If you just lost files: stop using that drive now. Don’t take new photos on the card, copy files onto it, or install anything on it (Reco included). Every new write can land on the space your deleted files still occupy.
No guarantee of recovery
Reco looks for files that are still physically present on a drive and rebuilds what it can. Whether a file can be recovered depends on things neither Reco nor we can control. We can’t promise that Reco will find a particular file, that a recovered file will be complete, or that it will open. Files are often unrecoverable when:
- their space has since been reused by new data;
- they were on an SSD, including your Mac’s built-in disk, that has already erased freed space (TRIM). Reco tells you when a drive works this way;
- the drive was encrypted and the key is gone, or it was securely erased;
- the drive is physically damaged.
The quality ratings, estimates and previews Reco shows are its best reading of the data. They are not a promise. Please check recovered files before you delete any other copy or rely on them.
Reco only reads
Reco opens the drive you scan read-only. It never repairs, formats or writes to it. When you recover, Reco saves files only into a folder you choose, and it refuses a folder on the same physical drive it’s reading, so it can’t overwrite the data you’re trying to save. Choose a destination on another drive with enough free space.
Failing and damaged drives
If a drive clicks, grinds, isn’t recognised, or was dropped, burned or got wet, stop and consider a professional data-recovery lab. Reading a physically failing drive, with any software, can make things worse. For drives that are struggling but still readable, Reco can copy the whole drive once into a disk image on another drive and scan the copy, which keeps extra reads to a minimum. Even so, any reading of failing hardware carries some risk, and you choose to take it.
Your responsibilities
- Backups. Recovery software is a last resort, not a backup. You’re responsible for keeping backups of data that matters to you (for example with Time Machine).
- Lawful use. Only scan drives you own or have clear permission to access. Deleted files can include other people’s personal data; you’re responsible for handling anything you recover lawfully and respectfully.
- Checking results. Review recovered files before relying on them or discarding the original drive.
Not a forensic service
Reco is a consumer app for getting your own files back. It isn’t designed or validated for forensic investigation or for producing evidence.
Limits of liability
To the extent the law allows, we aren’t liable for data loss or for damage to drives or files, as set out in our Terms of Use. This disclaimer is part of those terms. Questions? Write to [email protected].