Wondershare Recoverit

Partition Recovery

  • Recovers deleted or lost files from partitions effectively, safely and completely.
  • Handles 500+ data loss scenarios, including formatting, hard drive failure, virus attack, etc.
  • Recovers lost documents, photos, videos, music, and other 1000+ file types with a high success rate.
Recover Now Recover Now Recover Now Learn More >

Top 10 Best Free Partition Data Recovery Software 2025

Discover the best free partition data recovery software for 2025 to restore lost data. Compare their usability to find the ideal solution for your recovery needs.
Theo Lucia
Theo Lucia Originally published May 15, 25, updated Jun 05, 25
15 min(s)

As we all know, the loss of important data from a hard drive can be very frustrating for many users. This basically happens when a computer partition is deleted, damaged, or becomes unreachable. The good news is that modern tools are now available to help you bring back those missing files without much hassle.

Alongside that, they work even if the drive is not showing up correctly on your computer. So, this article will explore the top 10 free partition data recovery software solutions available in 2025. Whether you're new to computers or just want an easy way to recover files, this guide will help.

Try Recoverit to Perform Free Partition Data Recovery

article-safe-itemSecurity Verified. 7,030,415 people have downloaded it.

In this article
    1. Wondershare Recoverithot
    2. DiskInternals Partition Recovery
    3. Partition Find and Mount
    4. TestDisk
    5. Recuva
    6. Disk Drill
    7. PhotoRec
    8. MiniTool Partition Wizard
    9. Paragon Partition Manager Free
    10. Active@ Partition Recovery

Part 1. Key Characteristics That Define the Best Free Partition Recovery Software

The best free partition recovery software should offer a mix of ease, power, and safety to get your files back successfully. Below, we will discover some key points that you should consider when opting for a partition recovery tool:

  1. File System Support: The software should support many file systems, such as NTFS and FAT32. In addition to that, this helps it work on different drives, such as memory cards or external hard drives.
  2. Scan Options: A great free partition recovery software should offer both deep and quick scan modes. Quick scan finds recently lost files faster, while deep scan goes further to find files from damaged or older partitions.
  3. Success Rate: This basically means that the software can read the data correctly and recover it fully. Moreover, this gives users more trust and better results with each use.
  4. Preview Recovery: Seeing your files before restoring them is handy, as it helps you check if the right files have been found. This way, you don't waste time recovering wrong or unwanted data, which makes the process easier.
  5. Damaged or Lost Partitions Support: Apart from that, the best tool should work when either the partition is broken or missing. It should be able to scan a drive's lost or badly damaged areas and still find data, even if the partition no longer appears.

Part 2. Top 10 Free Partition Recovery Software Solutions Available Today

Upon exploring some key characteristics, opting for the right tool to recover lost partitions can be stressful with so many options online. To make things easier, the following section provides the top partition recovery free software programs you can rely on:

1. Wondershare Recoverit

While exploring the top tools, Recoverit stands out as one of the best freeware partition recovery software tools available today. With a high recovery rate of up to 95%, it can restore lost partitions caused by various issues like accidental deletion or file system corruption. Even problems like virus attacks or power failures won't stop this tool from helping you get your data back.

Alongside that, it supports a wide range of file systems, including NTFS and exFAT. Plus, this dedicated recovery tool lets you preview lost files before restoring them. This helps you make sure you're recovering the right files, which definitely saves you precious time and effort. When your partition is lost due to a resizing error or hardware failure, Recoverit is a smart choice for quick recovery.

Key Features

  1. Deep and Quick Scans: The recovery software offers a fast scan for recent loss and deep scans for damaged or older partitions and hard drives.
  2. BitLocker Recovery: It is even capable of recovering encrypted partitions protected by BitLocker, keeping your secured files safe.
  3. Filters for Easier Search: Users will also be able to sort files by type, size, or modification date to speed up recovery results.

Recoverit Data Recovery has been selected as "Leader of Data Recovery Software" by G2 and has self-developed patented technologies, which demonstrates its reliability and security.

