Recovering Deleted Photos with PhotoRec

Losing cherished photos can be heartbreaking, especially if they capture meaningful moments. Fortunately, there are tools designed to help recover lost files. One such tool is PhotoRec, a powerful and free data recovery program. In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to use PhotoRec to restore deleted photos step by step.

What is PhotoRec and How Does It Work?

PhotoRec is a cross-platform, open-source application specialized in recovering files from various storage media, such as hard drives, flash drives, and SD cards. PhotoRec works by scanning the device on a low level, ignoring the file system, which allows it to retrieve files even from damaged or reformatted media.

Preparing for Recovery

Before you begin recovering data, make sure you don’t use the drive or device from which you want to recover files. Each new action on that drive could overwrite the data you’re trying to restore. It’s recommended to connect the device to your computer in read-only mode if possible.

Step 1: Downloading and Installing PhotoRec

  1. Visit the official PhotoRec website and download the latest version.
  2. Extract the downloaded archive and run the qphotorec_win.exe file (for Windows) or photorec (for Linux and macOS) according to your operating system.

Step 2: Launching PhotoRec and Selecting the Drive

  1. Open PhotoRec. On the main screen, select the disk where the photos were deleted. Be sure to choose the correct drive to avoid altering other data.
  2. After selecting the drive, choose the partition or specify Whole Disk if you need to scan the entire device.

Step 3: Configuring Recovery Settings

PhotoRec offers settings to customize the search:

  • File Opt: select the types of files you wish to recover. For photos, choose formats such as JPG, PNG, RAW, and other relevant types.
  • Search: specify where PhotoRec should search. Select Free to scan only the free space, or Whole for a full scan.

Step 4: Choosing a Save Location for Recovered Files

PhotoRec will prompt you to select a folder to save recovered data. It’s important to save the files on a different drive to avoid overwriting data on the original disk. Create a folder on an external drive or flash drive for this purpose.

Step 5: Starting the Recovery Process

After configuring the settings, click Search to begin scanning. Depending on the device’s size and the data volume, the process may take several minutes to hours. PhotoRec will recover files as it finds them, saving them automatically to your selected folder.

Step 6: Reviewing the Recovered Files

Once scanning is complete, go to the folder where the recovered files are stored. PhotoRec organizes files into different subfolders, so check each one to locate your desired photos. Note that PhotoRec doesn’t restore original file names, so some reorganization might be necessary.

Tips for Successful Data Recovery

  • Avoid using the device you want to recover data from until the recovery process begins.
  • Regularly back up important data to prevent loss.
  • Store crucial photos and data across multiple devices to minimize risks.