PhotoRec

PhotoRec is a separate, dedicated tool for recovering lost, deleted, or formatted files—including photos, videos, documents, and archives. It is part of the same CGSecurity recovery ecosystem as TestDisk but serves a different purpose: individual file recovery rather than partition or file-system repair.

What it does

• Recovers deleted, lost, or formatted files by type
• Targets photos, videos, documents, and archives
• Scans raw disk data block-by-block for known file signatures
• Can still recover files when the file system is badly damaged or the drive has been reformatted

How it's different

TestDisk focuses on partition repair and partition recovery—fixing tables and boot sectors so the system can see your data again. PhotoRec focuses on file-by-file recovery when the file system is missing or unusable. Choose TestDisk for partition and boot issues; choose PhotoRec when you need to recover individual files (e.g. after a format or severe damage).

Usability

A command-line version is available for advanced users. For a simpler experience, QPhotoRec provides a beginner-friendly graphical interface (GUI) you can use with a mouse.

Download PhotoRec / QPhotoRec — From the same recovery suite · Official CGSecurity