Updated 14 May. 2023

Recover your deleted C files easily on macOS and Windows

C recovery

Best 5 data recovery software for C, C/C++ Source Code File

Disk Drill
Free version, Pro version $89
Free recovery: Free recovery - 500 MB for Windows
Download
rateDisk Drill
666762
Undelete My Files Pro
Freeware
Free recovery: Freeware
Download
rateUndelete My Files Pro
3852
Orion File Recovery
Subscription Plan $0.55/mo, Lifetime License (Home use $5.99, Commercial $6.99)
Free recovery: No free version
Download
rateOrion File Recovery
1176087
Recoverit
Free, Professional $49.95, Ultimate $59.95, Technician $299.95
Free recovery: Free recovery - 100 MB
Download
rateRecoverit
308031
iBeesoft
Personal License $55.95, Family License $89.95, Company License $$299.95
Free recovery: Free scan & preview
Download
rateiBeesoft
43515

Summary review

windows icon Our Windows version Windows 11
time icon How long we tested 4 weeks
exam icon Number of tested tools 15

3 important things to consider when choosing C recovery software

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.

Free version with data recovery

A lot of data recovery solutions out there offer a free trial that only gets you as far as previewing recoverable files. Once you attempt to retrieve them, you’ll get hit with a message asking you to purchase the full version. Check if the software has a free version that allows actual recovery.

Operating system availability

Data loss can occur on any operating system but not all data recovery programs support multiple platforms. Make sure the app you choose is fully compatible with the OS you run or, at least, has a version for that platform particularly. Certain programs even allow the recovery of storage media formatted for a different operating system entirely.

Simple steps to recover deleted C, C/C++ Source Code File on Windows & Mac

Step 1:

Download and install the program to the Mac or Windows platform

Step 2:

Start the recovery software and choose the disk you want to scan for lost data

Step 3:

Select the Recover button in order to start scanning the disk for recoverable files

Step 4:

Choose the recoverable files you want to restore and click Recover

3 C loss prevention tips

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

Avoid suspicious emails and files. Suspicious emails are rife with phishing emails and other forms of malicious files. Accessing the contents of these emails could severely compromise the security of your computer. This could lead to hackers accessing your machine, putting your important files in jeopardy. So if you see a suspicious email, simply delete it.

3 Tip

Install quality antivirus/antimalware software. Viruses and malware can wreak havoc on your computer and storage media and could lead to some serious loss of data. To prevent that, it’s always a good idea to install quality antivirus and antimalware software to counteract any malicious programs trying to infiltrate your machine.

FAQ

If you find that C files are randomly being deleted from your computer, it’s a good indication that your hard drive is failing. In these cases, it’s a good idea to make a backup image of the drive to avoid further data loss. Another reason is that your computer has been infected by a virus or some form of malware.

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 C extension and you can easily filter out the results by typing the extension into the search bar at the results screen.

Backups are the easiest way to recover C files that were saved over. Windows machines also have a built-in feature that allows you to retrieve older versions of X files, as long as you enabled the tool before the overwriting occurred. Mac has a similar feature called Time Machine. Alternatively, you can use Windows System Restore to return your PC to a previous point in time, but you’d need to have created a backup prior.