Get it from the official source
We don't host files. These links take you straight to the genuine, safe installer on the developer's website.
Losing files is gut-wrenching, whether it is a folder of wedding photos accidentally deleted, a college project lost when a pen drive corrupted, or a formatted SD card from your phone or camera. The good news is that deleted does not always mean gone. Until the storage space is overwritten, recovery software can often bring files back, and several excellent tools are free.
This guide covers file recovery for Indian users: free tools that work on hard disks, SSDs, SD cards and USB drives, what the paid tiers cost in INR, and the single most important rule for successful recovery. We link only to official sources, because fake recovery tools are a known scam that can make data loss worse.
Top picks & alternatives
PhotoRec / TestDisk
Powerful free, open-source recovery for most media types.
Visit official site ↗
Windows File Recovery
Free built-in command-line recovery tool from Microsoft.
Visit official site ↗
Stellar Data Recovery
Indian-founded recovery software for tricky and corrupted drives.
Visit official site ↗
Stop using the drive immediately
This is the most important rule and it is free. The moment you realise files are deleted or a card is formatted, stop writing anything to that drive. Every new file you save, every photo you take on that SD card, risks overwriting the very data you want back. Do not install recovery software onto the same drive you are recovering from; install it on a different drive or run a portable version. The sooner you stop and recover, the higher your success rate.
Best free recovery tools
For deleted files on Windows, Recuva is a long-time free favourite that is beginner-friendly. The open-source PhotoRec (bundled with TestDisk) is extremely powerful and recovers hundreds of file types from almost any media, including SD cards and pen drives; it looks intimidating but works very well. Windows itself now includes the free Windows File Recovery command-line tool. These cover most everyday recovery for zero rupees.
- Recuva: easiest for deleted files on Windows.
- PhotoRec / TestDisk: powerful, free, works on most media.
- Windows File Recovery: built-in, free, command-line.
Recovering phone, camera and SD card data
SD cards and pen drives are where Indian users lose data most often, from phones, action cameras, and DSLRs. Remove the card and connect it to a PC with a card reader rather than recovering over the phone. PhotoRec and tools like EaseUS and Recuva can scan the card directly. For internal phone storage, recovery is harder because modern Android encrypts data; your best protection there is regular backup to Google Photos or a cloud drive.
Free vs paid: what you pay in INR
Free tools recover a great deal, but paid suites like EaseUS Data Recovery and Stellar (an Indian-founded company) add deep scanning, better previews, and support for tricky cases like RAW or severely corrupted drives. Paid licences are typically billed in the few-thousand-INR range, sometimes as a monthly or yearly plan. A sensible approach: try the free tools first, and only pay if your data is valuable and the free scan finds it but cannot recover it.
When to call a professional recovery service
Software recovery only works when the drive is physically functional. If a hard disk is making clicking noises, was physically damaged, or is not detected at all, stop and consult a professional data recovery lab. There are reputable labs in major Indian cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru and Hyderabad. Running software on a physically failing drive can make things worse, so for irreplaceable data, professional help is the safer call.
Frequently asked questions
Questions & answers
No questions yet — be the first to ask!
Ask a question
Please sign in with your email to ask a question.
Comments (0)
No comments yet. Share your experience!
Leave a comment
Please sign in with your email to comment.