Recover Photos for Free | 7 Free Photo Recovery Software in 2026

Things We Consider When Choosing the Free Photo Recovery Software

There are many free photo recovery software available on the market, but not all of them are equally effective. When selecting an effective photo recovery tool, be sure to consider the following aspects:

1. High Success Rate

When using free photo recovery software, the most important factor is success rate. When selecting one, consider its ability to handle various scenarios, from simple deletions to recovering photos from SD card, hard drive and other storage devices.

2. Wide Range of Supported File Formats

In addition to common photo formats such as JPEG, PNG, and GIF, choosing a free data recovery tool that also supports RAW formats used by professional photographers (such as CR2, NEF, and ARW) can significantly increase the chances of being chosen.

3. Storage Device Compatibility

It’s important to choose a recovery tool that supports a wide range of storage devices, including SD cards, external hard drives, USB flash drives, and internal computer storage. Also, make sure it supports major file systems such as NTFS, FAT32, and exFAT.

4. Ease of Use

Look for software with an intuitive interface that can be used even by non–tech beginners. Tools that require complex operations are more suitable for pros.

5. Preview Function

A preview feature that lets you view images before recovery is extremely useful. Even when files have generic names like “IMG_1234,” the preview function helps you accurately identify and select the photos you actually need.

Review of the 7 Best Free Photo Recovery Software

In this part, we’ll introduce 7 popular photo data recovery software on the market and explain the features, pros, and cons of each one in detail.

1. Recuva (Windows)

Recuva is a well-known free software among Windows users, capable of recovering even permanently deleted photos. Developed by Piriform, the creators of CCleaner, it features a clean and user-friendly interface.

Key Features:

• Supports over 100 image file formats
• Preview function before recovery
• Thorough search with deep scan function

My Experience:

Recuva is easy to use. Its wizard-based interface allows you to complete the recovery process in just a few simple steps. It offers two scan modes: Quick Scan and Deep Scan, so you can choose the most suitable option depending on the situation. The free version provides a solid set of core features, making it more than capable for personal users.

Photo Recovery Capability:

Recuva performs well when recovering common image formats such as JPEG, PNG, BMP, and GIF. It can restore files deleted from the Recycle Bin as well as those permanently removed using Shift+Delete. With Deep Scan mode enabled, it can also recover photos from formatted drives. However, support for professional RAW image formats is relatively limited.

2. DiskGenius (Windows)

DiskGenius is a versatile data recovery tool developed in China. It offers a wide range of features, from partition management to data recovery, and even the free version provides many functions for recovering permanently deleted photos.

Key Features:

• Partition management
• Disk cloning
• RAID reconstruction
• Comprehensive file recovery

My Experience:

DiskGenius is an all-in-one tool that combines data recovery with partition and disk management capabilities. Because of its extensive features, the interface may feel complex for first-time users, but it is a powerful tool for IT professionals and advanced users.

The free version allows basic recovery with unlimited scanning and preview. However, it does not support a Japanese interface, so users will need to operate it in English or Chinese.

Photo Recovery Capability:

DiskGenius can recover photos in a wide range of scenarios thanks to its comprehensive file recovery features. It supports common image formats like JPEG, PNG, BMP, GIF, and TIFF, as well as major RAW formats.

If a partition is deleted or a disk is initialized, the partition recovery function can restore the original structure before recovering photos. By supporting both file system–level recovery and RAW recovery, it handles a variety of recovery situations with flexibility.

3. PhotoRec (Windows/Mac/Linux)

PhotoRec is a highly regarded open-source tool, also known as completely free photo recovery software. Although it is primarily command-line based, a GUI version is available for Windows, making it more accessible to beginners.

Key Features:

• Supports over 300 file formats
• File signature–based recovery technology
• Compatible with virtually all storage devices
• Completely free and open-source software

My Experience:

PhotoRec is best suited for users with some technical knowledge. On Windows, the GUI makes basic operations relatively easy, but on macOS, command-line interaction is required.

