Updated 27 May. 2023

Restore 3DS files on Mac or Windows

3DS recovery

Best 5 data recovery software for 3DS, 3D Studio Scene

Disk Drill
Free version, Pro version $89
Free recovery: Free recovery - 500 MB for Windows
Download
rateDisk Drill
666762
PhotoRec
Open Source
Free recovery: Freeware
Download
ratePhotoRec
152488
Magoshare
Free, 1-Year License $49.95, Lifetime License $69.95
Free recovery: Free scan & preview
Download
rateMagoshare
1729
TestDisk
Open Source
Free recovery: Freeware
Download
rateTestDisk
152488
Mac Data Recovery Guru
$89.73
Free recovery: Free scan
Download
rateMac Data Recovery Guru
1499

Summary review

windows icon Our Windows version Windows 11
time icon How long we tested 1 week
exam icon Number of tested tools 19

3 essential factors to consider when choosing 3DS recovery software

Price tag

While there are a few genuinely free data recovery programs out there and some with a decent trial version, they’re often either overly complex, ineffective, or have recovery limits. So if you’re willing to invest, you should find a program that fits your price range. Also, consider whether you’d prefer a program with subscriptions or a one-time payment.

High recovery rate

There’s no point in investing time, effort, and maybe even money into a data recovery program with mediocre chances of success. Make sure to do your research and choose one with a proven track record, making it all the more likely for you to get your lost files back.

Look out for extra features

While a data recovery program’s retrieval capabilities are certainly its most important aspect, the extra features it brings to the table certainly add a lot of value. For example, some apps come with a drive backup feature while others allow the repair of compromised/damaged files, both of which can come in very handy.

Simple steps to recover deleted 3DS, 3D Studio Scene on Windows & Mac

Step 1:

Install the program on your Windows or macOS computer

Step 2:

Start the app up and choose a disk that will be used to search for lost files

Step 3:

Use the Recover button to start searching for lost data

Step 4:

Choose the data you want to undelete and click the Recover button to perform the restore

How to easily prevent 3DS files loss

1 Tip

Do not mess with unfamiliar files. Operating systems include lots of important files that may not seem familiar to you. These files could be vital to running the platform and tweaking or deleting them could lead to the OS becoming unstable and may cause you to incur data loss. That’s why it’s best to leave unfamiliar system files alone.

2 Tip

Password protect your machine. If you live in a household with multiple people, then it’s a good idea to put a strong password on your computer or laptop. You never know when a child or another unauthorized person might try to make their way into your machine and fiddle with your files. Better safe than sorry.

3 Tip

Create an image at the first sign of storage failure. If you notice that your storage device is starting to fail, you should immediately create a backup image of the medium so that you can attempt data recovery later. That way, you can preserve whatever information is currently on the drive before it incurs further data loss.

FAQ

For Windows, if you deleted the 3DS file using the Delete key or right-click > Delete command, then you should be able to find it in the Recycle Bin. On Mac, deleted X files are moved to the Trash before being deleted permanently. If your file is not present in either of these tools, you’ll need to utilize a free data recovery program.

The best way to recover 3DS files from a memory card is to leverage a top-notch data recovery program, as it’s the most flexible and accessible retrieval method around. It’s worth noting, however, that this is ineffective if you used a “full” format on the card or it has become heavily damaged/compromised. For that, you’ll need to seek out a data recovery service.

A quality data recovery program should allow for the retrieval of a wide range of different file types, whether they’re documents, images, audio clips, and others. Disk Drill is an excellent option that is capable of recovering 3DS extension and you can easily filter out the results by typing the extension into the search bar at the results screen.