Wondershare Data Recovery: How It Works & Is It Safe?

Wondershare Data Recovery (also sold as Wondershare Recoverit) is a file-recovery program for Windows and macOS that scans hard drives, SSDs, memory cards, USB drives, and other storage media to restore deleted or lost files. You download the software, select a location to scan, and it lists recoverable files so you can preview and save them to another drive. The free version lets you scan and preview files, but you must pay to actually recover them.

Background and What the Software Does

Wondershare is a Hong Kong–based software company that has sold consumer utilities since 2003. Its data recovery product, now branded Recoverit, is one of the most widely known recovery tools because it is heavily advertised and available for both Windows and macOS. The software is designed for non-technical users: you do not need to understand file systems or partition tables to run a scan.

It can handle common data-loss scenarios such as:

• Accidental deletion (files removed from the Recycle Bin or Trash)
• Formatted drives, including quick-formatted memory cards and USB sticks
• Partition loss or a drive that no longer appears in Windows Explorer or Finder
• System crashes or failed operating-system updates
• Virus or malware attacks that hide or delete files

Recoverit supports most file types: documents (Word, Excel, PDF), photos (JPEG, RAW, PNG), videos (MP4, MOV, AVI), audio, email archives, and archives (ZIP, RAR). It also works with many storage devices, including internal HDDs and SSDs, external drives, SD cards, CF cards, USB flash drives, and even some cameras and music players.

How Wondershare Data Recovery Works

When you delete a file, the operating system does not erase the data itself. Instead, it marks the space as available and removes the file’s entry from the index (the MFT on NTFS drives, the inode table on ext4, etc.). The actual bytes remain on the disk until something else overwrites them. Recovery tools scan for these leftover file signatures and rebuild the directory structure.

The typical workflow in Recoverit is:

1. Choose a location – select a specific drive, partition, or folder to scan.
2. Run a scan – the software performs a “quick scan� first, looking at the file system’s free space for recently deleted entries. If that does not find enough, you can run a “deep scan� that searches raw data for file signatures.
3. Preview files – after the scan, you can filter results by type or search by name. Most common file types can be previewed without paying.
4. Recover – select the files you want and save them to a different drive. Saving to the same drive risks overwriting the very data you are trying to recover.

Deep scans take significantly longer – minutes to hours depending on drive size and speed – because they read every sector and look for file headers. The software also offers a “partition recovery� mode for lost partitions and a “raw recovery� mode for deeply corrupted file systems.

Is Wondershare Data Recovery Safe to Use?

Yes, the software itself is safe to download and run. It does not contain malware, and it is digitally signed by Wondershare. The main risks are not malicious code but practical ones:

• Overwriting data – if you install the software on the same drive where you lost files, or if you recover files back to that drive, you can permanently destroy the recoverable data. Always install and save recovered files to a different drive.
• False hope – no recovery tool can guarantee success. If the space has been overwritten, the file is gone. The software cannot restore data from a physically damaged drive; it works on logical errors, not hardware failures.
• Price – the free trial only shows that files are recoverable. To actually export them, you need a paid license. This is a common point of frustration, but it is clearly stated in the software.

Wondershare has had occasional criticism about aggressive upsells and auto-renewing subscriptions, but the core recovery function is legitimate. If you are concerned, you can use the trial to see if your files are found before paying.

Free vs. Paid – What Do You Actually Get?

The free version of Recoverit allows you to scan and preview files up to a certain size limit (historically 100 MB of recoverable data). You can see exactly which files are recoverable and verify that they open correctly. The paid version removes that limit and lets you recover unlimited data.

Pricing is subscription-based, usually with monthly, yearly, and lifetime options. The exact price changes frequently and varies by region, so check the official site. There is also a “Pro� tier that adds features like bootable media creation for systems that will not start, and a “Technician� tier for repair shops. For most home users, the standard version is enough.

If you only need to recover a few small files, the free trial might be sufficient. For larger recoveries, consider whether the cost is justified compared to the value of the data. Also note that the subscription auto-renews unless you cancel, a common complaint in user reviews.

