleted from their storage devices. This could range from individual files and folders to entire partitions or drives. These tools scan the storage medium for remnants of the deleted files and then reconstruct them.
They can typically recover data from various file systems, including FAT/exFAT, HFS+, Ext2/Ext3/Ext4, BtrFS, and XFS. The efficiency of these tools can vary, with some recovering files even after they've been removed from the recycle bin or after the storage device has been formatted. If you are looking for such tools to help you regain lost data, then you can check out the following 16 popular ones.
16 Best Unerase Freeware for Windows 10/11 and Mac
Accidentally deleting a file is a common mistake that can happen to anyone, and it can be frustrating to lose important files without backup. The good news is that plenty of free tools are available online to help you recover those lost files. However, we are faced with so many choices that we feel overwhelmed. That's why we have narrowed it down to the top 15 unerase freeware programs that you should consider and can be your savior in a pinch. Next, let us take a look at them!
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iBeesoft Free Data Recovery
iBeesoft Free Data Recovery is valuable for anyone who wants to recover erased files. It not only has powerful retrieval capabilities but also the ability to reorganize damaged files. Its wide range of supported data formats and storage devices, combined with its user-friendly, make it a standout option in free unerase Windows 10, 11, and macOS.
- Key Features:
- The results are displayed in an easy-to-understand layout, allowing users to preview recoverable files.
- A quick scan for recently deleted items and a deep scan for hard-to-find files.
- TRIM will be automatically turned off before scanning the SSD to improve significantly the deleted file and format recovery success rate.
- Disadvantages:
- The basic version only undelete or unformat 2GB of files for free, but this is enough for most users.
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Active UNERASER
Active UNERASER is a free data recovery tool that helps users find lost files from various storage devices. Despite the limitations of the free version, its special scan mode and the ability to create Disk Images make it a reliable choice for undelete in Windows 10 and 11.
- Key Features:
- You can create a Disk Image that allows users to perform recovery operations without the risk of further data loss.
- It supports recovery of RAID, Dynamic Disks, Windows Storage Spaces, and Logical Volume Managers.
- Disadvantages:
- The free unerase software for Windows doesn't support macOS.
- It cannot repair corrupted and corrupted pictures and videos.
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Recuva
Recuva is an unerase freeware developed by Piriform, the creator of CCleaner. It allows users to save recoverable files without limit, coupled with efficient scanning capabilities, making it a reliable choice for those looking for deleted file recovery.
- Key Features:
- Users can easily navigate the unerase Windows 10/11 process, preview files before recovery, and filter results by file type.
- It also provides an option to delete files you want to erase forever securely.
- Disadvantages:
- Virtual hard drive support and automatic updates are only available in the paid Professional version.
- Only available for Windows PCs.
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TestDisk
TestDisk is an open-source tool that provides comprehensive features to resolve non-physical damage-related issues on disk drives, such as undelete files, partition recovery, fixing partition tables, rebuilding NTFS boot sectors, etc. Despite a somewhat challenging user interface, its robust capabilities make it a reliable choice for those comfortable with command-line utilities.
- Key Features:
- It can handle many file systems, including FAT, NTFS, exFAT, ext2, ext3, ext4, and more.
- Whether you are unerase free on Windows, Windows Server, macOS, Linux, and more, it can help you.
- Disadvantages:
- It has no valuable options such as file preview, filtering, etc.
- Its command line interface is not intended for ordinary users.
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Disk Drill
Disk Drill is a popular unerase software for Windows 10/11 and Mac. The latest version introduces the ability to recover data from RAID arrays and virtual hard disks, further enhancing its capabilities. Despite some limitations in the free version, its robust recovery capabilities make it a reliable choice.
- Key Features:
- A series of dropdown menus allow users to customize their recovery process, making it as straightforward or detailed as they need.
- It can recover many file types, including pictures, music, documents, videos, emails, etc.
- Disadvantages:
- Its paid version is the most expensive of almost all undelete tools.
- The basic version can only save 500M of recoverable files for free.
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Stellar Free Data Recovery
It is a user-friendly software application that assists users in recovering various types of data, including documents, photos, audio, videos, and Outlook email files. Its comprehensive data reappear capabilities make it a popular choice for unerase freeware.
- Key Features:
- It has the ability to create a bootable USB recovery media, which is particularly useful for recovering data from crashed or unbootable systems.
- Simple user interface suitable for all users.
- Disadvantages:
- It allows users to restore up to 1 GB of lost or deleted data.
