Short answer
Android data recovery from a modern phone works far less often than the software ads suggest. On a phone running Android 10 or later that isn't rooted, storage is encrypted file by file and deleted space is wiped quickly, so no PC program can reliably carve deleted photos or messages out of internal storage. What still works: Google's own backups and trash folders (check them first, they're free), files deleted from a microSD card used as portable storage, data in a Google Drive backup, and anything still sitting on the phone that you can't reach on your own.
If you need a program for that, Aiseesoft FoneLab - Android Data Recovery is our pick on Windows: $49.96 once at checkout for 1 PC and 6 Android devices, with Google Drive backup recovery and support listed up to Android 17. For WhatsApp chats in a Google Drive backup, Tenorshare Android Data Recovery (now sold as UltData for Android) and Dr.Fone - Android Data Recovery are stronger. On a Mac with an older phone, AnyMP4 Android Data Recovery for Mac is an option, but its own specs stop at Android 8.0.
Whichever you try, the rule is the same: run the free scan, and pay only if the preview shows the exact files you lost.
At a glance
|
Aiseesoft FoneLab Android Data Recovery |
AnyMP4 Android Data Recovery for Mac |
Dr.Fone - Android Data Recovery |
Tenorshare (UltData for Android) |
| Computer |
Windows 11 to XP |
macOS 10.7 or later, incl. Tahoe 26 |
Windows 11 to 7 (Mac version separate) |
Windows 11 to XP (Mac version separate) |
| Android versions listed |
4.0 to 17 (USB), 5.0 to 17 (wireless) |
2.1 to 8.0 |
5.0 and later, Android 16 named |
5 to 16 |
| One-time price |
$49.96 at checkout (1 PC, 6 devices) |
✗ $62.45 a year at checkout, renews |
$49.95 perpetual (also $39.95/year, $34.95/month) |
$49.95 lifetime (also $39.95/year, $35.95/month) |
| Google Drive backup |
✓ contacts, messages, call logs, calendar, Wi-Fi |
✗ |
✓ including WhatsApp data |
✓ including WhatsApp backups |
| WhatsApp |
✓ on the phone |
✓ on the phone |
✓ WhatsApp and WhatsApp Business |
✓ WhatsApp and WhatsApp Business |
| Root needed? |
No (FoneGo helper app) |
No (FoneGo helper app) |
No, but deleted internal items "may require" root on some phones |
No |
| Free trial |
Scan and preview |
Scan and limited preview |
Scan and preview |
Scan and preview |
| Money-back guarantee |
30 days |
30 days, no change-of-mind refunds |
7 days |
30 days |
How we picked and what we checked
- We started from every Android recovery program listed on this site and dropped the ones that are no longer sold or whose vendor's specs stop at an old Android version (Jihosoft Android Data Recovery lists Android 2.3 to 9.0 only, and iSkysoft's product page is gone).
- We read each remaining vendor's tech specs and FAQ for the Android versions it lists, whether it needs root, what it says about factory resets, and what the free trial does.
- We priced each license on the order page or the vendor's store on the same day.
- We compared what each tool claims with how Android storage actually works on phones from Android 10 on.
What we checked: Aiseesoft FoneLab - Android Data Recovery cost $49.96 for a lifetime license and AnyMP4 Android Data Recovery for Mac $62.45 renewing every 12 months, both at checkout on November 5, 2026; Dr.Fone's Windows perpetual plan was $49.95 and UltData for Android's lifetime license $49.95 on the vendors' stores on November 5, 2026; the UltData for Android installer we downloaded that day was version 6.8.32 (175 MB), and Dr.Fone's Windows download was a small web installer signed by Wondershare.
We didn't connect a phone or run a recovery with any of these tools, so we can't tell you their success rates. This article covers phones that still turn on; a phone that won't power up is a job for a repair lab.
Before you buy anything: check Google's backups and trash folders
Most "lost" Android data is sitting in a trash folder or a cloud backup, and getting it back there costs nothing. Check these in order, before you install any Android data recovery software:
- Photos and videos: open Google Photos, then Collections > Trash (or Library > Trash). Items that were backed up stay there for 60 days, and items that weren't backed up stay for 30 days on recent Android versions. On a Samsung phone, also check the Gallery app's Recycle bin (30 days).
