PhotoRec
A free, open-source file recovery tool that carves lost files straight from disks and memory cards.
- Verified facts
- 4 of 4
- Alternatives ranked
- 2
- Approved reviews
- 0
- Visits sent from here
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About PhotoRec
PhotoRec is a free file recovery program from CGSecurity, the project behind TestDisk. Despite the name it recovers far more than photos: documents, archives, videos and hundreds of other formats from hard drives, SSDs, CD-ROMs, USB sticks and camera memory cards. It ignores the file system and searches the raw data for known file headers, so it still works when a drive has been reformatted or its file system is badly damaged. It opens the source drive read-only, and you save results to a different drive. The trade-off is that recovered files usually lose their original names and folder structure, so sorting the output takes time. PhotoRec runs in a text-based interface (a separate graphical front end, QPhotoRec, exists) on Windows, macOS, Linux and BSD, and is distributed under the GPL together with TestDisk. It suits anyone who wants capable recovery without paying for a commercial app.
Best for: People who want free, thorough file recovery and don't mind a text-based interface.
Pros and cons
What works
- Free and open source with no recovery limits
- Works even on reformatted or badly damaged file systems
- Read-only access to the source drive
- Runs on Windows, macOS, Linux and BSD
Why people leave
- Recovered files usually lose their names and folders
- Text-based interface is intimidating for beginners
- Fragmented files may come back incomplete
Top PhotoRec alternatives
See all 2- 1
Disk Drill62.6Graphical app with file previews that keeps original names when the file system is intact.
- 2EaEaseUS Data Recovery Wizard59.6
Guided wizard for people who'd rather not use a text interface.
Why people left PhotoRec
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PhotoRec: common questions
Is PhotoRec free?
Yes. PhotoRec is free, open-source software.
Is PhotoRec open source?
Yes.
What platforms does PhotoRec run on?
PhotoRec is available for Windows, macOS and Linux.
What are the best alternatives to PhotoRec?
The highest-ranked PhotoRec alternatives right now are Disk Drill and EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.