How to Recover Corrupted/Deleted RAR Files: Complete Guide
Tooba Mukhtar ???? SEO Content Writer
Web Content Writer ?? Creative Writer ?? SEO Content Writer ?? Technical Writer ?? Ghost Writer ?? Blog Writer
What is a RAR archive? It is a popular format used to reduce size of large files, making them easier to store and share. However, like any file type, RAR archives can be corrupted or accidentally deleted. Not being able to access your RAR files can be exasperating, especially when they contain crucial data.
The good news is that there are several ways to recover corrupted or deleted RAR files. Here, we will show you the steps for RAR file recovery and how to get back your data successfully. In addition, we will also share some safety tips to prevent unexpected data loss in future.
Part 1: How to Recover Deleted RAR Files from PC?
Option A: Check Your Recycle Bin
How to Recover Deleted RAR Files on Windows? Typically, when you delete a file, it is moved to the Recycle Bin, where it can be easily restored. All you need to do is double-click on the Recycle Bin, locate the target file, right-click on it, and pick "Restore." Or, you can drag it directly to your desktop.
Option B: Recover RAR Files using 4DDiG
As you can see, it is no easy feat to recover permanently deleted RAR files unless you have a backup. Tenorshare 4DDiG is a professional data recovery software capable of retrieving over 2,000 file types from your storage device. With a 97% success rate, it is considered an all-in-one solution for various data loss scenarios. Let's take a closer look at its main features:
Below is a simplified guide on how to recover deleted RAR files from PC with the help of 4DDiG:
Step 1: Download and install 4DDiG Data Recovery. Run the program, pick the disk where your lost RAR archives are located, and then click on "Scan."
Step 2: Since you only need to restore RAR files, select the 'Others' option and click 'Scan Only Others.'
Step 3: The scan results will be displayed in the left panel according to file type. To find the desired files quickly, just navigate to Type > All Files > Archive > rar. Then, utilize the search bar in the top right corner to further narrow down the results.
Step 4: Preview the deleted RAR files to ensure they are intact and usable. After that, select the archives you need and click on "Recover" at the bottom. To prevent data overwriting, it's best to pick a safe location (e.g., Google Drive or OneDrive) to save them.
Option C: Recover RAR Files with File History
If you understand the importance of backup, you have likely turned on File History to safeguard crucial data. There's a reason why this built-in utility is highly rated by many Windows users. Not only does it automatically back up your files regularly, but it also keeps multiple versions of those files. The following steps are point out how to recover deleted RAR files via File History:
Step 1: Open Windows Explorer, and then head to folder where the RAR file was located before deletion.
Step 2: In the File Explorer ribbon, click on Home ＞ History.
Step 3: Use the arrows to look for a version of the folder containing your deleted RAR file. Select it followed by clicking on the "Restore" button.
领英推荐
Part 2: How to Recover Corrupted/Damaged RAR Files?
Option D: Recover RAR Files by WinRAR
WinRAR can repair damaged RAR files, but the success depends on the extent of the corruption. Its built-in repair function works best when only small parts, like the headers or indices, are affected. Here is how to recover corrupted RAR files using WinRAR:
Step 1: Begin by right-clicking on the damaged RAR archive. Click Open With ＞ WinRAR archiver.
Step 2: At the top of the WinRAR window, tap "Repair." Then, select "Treat the corrupt archive as RAR" and click "OK."
Step 3: Once the repairing process is complete, open the newly created file to see if the data is intact.
Option E: Forcefully Extract Damaged RAR Archives
During extraction, WinRAR usually checks the file's integrity using checksums. By enabling the "Keep Broken Files" option, it ignores these checksums and extracts whatever data it can find. This method is useful when you're unable to repair the archive but need to salvage as many files as possible. To recover damaged rar files, check the steps below:
Step 1: Open the corrupted RAR file using WinRAR. Next, tap "Extract To" in the toolbar menu.
Step 2: Specify a folder where you want to save the extracted files. Before starting the extraction, tick the box that says "Keep Broken Files."
Step 3: Finally, hit "OK" to initiate the extraction process.
Option F: Use Dedicated File Repair Tools
Still looking for a way to recover RAR files online? There are plenty of websites that allow you to upload corrupted RAR files and claim to fix them with just a few clicks. But the reality is, the success rate of these online tools is often pretty hit-or-miss.
Besides, most of these services aren't free. You'll usually have to pay before you can download the repaired file, and if it doesn't work as expected, that can feel like a waste. That's why we recommend turning to professional file repair software instead. Some reliable options include:
Part 3: How to Prevent RAR Files From Being Lost or Corrupted?
After learning how to recover corrupted RAR files, you can take preventive measures to avoid future corruption. Here's what you can do:
Final Words
Now most probably all your worries about how to recover corrupted/deleted RAR files are removed. Try the above-mentioned methods to see which ones work for your situation. If your RAR files become damaged for unknown reasons, give WinRAR or other third-party repair tools a try.
When it comes to learning how to recover deleted RAR files from a PC in the best possible way, Tenorshare 4DDiG is a reliable option. It's beginner-friendly, and effective, and offers a free trial before you buy.