NTFS vs FAT32 File Recovery: Tools and Techniques

If you’ve ever lost important files, you know how stressful it can be. But did you know that the type of file system your drive uses—like NTFS vs FAT32—can actually affect how easy or hard it is to recover those files? NTFS and FAT32 are the two most common formats for Windows drives, and they each handle data differently. That means recovery tools and techniques that work great for one might not work so well for the other. Whether you’re trying to recover photos from a FAT32-formatted USB stick or documents from an NTFS hard drive, knowing the differences can save you a lot of headaches. In this article, we’ll break down the key points of NTFS vs FAT32 from a recovery perspective and share some simple tools—including WinfrGUI—that can help you get your files back with minimal fuss.

What Are NTFS and FAT32?

Before we jump into how to recover files, it’s important to understand the basics of the two most common Windows file systems: NTFS and FAT32.

NTFS (New Technology File System) is the modern default file system used by Windows on internal hard drives and SSDs. It supports very large files and partitions, advanced security features like file permissions and encryption, as well as journaling—a system that keeps track of changes to help protect data integrity in case of crashes or power failures. Thanks to these features, NTFS is more reliable and secure, making it ideal for your main system drives where performance and data safety matter most.

FAT32 (File Allocation Table 32) is an older file system that’s still widely used, especially on USB flash drives, external hard disks, and devices like cameras or media players. Its main advantage is broad compatibility—it works well across different operating systems and devices. However, FAT32 has notable limitations: it can only handle files up to 4GB in size and lacks the security and advanced features that NTFS offers. Because of its simplicity, it’s less robust when it comes to handling errors or recovering lost data.

File Recovery Techniques for NTFS

Recovering files on NTFS drives is generally more reliable thanks to the file system’s advanced features and built-in safeguards.

#1. Recycle Bin and Previous Versions:

When you delete files on an NTFS drive, they usually move to the Recycle Bin, providing a straightforward way to restore them. Additionally, if enabled, Windows’ Shadow Copies (also known as Previous Versions) allow you to recover earlier versions of files or entire folders—great for undoing accidental changes or deletions.

#2. Built-in Windows Tools for NTFS Recovery

Windows includes powerful built-in utilities that can help you recover lost files and fix disk issues on NTFS drives. Two key tools are chkdsk and File History.

Tool 1. Using chkdsk to Repair Disk Errors

chkdsk (Check Disk) is a command-line tool that scans your NTFS drive for file system errors and bad sectors, which can cause files to become inaccessible or corrupted. Running chkdsk can help fix these issues, potentially restoring access to lost files. How to Run chkdsk:

Step 1: Open Command Prompt as Administrator

• Press Windows key + S, type cmd
• Right-click Command Prompt and select Run as administrator

Step 2: Run the chkdsk command- repair the C: drive, type:

chkdsk C: /f /r /x

• /f — Fixes errors on the disk

• /r — Locates bad sectors and recovers readable information

• /x — Forces the drive to dismount before scanning (if needed)

Step 3: Confirm the scan-If the drive is in use, you may see a prompt asking to schedule the scan on the next restart. Type Y and press Enter.

Step 4: Restart your computer-The scan will run during bootup before Windows loads. Let it complete fully.

Step 5: Check results-After booting, you can check the scan results in the Event Viewer under Windows Logs → Application, look for the Wininit source.

Why use chkdsk? Fixing file system errors can make files accessible again, especially if corruption or bad sectors caused Word documents or other files to become unreadable — and if your SD card’s file system is damaged or incompatible, formatting it to FAT32 using one of the 7 Methods: How to Format SD Card to FAT32 can help restore proper function.

Tool 2. Using File History to Restore Previous Versions

File History automatically backs up your files and folders on NTFS drives. If you lose or change a file, you can restore an earlier version easily.

Step 1: Go to Settings → Update & Security → Backup; if File History is off, connect an external drive and click Add a drive to enable it.

Step 2: Open File Explorer, right-click the folder or file where the lost data was, select Properties, and go to the Previous Versions tab.

