Updated 23 May. 2023

Recover deleted WAV (Windows + Mac)

WAV recovery

Best 5 data recovery software for WAV, WAVE Audio File

Disk Drill
Free version, Pro version $89
Free recovery: Free recovery - 500 MB for Windows
Download
rateDisk Drill
666762
Stellar
Free, Standard $49.99 , Professional $79.99, Premium $99.99, Technician $199
Free recovery: Free scan & preview
Download
rateStellar
484261
Boomerang
Free, Home Edition $69.95, SMB Edition $ 99.95, Pro Edition $ 129.95
Free recovery: Free scan
Download
rateBoomerang
106
R-STUDIO
for Mac $79.99, for Mac Network $179.99, Technician $899.00
Free recovery: No free version
Download
rateR-STUDIO
57624
Lazesoft
Freeware
Free recovery: Freeware
Download
rateLazesoft
611

Summary review

windows icon Our Windows version Windows 10
time icon How long we tested 3 weeks
exam icon Number of tested tools 13

3 things to consider when choosing WAV recovery software

Ease of use

Not everybody is tech-savvy and knows their way around a command prompt or advanced menus. Choose a data recovery program that has a user interface and flow that fits your technical expertise. That way, you’ll be able to recover your files with minimal hassle. Some apps are even designed to accommodate both novice and expert users.

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.

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.

Simple steps to recover deleted WAV, WAVE Audio File on Windows & Mac

Step 1:

Install the program on your Windows or macOS computer

Step 2:

Fire up the software and prepare for scanning by selecting the disk that contained the lost files

Step 3:

Cick the Recover button to start the scanning process

Step 4:

Choose the data to be restored from the preview display and click Recover to perform the recovery

3 simple things you can do to prevent WAV loss

1 Tip

Keep food and drink away from your work computer. This one goes without saying, but you’d be surprised by the number of people who keep food and drinks dangerously close to their laptop or computer. No matter how careful you are, uncontrollable circumstances may occur that could cause a spill onto your machine, potentially compromising your data.

2 Tip

Keep work and leisure separate. It’s always a good idea to have a separate computer/laptop for work and general use. If you keep installing and uninstalling programs on a machine, it will hasten the rate at which the operating system might break down. And when it finally does become unstable, you could lose some important data in the process.

3 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.

FAQ

Deleted WAV files that cannot be found in the Windows Recycle Bin or Mac Trash can still be recovered using an effective data recovery program. Just make sure you stop using the drive they were in right away to avoid overwriting the deleted file. Alternatively, if you had File History enabled or created a System Restore point beforehand, you can use those methods.

When WAV files are deleted from a computer, they are not permanently erased just yet. So long as they’re not overwritten by new data, these files remain out of sight on the storage media and can be recovered through quality data recovery programs. Backup tools like File History, System Restore, and Timeline can also be used to recover lost data.

For WAV files that were accidentally deleted using the Delete key or right-click > Delete command, they should be available for restoration from the Windows Recycle Bin tool. Other forms of data loss may be recovered using the File History feature, provided it was enabled beforehand. Otherwise, you’ll need a quality data recovery program.