How to Use Apeaksoft Data Recovery to Restore Deleted PhotosLosing favorite photos can be stressful, but with the right tool you can often recover them quickly. This guide walks you step-by-step through using Apeaksoft Data Recovery to restore deleted photos from Windows, Mac, memory cards, USB drives, and other storage devices. It also covers best practices to maximize recovery chances and troubleshooting tips if things don’t go as planned.
What is Apeaksoft Data Recovery?
Apeaksoft Data Recovery is a desktop recovery tool for Windows and macOS designed to retrieve lost or deleted files, including photos, videos, documents, emails, and more. It scans storage devices using quick and deep scan modes, previews found files, and allows selective recovery.
Key features:
- Supports many file types (JPG, PNG, GIF, RAW formats, etc.)
- Works with various devices (internal/external hard drives, SSDs, memory cards, USB flash drives)
- Preview before recovery so you can verify photo quality
- Selective recovery to restore only needed files
- Quick and Deep Scan modes for speed vs. thoroughness
Before You Start: Preparations and Precautions
- Stop using the device immediately. Continued usage may overwrite deleted data and reduce recovery success.
- If recovering photos from a camera memory card, remove the card and connect it to your computer with a card reader.
- Install Apeaksoft Data Recovery to a different drive than the one you’re recovering from (to avoid overwriting).
- Have an external drive or different partition ready to save recovered photos.
Step-by-Step: Restoring Deleted Photos with Apeaksoft Data Recovery
1. Download and install
- Download the correct version for your OS (Windows or Mac) from Apeaksoft’s official site.
- Install to a different drive than the one containing the lost photos.
2. Launch the program and choose file types
- Open Apeaksoft Data Recovery.
- On the main interface, check the file types you want to recover — for photos select Image and expand to check specific formats (JPG, PNG, RAW, etc.).
3. Select the location to scan
- Choose the drive or external device where the photos were stored (e.g., C: drive, external HDD, SD card).
- If the device isn’t shown, reconnect it and click the refresh icon.
4. Run Quick Scan
- Click “Scan” to run a Quick Scan. This is fast and finds recently deleted or easily recoverable files.
- Browse results as they appear; use filters or the search bar to locate images by name or format.
5. If needed, run Deep Scan
- If Quick Scan doesn’t find your photos, click “Deep Scan.” This mode takes longer but searches the disk at a lower level and finds more lost files.
- Deep Scan organizes files by path and type to make browsing easier.
6. Preview found photos
- Select files to preview thumbnails or full-size images in the built-in viewer.
- Verify image quality and file integrity before recovery.
7. Select and recover
- Check the boxes next to photos you want to restore.
- Click “Recover” and choose a destination folder on a different drive than the scanned one.
- Wait for the recovery process to complete and verify recovered files.
Tips to Improve Recovery Success
- Act quickly and minimize writing new data to the affected drive.
- Use Deep Scan if Quick Scan misses files.
- For camera memory cards, avoid formatting or reusing the card before attempting recovery.
- If photos are fragmented (common on heavily used drives), recovered images may be corrupted — try different recovery modes or professional services if critical.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
- Photos won’t open after recovery: Try opening with different image viewers or repair tools. Corruption may have occurred before recovery.
- Device not recognized: Reconnect the device, try another USB port or card reader, update drivers, or check Disk Management/Finder for hardware issues.
- Very few files found: Run Deep Scan, make sure you selected the correct partition, or consider cloning the drive and scanning the clone to avoid further wear.
When to Consider Professional Help
If photos are extremely important (e.g., wedding or irreplaceable images) and Apeaksoft can’t recover them, contact a professional data recovery service. They can handle physical damage and more complex cases, though at higher cost.
Alternatives and Complementary Tools
Apeaksoft is suitable for typical accidental deletions. For specific needs consider:
- Forensic-level recovery or physically damaged drives: professional labs
- Disk cloning tools: to create an image and run recovery on the clone
- Photo repair utilities: to fix corrupted image files after recovery
Comparison (quick):
| Task | Apeaksoft Data Recovery | Professional service |
|---|---|---|
| Typical accidental deletion | Good | Good |
| Physically damaged drives | Limited | Excellent |
| Cost | Moderate (software license) | High |
| Time | Fast to moderate | Variable, often longer |
Final Checklist
- Stop using the device immediately.
- Install recovery software to a different drive.
- Use Quick Scan first, then Deep Scan if needed.
- Preview before restoring.
- Save recovered photos to another drive.
With careful steps and timely action, Apeaksoft Data Recovery can often restore deleted photos successfully.
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