Stop Using the Drive Immediately
As soon as you notice missing photos or files, stop writing to the drive. Continuing to use it can overwrite the very data you need to recover.
Choose the Deep Scan Mode for Fragmented Files
RecoverHelper offers three scan modes:
- Quick Scan reads the NTFS Master File Table and restores files with original names – best for recent deletions on healthy NTFS volumes.
- Deep Scan (the default) runs a Quick Scan first, then carves the entire drive by file signature. This mode is essential for locating fragmented files on a damaged drive.
- Carving Only scans by signature only, useful for non‑NTFS media where filenames are already lost.
Recover to a Different Drive – Safety First
RecoverHelper opens the source drive read‑only, so scanning never harms the data. The program also blocks same‑drive output, forcing you to select a different storage device for the recovered files. This prevents accidental overwriting of the source.
Free JPG & PNG Recovery and Unlock All Formats
Right away you can recover JPG and PNG photos at full quality with no signup or fees. After pairing the free mobile app (scan a QR code once), every other format—RAW, HEIC, video, audio, documents, and archives—becomes available, also completely free.
Additional Tips for Successful Recovery
- Preview recovered files before saving to confirm they are intact.
- Allow the scan to skip bad sectors; RecoverHelper continues wherever possible.
- Avoid using the original drive for any other tasks until the recovery is complete.
- Save the recovered files to a reliable external drive or another computer.