Best Data Recovery Software for Formatted Hard Drives

Why You Can Still Recover Data from a Formatted Drive

Formatting your hard drive accidentally is a nightmare come true—months or years’ worth of photos, videos, files, and personal records gone in seconds. The silver lining is that file-formatting does not destroy files forever. Provided they have not been over-written, data recovery software for a formatted hard drive can recover most (if not all) of what has been lost.

In this guide, we’ll break down the best data recovery tools in 2025 based on:

• Success rate

• Ease of use

• Compatibility (Windows/macOS/Linux)

• Price

• Support for external, internal, SSDs, and USB drives

If you’re in the U.S. and searching for trusted recovery solutions, read on.

How Does Data Recovery Work After Formatting?

What happens when a drive is formatted is that the file system is restored back to its original state, but files themselves are not immediately erased. Imagine a library in which the index cards are lost—but books remain on the shelf. Recovery software reads through the drive in an effort to recreate those “index cards” and restore the data.

Top 7 Data Recovery Software for Formatted Hard Drives in 2025

🥇 1. EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard

Best for: Beginners and professionals alike

Key Features:

• Recovers data from formatted, corrupted, and inaccessible drives

• Supports over 1000 file types

• Free version allows up to 2GB recovery

• Deep scan and quick scan modes

Pros:
✅ Easy UI
✅ High recovery rate
✅ Windows and macOS compatible

Cons:
❌ Expensive Pro version

📌 Explore more data recovery software here

🔗 EaseUS Official Site

🥈 2. Stellar Data Recovery

Best for: Professionals dealing with large data loss

Key Features:

• Retrieves files from SSDs, HDDs, USBs, and even CD/DVDs

• Recover files from BitLocker-encrypted drives

• Advanced RAID recovery

Pros:
✅ Deep scan technology
✅ File preview before recovery

Cons:
❌ Free version is limited to 1GB recovery

🔗 Stellar Data Recovery

🥉 3. Disk Drill

Best for: Fast scanning with modern UI

Key Features:

• Supports 500+ file formats

• Recovery Vault feature for future protection

• Compatible with major storage devices

Pros:
✅ Clean interface
✅ Free 500MB recovery on Windows

Cons:
❌ Mac version doesn’t offer free recovery

4. R-Studio

Best for: Advanced users and IT professionals

Key Features:

• Supports all major file systems (NTFS, FAT, HFS, ext)

• Hex editor included for raw recovery

• Network data recovery supported

Pros:
✅ Detailed scanning logs
✅ Custom recovery modules

Cons:
❌ Complex UI for beginners

5. Recuva by CCleaner

Best for: Free recovery for home users

Key Features:

• Quick and deep scan options

• Recovers from damaged or newly formatted drives

• Portable version available

Pros:
✅ Completely free
✅ Lightweight

Cons:
❌ Lower success rate for severely corrupted drives

🔗  Recuva by CCleaner

6. Wondershare Recoverit

Best for: Multimedia file recovery

Key Features:

• Video repair and recovery

• Bootable recovery for crashed systems

• Friendly UI with previews

Pros:
✅ Strong video file recovery
✅ Bootable toolkit

Cons:
❌ High pricing tiers

7. TestDisk & PhotoRec (Free, Open Source)

Best for: Developers and Linux users

Key Features:

• Supports Windows, Linux, and macOS

• Powerful partition recovery

• PhotoRec focuses on file recovery by format

Pros:
✅ Free and open source
✅ No installation required

Cons:
❌ Command-line interface

🔗 TestDisk & PhotoRec

Comparison Table

Tips Before You Start the Recovery Process

• Stop using the drive immediately. Every new write reduces the chance of recovery.

• Do not install recovery software on the same drive you want to recover.

• Use deep scan only if quick scan fails.

• Check previews before recovering—some files may be partially corrupted.

When to Seek Professional Help

If your hard drive makes clicking noises, is not recognized by BIOS, or has suffered physical damage, DIY tools might not help. You should consult professional recovery services like DriveSavers or Ontrack.

🔗 Ontrack Data Recovery Services

Conclusion: What’s the Best Choice for You?

The best data recovery software for formatted hard drives depends on your level of expertise and budget.

• Want a free solution for light recovery? → Try Recuva or PhotoRec

• Need professional recovery with customer support? → Go for EaseUS or Stellar

• Advanced IT work or RAID issues? → R-Studio is your best bet

Always remember: the faster you act after formatting, the higher the chance of getting your data back.

📌 For more tech tools, check our Software Picks