- Files and downloads: the Files by Google app and Samsung's My Files both have a trash or recycle bin that keeps deleted files for 30 days.
- Contacts: on contacts.google.com, the Undo changes setting rolls your Google contacts back to any point in the last 30 days.
- Text messages and call history: if Google One backup was on, they're in your Google account's backup. They come back when you set up a phone (or reset it) and choose that backup, which is all or nothing. Samsung Messages also has its own recycle bin.
- WhatsApp: if chat backup to Google Drive was on, reinstalling WhatsApp and restoring the backup brings back everything up to the last backup.
The catch with Google One and WhatsApp backups is that restoring them on the phone replaces what's there. That's where a desktop tool earns its money: Aiseesoft FoneLab - Android Data Recovery, Dr.Fone and UltData for Android can all sign in to your Google account and let you pick individual items out of a Google Drive backup without wiping the phone.
Aiseesoft FoneLab's Google Drive Data Recovery window in trial mode: contacts, Wi-Fi, call logs, messages and calendar entries from a Google account's backup, with a Recover button for the selected items.
What Android data recovery software can and can't do on a modern phone
Android data recovery software can't carve deleted files out of the internal storage of a modern, unrooted phone. Three changes to Android closed that door, and they're the reason so many people buy a tool, run the scan and find nothing:
- No raw access from a PC. Phones stopped mounting as a USB drive years ago. A computer sees them through MTP, which lists existing files only, so a desktop program can't read the deleted blocks the way it can on a USB stick.
- Encryption. File-based encryption arrived with Android 7.0 and has been required on new phones since Android 10. Each file has its own key, and a deleted file's data is unreadable without it.
- TRIM and app sandboxing. Flash storage clears deleted blocks in the background, and Android's app sandbox stops any app (including a recovery tool's helper app) from reading other apps' private data or the raw message and call databases where deleted rows might linger. Scoped storage, added in Android 10 and 11, narrowed shared-storage access further.
So what do these tools actually find on a phone like that? Through a small helper app on the phone (Aiseesoft and AnyMP4 call theirs FoneGo) and the permissions you grant it, they read the data that still exists: messages, contacts, call logs, photos, WhatsApp media folders, thumbnails and copies in app folders you'd never find yourself. They export all of it to your computer in readable formats, and they read Google Drive backups. That's useful, but it's not the same as undeleting. Dr.Fone's own FAQ says it plainly: "On some devices, recovering deleted items from internal storage may require elevated access (for example, root-level access)." And Tenorshare's FAQ says data wiped by a factory reset "cannot be restored" except from a backup.
Dr.Fone's scan results on a Xiaomi phone, from Wondershare's own guide: the filter shows "Only show the deleted (0)" and "Only show the existing (230)" for audio files. That split is what to look for in your own free scan.
Where recovery still has a real chance
| Where the data was |
Chance |
What to use |
| Google Photos, Gallery, Files trash |
High, within 30 to 60 days |
The app itself, free |
| Google Drive or Google One backup |
High, up to the last backup |
Restore on the phone, or pick items with Aiseesoft, Dr.Fone or UltData |
| microSD card used as portable storage |
Good, if you stop using the card |
Card reader plus a PC recovery tool |
| Still on the phone, but hidden or hard to export |
Good |
Any of the four tools below |
| Deleted from internal storage, Android 10 or later, not rooted |
Low |
Free scan only; buy if the preview shows your files |
| Phone factory reset, no backup |
Practically none |
Nothing; the encryption keys are gone |
Should you root the phone to recover deleted files?
No. Rooting a phone to recover deleted data usually destroys it. On almost every phone, rooting starts with unlocking the bootloader, and unlocking the bootloader performs a factory reset. On Samsung phones it also permanently trips Knox. Root only helps if the phone was already rooted before the data was lost, which is rare today.
The microSD card is the exception
A microSD card set up as portable storage uses an ordinary FAT32 or exFAT file system with no encryption, so deleted photos and videos on it can often be recovered. Take the card out, put it in a card reader and scan it with a Windows recovery program, which reads the card's raw sectors. Our guide to the best data recovery software for Windows PCs and RAID arrays covers those tools; Stellar Data Recovery Professional handles memory cards. A card that was formatted as internal storage is different: Android encrypts it with a key tied to that phone, so a card reader shows only scrambled data.