- The basic version does not provide the option to repair corrupt photos, which is a pity for users who want to undelete photos for free.
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Glary Undelete
Glary Undelete is a simple yet efficient file recovery program that offers a range of features to unerase Windows 10 and 11. Despite potential limitations, its simplicity and effectiveness make it a good choice for those who have lost their data.
- Key Features:
- It has a user-friendly interface makes the recovery process straightforward, even for novice users.
- Free recovery of up to 2GB of data.
- Disadvantages:
- It is not available for users who want to unerase on Mac.
- The scanning speed is relatively slow.
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MiniTool Data Recovery Free
MiniTool Data Recovery Free is a comprehensive file recovery tool that supports Windows and Mac. It's designed to restore erased data from various storage devices, including HDDs, SSDs, memory cards, and even Android devices. Its deep scanning capabilities make it an excellent option for unerase freeware.
- Key Features:
- It also includes a built-in partition recovery feature, which helps recover volumes lost by Windows updates, incorrect deletion, or partition table issues.
- Quickly scan specific locations to save you time.
- Disadvantages:
- It does not support WinPE bootable media.
- It can only undelete 1GB of files for free.
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EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard Free
It is an effective tool for basic undelete or unformat needs. This software has been specifically designed for various storage devices, including PCs, laptops, hard drives, and USB devices. Although the free version has feature limitations, its ease of use and recovery ability make it an ideal choice.
- Key Features:
- It allows users to filter the files they need to undelete.
- Recent updates have enhanced video recovery.
- Disadvantages:
- Even if you share it on social platforms, only 2GB of data can be recovered for free.
- Subscriptions are expensive.
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Puran File Recovery
Puran File Recovery is a free recovery tool that can be used to recover deleted files in Windows 10 and 11. Its deep scanning feature enables it to find and recover files that other programs may have missed, so it is also a popular option for unerase freeware.
- Key Features:
- It is available in a portable version and can even be run in a BartPE environment.
- Powerful filtering options allow you to find deleted files quickly.
- Disadvantages:
- Only version for Windows is available.
- The interface is not very intuitive.
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Restoration
Restoration is a free tool designed to help users undelete files on Windows PCs. Developed by Brian Kato, this lightweight software can be run from a floppy disk, making it a valuable tool for those with basic unerase free needs.
- Key Features:
- It offers a portable version to minimize the possibility of data overwriting.
- The software provides a straightforward user interface, making recovery easy for users of all skill levels.
- Disadvantages:
- Recovering large files, such as videos, archives, etc., is more challenging.
- It doesn't support newer file systems such as exFAT.
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FreeUndelete
FreeUndelete is a freeware program that is designed to restore files from NTFS and FAT32 drives. While it may offer fewer features than more advanced tools, its ease of use and compatibility with common file types makes it a handy option for basic unerase Windows 11/10/8/7 tasks.
- Key Features:
- It can be installed on a thumb drive so that you can unerase free anywhere.
- There are no hidden fees and no ad-padding.
- Disadvantages:
- Support for individual user customers is limited.
- The found file cannot be previewed.
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IObit Undelete
It's a straightforward solution for restoring documents, graphics, videos, emails, and other files that have been accidentally or intentionally removed. The unerase freeware has an enhanced scan engine that can detect more lost items. Its user-friendly interface makes it an option for any user with file recovery needs.
- Key Features:
- You can filter file types to speed up the scanning process.
- The free data recovery software for Windows 10 and 11 supports various storage devices, such as disks, flash drives, SD cards, etc.
- Disadvantages:
- It does not have file repair capabilities.
- There is no unerase version for Mac.
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TOKIWA Data Recovery
It is a freeware tool developed to recover erased files in Windows 10 and 11, even those removed from the recycle bin. This lightweight software requires no installation and can be used on various storage devices. Its simplicity and portability make it a handy option for different unerase needs.
- Key Features:
- It supports the recovery of compressed and encrypted files, adding to its versatility.
- Disadvantages:
- Outdated user interface
- No preview option
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UnDeleteMyFiles Pro
This software is free to use and can be a lifesaver in situations where vital data has been lost due to accidental deletion. UnDeleteMyFiles Pro offers a two-step process for finding and recovering deleted media and digital devices. This simplified process makes it easier for users to navigate and get their files.
- Key Features:
- Its simplicity makes it user-friendly to unerase Windows 10 and other systems.
- Dedicated filters that allow you to find specific information.
