Product limits
What File Recovery Hero cannot do
This page exists so that you do not spend money on a case this software does not solve.
The short answer
A tool for one case, not for every case.
File Recovery Hero examines stable, readable exFAT, NTFS and FAT16/FAT32 devices and uncompressed IMG, DD, RAW and BIN images. Everything listed below falls outside that scope. If your case is on the list, you need a different route, and we would rather tell you before the purchase than after.
01 / File systems
Supported and unsupported file systems
exFAT, NTFS, FAT32 and FAT16 devices are scanned directly. Further file systems are not evaluated, because dependable reconstruction requires knowledge of each one's management structures.
FAT carries one restriction that lies in the file system itself: on deletion it releases the cluster chain and overwrites the first character of the file name. Contiguously stored files are therefore read in full, while fragmented ones are listed and explicitly marked as incomplete rather than guessed. The full name comes back where the long name chain survived, otherwise it visibly starts with a placeholder. FAT12 is not supported.
| File system | Typically found on | Status |
|---|---|---|
| exFAT | SDXC, microSDXC, camera cards | Supported |
| FAT32 and FAT16 | Older and smaller SD cards, SDHC up to 32 GB | Supported |
| NTFS | Windows drives, external HDDs | Supported |
| APFS and HFS+ | Macs, Time Machine media | Not supported |
| ext4, Btrfs, XFS | Linux systems, NAS | Not supported |
02 / Physical
Physical damage and unstable media
Software reads through the operating system's normal interface. If a device is damaged electrically, mechanically or in its controller, no scan will help; only a specialised data recovery lab with the right hardware can.
Warning signs are recurring read errors, disconnections during access, a device that is only recognised intermittently, or unusual noises from hard drives. In these cases further full scans make the starting position worse rather than better.
Do not reconnect the medium repeatedly and do not start further scan attempts. Every additional access can render an already weakened device permanently unreadable. A lab is the right route here, not an expensive detour.
03 / Encryption
Encrypted storage
Encrypted devices are not decrypted and their protection is not bypassed. This includes BitLocker, FileVault, VeraCrypt containers and the storage encryption of modern smartphones. Without access to the decrypted layer the content cannot be evaluated technically.
04 / Individual files
Damaged individual files and special cases
- Importing individual damaged files for repair is not part of the scanning scope. The software examines devices and images, not loose files.
- CHK files from a FOUND.000 folder are not converted. File Recovery Hero is not a CHK converter.
- Overwritten areas are permanently lost. If new recordings were written to the card after the loss, no tool can retrieve the old data from those overwritten sectors.
- A cloud account, an operating-system recycle bin or a media database inside an editing application is not a storage device and is not scanned.
- IMG, DD, RAW and BIN here mean uncompressed disk images. Do not confuse them with RAW photo files or compressed archives.
05 / Platform
What belongs to the platform
The macOS version is a universal app for Apple Silicon and Intel, signed with a Developer ID and notarized by Apple. It requires macOS 14.0 or newer.
The Windows version requires Windows 10 or newer and is currently unsigned, which means Windows may display a warning at launch. A test on a real Windows device by us is still outstanding; we state that limitation deliberately rather than hiding it.
Common questions
I have an NTFS hard drive. Does the software help me?
Yes. NTFS is scanned directly: the reader evaluates the boot sector and the Master File Table and recovers deleted files with their original name and size. The software cannot help with physical damage or encrypted drives; those need a data recovery lab or access to the decrypted layer.
My card is formatted as FAT32. Can I still scan it?
Yes. FAT32 and FAT16 have been read directly since release 0.7.4, which mainly covers SDHC cards up to 32 GB. One FAT trait remains: on deletion a file loses its cluster chain. Contiguously stored files come back in full, fragmented ones are listed and marked as incomplete.
How do I find out which file system my card uses?
On Windows the drive properties in File Explorer show it; on macOS use Disk Utility or the Finder info panel. Both are display-only and write nothing to the card.
Do I get my money back if my case does not fit?
A statutory right of withdrawal applies and can be exercised through the electronic withdrawal form. Please still check the list on this page before buying so that the detour is not needed at all.
Better to know the limits first.
Get an honest estimate in two minutes of whether your case fits at all.