Windows File Recovery is a free Microsoft Store command-line app for attempting to restore files deleted from local storage when they are no longer in the Recycle Bin or available in a backup. You run it with a source drive, a different destination drive, a recovery mode and optional filters. It does not recover files from cloud storage or network file shares.
What Windows File Recovery does
The app scans a supported local drive for deleted files and saves any recoverable results to another drive. Microsoft supports internal drives, external drives and USB devices. Recovery is an attempt, not a guarantee: deleted data may remain on a drive until new data overwrites it.
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Windows File Recovery is a command-line tool, not a point-and-click restore wizard. Its general command format is:
winfr source-drive: destination-drive: [/mode] [/switches]
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The source is the drive where files were lost; the destination is where recovered files will be written. For example, C: and E: represent separate drives in the commands below.
What to do immediately after deleting a file
Minimize or avoid using the computer. Microsoft warns that ordinary computer use can overwrite the space occupied by deleted data, reducing the chance of recovery; the risk is especially relevant on SSDs. Microsoft’s guidance is: “If you want to increase your chances of recovering a file, minimize or avoid using your computer.” See Microsoft Support’s Windows File Recovery guidance.
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Do not create a new partition after data loss. If you have not already checked, first look in the Recycle Bin and any backup you use; the utility is intended for files that cannot be restored from those sources.
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Microsoft recommends choosing the mode according to the drive’s file system and what happened. To check the file system, open File Explorer, right-click the drive, choose Properties and look at the file system shown there. If you are unsure, Microsoft advises starting with Regular mode.
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| Situation | Mode Microsoft recommends |
|---|---|
| Recently deleted files on a healthy NTFS drive | Regular |
| Files deleted a while ago from an NTFS drive | Extensive |
| An NTFS drive was formatted after the loss | Extensive |
| A corrupted NTFS drive | Extensive |
| FAT or exFAT drive, regardless of when files were lost | Extensive |
Microsoft supports non-NTFS recovery only in Extensive mode. USB and flash drives may use FAT or exFAT, though the file system depends on the particular device and its formatting.
Run a focused recovery command
- Connect a separate destination drive. The source and destination must be different drives. If the lost files are on the computer’s only drive, connect a USB drive or external hard drive to save results there. Do not save recovered files to the source drive.
- Open Windows File Recovery. Install the app from the Microsoft Store if it is not already installed, then open it to use the command-line interface.
- Choose the mode and add a filter. The
/nswitch narrows the scan to a path, filename, file type or wildcard. For example, to try recovering a Documents folder fromC:toE:in Regular mode, run:winfr C: E: /regular /n Users<username>Documents - Confirm and review the results. Type
Yto start when prompted. The app creates aRecovery_<date and time>folder on the destination drive. UseCtrl+Cto stop the operation.
Use quotes around a filter path that contains spaces. A trailing backslash indicates a folder-only filter. Windows may generate additional files while you use the computer, so focused filters can make it easier to find the results you want.
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Examples of useful filters
Recover PDF and Word documents
To scan C: for PDF and DOCX files and send results to E: in Regular mode:
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemswinfr C: E: /regular /n *.pdf /n *.docx
Search filenames for a term
To search drive E: for filenames containing “invoice” and save results to C: in Extensive mode:
winfr E: C: /extensive /n *invoice*
Limit a search to pictures
For JPEG and PNG files in a Pictures folder, use Extensive mode and /n filters for the Pictures paths and extensions. Check the exact path on your PC before running the command. Microsoft documents additional filters and advanced switches in its full Windows File Recovery instructions.
Limits and common problems
- Source and destination cannot be the same drive. Use a different drive, such as a connected USB or external drive. Do not try to make room by creating a new partition after the data loss.
- Cloud and network locations are unsupported. Windows File Recovery is for supported local storage, not cloud storage or network file shares.
- A full destination interrupts recovery. Free space on the destination, then choose whether to resume, skip a file or abort when prompted.
- Extensive mode can take a while. Scan duration depends on the source drive’s size; Microsoft does not give a universal time estimate.
- Recycle Bin results may look unfamiliar. In NTFS and segment modes, files originating in the Recycle Bin may appear under
$RECYCLE.BINwith generated names. - A failed scan does not prove the file never existed. Data may have been overwritten, particularly on an SSD. If Regular mode did not find the file, Microsoft suggests trying Extensive mode when the file system and situation support it.
Microsoft also documents advanced options such as NTFS, Segment and Signature modes, plus switches for logging, overwrite handling and extension groups. Their syntax depends on the recovery task; consult Microsoft’s full switch table rather than guessing at a command.
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