- Disadvantages:
- The process of data extraction can be lengthy.
- Its performance might not meet expectations.
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Paragon Rescue Kit
Paragon Rescue Kit is a comprehensive set of tools designed to tackle system problems and recover erased data. Its feature diversity and cross-platform compatibility make it an excellent choice to solve most file loss and system problems. For Mac users, Paragon introduced a new version of Rescue Kit that allows for easy and efficient restoration of the system or files.
- Key Features:
- It provides an easy-to-use guide that helps users through the recovery process.
- It allows users to create recovery media, which can be very useful in case of system problems.
- Disadvantages:
- Its data rescue capabilities could not be accurate enough compared to professional erase freeware.
- Lack of useful filters to help users locate lost files faster.
Remember, while these tools can be a lifesaver, they're not foolproof. Next, you can use the following tips to make the entire undelete process better.
Tips for Effective Use of FreeUnerase Software
To ensure that you can unerase Windows 11/10 and macOS successfully, there are a few tips you can follow. These include:
- 🚀 Act Fast: The sooner you try to undelete files, the better your chances of success. This is because when a file is deleted, it's not immediately wiped from your hard drive. Instead, the space it stores is marked as available. If new data is written over it, recovery becomes much more complicated.
- ⛔ Try not to install on the same drive: If you need to download and install unerase freeware, try not to do it on the same drive where the deleted files were located. You risk overwriting the very data you're trying to undelete.
- ✅ Choose the Right Software: The top 16 unerase freeware options are available, so ensure you choose one that suits your needs. Some tools specialize in certain types of files (e.g., photos and documents), while others may offer deep scan capabilities to recover more thoroughly.
- 🔍 Preview Files Before Recovery: Most unerase freeware allows you to preview files before recovery. This can save time as you don't have to recover all files, just the ones you need.
- ⏰ Be Patient: Deep scans can take a long time, especially on large drives. Don't interrupt the process halfway through - let the software complete its scan for the best results.
In most cases, free unerase software for Windows 10/11 and Mac can rescue your lost data, but it also has certain limitations. To do this, you can compare it with paid tools to make the best choice.
Unerase Freeware vs. Premium Recovery Software
When it comes to undelete, both freeware and premium software have their advantages and disadvantages. Here's how they compare:
Unerase Freeware:
- ✔️ Pros: Free and can handle basic file recovery tasks. Some freeware tools offer unlimited data recovery and even estimate how likely a file can be recovered.
- ❌ Cons: The main downside is that they often lack the advanced features of premium software. They might not be as effective at recovering data in complex scenarios, such as severe hard drive damage or file corruption.
Premium Recovery Software:
- ✔️ Pros: They typically offer more advanced features and better recovery rates. They can handle more complex data loss scenarios and often come with better customer support.
- ❌ Cons: The main disadvantage is cost. While many premium tools offer a free trial or limited free version, you'll usually need to pay to unlock their full capabilities. However, this could be a worthwhile investment if the data you're trying to recover is valuable.
In conclusion, the choice between unerase freeware and premium recovery software depends on your specific needs, budget, and the complexity of the data recovery task.
FAQs
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When you delete a file, the data isn't immediately removed from your hard drive. Instead, the space it occupies is marked as available for new data. Free unerase software scans your drive for these "available" spaces and attempts to recover the data before it's overwritten.
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Most tools can undelete various file types, including documents, photos, videos, and music. However, the success rate may vary depending on the file type and how long it was deleted.
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If new data has been written over the deleted file, it may not be recoverable. Also, the chances of successful recovery are lower if the file was deleted long ago.
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Yes, many programs support multiple platforms that you can unerase in Windows 11/10, Mac, Linux, and more. However, be sure to choose a program compatible with your operating system.
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Yes, most unerase freeware can recover erased files from internal and external drives, including USB drives, SD cards, and other portable storage devices.
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When you format a hard drive or partition, the system only erases the information in its file allocation table, and the data remains in its original location. So, act quickly, and you can use it to unerase free from formatted drives.
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This depends on the specific software. Some freeware may limit the amount of data you can undelete, while others offer unlimited recovery. Check the software's terms before using it.
Conclusion
Unerase freeware offers many solutions when it comes to retrieving erased files. Our top 16 list caters to all your data recovery needs, regardless of situation or file format. Whether you’re looking to recover lost photos, videos, or documents, these software tools will help you regain your data. Remember, when files are deleted, they’re not gone forever. With the right free unerase software, deleted data can be restored successfully.