It does not offer a preview feature, so files must be checked after recovery. Since it is completely free with no feature limitations, it’s an excellent choice for users who want powerful recovery without any cost.

Photo Recovery Capability:

PhotoRec’s file signature–based recovery method is extremely powerful. Even if the file system is damaged, it can still recover files as long as the data itself remains intact.

It supports more than 300 file types, ranging from common image formats like JPEG, PNG, TIFF, and BMP to professional RAW formats such as CR2, NEF, DNG, and ARW. It also performs well when recovering photos from formatted drives or even physically damaged media.

4. DMDE (Windows/Mac/Linux)

DMDE is a powerful disk editor and recovery tool, highly regarded among free data recovery software for users with technical expertise.

Key Features:

• Supports disk imaging to work safely on copies
• Can reconstruct folder structures when metadata is available
• Supports RAID recovery with manual configuration
• Can clone drives or export recovered files easily

My Experience:

DMDE is an advanced tool designed for technically knowledgeable users and IT professionals. While the interface is functional, it may feel complex for beginners.

It offers extensive features for analyzing disk structures in detail and supports professional operations such as partition recovery and RAID reconstruction. The free version allows recovery of up to 4,000 files, which is sufficient for most personal users.

Photo Recovery Capability:

DMDE excels at file system–level recovery. It supports all major file systems, including NTFS, FAT, exFAT, and ext2/3/4, and can recover deleted partitions. For image files, it handles common formats like JPEG, PNG, GIF, and BMP, as well as a wide range of RAW formats.

A key strength is that when parts of the file system structure remain intact, DMDE can restore files while preserving their original names and folder structures.

5. 4DDiG Free Photo Data Recovery (Windows/Mac)

4DDiG Free is a highly popular photo recovery tool in Japan, known for its combination of ease of use and high recovery rates. With just a few clicks, you can recover deleted images, making it a favorite among both beginners and professionals.

Key Features:

• Supports over 2,000 file formats
• AI-based scanning technology
• Recovers from Recycle Bin, formatted disks, crashed systems...
• Offers Quick Scan and Deep Scan modes
• Preview files before recovery

My Experience:

4DDiG Free is suitable for a wide range of users, from beginners to professionals. Its intuitive interface allows the recovery process to be completed in just four steps. The software scans quickly, efficiently handling large drives.

The preview function lets you check file contents before recovery, allowing you to restore only the files you need and save time and storage space. It supports both Windows and Mac, providing the same high-quality experience on either platform.

Photo Recovery Capability:

4DDiG offers top-tier photo recovery performance. It supports common formats such as JPEG, PNG, GIF, BMP, and TIFF, as well as major RAW formats like CR2 (Canon), NEF (Nikon), ARW (Sony), RAF (Fujifilm), and DNG (Adobe).

Its AI-based scanning can recover fragmented or partially overwritten files. It also performs well with formatted SD cards, damaged memory cards, and RAW drives.

6. Stellar Photo Recovery (Windows/Mac)

Stellar Photo Recovery is a professional-grade data recovery tool specialized in photo restoration, and it’s a popular choice among recommended free tools. With advanced features and high recovery rates, it helps ensure that lost photos are reliably recovered.

Key Features:

• Specialized in photo and video recovery
• Direct recovery from cameras and memory cards
• Advanced image repair capabilities
• Full support for RAW image formats

My Experience:

Designed specifically for photo recovery, Stellar Photo Recovery offers an interface tailored to photographers’ needs. It’s optimized for restoring data from digital cameras and memory cards. Scanning options are clearly organized, with Quick Scan, Deep Scan, and RAW Recovery modes available.

The free version allows previewing recoverable files, letting users check what can be restored before purchasing. While packed with professional features, it remains approachable even for beginners.

Photo Recovery Capability:

Stellar’s main strength lies in its specialized engine for photos and videos. It supports RAW formats from major camera brands like Canon, Nikon, Sony, Fujifilm, Olympus, and Panasonic. In addition to common formats like JPEG, PNG, TIFF, and GIF, it also supports HEIC (iPhone) and WebP.

