Windows File Recovery Explained

Windows File Recovery is a command-line software utility from Microsoft to recover deleted files.^{[1] [2]} It is freely available for Windows 10 version 2004 (May 2020 Update) and later from the Microsoft Store.^[3]

Windows File Recovery can recover files from a local hard disk drive (HDD), USB flash drive, or memory card such as an SD card.^{[4] [5]} It can work to some extent with solid-state drives (SSD).^[6]

The program is run using the winfr command.^[4] It has a mode designed for NTFS file systems, that will attempt recovery of files from a disk that is corrupted or has been formatted.^[5] Another mode will attempt recovery of specific file types from FAT and exFAT (predominantly found on external devices) and ReFS file systems.^{[5] [6]}

See also

• Data remanence
• Data recovery
• List of data recovery software
• File History
• Trash (computing)
• Undeletion

Notes and References

1. Web site: 2020-07-02. Microsoft Releases Windows File Recovery Tool. 27 June 2020. Paul Thurrott.
2. Web site: 2020-07-02. Windows File Recovery tool lets you recover deleted, lost files on Windows 10. Hindustan Times Tech. 29 June 2020.
3. Web site: 2020-07-02. Microsoft releases its own Windows File Recovery tool. Independent Online (South Africa).
4. News: BS Web. Team. 2020-07-02. How to recover deleted files using Microsoft's Windows File Recovery tool. Business Standard India. 2 July 2020.
5. Web site: Tom. Warren. 2020-07-02. Microsoft's new Windows File Recovery tool lets you retrieve deleted documents. 29 June 2020. The Verge.
6. Web site: 2020-07-02. Microsoft offers its own File Recovery Tool for Windows 10. techxplore.com.