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PhotoRec
PhotoRec · Paris, France (the website says its hosting is in Paris) · founded 1998
What it is
PhotoRec is a free, open-source file recovery program for retrieving lost videos, documents, archives, and pictures from storage media and disk images. It searches underlying data rather than relying on the file system, which can help after severe file-system damage or reformatting. It recognizes more than 480 file extensions across about 300 file families. Supported sources include hard disks, CD-ROMs, memory cards, USB drives, DD raw images, and EnCase E01 images; listed file systems include FAT, NTFS, exFAT, ext2/ext3/ext4, and HFS+. PhotoRec runs on Windows, Linux, macOS, DOS, BSD variants, Solaris, and other Unix systems. The portable download runs after archive extraction without an installer, and QPhotoRec is the graphical-interface version. Command-line parameters support scripts or batch files, including options for file types and recovery destinations. PhotoRec uses read-only access to the drive or card being recovered, and recovered files must not be written to that same partition. The maker says it usually cannot restore original filenames and does not work well with ReiserFS. Phones in USB mass-storage mode can be recovery sources; MTP mode is not supported.
For and against
For
- Works with disks, cards, USB drives, and disk images.
- Recognizes over 480 file extensions.
- Portable download needs no installer.
- Read-only access to the recovery source.
Against
- Usually cannot recover original filenames.
- Does not work well with ReiserFS.
- MTP-mode phones are not supported sources.
- Recovered files must go to another partition.
The verdict
PhotoRec covers a broad range of storage sources and file types, with both a graphical version and command-line options. Expect original filenames to be lost in most cases, and save recovered files to a different partition.
Who it suits
PhotoRec suits people trying to recover files from disks, removable storage, or disk images, including after file-system damage. It also offers a command-line option for scripted recovery tasks.
Plans and prices
PhotoRec
Free open-source software · GNU GPL v2+
Read 11 Oct 2026 · cgsecurity.org
On the record
- Automation
- PhotoRec can run from scripts or batch files using command-line parameters, including options to select file types and recovery destinations.cgsecurity.org · read 11 Oct 2026
- File recovery
- PhotoRec recovers lost files, including videos, documents, archives, and pictures, from disks, CD-ROMs, and digital-camera memory.cgsecurity.org · read 11 Oct 2026
- File systems
- The page lists FAT, NTFS, exFAT, ext2/ext3/ext4, and HFS+ among file systems from which PhotoRec can recover files.cgsecurity.org · read 11 Oct 2026
- Graphical interface
- The download page identifies QPhotoRec as a graphical user-interface version of PhotoRec.cgsecurity.org · read 11 Oct 2026
- Limits
- The maker says PhotoRec does not work well with ReiserFS and usually cannot recover original filenames.cgsecurity.org · read 11 Oct 2026
- Memory card recovery
- Yescgsecurity.org · read 21 Sep 2026
- Operating systems
- Windows; Linux; macOS; DOS; FreeBSD; NetBSD; OpenBSD; Solaris; other Unix systemscgsecurity.org · read 21 Sep 2026
- 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.cgsecurity.org · read 11 Oct 2026
- Portable distribution
- The download page says PhotoRec is portable, runs after extracting the archive, and does not need an installer.cgsecurity.org · read 11 Oct 2026
- Privacy
- CGSecurity says TestDisk and PhotoRec do not connect to the Internet or send information about the user, computer, or data.cgsecurity.org · read 11 Oct 2026
- Publisher
- CGSecurity describes its website as a personal website created by Christophe Grenier.cgsecurity.org · read 11 Oct 2026
- RAID recovery
- Yescgsecurity.org · read 21 Sep 2026
- Recovery method
- It ignores the file system and searches underlying data, so it can work after severe file-system damage or reformatting.cgsecurity.org · read 11 Oct 2026
- 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.cgsecurity.org · read 11 Oct 2026
- Recovery sources
- hard disks; CD-ROMs; memory cards; USB memory drives; DD raw images; EnCase E01 imagescgsecurity.org · read 21 Sep 2026
- Storage media
- Supported media include hard disks, CD-ROMs, memory cards, USB drives, raw disk images, and EnCase E01 images.cgsecurity.org · read 11 Oct 2026
- Support
- Users can seek help on the PhotoRec forum, send suggestions to the developer, or submit a bug report.cgsecurity.org · read 11 Oct 2026
- Supported formats
- It searches for known file headers and recognizes more than 480 file extensions across about 300 file families.cgsecurity.org · read 11 Oct 2026