Aiseesoft FoneLab - Android Data Recovery
Aiseesoft FoneLab - Android Data Recovery · Price: $49.96 lifetime at checkout (list $62.45), 1 PC and 6 Android devices · Runs on: Windows 11, 10, 8.1, 8, 7, XP (a Mac version is sold separately) · Android: 4.0 to 17 over USB, 5.0 to 17 wirelessly · Best for: Windows users who want a one-time price, current Android support and item-by-item Google Drive backup recovery.
Aiseesoft FoneLab - Android Data Recovery is the most complete package here for a Windows PC. It connects by USB or wirelessly, installs the FoneGo helper app on the phone, and scans for photos, videos, audio, call logs, messages, contacts and documents (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, PDF, ZIP and RAR among them), plus WhatsApp chats and their attachments. A separate Google Drive mode signs in to your Google account and lists the contacts, messages, call history, calendar entries and Wi-Fi passwords in your backup so you can save just the ones you want. Contacts export as VCF, CSV or HTML, and messages as CSV or HTML.
Aiseesoft's tech specs list support up to Android 17, the newest version any of these vendors names, and a long list of current phones such as the Galaxy S23 series and Z Fold5. The license at checkout is a true one-time purchase that covers six Android devices, which matters if you're also rescuing a partner's or a parent's phone.
Where it falls short is the same place every tool here does: on a modern unrooted phone, it shows you what still exists, and deleted items from internal storage may not appear at all. Aiseesoft's page also sells the idea of recovery after "OS update or rooting" and "ROM flashing"; on a phone from the last few years, data wiped by those events is gone. Aiseesoft makes the Google Drive and WhatsApp-on-phone side well, but it doesn't list WhatsApp backups in its Google Drive mode the way Tenorshare does.
Aiseesoft FoneLab - Android Data Recovery (unregistered): pick the file types (photos, videos, audio, call logs, messages, contacts, documents) and click Start Scan.
What we like
- $49.96 once for 6 devices, no renewal
- Android support listed up to Android 17
- Pick single items out of a Google Drive backup
- USB or wireless connection, no root
- 30-day money-back guarantee
Watch out for
- Can't undelete from encrypted internal storage on unrooted phones
- Marketing implies recovery after rooting or flashing, which rarely works now
- Windows license only; the Mac version is a separate purchase
- User reviews are hosted on Aiseesoft's own site
What users say
Aiseesoft's review page shows 180 user reviews of FoneLab Android Data Recovery. They're hosted by the vendor, but the recent ones include honest limits:
"The software is easy to use and lets you preview files before restoring them, which is helpful. The scan takes some time, and not everything was recoverable, but it still managed to recover most of the data I needed" — Charlee Anthony, December 2025
"I used FoneLab Android Data Recovery for recovering data from my Android SD card and it recovers most of my data." — Amy Dennis, September 2025
Download Aiseesoft FoneLab Free TrialBuy Aiseesoft FoneLab Android Data Recovery
AnyMP4 Android Data Recovery for Mac
AnyMP4 Android Data Recovery for Mac · Price: $62.45 at checkout, renewing every 12 months · Runs on: macOS 10.7 or later, including Tahoe 26, Intel and Apple M-series · Android: 2.1 to 8.0 in AnyMP4's specs · Best for: Mac owners with an older Android phone, and only after the free scan finds the data.
AnyMP4 Android Data Recovery for Mac is the Mac counterpart to the Aiseesoft tool above: AnyMP4 and Aiseesoft belong to the same family of developers, and the two programs share the FoneGo helper app and the same connect, choose, scan and preview workflow. Treat it as the Mac edition of one product line, not as an independent second opinion.
It scans for contacts, messages and attachments, call logs, WhatsApp and attachments, the gallery and picture library, videos, audio and documents, with a switch to show only deleted items and a Deep Scan for a second pass. An Android Data Backup & Restore section is built in.
