Recuva Review 2016: The Best Windows Data Recovery Freeware

Recuva is a 100% free file recovery program that makes it extremely easy to retrieve files that were accidentally removed or lost due to many reasons. It can recover files deleted from your Windows computer, Recycle Bin, digital camera memory card, MP3 player, and more. The wizard-like approach and intuitive user interface all make it very simple to use.

Note: this post is a review of Recuva. If you want to download the free data recovery utility, or learn how to use it. See these:

Recuva for Mac?

Recuva is only available for Windows XP/Vista/7/8/10, there is no Recuva for Macintosh. If you're looking for a free program to recover lost data, turn to Exif UnTrasher or check out these totally free Mac data recovery programs

Disclaimer: this Recuva review is based on the following five parts. Disclaimer: this review is purely based on my own test and using experience, I'm here to show my personal takes on the software. Due to the complex nature of data recovery, it's impossible for me to test all features. As such, please be aware that the following opinons are my own.
 

#1: General Part


Interface: it offers a wizard for general users to recover deleted files. The step by step guide makes it incredibly easy to perform data recovery on your own (no technical skills required). Advanced users can cancel the wizard to access advanced features.

Commercial Use: Allowed, you can make donations.
Download Size: 5,345 KB  (version: 1.53.1087)
Supported Languages on Interface: about 40 languages

Strength: Pretty easy to use for both general and power users. The option "Enable Deep Scan or Not" makes it easy to deal with different data loss situations (for general deleted recovery, you don’t have to use Deep Scan). You can also choose a certain file (say pictures or video files) format to scan. The scanning process is quite fast (depending on the disk volume and scan mode, it may be a little bit time intensive). Moreover, it is able to show found file state (Excellent, Poor, Unrecoverable) which let you know whether they are recoverable or not. 

Weakness: Only photos with JPG format can be previewed. Also it is said the program is not great to handle formatted recovery cases and partition reocvery (which I haven’t test).

Overall Rating: I give 8/10 for Recuva. It could have been better.

#2: Recovery Capability Part


It succeeded in finding all my deleted files. And the scanning process is quite fast. (I used "Quick Scan" mode, if you enabled "Deep Scan" then it will take a bit more time). So recovering deleted pictures, music, documents, video, compressed is no problem. The program also claims to be able to recover emails and other type of files like .js/.html/.css (part of them did found on my test). Moreover, it support folder scanning which make things more easier if you know exactly where the lost files located.   

Sub-rating: ★Excellent★

#3: Preview Effectiveness Part


Recuva is only able to preview photos in JPG format, no other picture formats or document formats. This may make it difficult to find what you need to recover particularly when you only lost just several important files such as documents but the scanning results display several hundred files. Also, some found files are corrupted.

Sub-rating: ★Average★
 

#4: Ease of Use Part


Recuva is suitable to use for any computer users with different technical levels. The guide information on the software interface is super intuitive. You should have no problem handling it at all.  
Sub-rating: ★Excellent★

#5: Help/Wizard/Documentation Part


Yes, with wizard the first time you install the program on your Windows PC. You can cancel it and don’t let it show next time (but I don’t recommend you do this). 

Sub-rating: ★Excellent★

This post was last updated on April 24, 2016. Revised outdated content and added correct download links for Recuva.

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