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PhotoRec

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Spec score 8.7 #11 of 128 in Data recovery software

What it is

PhotoRec is a free file recovery program for retrieving lost videos, documents, archives, and pictures from storage media and disk images. It searches the underlying data instead of relying on the file system, which can help after file-system damage or reformatting. It recognizes more than 480 file extensions across about 300 file families, and listed file systems include FAT, NTFS, exFAT, ext2/ext3/ext4, and HFS+.

Supported sources include hard disks, CD-ROMs, memory cards, USB drives, raw disk images, and EnCase E01 images. PhotoRec runs on Windows, Linux, macOS, DOS, several BSD systems, Solaris, and other Unix systems. It accesses the recovery drive or card in read-only mode; recovered files should go to a different partition. The portable download runs after extracting its archive, without an installer. QPhotoRec provides a graphical interface, while PhotoRec can also run from scripts or batch files with command-line options. The maker says it usually cannot recover original filenames and does not work well with ReiserFS.

Spec sheet

Platforms
The maker lists Windows, Linux, FreeBSD, NetBSD, OpenBSD, Sun Solaris, and Mac OS X, and says PhotoRec can be compiled on almost every Unix system.Read 11 Oct 2026 · cgsecurity.org
Free plan
YesRead 21 Sep 2026 · cgsecurity.org
Privacy
CGSecurity says TestDisk and PhotoRec do not connect to the Internet or send information about the user, computer, or data.Read 11 Oct 2026 · cgsecurity.org
Support
Users can seek help on the PhotoRec forum, send suggestions to the developer, or submit a bug report.Read 11 Oct 2026 · cgsecurity.org
Founded
1998Read 23 Sep 2026 · cgsecurity.org
Automation
PhotoRec can run from scripts or batch files using command-line parameters, including options to select file types and recovery destinations.Read 11 Oct 2026 · cgsecurity.org
File recovery
PhotoRec recovers lost files, including videos, documents, archives, and pictures, from disks, CD-ROMs, and digital-camera memory.Read 11 Oct 2026 · cgsecurity.org
File systems
The page lists FAT, NTFS, exFAT, ext2/ext3/ext4, and HFS+ among file systems from which PhotoRec can recover files.Read 11 Oct 2026 · cgsecurity.org
Graphical interface
The download page identifies QPhotoRec as a graphical user-interface version of PhotoRec.Read 11 Oct 2026 · cgsecurity.org
Limits
The maker says PhotoRec does not work well with ReiserFS and usually cannot recover original filenames.Read 11 Oct 2026 · cgsecurity.org
Memory card recovery
YesRead 21 Sep 2026 · cgsecurity.org
Operating systems
Windows; Linux; macOS; DOS; FreeBSD; NetBSD; OpenBSD; Solaris; other Unix systemsRead 21 Sep 2026 · cgsecurity.org
Phone recovery
The FAQ says PhotoRec can recover from phones connected in USB mass-storage mode, while phones in MTP mode are not supported as recovery sources.Read 11 Oct 2026 · cgsecurity.org
Portable distribution
The download page says PhotoRec is portable, runs after extracting the archive, and does not need an installer.Read 11 Oct 2026 · cgsecurity.org
Publisher
CGSecurity describes its website as a personal website created by Christophe Grenier.Read 11 Oct 2026 · cgsecurity.org
RAID recovery
YesRead 21 Sep 2026 · cgsecurity.org
Recovery method
It ignores the file system and searches underlying data, so it can work after severe file-system damage or reformatting.Read 11 Oct 2026 · cgsecurity.org
Recovery sources
hard disks; CD-ROMs; memory cards; USB memory drives; DD raw images; EnCase E01 imagesRead 21 Sep 2026 · cgsecurity.org
Safety
PhotoRec uses read-only access to the drive or memory card being recovered, and the maker says recovered files must not be written to the same partition.Read 11 Oct 2026 · cgsecurity.org
Storage media
Supported media include hard disks, CD-ROMs, memory cards, USB drives, raw disk images, and EnCase E01 images.Read 11 Oct 2026 · cgsecurity.org
Supported formats
It searches for known file headers and recognizes more than 480 file extensions across about 300 file families.Read 11 Oct 2026 · cgsecurity.org

Plans and prices

PhotoRec Free Free open-source software · GNU GPL v2+ Read 11 Oct 2026 · cgsecurity.org

Every PhotoRec plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Searches data without relying on the file system.
  • Recognizes more than 480 file extensions.
  • Supports memory cards and RAID recovery.
  • Portable download runs without an installer.
  • Read-only access is used during recovery.

Limits

  • Original filenames usually cannot be recovered.
  • Does not work well with ReiserFS.
  • Phones in MTP mode are unsupported sources.

Who it suits

PhotoRec suits people trying to recover files from disks, memory cards, USB drives, or disk images across a range of operating systems. It also fits users who can work with a command line, scripts, or the QPhotoRec graphical interface.

Verdict

PhotoRec covers many storage types and file systems, including cases where the file system has been damaged or reformatted. Plan to save recovered files to another partition, and expect that original filenames may be lost.

Where Specifiction places it

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