How to Recover Data After Factory Reset Windows 10/11

Is Data Still Retrievable After a Factory Reset?

Yes, but not always. If you chose the Keep files option during the factory reset then all of the typical files and folders in your user folder (C:\Users\ProfileName) will be safe. However, other files, as well as all applications that you installed, will be deleted in the process. These files can be recovered through hard drive data recovery, but there is no way of telling how much data can be recovered.

Deleted data still remains on the drive until it is overwritten with new data at the same physical location. When you perform a factory reset, the operating system will be written to the disk, potentially overwriting some of your data. When data is overwritten, it becomes unrecoverable. However, even though it’s impossible to predict your chances of data recovery after factory reset, some data may remain and it’s worth scanning the drive with data recovery software to see what you can restore.

How to Recover Data After Factory Reset on Windows 10/11

There are multiple ways to recover data after a factory reset. We’ll show you two main methods: recovering with software and restoring from a backup.

Method 1: Recover Data After Factory Reset With Recovery Tool

Before we move on to the software that we’ve chosen to recover data after a factory reset, we’d like to remind you that Pandora Recovery is dedicated to helping you recover your data using software that’s ideal for your situation. All software we review is put through strenuous testing spanning multiple days, revealing everything that the application is capable of achieving, right down to the finest details. This allows us to make trustworthy, fact-based decisions on which software gives you the best chance of getting your data back.

Notice: Our database of reviews is always expanding. Reading our reviews and software comparisons, as well as comparing applications yourself using our software comparison tool, all help contribute to our growth. Furthermore, you can help yourself find the perfect tool by using our interactive survey tool which takes you through a brief questionnaire and pairs you with the right software based on your needs.

The ideal data recovery tool for recovering data from a factory reset hard drive should have:

• The ability to restore original file names and folder structure. Good data recovery software is able to restore the original file names and folder structure of lost data, making it much easier for you to identify individual files and keep them organized in their folders following recovery.
• Support for signature scanning. When your data cannot be recovered through a quick or clever scan, a signature scan can attempt to reconstruct the files based on known patterns. Each data recovery tool has its own database of patterns which determines what files can be reconstructed.
• Great usability. All functions and features should be easy to locate and within reach without cluttering the user interface. A well-planned user interface reduces the learning curve for beginners and allows users to start recovery as soon as possible.
• Easy scanning and recovery. Scanning and recovery should be possible in as few clicks as possible. Good data recovery solutions take into account what the user will need and incorporates features, such as smart scanning, to reduce the number of scans the user needs to perform themselves.

In regards to recovering data after a factory reset, we’ve chosen Disk Drill and R-Studio for the following reasons:

Option A: Disk Drill

Our first choice of software is Disk Drill. In our in-depth Disk Drill review, we found that the software equips you with everything that a good data recovery tool should. Disk Drill is available on Windows and macOS and has excellent support for NTFS-formatted drives. 

During our tests, we discovered that Disk Drill was more than capable of recovering our data with its original file names and folder structure so it was neatly organized once recovery was finished. We were also impressed with its signature scanner which supports 400 file types, increasing the recoverability of files that can’t be recovered with other scan modes.

Now that you’re aware of why we’ve selected Disk Drill for recovering data from factory reset hard drives, it’s time to take a look at the recovery process. Follow these steps:

1. Download and install Disk Drill. Don’t install it to the same drive you’re recovering data from.
2. Select the drive that was recently factory reset. You can sort the list by clicking on the header of each column. When you’re ready to start the scan, click the Search for lost data button located in the right panel.
3. Click Review found items once the scan is complete. You can also click on the colored file type icons to automatically filter the results screen accordingly. Alternatively, you can recover all data from the factory reset hard drive by clicking Recover all.
4. Select the data you want to restore. The results screen can be tailored to your liking. If you’re looking for deleted or lost files exclusively, you can do this using the Show dropdown menu. The filter buttons give you more control over the results, with options like file type, file size, date modified, and recovery chances. Be sure to use the recovery chances indicator and preview pane to quickly see what data can be recovered. When ready, click Recover.
5. Select a recovery location. You can select one of the predefined destinations or specify a custom one by clicking Choose destination. Click Next to complete the recovery of data from the drive that was factory reset.

After data recovery is complete, make sure the data is in working condition and be sure to back your data up so it’s safe in case another data loss event occurs in the future.

Option B: R-Studio

R-Studio is another strong data recovery tool that comes packed with lots of useful features. It’s a competitively priced professional data recovery solution that did really well in most of our recovery tests. In fact, like Disk Drill, it was able to recover all 200,000 of our lost files (learn more in our Disk Drill vs R-Studio comparison). 

Our findings show that it does have the ability to restore the original file names and folder structure of data. It also has a signature scanner with support for 500 file types. As it’s geared towards professionals, the user interface can be very technical and difficult to navigate for beginners. Even so, its recovery performance is worth the learning curve. 

Follow these steps to recover data from factory reset hard drives using R-Studio:

1. Download and install R-Studio to a separate drive than the one you’re recovering data from.
2. Select the factory reset drive from the device/disk list. Click Scan.
3. Click Scan after you confirm all of the scan settings (the default settings will scan your entire hard drive).
4. Right-click the partition on your drive, then click Show Files.
5. Select the files you want to recover, then click Recover Marked.
6. Select the output folder, then click OK.

Method 2: Recover Data After Factory Reset Using Backup

Backup and Restore was the primary option for backing up data in Windows Vista and Windows 7. Although it has since been succeeded by File History, it still remains a part of Windows for its reliability (and for the sake of backward compatibility). If you had the foresight to make a backup before the factory reset, we’ll show you how to recover deleted files on Windows 10 and 11 using Backup and Restore.

On Windows 10

Follow these steps to recover files after a factory reset on Windows 10 using Backup and Restore.

1. Press Windows Key + I on your keyboard to open Settings.
2. Click Update & Security.
3. Click Backup in the left panel.
4. Click Go to Backup and Restore (Windows 7).
5. Click Restore my files.
6. Click Browse for files or Browse for folders and select what data you want to restore.
7. Click Next.
8. Choose where you want to restore the files, then click Restore.

On Windows 11

The process is very similar on Windows 11, with some slight variations. Follow these steps to recover files after factory reset on Windows 11 using Backup and Restore.

1. Press Windows Key + S and search “Control Panel”. Open it.
2. Click Backup and Restore (Windows 7).
3. Click Restore my files.
4. Click Browse for files or Browse for folders and select what data you want to restore.
5. Click Next.
6. Choose where you want to restore the files, then click Restore.

Conclusion

Deleted data, unlike wiped data, can often be recovered. This is true even if you’ve factory reset your computer. Your first action should be checking for backups of your data and using them to restore the files where possible. If no backup is available, you should use a data recovery tool to scan the factory reset hard drive and recover what data you can find before it’s lost for good.