Step 3: Choose the version from the list that predates the loss or change.

Step 4: Click Restore to recover the file/folder or Open to preview before saving it elsewhere.

#3. Using WinfrGUI for NTFS Recovery:

If you’re looking for a reliable yet beginner-friendly way to recover files from NTFS drives, WinfrGUI is one of the best tools available. It’s a 100% free graphical interface for Microsoft’s official Windows File Recovery tool—meaning you get all the power of the command-line utility, but with a clean, point-and-click experience.

Key Features:

• Specifically designed for NTFS file systems (internal hard drives, SSDs, etc.).
• Recovers deleted, formatted, or corrupted files like DOCX, PDF, MP4, JPG, and more.
• Supports deep scanning to search for traces of files even after formatting or partial overwrites.
• No command-line knowledge needed—perfect for regular Windows users.

Whether you’ve lost data due to accidental deletion, formatting, or corruption, WinfrGUI makes recovery accessible without sacrificing power.

#4. Other Data Recovery Software:

In addition to WinfrGUI, there are several trusted third-party tools that specialize in NTFS data recovery. These vary in terms of complexity, features, and cost, so you can choose based on your needs and technical comfort:

• Recuva – Great for quick recoveries of accidentally deleted files; free and lightweight.
• Disk Drill – Offers advanced scanning, partition recovery, and real-time backup tools in a modern interface.
• EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard – User-friendly with high recovery success rates, especially for formatted or corrupted NTFS drives.

Each of these tools supports NTFS file systems and includes features like file previews, filtering by file type, and guided recovery steps—making them solid options for both home and professional users; for a deeper comparison, check out our article “NTFS vs exFAT: Which Is Better for File Recovery?“ to understand which file system offers better recovery options.

File Recovery Techniques for FAT32

Recovering lost files from a FAT32 drive requires a more cautious approach than NTFS, mainly because FAT32 lacks advanced safeguards like journaling and metadata tracking. Still, with the right tools and timing, it’s possible to recover lost data—especially from USB drives and SD cards.

How FAT32 Handles Deleted Files:

When you delete a file from a FAT32 device, the file’s entry in the File Allocation Table (FAT) is marked as available, but the actual file data remains on the disk until it’s overwritten by new content. Recovery software can scan for these “free” clusters to rebuild the original file—if you act fast. Unlike NTFS, FAT32 doesn’t track file changes or metadata, so it can’t tell where fragmented files begin and end. This makes recovery less accurate, particularly for large or split files.

Recommended Tools for FAT32 Recovery:

Since FAT32 doesn’t support journaling, recovery depends heavily on third-party software that can read disk sectors directly and reconstruct lost data:

#1. Recuva– Quick and Easy Recovery for Everyday Users

A lightweight, beginner-friendly option perfect for recovering recently deleted files (like photos or documents) from USB drives and memory cards. Best for beginners needing to recover individual files or folders from flash drives or memory cards.

Key Functions:

• Recovers photos, documents, emails, and media files from FAT32-formatted USBs, SD cards, and external drives.
• Offers both Quick Scan (for recent deletions) and Deep Scan (for formatted or severely corrupted drives).
• Displays file health status (Excellent, Poor, Unrecoverable) to help users decide what’s worth recovering.
• Includes a portable version for safe use on removable media without installation.

#2. MiniTool Power Data Recovery – Full Partition & Folder Restoration

Offers a dedicated FAT32 scan mode and is especially useful for recovering entire partitions or lost directories. Best for intermediate users needing to recover large batches of files or accidentally deleted FAT32 partitions.

Key Functions:

• Supports dedicated FAT/FAT32 scan mode, optimized for older or removable media.
• Capable of restoring entire partitions or folder structures, not just individual files.
• Preview feature lets users verify photos, Word/Excel files, and PDFs before recovery.
• Supports recovery from damaged, lost, or inaccessible FAT32 partitions due to formatting or corruption.