The honest problem is age. AnyMP4's own specifications list Android 2.1 to 8.0, a version from 2017, and its examples are phones like the Galaxy S7. Its guide does cover the permission step on phones above Android 8.0, so a newer phone may connect, but expect it to show existing data rather than deleted files. The license is also a subscription in practice: the order AnyMP4 labels "Lifetime License" renews every 12 months at $62.45, and AnyMP4's 30-day guarantee doesn't cover a change of mind.
AnyMP4 Android Data Recovery for Mac: tick contacts, messages, call logs, WhatsApp, gallery, picture library, videos, audio and documents, then click Next. The Android Data Backup & Restore section is on the left.
What we like
- Native Mac app, Intel and Apple M-series, macOS Tahoe 26
- "Only display the deleted item(s)" switch makes the trial honest
- Backup and restore included
Watch out for
- Specs stop at Android 8.0
- "Lifetime" order renews yearly at $62.45; turn off auto-renewal
- No Google Drive backup recovery
- Narrow refund policy
What users say
We found no independent review of AnyMP4 Android Data Recovery for Mac, and AnyMP4's product page shows no user reviews of it. AnyMP4 as a company rates 4.2 out of 5 from 237 reviews on Trustpilot, mostly about support for its video tools. For this app, your own free scan is the only evidence that counts.
Download AnyMP4 for Mac Free TrialBuy AnyMP4 Android Data Recovery for Mac
Dr.Fone - Android Data Recovery
Dr.Fone - Android Data Recovery · Price: $49.95 perpetual, $39.95 a year or $34.95 a month on Wondershare's store, 1-5 mobile devices with 2 PCs · Runs on: Windows 11 to 7, macOS 10.13 or later · Android: 5.0 and later, Android 16 named · Best for: WhatsApp and WhatsApp Business recovery, and phones with a broken screen that still power on.
Dr.Fone - Android Data Recovery (Wondershare now calls it Dr.Fone - Data Recovery (Android)) works from three sources: the phone's storage over USB, a Google Drive backup, and "supported broken phones", meaning phones whose screen is dead but which still connect. It covers photos, videos, messages, contacts, call history and documents, WhatsApp and WhatsApp Business data, and saved WhatsApp "View Once" media. Wondershare says it supports 6,000+ Android devices.
What sets Dr.Fone apart is how candid its product page has become. It tells you to check Trash, Google Photos and Google Drive first, warns against "unnecessary rooting" before recovery, and admits that deleted items in internal storage may require root on some devices. That's exactly the advice in this article, from the vendor itself.
The downsides: Dr.Fone's guarantee is only 7 days, the full program needs 7 GB of disk space, and the Windows download is a small web installer that fetches the rest. Wondershare's Trustpilot page rates the Dr.Fone site 4.3 out of 5 from 5,103 reviews, but most recent Android reviews there are about its screen-unlock tools, not recovery.
What we like
- WhatsApp and WhatsApp Business, including Google Drive backups
- Broken-screen phones that still connect
- Windows and Mac, one perpetual option at $49.95
- Honest vendor FAQ about root and overwritten data
Watch out for
- Only a 7-day money-back guarantee
- Monthly and annual plans renew automatically
- 7 GB of free disk space needed
- Deleted internal-storage items may need root
What users say
From the testimonials on Wondershare's product page:
"I deleted a bunch of files to free up space on my phone and immediately regretted it. Dr.Fone recovered most of what I needed. The scan wasn't super fast, but the results were solid." — Michael J.
"I didn't want to root my phone just to recover files, too risky. A friend suggested Dr.Fone because it works without root, and it really was easy." — Jessica H.
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Tenorshare Android Data Recovery (UltData for Android)
Tenorshare Android Data Recovery · Price: $49.95 lifetime, $39.95 a year or $35.95 a month on Tenorshare's store, 1 PC and 5 mobile devices · Runs on: Windows 11 to XP (Mac version separate) · Android: 5 to 16 · Version: 6.8.32 · Best for: pulling WhatsApp chats out of a Google Drive backup without restoring the whole phone.