Try It Free
Try It Free

Detailed Guide to Recover Your Lost Partition with the Help of Recoverit

After exploring its features, adhere to the following steps to learn how you can use this best free partition recovery software:

Step 1. Access Recoverit to Retrieve the Lost Partition

To initiate, run this dedicated tool on your device and head to the "Hard Drives And Locations" tab. Afterward, opt for the hard disk where you lost the partition in the "Hard Disk Drives" section to start the scanning task.

choose location start recovery with recoverit

Step 2. Start Scanning Your Lost Partition Data

Upon running a scan, you can view recovered files in real time, pause the scan anytime, or run a deep scan.

perform deep scan and hit recover

Step 3. Recover Lost Partition's Specific Files

If you're trying to locate a specific file in your partition you can't access, try searching by its name. After the scan finishes, choose the files you want to recover and press the "Recover" button.

filter out search for accurate results

Step 4. Assign the Path to Your Recovered Partition

After clicking on "Recover," opt for the destination folder where you want to save the restored partition.

assign path and save results

2. DiskInternals Partition Recovery

This specific software is ideal for users facing lost, erased, or broken partitions due to system errors. Moreover, it supports various devices like HDDs, memory cards, and external hard disks. Plus, this tool can recover a partition even when the boot record or partition table is corrupted or lost. Free disk partition recovery is possible using its built-in Partition, NTFS, and FAT recovery wizards.

use diskinternals partition recovery tool

Key Features

  1. You can restore files or partitions while preserving the original folder structure and file names.
  2. It supports multiple file systems to recover lost or damaged partitions, including FAT, ReFS, and more.
  3. Users can even preview their files before final recovery to ensure accurate data selection.
Pros
  • This dedicated software is compatible with all Windows versions, from XP to 11.
  • You can recover boot sectors and the damaged Master Boot Record effortlessly.
Cons
  • DiskInternals Partition Recovery tool's free version has limited recovery capability.
  • Recovery success can vary depending on severely damaged hardware.

3. Partition Find and Mount

This tool helps users find and mount lost or deleted partitions as readable drives. Alongside that, this free partition recovery tool works even when the Master Boot Record is missing or overwritten. You can opt for 3 search modes based on how deep the scan needs to go. Furthermore, it enables you to create and mount disk images during the recovery process.

partition find and mount for recovery

Key Features

  1. It supports all NTFS and FAT versions for broader compatibility with common file systems.
  2. The software mounts found partitions as read-only to prevent accidental data overwriting.
  3. This tool supports non-standard disk layouts, making it flexible for less common drive formats.
Pros
  • Lightweight program that installs quickly and uses very little system memory while running.
  • It is entirely free for personal use with no trial limits or subscription requirements.
Cons
  • The software doesn't provide a preview of your lost files or partitions before recovery.
  • In addition to that, it lacks support for encrypted or RAID partitions.

4. TestDisk

Apart from the above, TestDisk repairs damaged partition tables to restore access to lost partitions and ensure data safety. It basically rebuilds FAT12 or FAT32 boot sectors with the help of available backups or original structures. This best free partition recovery software restores corrupted NTFS boot sectors and file tables effortlessly. Moreover, TestDisk helps undelete files from exFAT and ext file systems without a complex setup.

testdisk for partition recovery procedure

Key Features

  1. The software allows for the copying of files from deleted partitions without advanced technical skills.
  2. You can retrieve FAT tables that may have been corrupted due to a power failure or virus attack.
  3. It uses MFT minor to fix broken NTFS Master File Tables for proper file system access.
Pros
  • This advanced tool is entirely free with no hidden costs or upgrade prompts.
  • TestDisk actually locates .ext file system SuperBlock backups to help recover Linux-based partitions.
Cons
  • Despite its features, it lacks a graphical display for easy navigation and recovery.
  • TestDisk also has Limited support for modern file systems like APFS or ReFS.

5. Recuva

Recuva enables you to recover erased files, such as multimedia files or other documents, from hard drives or memory cards. It supports free partition data recovery even if the drive was recently formatted or slightly damaged by errors. The tool's deep scan mode digs deeply to find files that simple searches can't locate on your device. Users can restore data from corrupted drives, increasing their chances of getting back removed files.

recover partition erased files with recuva

Key Features

  1. Its secure deletion feature erases files permanently using advanced overwrite algorithms from military-grade standards.
  2. This lightweight tool installs quickly and doesn't slow down your system during scanning or recovery.
  3. Recuva is compatible with RTF and VXD file systems used in most Windows-based storage media.
Pros
  • Users can restore files from external and internal storage with good accuracy.
  • This dedicated software also includes a secure file deletion tool for privacy protection.
Cons
  • It is limited to file recovery options compared to more professional recovery tools.
  • You need to buy its professional plan for high recovery with virtual hard drive support.