#3. PhotoRec – Signature-Based, Cross-Platform Sector Scanner

An open-source tool that ideal for raw photo, video, or archive recovery from damaged FAT32 drives. Best for advanced users recovering from severe FAT32 corruption, drive formatting, or RAW partition errors.

Key Functions:

• Recovers over 480 file formats (JPG, MP4, DOC, ZIP, etc.) by scanning at the sector level, ignoring file system metadata.
• Works even if the FAT32 file system is damaged or completely missing.
• Available on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
• Comes bundled with TestDisk, which can rebuild damaged partition tables in addition to file recovery.

#4. WinfrGUI – User-Friendly FAT32 Recovery with Signature Mode

While primarily built for NTFS, WinfrGUI also supports FAT32 (and exFAT) in Signature Mode. Best for windows users looking for a clean, code-free interface to recover files from USBs, SD cards, and other FAT32 media quickly.

Key Functions:

• A free graphical interface for Microsoft’s Windows File Recovery tool, removing the need for complex command-line use.
• Supports Signature Mode, which enables recovery from FAT32 and exFAT drives by scanning for specific file types like .DOCX, .JPG, .MP4, .ZIP, and more.
• Allows users to select file types, scan depth, and target directories.
• Especially effective for removable drives like USB sticks, microSD cards, and music players using FAT32.

Which File System Is Better for File Recovery?

When it comes to file recovery, not all file systems are created equal. Here’s a closer look at how NTFS and FAT32 stack up—especially when you’ve accidentally deleted an important file or need to rescue data from a corrupted drive.

NTFS – Stronger for Recovery

NTFS is the go-to file system for modern Windows systems, and it’s built with data protection in mind. Here’s why it’s typically better for recovery:

• Journaling Support: NTFS uses a log-based system to track file changes. This helps maintain consistency and reduces corruption risk, especially during unexpected shutdowns.
• Master File Table (MFT): Even if a file is deleted, its metadata is often preserved in the MFT, giving recovery tools a detailed map of where your data used to be.
• File Permissions and Compression: These features don’t just help security—they also mean NTFS is designed to handle complex operations more reliably.
• Recovery-Friendly Tools: Tools like WinfrGUI, Recuva, Disk Drill, and EaseUS Data Recovery work especially well with NTFS volumes, offering features like deep scanning and file-type filtering.

Best use case: Internal hard drives, SSDs, and drives where data integrity matters most.

FAT32 – More Limited, But Still Possible

FAT32 may be older and simpler, but it’s still used widely on USB drives, SD cards, and devices that require cross-platform compatibility. However, these benefits come at a cost:

• No Journaling: This means FAT32 can’t track file changes or recover from crashes the same way NTFS can, which leads to more data loss if the drive is in heavy use.
• Simple Allocation Table: Deleted files are only marked as “free” space. If any new data gets written over those clusters, recovery becomes much harder.
• Fragmentation Problems: Because FAT32 doesn’t handle fragmented files well, recovering large or split files can result in partial or broken recovery.
• Basic Recovery Options: While tools like Recuva, MiniTool Power Data Recovery, and PhotoRec do support FAT32, the success rate is lower compared to NTFS—especially on heavily used drives.
• WinfrGUI can also be configured to scan FAT32 drives by selecting the appropriate recovery mode and file type, but it’s best used quickly after data loss.

Best use case: Portable storage like flash drives or camera SD cards—but always back up regularly.

Conclusion

When it comes to NTFS vs FAT32, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer—especially for file recovery. NTFS offers more advanced features that can make recovering lost files easier, but FAT32’s simplicity and wide compatibility mean you need to act fast before data gets overwritten. No matter which system you’re dealing with, the best approach is knowing how each works and using the right tools. That’s where user-friendly options like WinfrGUI come in handy, making the recovery process less intimidating even if you’re not a tech pro. At the end of the day, understanding your file system and reacting quickly can make all the difference between losing your data forever and getting it back safely. So keep these tips in mind—because when files go missing, every second counts.

🔗 Also Read: PowerShell vs CMD for File Recovery: Which Works Better?