There are a lot of ways you can lose files. With threats ranging from accidental deletion to malware, keeping your digital photos truly safe is hard. If you’ve already lost a picture and want to return it, you can use one of the many available programs.
I’m Caleb, and as a self-taught photographer with around five years of experience, I’m pretty familiar with organizing and storing large photo libraries digitally.
In this article, I’ll cover some software available for restoring deleted or corrupted photos. I’ve included programs for various systems and skill levels, so you’re sure to find one that will help your specific situation.
Contents
Key Takeaways
- EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard is an easy photo recovery option for all skill levels and has a free tier for basic tasks.
- R-Studio is a more advanced data recovery program and is best suited for power users or technology professionals.
- DiskDigger is a functional program that is effectively free and can recover photos from Android phones, Windows, and Linux.
- You should check the reviews to avoid getting scammed when looking for a recovery program. Some programs are advertised with unrealistic results to convince you to buy an expensive license.
In short, it depends. Several factors affect whether you can get deleted photos back, including the time since you deleted them and the software you’re using to recover them.
How Do I Recover a Corrupted Floppy Disk?
If you have a corrupted floppy disk, you may be able to recover the data with software, just like lost data on a hard disk. However, you’ll have to use a program targeted at floppy disks.
Is It Possible to Recover Data from a Dead SSD?
Getting your data back from a dead SSD is possible, but your success will depend on factors like the extent of damage to the SSD. If the SSD doesn’t show up when you plug it into another computer, you may have to take it to a professional.
Can You Recover Deleted Data from an iPhone?
Yes, it is possible to recover deleted data from an iPhone. However, I’ve chosen not to include a program for iOS on this list because most users report very hit-or-miss results with iOS-based recovery software. This is because of Apple’s more restrictive operating system.
What Makes The Best Photo Recovery Software
Here are some things to remember when looking for a photo recovery program.
- Recovery: Obviously, the most important thing is that the program can recover the photos you want. You should check the file types the program can recover, the window of time you’ll have to recover your pictures and other specs like this.
- Ease of Use: Some programs are easier to use than others. If you’re not a computer-savvy person,
- Available Platforms: You should look for a program that works on your platform. Some programs are available for multiple platforms, like Windows and Mac.
- Price: Price is an essential factor to consider. You can get the job done with free programs, but sometimes it can be worth paying for a program that offers an easier experience.
Top 3 Best Photo Recovery Software
These are the best three programs for recovering your photos. There are two for PCs, one for Android and iPhone, so you’ll be able to find a program no matter what device you’re using.
1. EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard (Best Overall)
- Platforms: Windows and macOS
- Free or Paid: Free, with paid additional features
If you have photo recovery needs on Windows or Mac, there’s a good chance that EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard covers them. It covers many uses, from regular lost data recovery to partition recovery, and should work with whatever storage device you have.
The software covers many possible causes of data loss, including power or hard drive failures, malware, and more.
While other programs are available on Windows or Mac, such as R-Studio, this software gets the edge over that one because of ease of use. You shouldn’t have trouble using the UI to select your storage device and find the files you want to recover.
Finally, another advantage of this program is its free tier. You won’t get all the features at this level, but it’s still useful if you only need the software to handle a small task. The free level is still reasonably functional, letting you recover data from both internal and external drives.
If there’s a downside here, it’s that the recovery process itself can be slow-moving. But for most people, that’s a small price to pay for getting their files back.
My Verdict: EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard is the best software if you want an easy-to-use data recovery program with a free tier, and it works on both Windows and Mac.
2. R-Studio (Best for Professionals)
- Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux
- Free or Paid: Paid
R-Studio may be a better choice for data recovery if you have higher-end needs. It’s the most versatile software on this list, with features such as RAID recovery and the ability to recover files over a network.
The software is compatible with Linux in addition to Windows and Mac, making it a good choice for server administrators and other tech professionals. It can also run on older versions of Windows, dating back to Windows 2000.
Since R-Studio is a more professional program, it also comes with 24/7 support and even has a section on the R-Tools forum where you can find help with any problems you may have.
Because of the algorithms used by R-Studio, the software may also be able to find files that otherwise wouldn’t be detected during a drive scan by other programs.
The biggest con with R-Studio is that it’s a more complex program and not beginner-friendly compared to other options on the market. There’s also no free tier, so you can’t try it first to see if it works for you before buying the full version.
My Verdict: Because of its more comprehensive and powerful tools, R-Studio is the best data recovery software for tech professionals or more in-depth home users.
3. DiskDigger (Best for Android)
- Platforms: Android, Windows, Linux
- Free or Paid: Free, with an optional license
DiskDigger is a versatile program. It works on all the major desktop systems, and it also has an app for Android phones. If you have a rooted Android device, DiskDigger Pro can recover all file types. The basic version, on the other hand, can recover photos and videos.
The program is even easier to use on Windows and Linux, as you just have to unzip and run it. There’s no installer, which saves time and cuts down on system clutter. DiskDigger is technically compatible with Mac but currently only works with older pre-Catalina versions.
One of the unique features of DiskDigger compared to other programs is the ability to preview the files you’re recovering. You can see which pictures and videos you’re restoring and even look at what’s inside a zip file before recovering it.
Also, you can customize the scan and only look for deleted files or only look for files of a specific type. This saves time if you know from the outset that a full scan isn’t necessary.
The main con is that the Android app isn’t as effective as the Windows version. In fact, the software maker recommends mounting your phone’s SD card to your computer directly and using the Windows or Linux version to recover files from your phone’s storage.
My Verdict: If you want a program with robust functionality that also works with Android file systems, DiskDigger is the way to go.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, photo recovery options exist for all platforms and skill levels and at multiple price points. Hopefully, this article has made it easier for you to sort through all the programs and determine which works for you.
Do you use a particular photo recovery program? Do you think there’s one missing here? Let us know in the comments.
Jason
Great Tool! It’s help me to get back wedding videos from my Camera SD card. Thanks!