The software includes tools to repair partially corrupted images, maximizing recovery potential. It performs well even with formatted SD cards, damaged CF cards, or memory cards that aren’t recognized.

7. Disk Drill (Windows/Mac)

Disk Drill is a versatile and reliable photo data recovery software for free. Its user-friendly interface and powerful scanning capabilities make it easy to recover lost photos.

Key Features:

• Supports over 400 file formats
• Quick Scan and Deep Scan modes
• Advanced filtering and sorting options
• Pause and resume scanning

My Experience:

Disk Drill combines professional-grade features with an intuitive interface suitable for beginners. The scanning process is visual and easy to follow, with real-time progress updates. Files can be previewed and recovered during scanning, so you don’t have to wait for long scans to finish.

The ability to pause and resume scans is especially handy for large drives. On Windows, the free version allows recovery of up to 500MB, which is sufficient for small data recovery tasks.

Photo Recovery Capability:

Disk Drill excels at image recovery, supporting common formats like JPEG, PNG, BMP, TIFF, and GIF, as well as professional RAW formats such as CR2 (Canon), NEF (Nikon), ARW (Sony), RAF (Fujifilm), and ORF (Olympus).

It supports major file systems including NTFS, FAT32, exFAT, APFS, and HFS+, delivering high recovery success rates on both Windows and Mac. It is effective for recovering photos from formatted memory cards, RAW drives, and damaged partitions.

How to Use the Best Free Photo Data Recovery Software?

Here’s a basic step-by-step guide for using the best free photo recovery software. Most free recovery apps follow a similar process, so understanding these steps using 4DDiG Free will help you use almost any recovery tool smoothly.

• Download the free photo recovery software from its official website and install it on your computer.

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• Launch the software and choose the drive or storage device where the lost photos were originally stored. Recovery is possible from SD cards, USB drives, external hard drives, or any other storage device. (You can recover 500MB of data for free at the very beginning, if you need more, share the software to social media to get extra 1.5GB).



• Let the software start searching for deleted photos. If a Quick Scan doesn’t find your files, try a Deep Scan to increase the chances of recovering photos that were permanently deleted.



• Once the scan is complete, a list of recoverable photos will appear. Use the preview feature to check the content and select the photos you want to recover.



• Click the Recover button and choose a save location. Be sure to save the recovered photos to a different drive than the original to prevent overwriting any data.

Tips to Improve Photo Recovery Success Rate

The success of photo recovery depends on several factors. Paying attention to the following points can help maximize your chances of retrieving lost photos.

• Act Quickly: Start the recovery process as soon as possible after deleting photos. The longer you wait, the higher the chance that new data will overwrite the deleted files.
• Stop Using the Device: Avoid using the drive or device where the photos were deleted until recovery is complete. Don’t save new files or perform system updates, as this can overwrite the data you want to recover.
• Save Recovered Files to a Different Drive: Always save recovered files to a location different from the original drive. Saving them to the same drive risks overwriting the very data you’re trying to restore.
• Understand the Difference Between SSDs and HDDs: HDDs physically retain deleted data, making recovery more likely. SSDs, however, may use the TRIM function to immediately erase deleted data, which can make recovery difficult. For external SSDs, TRIM commands are often not executed over USB, so recovery may be easier than on internal SSDs.

Conclusion

In this article, we introduced 7 popular free photo recovery software options. From the completely free PhotoRec to the feature-rich 4DDiG Free Photo Recovery, each tool has its own strengths and unique features.

When recovering deleted images, it’s recommended to first use the free version to scan and preview your files. Only purchase the paid version once you’ve confirmed that the files can be recovered. Also, avoid trying multiple recovery tools on the same storage device, as the recovery process itself can overwrite data and reduce the chances of success.

By making use of these recommended free recovery tools, you can retrieve your precious photos. Choosing the right app for your needs and following the proper recovery steps can increase the likelihood of bringing back photos you thought were lost forever.

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