--- title: Windows File Recovery canonical: https://saasranked.com/software/windows-file-recovery/ category: Data Recovery Software points: 36 rank: 11 of 11 facts_checked: 2026-10-08 --- # Windows File Recovery Free command-line app from Microsoft that recovers deleted files from NTFS, FAT and exFAT drives. 36 points out of 100. #11 of 11 data recovery programs. Vendor: Microsoft. Website: https://apps.microsoft.com/detail/9n26s50ln705 - The app is free to download from the Microsoft Store [2]. - It runs only in Command Prompt, with the format winfr source: destination: /mode [1]. - Regular mode suits recently deleted files on healthy NTFS drives; Extensive mode covers FAT, exFAT, formatted and corrupted disks [1]. - Source and destination must be different drives [1]. - It does not recover from cloud storage or network file shares [1]. Verdict: Windows File Recovery suits people who accept a command-line tool in return for no cost and no stated data cap [1][2]. It covers NTFS, FAT and exFAT and has a signature mode that works from file headers [1]. The catch: there is no graphical interface, and the support page says nothing about lost partitions, BitLocker, disk images or previews [1]. Best for: People comfortable with Command Prompt who want a free tool. ## Points | Criterion | Line | Value | Points | Note | |---|---|---|---|---| | Price | Free recovery limit | 100 | 9/9 | Entirely free; Microsoft's page states no cap on recovered data. Counted as no limit [1][2]. | | Price | Cheapest paid licence | $0 | 11/11 | The app is free to download from the Microsoft Store; no paid edition is listed [2]. | | Price | One-time licence | Yes | 3/3 | Entirely free, so no subscription is needed [2]. | | Price | Money-back period | 30 | 3/3 | Entirely free product, recorded as 30 under the rule [2]. | | What it finds | Signature (raw) scan | Yes | 6/6 | Signature mode recovers files using file headers on all file system types [1]. | | What it finds | Lost partition recovery | Not published | 0/6 | Not published on Microsoft's support page, which does not cover lost partitions [1]. | | What it finds | File types listed | Not published | 0/4 | Not published as a count; the page points to the /# switch for the list [1]. | | What it finds | Repairs damaged photos or videos | Not published | 0/4 | Not published on Microsoft's support page [1]. | | Drives and systems | Drives and media | Hard drive or SSD, USB drive, SD or memory card | 3/6 | Page names internal drives, external drives, USB devices, and SD cards under FAT and exFAT [1]. | | Drives and systems | File systems beyond NTFS and FAT32 | exFAT | 1/4 | The page names NTFS, FAT and exFAT; ReFS, APFS, HFS+ and ext4 are not named [1]. | | Drives and systems | BitLocker drives | Not published | 0/4 | Not published on Microsoft's support page [1]. | | Drives and systems | RAID recovery | Not published | 0/5 | Not published on Microsoft's support page [1]. | | Tools | Disk image before recovery | Not published | 0/6 | Not published on Microsoft's support page [1]. | | Tools | Bootable recovery media | Not published | 0/5 | Not published on Microsoft's support page [1]. | | Tools | Preview before you pay | Not published | 0/7 | Not published on Microsoft's support page; the app is command-line [1]. | | Tools | Pause and resume a scan | Not published | 0/3 | Not published on Microsoft's support page [1]. | | Tools | Drive health check | Not published | 0/3 | Not published on Microsoft's support page [1]. | | Tools | Runs without installing | Not published | 0/2 | Not published; the page calls it a command line app available from the Microsoft Store [1]. | | Trust and support | Open source | Not published | 0/6 | Not published on Microsoft's support page or Store listing [1][2]. | | Trust and support | Support with a paid licence | Not published | 0/3 | Not published; the page offers a feedback form and no support forum or contact route for the tool [1]. | ## Plans | Plan | Price | Per month (USD) | |---|---|---| | Free | Free [2] | $0 | ## Strengths - Free, with no purchase or recovery cap stated [1][2]. - Signature mode recovers files by their headers on any file system type [1]. - Works on Windows 10 and Windows 11 [1]. ## Limits - Command-line only; Microsoft describes it as a command line app [1]. - The recovery destination must be a different drive from the source [1]. - Cloud storage and network file shares are not supported [1]. - Lost partitions, BitLocker, disk images and RAID are not covered on the support page [1]. ## Sources 1. [Windows File Recovery](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/windows-file-recovery-61f5b28a-f5b8-3cc2-0f8e-a63cb4e1d4c4), Microsoft Support, accessed 2026-10-08 2. [Windows File Recovery - Free download and install on Windows](https://apps.microsoft.com/detail/9n26s50ln705), Microsoft Store, accessed 2026-10-08