Recuva

Name: Recuva
Availability: InStock
Author: Piriform

Recuva is a free file recovery tool from Piriform, the company behind CCleaner. It recovers deleted files from hard drives, SSDs, USB drives, and SD cards. Available for Windows in a free version and a paid Professional edition with automatic updates and virtual hard drive support.

What it does

When you delete a file and empty the Recycle Bin, the data is not immediately erased from the disk. Recuva scans the drive and finds files that are still physically present but no longer visible to Windows. A wizard walks you through the process: pick a file type (or all files), choose the drive to scan, and hit Start. Results show each found file with a colored dot indicating recovery chances - green means excellent recovery chances, yellow means partially damaged, orange means poor odds, red means overwritten and unrecoverable.

The Deep Scan mode takes longer but finds files that the quick scan misses, especially on drives that have been formatted or heavily used since deletion. For permanently destroying sensitive files, Recuva also offers secure overwrite, which writes random data over the file's sectors so it cannot be recovered by anyone.

Advantages

Simple wizard interface that guides non technical users step by step
Color coded recovery probability so you know before attempting recovery
Deep Scan finds files that quick scan misses
Secure overwrite for permanent deletion of sensitive data

Drawbacks

SSD recovery is unreliable because TRIM erases data blocks almost immediately after deletion
Cannot recover files from encrypted drives
Has not received major updates in years
Free version installer tries to bundle CCleaner during setup

Who it is for

Recuva is the tool I recommend when someone accidentally deletes a file and panics. The key is to stop using the drive immediately and run Recuva as soon as possible - every write operation reduces recovery chances. On traditional hard drives, recovery rates are excellent if you act quickly. On SSDs, your chances are much lower due to TRIM. For anything beyond basic recovery, Disk Drill or R-Studio offer more advanced options, but Recuva handles the common "I just deleted it by mistake" scenario well enough for most people.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Recuva recover files from an SSD?

Recovery from SSDs is unreliable. The TRIM command, enabled by default on SSDs, tells the drive to erase data blocks shortly after deletion. By the time you run Recuva, the data is often already wiped at the hardware level. Recovery from traditional hard drives is much more successful.

Is Recuva still maintained?

Recuva has not received major updates in recent years, but it still works on current Windows versions. Piriform continues to offer it for download. For more actively developed alternatives, Disk Drill and PhotoRec are worth considering.

How do I maximize recovery chances with Recuva?

Stop using the drive immediately after realizing files were deleted. Every new file written to the drive can overwrite the deleted data. Run Recuva from a different drive if possible, and use Deep Scan mode for the most thorough results.

Features & How-To Guide

#	Feature	How to use
1	Global security settings	Wizard › Check Enable Deep Scan › Start › The scan takes longer but finds files invisible to a normal scan.
2	File recovery from USB drive or SD card	Connect the media › Run Recuva › Wizard › In a specific location › Choose the USB/SD drive letter › Scan › Recover.
3	Deleted file recovery	Run Recuva › Wizard: choose the file type (All Files) › Location (drive/partition) › Start › Select files with a green dot › Recover › Choose a destination folder on ANOTHER drive.
4	HTTPS filtering	After a scan › Filename or path box at the top › Type a name or extension (.jpg, .docx). The results filter live.
5	File recovery from emptied Recycle Bin	Wizard › In the Recycle Bin › Scan › Recuva searches the Recycle Bin sectors › Select files › Recover.
6	Photo recovery from memory card	Wizard › Pictures › In a specific location › Choose the SD card › Scan › Preview thumbnails › Select photos › Recover.
7	File recovery chance checking	After a scan › State column › Green dot = excellent chance › Yellow = partial damage › Red = overwritten (unrecoverable).
8	Secure file deletion	Run a scan › Select the files to delete permanently › Right-click › Secure Overwrite checked › The files are overwritten and unrecoverable.