Lost photographs need a different first step from faded photographs. If pictures disappeared from an SD card, stop taking new pictures and keep the card aside. If the files still open but the colours have faded, use an image editor on copies instead of scanning the storage device. For users in Spain choosing photo recovery software, the useful checks are the source device, the available originals and the quality of recovered samples.
Check originals before scanning
Look for an earlier import on your computer, a camera backup or a second memory card. Keep any existing JPEG and RAW versions: a small JPEG preview is not a replacement for the full-resolution original. If only the card copy is missing, connect the card through a suitable reader and identify it by capacity before scanning.
When results appear, compare image dimensions and open recovered copies in your usual photo application. Check more than a thumbnail: inspect faces, edges and the lower part of each picture for incomplete image data. A camera brand name alone does not establish support for every RAW format.
Evaluate XRecovery before exporting everything
XRecovery 3.1.6 runs on Windows and can scan partitions, disks and external devices that Windows recognises. The ordinary scan starts with a quick scan and then proceeds automatically to a deep scan. Preview is available for some mainstream file formats; it is not a complete compatibility test for every result.
The confirmed free recovery allowance is 2GB in total. Use it to check representative files before deciding whether more recovery is worthwhile. File names, thumbnails and scan counts alone are not proof of complete recovery.
Scan, save and verify
- Preserve the source and prepare a different physical device for recovered files. Check backups first, and avoid formatting or repair writes while the missing files are needed.
- Select the intended source by its capacity and identity. Stop if it becomes unstable; scanning software cannot fix physical damage.
- Review available results and previews. Save selected files to the separate destination, then open them with their usual applications and check the important contents.
XRecovery scanning is read-only, but exporting writes data to the destination. Its default warning against saving to the scanned partition can be overridden, so keep the destination separate yourself. No software can guarantee recovery of data that is no longer readable.
Can recovery also remove scratches from old prints?
No. Storage recovery looks for missing file data. Restoring scratches, fading or colour in an existing photograph is an editing task; preserve the unedited scan as well as the restored version.
Before choosing a download or licence
Use the official product information to check the current package, requirements and terms. For users in Spain, also check that the available interface and support arrangements fit your needs; this article does not establish a separate local edition or local service coverage.