How to Recover Files After Factory Reset Windows 11?

Ralph Adolphs

Updated: January 11, 2024

Are you trying to recover files after a factory reset in Windows 11? You may factory reset your Windows 11 computer for various reasons, such as a forgotten password or sluggish performance, and if you encounter unexpected errors, you may also need to reset your PC by following the onscreen instructions, which can resolve most of the issues. However, this operation is risky as you may lose your data.

So, in this article, we will discuss how to recover files after a factory reset in Windows 11.

recover files after factory reset windows 11

Part 1: Is It Possible to Recover Files After a Factory Reset?
Part 2: How to Recover Files After a Factory Reset Windows 11?
Solution 1: Use TestDisk to Recover Files After Factory Resetting Windows 11 (Command-line Tool)
Solution 2: Recover Files After a Factory Reset Windows 11 with iSumsoft Data Refixer (A Few Clicks)
Conclusion

Part 1: Is It Possible to Recover Files After a Factory Reset?

Yes, it is possible to recover files after a factory reset in Windows 11. Windows provides two options for factory reset: "Keep my files" and "Remove everything." If you select the "Keep my files" option, your personal files, such as documents, photos, music, and videos, stored on your C drive or other internal and external drives will not be deleted. However, all installed programs and settings will be removed. On the other hand, if you choose the "Remove everything" option, all data on your computer will be erased.

choices for factory reset windows 11

Even if you reset to factory settings by selecting the "Remove everything" option, there is still a chance to retrieve your data. However, if the disk has been overwritten after the reset, your files may not be fully recoverable.

Part 2: How to Recover Files After a Factory Reset Windows 11?

Note:

1. If the hard drive storing deleted files has been rewritten, no software can guarantee complete data recovery. The longer you use your computer after resetting, the less likely it is that files will be recovered.
2. The only difference between recovery tools is the success rate of recovery.

Solution 1: Use TestDisk to Recover Files After Factory Resetting Windows 11

A common use case for TestDisk is recovering files from formatted drives. In contrast to Windows file recovery software, which only works with NTFS file systems, it supports multiple types, including NTFS, FAT32, FAT16, exFAT, and so on. Learn how to use TestDisk:

Step 1: Download TestDisk and then extract it to the C drive or other location.

download testdisk

Step 2: Locate the extracted file, then launch the application by double-clicking on the .exe file.

launch testdisk

Step 3: Click Yes.

click yes

Step 4: Use arrow keys to select Create.

select create

Step 5: Use Up and Down keys to select a drive from which you want to recover files. Then use Left and Right keys to select Proceed and hit Enter.

enter partition and select proceed

Step 6: The program will automatically detect the partition table style of the drive you selected. Enter the prompted table type.

select the prompted table type

Step 7: Select Advanced by using Up and Down keys, then hit Enter.

enter advanced

Step 8: Choose the Basic data partition with Up and Down keys, then select Undelete by using Left and Right keys and press Enter

select undeleted

Step 9: Select the file you want to recover and press the lowercase c key.

press lowercase c

Step 10: Press the uppercase C key to save the recovery file. (Here you can see the storage path shown on the Directory.)

press uppercase c

Step 11: Navigate to the storage folder.

navigate storge folder

Step 12: You will see the selected file has been recovered successfully.

file has been recovered

Solution 2: Recover Files After a Factory Reset Windows 11 with iSumsoft Data Refixer

If you prefer software with a Graphical User Interface (GUI), iSumsoft Data Refixer, a professional data recovery tool, will be the right choice for you. With just a few clicks, it allows you to recover files after Windows 11 reset factory settings.

features of cloner

Here is how to use iSumsoft Data Refixer:

Step 1: Download and install the software. Then launch it.

Step 2: The software will detect all the partitions on the computer. Select a hard drive or partition where data was lost and click Start.

click start

Step 3: The program will then start deeply scanning all the lost and deleted files previously stored on the drive. The scanning time depends on the storage space of the disk. The larger the disk, the longer the time.

scanning deeply

Step 4: After scanning, all files are categorized on the left side. Select the file (s) you want to recover and click Recover.

click recover

Step 5: Select a folder to save the recovery file (s).

Note:

The recovery file (s) cannot be saved on the drive from which it is recovered. For instance, if the file (s) is recovered from the D drive, it cannot be stored on the D drive.

select a folder to save files

Step 6: Once complete, you are asked whether to open the recovery folder. Based on your needs, click Yes or No.

data has been recovered

Conclusion

In addition to the above-mentioned software, Microsoft has developed a command-line tool called Windows File Recovery, which allows you to recover files from formatted partitions or drives. However, it is crucial to back up your data as a precautionary measure in case any issues arise.