6. Disk Drill

While finding the top software, Disk Drill scans lost partitions and lets you preview files before restoring them. Moreover, recover documents and archives using advanced scanning in different recovery modes. It provides up to 500 MB of recovery with its free partition recovery software version for Windows. Alongside that, Disk Drill supports file filtering, making searches faster by sorting types like pictures or documents.

disk drill top partition recovery tool

Key Features

  1. It offers a deep scan mode to detect hard-to-find or corrupted data files effectively.
  2. The tool includes Recovery Vault, a tool that protects data before deletion for future recovery support.
  3. Users can recover deleted files from hard drives, memory cards, and other storage devices quickly.
Pros
  • Disk Drill is compatible with various Windows versions, including 11, 10, 8, 7, XP, and Vista.
  • You can even preview files before recovery, so users can choose exactly what to restore.
Cons
  • As explored, it is limited to 500 MB in the free version, which is not ideal for large recoveries.
  • This recovery tool can consume significant system resources during deep scans.

7. PhotoRec

This software can recover various files, including multimedia and archives, from damaged or reformatted storage drives. It supports many devices such as memory cards, hard disks, and CD-ROMs without any problems. In addition, the tool scans for file types using known headers instead of relying on damaged systems. So, it is a partition recovery free tool using safe and read-only methods for data retrieval. 

photorec free partition recovery software

Key Features

  1. PhotoRec supports more than 480 file extensions, including ZIP, Office, and image formats.
  2. It uses read-only access during recovery to avoid overwriting the deleted or missing files.
  3. Users can perform recovery tasks without relying on file metadata, which might be lost after deletion.
Pros
  • The tool is compatible with multiple operating systems, including FreeBSD and Solaris.
  • PhotoRec is completely free to use without any paid version or locked features.
Cons
  • It cannot recover original file names or folder structure in most cases.
  • There is no built-in preview feature to check files before restoring them.

8. MiniTool Partition Wizard

MiniTool features a free disk partition recovery software to restore deleted or lost sections without harming your stored data. In addition, this tool lets users resize, format, or create disk partitions with clear steps, and no tech skills are needed. MiniTool Partition Wizard allows system cloning to a new disk without reinstalling apps or the operating system. Besides that, it helps check disk speed and detect bad sectors to fix errors effortlessly.

minitool partition wizard software

Key Features

  1. This recovery program supports file system conversion between NTFS and FAT32.
  2. MiniTool also measures disk performance through read/write speed tests and usage analysis with charts.
  3. You will be able to view your recovered files, including images and audio, before the final restoration.
Pros
  • It effectively recovers both deleted files and lost disk partitions.
  • The software recovers data from formatted, inaccessible, or damaged FAT and exFAT file systems.
Cons
  • Its advanced features are locked behind the paid edition for business and server use.
  • In addition to that, some occasional UI lag is reported during scanning on older systems.

9. Paragon Partition Manager Free

Paragon Partition Manager Free lets users adjust partition size by sliding or typing exact values easily. You can create or delete partitions on HDDs, SSDs, and even SD cards conveniently. Alongside that, the tool redistributes unallocated space to expand existing partitions for better disk space use. This freeware partition recovery software allows logical to primary and MBR-to-GPT partition type conversions safely.

paragon partition manager recovery tool

Key Features

  1. Users can run the surface test on partitions to detect and fix sector-level disk errors or faults.
  2. It efficiently supports almost all major file systems like ext2/3/4, HFS+, Btrfs, and XFS.
  3. You can change the partition name to improve system navigation and keep data organized.
Pros
  • Paragon Partition Manager Free tool is compatible with Windows 7 or later, including 64-bit systems.
  • It is fully free for personal use with no hidden costs or license requirements.
Cons
  • Despite its features, it lacks advanced capabilities like partition merge in the Community Edition.
  • The tool is only available for 64-bit systems and is not compatible with older 32-bit PCs.

