Features – TestDisk Partition & Data Recovery

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Partition Table Repair

TestDisk can fix corrupted partition tables and recover deleted partitions. When a partition table is damaged by software error, a virus, or accidental deletion, the operating system may no longer see your partitions. TestDisk analyzes the disk, locates partition boundaries, and can write a corrected partition table so that existing data becomes visible again.

Partition table recovery is one of TestDisk’s primary design goals. The process is menu-driven: select the disk, confirm the partition table type (e.g. Intel, GPT, Mac), run Quick Search and optionally Deeper Search, then choose to write the corrected table. See Guides: how to analyze for lost partitions.

TestDisk partition table analysis — Partition table analysis and repair

Boot Sector Repair and Rebuild

[FAT]

FAT (FAT12 / FAT16 / FAT32)

TestDisk can rebuild the boot sector for FAT12, FAT16, and FAT32 volumes, and recover the FAT32 boot sector from its backup when available. It can also fix FAT tables (file allocation tables) when they are damaged. These capabilities help restore access to USB drives, memory cards, and older Windows volumes.

[NTFS]

NTFS

TestDisk can rebuild the NTFS boot sector and recover the NTFS boot sector from its backup. It can also fix the MFT (Master File Table) using the MFT mirror. These operations are essential when Windows reports the volume as RAW or when the boot sector or MFT is corrupted but the rest of the file system is intact.

ext2 / ext3 / ext4 Recovery Support

TestDisk can locate ext2, ext3, and ext4 backup superblocks. On Linux file systems, the superblock holds critical metadata; if the primary superblock is damaged, the system may not mount the partition. TestDisk can find backup superblocks and help restore mountability. This is useful for Linux users and recovery scenarios involving ext-based volumes.

How to use TestDisk – Guides →

File Undelete and Copy from Deleted Partitions

TestDisk can undelete files from FAT, exFAT, NTFS, and ext2 file systems when the file system metadata is still present (e.g. recently deleted files). It can also copy files from deleted FAT, exFAT, NTFS, and ext2/ext3/ext4 partitions after you have located them via partition search. Access is through the Advanced menu: select the partition, then Undelete or browse and copy files to a safe destination.

Important: TestDisk does not include signature-based file carving. If the file system is gone (e.g. after a full format) or file references are destroyed, it cannot find files by type (e.g. photos by JPEG signature). For that workflow, use PhotoRec from the same project (CGSecurity).

TestDisk Advanced menu and undelete — Advanced menu – undelete and file copy

Multi-Platform Availability

TestDisk runs on Windows (including Windows Server), Linux, macOS, FreeBSD, NetBSD, OpenBSD, SunOS, and DOS (real or in a Windows 9x DOS box). Binaries and source are available from the official project. The same capabilities are available across platforms, so technicians and users can use one tool regardless of the host OS.

Download by platform →

Open-Source Transparency

TestDisk is open-source software (GNU GPL v2+). The source code is available for review, audit, and modification. There are no hidden features or telemetry. This transparency supports trust: security researchers and users can verify that the tool does what it claims and does not introduce malware or data exfiltration.

Trust & Security →

Best Fit for TestDisk

TestDisk is ideal for partition repair and recovery: fixing partition tables, recovering deleted partitions, repairing boot sectors and MFT-related issues, and restoring access to logically damaged file systems. It is better suited to technical recovery workflows than to users who expect a flashy, point-and-click consumer UI. It uses a command-line interface; with the official documentation and our Guides, both experts and careful beginners can achieve solid results for partition and file-system-level recovery.

For signature-based file recovery (e.g. photos and documents after formatting), use PhotoRec alongside or instead of TestDisk.

TestDisk Features