Disk Drill - Data Recovery Software
Disk Drill is a data recovery tool by CleverFiles that reconstructs deleted or lost files from hard drives, USB drives, memory cards, and phones. The free version recovers up to 100 MB. A Pro license costs $89 per year or $149 for a lifetime license covering up to 3 devices.
It runs on Windows and macOS.
Recovery methods
Quick Scan checks recently deleted files and takes a few minutes. Deep Scan does a byte level analysis of the entire drive, recognizing over 400 file types by their signatures even when the file system is damaged. Both modes let you preview files before recovering them, so you can confirm you are getting the right data back. You can also recover lost partitions that disappeared after formatting or disk errors.
Protection and backup
Recovery Vault monitors folders you select and keeps metadata about deleted files, making future recovery faster and more reliable. The byte to byte backup feature creates an exact clone of a failing drive, which you can then scan safely without putting more stress on the damaged disk. There is also a video repair tool for fixing corrupted MP4 and MOV files from cameras.
Advantages
- Recognizes 400+ file types during deep scans
- Preview before recovery confirms you found the right files
- Drive cloning lets you work from a copy instead of stressing a failing disk
- Works on Windows, macOS, and external devices including phones
Drawbacks
- Free version limited to 100 MB recovery, which is not enough for most real situations
- $89/year or $149 lifetime is expensive for software you hopefully rarely need
- Recuva by Piriform is free and handles basic file recovery
- PhotoRec is free, open source, and recovers from damaged file systems
Who it is for
Disk Drill is for people who accidentally deleted files or have a drive that stopped working. The 100 MB free tier lets you verify it can find your files before paying. For simple deletions on a healthy drive, the free Recuva handles most cases. For damaged drives, TestDisk and PhotoRec are free and open source, though less user friendly.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much can Disk Drill recover for free?
Can Disk Drill recover files from a formatted drive?
What are free alternatives to Disk Drill?
Features & How-To Guide
| # | Feature | How to use |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | File recovery after formatting | Select device › Deep Scan › Wait for scan (analyzes byte by byte) › Preview › Select files › Recover. |
| 2 | Quick recovery of recently deleted files | Select drive › Quick Scan › 2-5 minutes › Browse recently deleted files › Check › Recover. |
| 3 | Cloning damaged disk | Select damaged drive › Tools › Byte-to-Byte Backup › Choose target drive › Monitor progress › Scan copy instead of original. |
| 4 | File protection against accidental deletion | Enable Recovery Vault › Choose folders to monitor › After file deletion: recover instantly thanks to preserved metadata. |
| 5 | File preview before restore (alt) 2 | After scan › Browse found files by type (images/documents/video/audio) › Click to see preview › Recover only needed. |
| 6 | Corrupted video file repair | Select corrupted video (MP4/MOV) › Drag to Disk Drill › Advanced Camera Recovery › Repair file structure. |
| 7 | Data recovery from RAID array | Connect RAID drives › Disk Drill automatically detects array configuration › Scan › Recover files. |
| 8 | Lost partition recovery | Scan drive › Disk Drill detects lost partitions after formatting or disk error › Preview files › Full recovery. |
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