In our day-to-day life, we save multiple documents, such as work-related files, academics, or personal information, on our devices. Losing these important documents from our PCs can be very painful, especially if you don’t have any previously created backups. Don’t worry, if you have any backup of your deleted documents, you can still recover them. Stellar Data Recovery Free is an all-in-one free data recovery software offering an easy and user-friendly solution to recover lost documents.
In this comprehensive guide, we will walk you through the process on how to recover lost files on Windows for free with the Stellar data recovery software. Also, check the key features of this tool and preventive tips to avoid data loss instances in the future. Keep reading this article to know more!
Why Do Documents Get Deleted From PC?
Before we proceed with the steps to restore lost documents using this amazing software, it’s important to find the exact cause behind document loss. Understanding the exact cause can help you identify the adequate recovery workaround and prevent future data loss issues. Some main reasons for document deletion from your computer include:
- Accidental Deletion: The documents might have been deleted accidentally, i.e., by mistake. Sometimes, users manually delete files by mistake while organizing folders on their device or may use the Shift + Delete keys while deletion, which leads to permanent loss bypassing the Recycle Bin.
- Formatting Issues: Formatting the storage device, such as a USB drive, external hard disk, or SD card, without creating any backup of the stored files, leads to deletion of all files, including the stored documents.
- Corrupted Files: Sudden system corruption due to sudden power failures, malware infections, or software glitches makes the documents inaccessible or even causes their deletion.
- Hardware Failures: When your hard drive, SSDs, or external storage gets physically damaged, all the files stored become inaccessible.
- Virus or Malware Attacks: Malicious programs like viruses or malware can encrypt, corrupt, or delete important files stored on your device. You can install reliable antivirus software to prevent such attacks.
Key Features of Stellar Data Recovery Software
Among several free data recovery software for Windows tools available on the internet, the Stellar data recovery software is known for its amazing features, which differentiate it from others. It offers an easy-to-use interface and quick recovery steps for restoring lost or deleted documents. Here are some other features of this software:
Available in Multiple Versions
Stellar Data Recovery software is available in both free and paid versions. The free version allows you to restore files up to 1GB for free while there are multiple paid versions, varying in features and prices.
Supports Multiple File Formats
The software allows you to restore lost documents of various formats, including MS Word (.doc, .docx), Excel (.xls, .xlsx), PowerPoint (.ppt, .pptx), PDFs, and many more.
Compatibility with Multiple Storage Devices
You can use this software to recover deleted documents from both internal and external hard drives, such as SSDs, USB drives, SD cards, etc.
Different Scanning Options
The Stellar Data Recovery software provides two different scanning modes: Quick Scan for faster recovery and Deep Scan for more comprehensive recovery, allowing data restoration due to severe data loss situations.
Preview Options
You can preview the recoverable files before saving them on your device. The preview functionality allows you to ensure everything recovered is correct.
Quick Steps to Recover Lost Documents for Free with Stellar Data Recovery Software
Now that you are familiar with the features of the Stellar Data Recovery software, it’s time to walk through the step-by-step process of recovering lost documents. Follow the below steps to recover lost documents for free:
Step 1: Visit the official Stellar Data Recovery website and download the free version of the software. Go through the on-screen instructions to install the software on your device.
Step 2: Launch the software and from the “What to Recover” window, select Office Documents as you only need to recover the lost documents and click Next to proceed.

Step 3: From the “Recover From” window, choose the drive, partition, or external device where the deleted documents were earlier stored. Click Scan to begin the scanning process.

Step 4: Once the scan is complete, preview the recoverable files and select the files you want to restore. Click the Recover button to save the recovered documents at a safe location.

Note: Avoid saving the recovered documents in the same device from where they were earlier deleted as this may overwrite other lost files.
Tips to Prevent Document Loss in the Future
While the above steps to recover lost documents using the Stellar Data Recovery Free software are quite simple and easy to implement, it’s always better to avoid such data loss issues from your end. Here are some useful tips that you can consider:
- Regular Backups: Create multiple backups of your important documents on an external drive or cloud storage services such as Google Drive, OneDrive, or Dropbox.
- Turn ON AutoSave Feature: Microsoft Office comes with built-in AutoSave feature, which you can enable on your device to prevent data losses due to crashes.
- Use Reliable Antivirus Software: As documents can be deleted from your PC due to virus or malware attack, install a reliable antivirus software to protect your device against such threats.
- Be Cautious While Deleting Files: Double-check every file you are deleting, especially while using the “Shift + Delete” command.
Conclusion
Unexpected deletion of important documents can be a stressful experience, but with the Stellar Data Recovery Free tool, you can restore your lost files quickly and for free. The software provides a user-friendly interface, extensive file format support, and deep scanning capabilities, which makes it best for any data loss scenario. By following the step-by-step guide outlined in this article, you can restore your lost files and avoid such deletion issues in the future.
Stellar Data Recovery provides an efficient, free solution for document recovery, making it an essential tool for individuals and businesses alike. Additionally, consider preventive measures like maintaining regular backups and using antivirus software to avoid such data loss in the future.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is Stellar Data Recovery software free to use?
Yes, the Stellar Data Recovery software is available in both free and paid versions. The free version offers recovery of lost files up to 1GB without any cost. For unlimited data recovery, you can upgrade to a paid version.
What types of documents can I recover with Stellar Data Recovery?
Stellar Data Recovery supports the recovery of multiple document file formats, such as Microsoft Word (.doc, .docx), Excel (.xls, .xlsx), PowerPoint (.ppt, .pptx), PDFs, and many more.
How long does the recovery process using the Stellar Data Recovery software take?
The duration to recover lost files depends on their size and the scanning method you have opted for. Quick scan take only a few minutes while the deep scan may take longer, depending on disk size.
Is Stellar Data Recovery software compatible with Mac?
Yes, the Stellar Data recovery software works with both Windows and Mac devices.
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