Tenorshare Android Data Recovery is sold today as Tenorshare UltData for Android. Its start screen offers five modes: Android Data Recovery, WhatsApp Data Recovery, WhatsApp Business Data Recovery, Google Drive Data Recovery (which includes WhatsApp backups) and WeChat Data Recovery. Tenorshare lists Android 5 to 16 for phone, WhatsApp and Google Drive recovery, on Samsung, Xiaomi, Redmi, Vivo, OPPO, Realme and Huawei phones. WeChat recovery is narrower: Xiaomi (China) and Huawei phones on Android 12 or earlier.
The Google Drive WhatsApp mode is its strongest card. If WhatsApp's own restore would overwrite newer chats on your current phone, UltData can download the backup to your PC and let you read and export it instead. Tenorshare's FAQ is also clear that a factory-reset phone can only be recovered from a backup.
Two cautions. The installer is large (175 MB). And Trustpilot shows no rating for Tenorshare at all: its page says the company's rating "is unavailable due to a breach of our guidelines," which leaves the 4.9 out of 5 from 167 reviews on Tenorshare's own review page as the only score, and that one is hosted by the vendor.
UltData for Android's start screen: Android Data Recovery, WhatsApp Data Recovery, WhatsApp Business Data Recovery, Google Drive Data Recovery and WeChat Data Recovery.
What we like
- Reads WhatsApp backups from Google Drive on a PC
- WhatsApp Business supported
- $49.95 lifetime, 5 devices, 30-day guarantee
- Plain FAQ about factory resets
Watch out for
- Trustpilot has withdrawn Tenorshare's rating for a guidelines breach
- Monthly and yearly licenses renew automatically
- Windows and Mac licenses aren't interchangeable
- WeChat recovery limited to older Xiaomi and Huawei phones
What users say
From the 167 reviews on Tenorshare's own review page (4.9 out of 5):
"I lost some important WhatsApp conversations after changing my Android phone. I didn't have a backup and didn't want to root my device. UltData for Android helped me recover some of my deleted WhatsApp messages and media files." — Deanna Boggess, August 2026
"I deleted some photos by mistake and was honestly pretty stressed about it. UltData found several of them and let me recover only the ones I needed." — Amanda Kraemer, October 2026
Download UltData for Android Free Trial
Android support and refund windows compared
Newest Android version in each vendor's specs
Aiseesoft FoneLab - Android Data RecoveryAndroid 17
Dr.Fone - Android Data RecoveryAndroid 16
Tenorshare UltData for AndroidAndroid 16
AnyMP4 Android Data Recovery for MacAndroid 8.0
From each vendor's tech specs, checked on November 5, 2026. Listed support means the phone connects; it doesn't mean deleted files can be recovered on that version.
Money-back guarantee (days)
Aiseesoft FoneLab - Android Data Recovery30
Tenorshare UltData for Android30
AnyMP4 Android Data Recovery for Mac (quality problems only)30
Dr.Fone - Android Data Recovery7
From the vendors' buy pages on November 5, 2026. None of these refunds cover "it didn't find my files" if the free preview already showed you that, so let the trial decide.
Which should you choose?
| Your situation |
Pick |
Why |
| Deleted photos, Google Photos was on |
Google Photos Trash |
Free, and kept for up to 60 days |
| Windows PC, need messages, contacts or call logs from a Google backup without resetting the phone |
Aiseesoft FoneLab - Android Data Recovery |
Item-by-item Google Drive recovery, $49.96 once for 6 devices, Android 17 listed |
| WhatsApp chats in a Google Drive backup |
Tenorshare UltData for Android |
Reads WhatsApp backups on the PC instead of overwriting the phone |
| Broken screen, phone still powers on |
Dr.Fone - Android Data Recovery |
Has a dedicated broken-phone mode for supported models |
| Photos deleted from a microSD card |
Card reader plus a Windows recovery tool |
Reads the card's raw sectors, which a phone connection can't |
| Mac, Android 8.0 or older phone |
AnyMP4 Android Data Recovery for Mac |
Native Mac app within its listed Android range; turn off renewal after |
| Phone was factory reset, no backup |
Don't buy anything |
The encryption keys are destroyed; no software can bring the data back |
Who should skip each one
- Skip Aiseesoft FoneLab - Android Data Recovery if you only use a Mac (this license is Windows only) or if your main loss is a WhatsApp backup in Google Drive.