Common Problems and Limitations

Users typically run into a few recurring issues:

• Files are found but cannot be previewed – some file types, especially encrypted or proprietary formats, may not preview. This does not mean they are corrupt, but it makes it harder to verify before paying.
• Recovered files do not open – if the file was partially overwritten, the recovery may produce a corrupt file. The software will still list it, but it may be unusable.
• Scan takes too long – deep scans on large drives can take many hours. You can pause and resume in the paid version, but the free trial does not always allow this.
• SSD recovery is unreliable – because SSDs use TRIM, which actively erases deleted data blocks, recovery from an SSD is often impossible. This is a hardware limitation, not a software flaw.
• External drives disconnect during scan – if the drive has a loose cable or power issue, the scan may fail. Use a direct USB port, not a hub.

Another misconception is that recovery software can fix a drive that is making clicking noises or is not detected at all. That is a physical problem; running software on a failing drive can make it worse. In that case, stop using the drive and consult a professional data recovery service.

Alternatives to Wondershare Recoverit

Recoverit is not the only option. Several free and open-source tools can handle basic recovery:

• Recuva – a free Windows tool from Piriform, good for simple deleted-file recovery from NTFS and FAT drives.
• PhotoRec – a free, cross-platform tool that ignores the file system and looks for file signatures. It is command-line based but very powerful.
• TestDisk – the companion to PhotoRec, used to repair partition tables and boot sectors.
• DMDE – a low-cost tool with a free edition that can recover up to 4,000 files from a folder at a time.
• R-Studio – a professional tool with a more complex interface, but extremely capable, used by many data recovery labs.

For a one-time recovery, a free tool may be enough. For ongoing or business use, paid tools like Recoverit or R-Studio offer better support and more polished interfaces. The best choice depends on your technical comfort and how valuable the data is.

How to Use Wondershare Data Recovery Effectively

To maximize your chances of success, follow these steps:

1. Stop using the drive immediately – any new write can overwrite the deleted files. If the lost data is on your system drive, shut down the computer and boot from another drive.
2. Install the software on a different drive – download and install Recoverit on another partition or an external drive.
3. Select the correct location – choose the drive or partition where the files were lost. Do not scan the whole computer if you know the specific drive.
4. Run a quick scan first – it is fast and often finds recent deletions. If the files are not there, run a deep scan.
5. Preview before recovering – check that the files open and are not corrupt.
6. Save recovered files to a different drive – never save them back to the source drive.

If the quick scan finds nothing, do not give up immediately. A deep scan can take hours but often finds files that the quick scan misses. Be patient and let it finish.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Wondershare Recoverit free?

The software is free to download and use for scanning and previewing, but you cannot actually recover files beyond a small size limit (about 100 MB) without a paid subscription. The free version is essentially a trial to verify that your files are recoverable.

Can Recoverit recover files from an SSD?

Sometimes, but often not. SSDs use TRIM, which permanently erases deleted data blocks, making recovery impossible. If TRIM is disabled or the deletion is very recent, there is a small chance. For HDDs, recovery is much more reliable.

Will Recoverit work on a dead or clicking hard drive?

No. A clicking drive has a physical failure, and running software on it can cause further damage. You should stop using the drive and contact a professional data recovery service that can handle hardware repairs.

How long does a deep scan take?

It depends on the drive size and speed. A 1 TB HDD can take 2 to 10 hours; a large 4 TB drive can take over a day. You can pause and resume in the paid version, but the free trial may not allow that.

Why are my recovered files corrupted?

If the file’s data was partially overwritten before you ran the recovery, the software may reconstruct a file that cannot open. This is more common with files that were deleted long ago. Recovering quickly after deletion gives the best results.

Can I recover files after emptying the Recycle Bin?

Yes, as long as the space has not been overwritten. Emptying the Recycle Bin just marks the files as deleted; the data remains until new files use that space. Recoverit can scan for those files, but you should avoid using the drive in the meantime.

Related

• Enshrouded: Upgrade Storage Chests in Place
• iTunes Data Recovery: How to Get Lost Files Back
• Mortal Shell 2 Achievements: Full 53-Entry Steam Checklist