10. Active@ Partition Recovery

This last free partition recovery tool can restore lost or deleted partitions on damaged or formatted disks. Its QuickScan helps recover recently deleted volumes if no data was written after their removal. Alongside that, the SuperScan detects long-lost or overwritten partitions through deep, low-level disk scanning. It can also fix broken disk areas like the Partition Table, MBR, or GPT structures without any manual effort.

active@ partition recovery software free

Key Features

  1. The Last Chance mode retrieves files using file signatures when the partition structure is completely corrupted.
  2. It allows partition recovery without restarting your computer or interrupting current system activity.
  3. This software is compatible with many file systems like exFAT, ext4, HFS+, ReFS, and more.
Pros
  • Unicode support allows the recovery of files with long names and characters in different languages.
  • You can recover files and folders from disk images to different locations safely and effortlessly.
Cons
  • Besides its feature, it does not include disk cleanup and clone tools that others offer.
  • The program's manual method is slow, which helps you correct Volume Boot Sectors.

Part 3. Comparative Analysis of Leading Free Partition Recovery Tools

After reviewing the top tools individually, it's time to compare them side-by-side. Below, we will discover a detailed comparison table that helps you decide which is the best free partition recovery software:

Tools File Systems Supported Complexity Level Preview Option Encrypted Recovery Supported File Types
Recoverit NTFS, FAT32, exFAT, HFS+, ext Beginner-friendly Yes Yes (BitLocker) 1000+
DiskInternals Partition Recovery NTFS, FAT, ReFS Moderate Yes Yes 300+
Partition Find and Mount NTFS, FAT Very easy No No Limited
TestDisk NTFS, FAT, exFAT, ext Technical No No 100+
Recuva RTF, VXD Beginner Yes No 50+
Disk Drill NTFS, FAT, ext4 Easy Yes Limited 400+
PhotoRec ZIP, JPG, PDF Technical No No 480+
MiniTool Partition Wizard NTFS, FAT, exFAT Beginner Yes Limited 300+
Paragon Partition Manager ext2/3/4, HFS+, Btrfs, XFS Beginner No No 250+
Active@ Partition Recovery exFAT, ext4, ReFS, HFS+ Moderate Yes Yes 300+

While each of these tools has its own strengths, Recoverit stands out for its support for encrypted and complex file systems. So, if you're looking for the most reliable free partition recovery software in 2025, try Recoverit today to retrieve your lost partition effortlessly.

You May Also Like:
Best Ways to Delete Windows Bootcamp Partition from Mac
Best 9 Partition Manager for Mac

Conclusion

In summary, choosing the right free partition data recovery software can make a big difference when dealing with lost or damaged partitions. From simple tools to advanced solutions, each software offers unique strengths. However, for the best overall experience, combining powerful features and a high recovery rate, Recoverit stands out as the top recommendation to safely recover your lost partition data in 2025.

Wondershare Recoverit – Leader in Data Recovery
  • Recovers data from 1000+ file formats and 2000+ devices, including CFexpress, SD, micro SD, Transcend SD, HDDs, SSDs, Win/Mac, Linux/NAS etc.
  • Handles 500+ data loss scenarios, such as deletion, formatting, virus attacks, etc.
  • Recovers lost or deleted files, photos, videos, vlog, music, emails, and other 1000+ file types effectively, safely and completely.
  • Recovers full HD, Ultra HD, 4K, and 8K videos without corruption.
Try It Free
Try It Free

FAQ

  • 1. Is it safe to use free partition recovery tools on an external hard drive?
    Absolutely, using a free partition recovery tool is safe as long as you avoid writing new data to the drive after partition loss. These tools operate in read-only mode during recovery, which prevents additional damage. Additionally, always opt for the best recovery tool like Recoverit to ensure your external storage is scanned properly without affecting existing data.
  • 2. How can I avoid partition loss in the future after using a free partition recovery tool?
    After successfully restoring your data with a free partition recovery tool, it's crucial to implement preventive steps. These include regularly backing up your data, avoiding sudden shutdowns, and using disk utility tools for health checks. Plus, safe partition management and regular backups reduce reliance on recovery tools in the future.
  • 3. Will using a partition recovery tool affect the rest of my data on the drive?
    When used correctly, it won't harm your remaining data on the drive. Most software works read-only during scanning, meaning it does not write to or modify your existing files. Still, you also consider avoiding saving recovered data back to the same drive to prevent overwriting.
Theo Lucia
Theo Lucia Jun 05, 25
Share article: