What are the Android Data Recovery Software? Your phone – If you’re like most people, your phone may always be with you, even if it’s not in your hands. Pictures, documents, reminders, calendars, to-do lists, shopping lists, music, movies, and more are all stored in these devices, which are unfortunately susceptible to corruption and data loss. What do you do when your Android mobile data is in jeopardy, or worse, seems to be completely gone? You can use Android data recovery software to find and repair your files, and this collection of the best Android data recovery software to get your life back on track.
This begs the question: which Android data recovery software actually works? Which one is the best for me?
| Evaluation Criteria: | Software |
| 💡 Best recovery process | FoneLab Android Data Recovery |
| 🖼️ The best free photo and video recovery | DiskDigger Photo Recovery |
| ❤️ The best all-inclusive option for Mac users | Disk Drill 4 |
| 👀 The best user interface | AirMore |
| 📶 Best for restoring SIM cards | FonePaw |
| 🔧 The best non-root data recovery option | UltData |
| ☎️ Best customer support | PhoneRescue |
What is Android Recovery Software? How can it help me?
Android recovery software is used to find and repair files stored on Android devices that have been corrupted, accidentally deleted, or otherwise lost or damaged. In most cases, users try to recover files from the internal memory of Android phones like Samsung Galaxy or Google Pixel.
What we mean by this is that the user is trying to recover the data stored on the phone itself, not the data on the memory card or SD card. An SD card can be placed in a card reader connected to a computer and functions just like a normal storage medium, such as a hard drive. For data outside the internal hard drive of your Android phone, most data recovery tools will work fine. Android recovery software is the most important if the data stored on your phone’s internal hard drive is lost or corrupted because it requires many special features that traditional data recovery software doesn’t have.
How to choose the right Android recovery software for your situation
Data recovery is a very contextual thing. The best type of software to use depends on a variety of factors.
- 👻 Causes of Data Loss: Why is Data Lost? Was the file simply deleted or did the phone factory restore to the default settings? Is the file corrupted or damaged?
- 💰 Cost: You also have to consider your budget. How much are you willing to spend upfront? Are you willing to pay a subscription fee? You also have to consider whether the free trial is important to you. Some recovery software offers a try-before-you-buy way to verify the recoverability of your files. This alleviates the hassle of trying to get a refund, which is a daunting task for many data recovery companies. If you’re not using the free trial, you’ll want to consider whether you can afford a second software to recover your files, just in case the first one doesn’t work, and the wait time can be long if you’re considering a refund.
- 🗃️ Data storage location: When recovering data from an Android phone or other device, the original location of the data will be different. There are three main locations where data is stored on Android devices: system storage, SD cards (aka memory cards), and SD cards. Not all data recovery software supports all three file locations – in fact, many don’t.
- 🛡️ Root or Not To Root: Whether you want to root your phone or not, it will have a big impact on the software you use to recover your files. While there is no software on the market (which we are aware of) that offers a full recovery option on non-rooted devices, many software offer partial recovery options on non-rooted phones. To learn more about what it means to root your phone and decide if you want to do it, you can read about rooting here.
- 💽 Storage media used to recover files: Other important things to consider are the location where you intend to store the recovered files. It is highly recommended to use a different storage medium than the one you are recovering, so you have to consider, for example, do you have enough space on your drive? If you need to use an external drive, do you have enough USB ports to support peripherals like your phone, drive, and mouse? What is your data transfer speed? Depending on the amount of data you store on your Android device, will it take two minutes or two days? This affects the device you choose to use to recover your data. Many users tend to use machines with multiple USB 3.0 or USB-C ports due to speed.
- ⏱️ How fast do you need documents? Time is a major factor in choosing the right Android recovery software for you. Do you need quick access to files for meetings or other events? Do you have time to use slower, perhaps more thorough software to recover more files?
- 👨 💻 Do you have a technical background? Finally, your technical expertise should influence your decision-making. While many of today’s Android data recovery software products are user-friendly, some have a more straightforward user interface than others, while some support an extremely complex recovery process that can be difficult to understand for people who don’t like technology.
Score Leaderboard: A Collection of Best Android Data Recovery Software
| Software | 50 out of 50 |
|---|---|
| FoneLab Android Data Recovery | 39 |
| DiskDigger Photo Recovery | 39 |
| Disk Drill 4 | 43 |
| AirMore | 44 |
| UltData | 42 |
| PhoneRescue | 41 |
| FonePaw | 32 |
FoneLab Android Data Recovery
Android Data Recovery Software Download: FoneLab Android Data Recovery lets users recover data not only from Android phones, but also from SD cards and even SIM cards.
Merit:
- SIM card recovery
- Preview screen before recovery
- Recover WhatsApp data and call logs
- Fix Android issues and exceptions
Shortcoming:
- Refunds may be denied
- Customer service response times that can be slow or impressive
User Experience:
FoneLab is a powerful Android data recovery software with a pleasant, simple user interface that makes it very easy to recover lost files. FoneLab is able to recover files from different scenarios, including operating system and root errors, accidental deletions, forgotten passwords, crashes, viruses, device malfunctions, and more.
We especially like FoneLab because of its ease of use and customer-centric design. Finding and recovering files using its interface is intuitive – just browse the sidebar navigation to find call logs, contacts, messages, attachments, and media, all of which are clearly labeled and organized.
FoneLab’s Android data recovery software is available for Windows (XP and above) as well as Mac OS X 10.7 and above. It requires very little storage space or CPU power, so it’s a powerful option in the range for users with almost any hardware configuration. (This means that whether you’re at home, in the office, or somewhere else, it’s very handy because it can use whatever is available in a pinch.) ）
One really enjoyable aspect of FoneLab that sets it apart from its competitors is its ability to recover SIM card data. Users can try the free version before purchasing the full version of the software.
Score by parameter (up to 10 points)
- 👐 User-friendliness – 10
- 💡 Recovery Process – 9
- ⚙️ Features – 10
- 💰 Pricing – 8
- 📞 Support – 2
DiskDigger Photo Recovery
Almost all Android devices can use DiskDigger Photo Recovery on the Google Play Store.
Merit:
- Available in the app store
- Limited scans available on non-rooted devices
- Ability to operate in the background
- Applicable to related equipment
- Recover videos
- Permanently delete feature
Shortcoming:
- Some users are unclear whether the phone has to be rooted in order for the product to work (the full functionality does require the phone to be rooted)
- Some users have complained about accidental deletion of files due to the software
- It is not possible to recover files from a SIM card or a severely damaged phone
User Experience:
What are the Android Data Recovery Software? DiskDigger is only used to recover photos and videos. While it won’t help you recover call logs, messages, and other similar data in case of viruses or operating system issues, it is able to find deleted photos and videos for recovery.
To really use the full power of DiskDigger, you have to root your phone. Some users feel uncomfortable with this process, but due to the way Android works, this step is necessary for any app on the device used for Android file recovery. Without root, users can only see a limited number of recoverable files, thumbnails, and hidden files. Rooting will allow users to discover any and all available photos and videos that have been deleted on the phone.
DiskDigger also offers a permanent deletion feature that lets users clear space on their phone before or after restoring.
It’s simple and works with rooted phones. The user interface can be described as functional, but it may not be aesthetically pleasing.
The free version will recover photos and videos. You can extend the capabilities of DiskDigger by purchasing the Pro version to unlock recovery for other file types.
Score by parameter (up to 10 points)
- 👐 User-friendliness – 7
- 💡 Recovery Process – 7
- ⚙️ Features – 7
- 💰 Pricing – 9
- 📞 Support – 9
Disk Drill 4 Android Data Recovery
Android Data Recovery Software Download: Disk Drill 4 Android Data Recovery software works on Mac OS X and can recover data from SD card as well as the internal memory of rooted Android devices even after factory reset.
Merit:
- Recover any file type
- Recover files after factory reset
- Applies to failed system upgrades
- Recover files from incomplete or interrupted file transfers
Shortcoming:
- Only available for Mac
User Experience:
Like other Android data recovery software, Disk Drill requires the user to have a rooted phone to be fully operational. Disk Drill boasts the ability to recover data from a factory reset phone, and it supports the same features as Mac data recovery. DiskDrill treats Android memory and SD cards the same way it treats any other hard drive.
Using a rooted device, Disk Drill can recover files that would otherwise be permanently gone. Disk Drill isn’t limited to photos or videos. It can recover any type of data on your phone (or seems to have been).
Currently, Disk Drill is not available for Windows, which makes Disk Drill data recovery inconvenient for Windows users, who need to purchase separate software to recover data from their Android devices.
On the plus side, Disk Drill does offer a free option for users to try out in order to verify recoverability before investing in a paid version.
Score by parameter (up to 10 points)
- 👐 User-friendliness – 9
- 💡 Recovery Process – 10
- ⚙️ Features – 6
- 💰 Pricing – 9
- 📞 Support – 9
AirMore
Collection of Best Android Data Recovery Software: AirMore is a feature-rich Android data recovery software that recovers a wide range of file types covering almost all common data loss scenarios encountered by Android users.
Merit:
- Recover data lost due to system rooting
- Recover data lost from ROM flashing
- Simple 4-step process
- Secure, lossless, read-only recovery process
Shortcoming:
- It seems that the SIM card data cannot be recovered
User Experience:
AirMore provides a secure way to recover your Android data without interfering with files or violating your privacy – the software doesn’t “keep or leak” any files. This powerful tool simplifies the recovery process, and it can even recover files that have been severely altered, such as those lost during rooting and ROM flashes.
AirMore supports WINdows and Mac OS X users and has a beautiful, pleasing user interface that is quick and easy to understand at every stage of the data recovery process.
The company also makes simplified file transfer software that can be downloaded on Android and iPhone.
We love AirMore because of its simple, clean user interface, simple process, and free trial.
Score by parameter (up to 10 points)
- 👐 User-friendliness – 10
- 💡 Recovery Process – 10
- ⚙️ Features – 9
- 💰 Pricing – 9
- 📞 Support – 7
TenorShare UltData for Android
TenorShare is an Android data recovery software that claims that it doesn’t require root, making it an outstanding competitor to the rest of our list.
Merit:
- No root required for recovery
- Recover call logs, WhatsApp, and text messages
- Free download is available
Shortcoming:
- Unethical, offensive chargeback tactics
User Experience:
What are the Android Data Recovery Software? TenorShare’s UltData Android recovery software offers features that no other competitor on the list can offer – data recovery without rooting your phone. It even claims to recover WhatsApp data without root, including recordings and stickers. This tool is not limited by file type, so users can recover documents, photos, videos, and anything else they may have stored on their phones.
If it doesn’t work, the site claims to guarantee a refund back, and it does offer a free trial, but some users have complained about an unethical refund policy. While some of the companies on this list refuse or fight against refunds, TenorShare is said to have tried to negotiate with users to get partial refunds, which many customers find off-putting.
This is another piece of software and if it works for your device, then you will be lucky, but if not, you might have a headache.
Score by parameter (up to 10 points)
- 👐 User-friendliness – 9
- 💡 Recovery Process – 10
- ⚙️ Features – 10
- 💰 Pricing – 9
- 📞 Support – 4
iMobie PhoneRescue
Android Data Recovery Software Download: iMobie PhoneRescue is a data recovery software for Android and iOS that offers a free download and a 60-day money-back guarantee.
Merit:
- 60-day money-back guarantee
- Cross-platform support
- Recover any file type
- No root required to find hidden data
- Restore WhatsApp
Shortcoming:
- Slightly misleading web copy
User Experience:
PhoneRescue is another software that is capable of getting back WhatsApp data, including videos and messages. It also boasts the ability to find hidden files, such as received WhatsApp videos, without rooting the device. It can even recover data from locked devices.
While the copy on their website may mislead non-technical users into believing that they can recover all their lost files without rooting their phone, the truth is that it can find hidden files on an unrooted phone just like other Android recovery software. For full data recovery, root is still required.
On the plus side, the software is cross-functional between iOS and Android, so it’s perfect for families with multiple devices.
One standout feature of iMobie compared to the other competitors on our list is their customer service. While some users have encountered issues, many have praised the customer service provided by iMobie as caring and efficient – a breath of fresh air for engaging with consumers from numerous data recovery companies.
Score by parameter (up to 10 points)
- 👐 User-friendliness – 7
- 💡 Recovery Process – 8
- ⚙️ Features – 9
- 💰 Pricing – 8
- 📞 Support – 9
FonePaw
Android data recovery with FonePaw is a breeze, with a simple one-click recovery interface, read-only data recovery, and a free trial to verify recoverability.
Merit:
- Free trial with preview
- Super fast for many users
- Recover from internal memory, SD card, and SIM card
Shortcoming:
- Discerning customer support
- The refund process is tough
- Slow for some users
User Experience:
Collection of Best Android Data Recovery Software: FonePaw is another Android data recovery software that allows SIM card data recovery. We love it because of its ability to recover call logs and basically all data types from Android internal and external memory.
While FonePaw works for many users, and they offer a free trial version that users can utilize to preview files and verify recoverability, issues with the paid version have led to many customer complaints about customer service, refunds, and responsiveness.
If it’s right for you, then you might be lucky to have a fast, easy-to-use, and powerful data recovery option. If it doesn’t work for you, you may have to jump over hoops to get your money back.
Score by parameter (up to 10 points)
- 👐 User-friendliness – 7
- 💡 Recovery Process – 7
- ⚙️ Features – 9
- 💰 Pricing – 8
- 📞 Support – 1
What if I don’t use Windows or Mac? What can Linux users do to recover Android files?
There is currently no software recommendation for Linux users to recover data from Android devices. For external storage like SD cards, any Linux-compatible data recovery software will work, such as PhotoRec and similar open-source options. For internal Android data recovery, Linux users are urged to explore processes proposed by other users, such as the methods outlined here and here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do all Android recovery software require you to root your phone?
The short answer to this question is yes. Most Android data recovery software that claims to find data on non-rooted phones is able to find hidden data and thumbnails, but it can’t find or recover really deleted or severely damaged files without rooting the device.
The only exception to this rule on this list is TenorShare UltData. While this software can recover certain file types from certain locations without root, it still seems that advanced root is still required in some cases.
What is the best free Android recovery software?
It really depends on the situation you’re in. If you just want to recover photos and videos, then DiskDigger could be a great option. If you’re trying to perform a more complex recovery, many of the items on this list offer free trials to verify the recoverability of your data before purchasing the software.
Does the recovery software support recovery from memory?
Yes. Android data recovery software is specially designed to recover data from internal memory. The memory stored on an SD card can be recovered using most of the traditional data recovery software as it can be considered as a normal data storage medium, such as a hard disk. Special software is required to recover SIM card data.