- Skip AnyMP4 Android Data Recovery for Mac if your phone runs a recent Android version and the trial preview doesn't show your deleted items, or if you won't remember to cancel a yearly renewal.
- Skip Dr.Fone - Android Data Recovery if you want time to test after buying: 7 days is the shortest refund window here.
- Skip Tenorshare UltData for Android if you weigh third-party review sites heavily: Trustpilot shows no rating for the company.
What commonly goes wrong
- Buying before checking the preview. Every tool here lets you scan and preview free. If the preview shows only existing items (Dr.Fone's "deleted (0)" filter, AnyMP4's "Only display the deleted item(s)" switch), the paid version won't find more.
- Keeping the phone busy. Each new photo, app update and download can overwrite deleted data. Put the phone in airplane mode until you've scanned it.
- Rooting or resetting "to help the scan". Both wipe the data you're trying to save.
- Restoring a backup over newer data. Restoring a Google One or WhatsApp backup on the phone replaces what's there. Pull single items with a desktop tool if you need both.
- Forgetting the renewal. Monthly and yearly plans from all four vendors renew automatically; a one-time recovery job rarely needs one.
FAQs
Can deleted photos be recovered from Android internal storage without root?
Usually not, on Android 10 or later. Aiseesoft FoneLab - Android Data Recovery and the other tools here find photos that still exist somewhere on the phone, such as copies in app folders, but internal storage is encrypted per file and cleared by TRIM, and even Dr.Fone's FAQ says deleted internal-storage items may need root. Check Google Photos Trash and the Gallery recycle bin first.
Can Android data be recovered after a factory reset?
Only from a backup. A factory reset on an encrypted Android phone destroys the keys, and Tenorshare's own FAQ says wiped data "cannot be restored" except from backups you already have. Tools like Aiseesoft FoneLab - Android Data Recovery can still read a Google Drive backup item by item.
Is there free Android data recovery software that actually works?
The free parts that work are Google's: Google Photos Trash, Files by Google's trash, contacts.google.com's Undo changes and Google One backup. Aiseesoft FoneLab, Dr.Fone and UltData for Android scan and preview free, but saving the results needs a license.
How do I recover deleted files from an Android SD card?
Take the card out and scan it in a card reader with a Windows recovery program such as Stellar Data Recovery Professional. That works when the card was set up as portable storage. A card formatted as internal storage is encrypted to its phone and can't be read on a PC.
Can I recover deleted WhatsApp messages on Android?
Yes, from a backup. Tenorshare UltData for Android and Dr.Fone can open a WhatsApp backup from Google Drive on your computer, so you can read and export old chats without restoring over the ones on your phone. Messages deleted after the last backup, with no backup, are rarely recoverable on a modern phone.
Does Aiseesoft FoneLab Android Data Recovery work with Android 16 and 17?
Aiseesoft FoneLab - Android Data Recovery lists Android 4.0 and later over USB and 5.0 and later wirelessly, with Android 17 included. That means it connects and reads the phone; on those versions, expect existing data and Google Drive backups rather than undeleted files.
Is AnyMP4 Android Data Recovery for Mac a lifetime license?
No. AnyMP4 Android Data Recovery for Mac is labeled "Lifetime License," but the order renews every 12 months at $62.45. Turn off automatic renewal after buying if you need it once.
Are Aiseesoft and AnyMP4 different products?
Aiseesoft FoneLab - Android Data Recovery and AnyMP4 Android Data Recovery come from the same family of developers and use the same FoneGo helper app and workflow. Choose by your computer: Aiseesoft's license here is for Windows, AnyMP4's for Mac.
Conclusion
Android data recovery on a modern phone is mostly about backups and what still exists, not undeleting. Check Google Photos, the recycle bins and your Google backup first. If you need a desktop tool on Windows, Aiseesoft FoneLab - Android Data Recovery is the one we'd buy: $49.96 once for six devices, current Android support and item-by-item Google Drive recovery. For WhatsApp backups, Tenorshare UltData for Android is the better fit; for a broken screen, Dr.Fone. And on a phone that was factory reset with no backup, save your money.
Run the free scan, and buy only if the preview shows the files you need.
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