TestDisk is a free, open-source utility from CGSecurity built to recover lost partitions and repair disks that have stopped booting because of damaged partition tables or boot sectors. It works across FAT, NTFS, exFAT, ext2/3/4, and other file systems, and is widely used by both home users fixing a corrupted drive and professionals doing data recovery work.
Why TestDisk Is a Standard Tool for Data Recovery Professionals
Many consumer recovery tools focus only on restoring individual deleted files, but TestDisk works at the partition and boot-sector level, which is what actually fixes a drive that Windows can no longer see at all. Its text-based menu walks through partition table repair step by step, and because it is open source and has been maintained for decades, it is often the first tool data-recovery technicians reach for before resorting to paid software.
TestDisk Features
- Partition Table Recovery — rebuilds a lost or damaged partition table so a drive becomes readable again.
- Boot Sector Repair — fixes damaged boot sectors that prevent a drive from starting.
- Undelete for FAT, NTFS, exFAT, ext2/3/4 — recovers deleted files across major file systems.
- Deep Scan Mode — searches beyond the partition table for filesystem structures a quick scan misses.
- Cross-Platform — runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux, including from a bootable rescue disk.
- Non-Destructive by Default — analysis steps do not write to the disk until you confirm a repair.
- Command-Line and Menu-Driven Interface — a text menu guides less technical users through recovery steps.
- Bundled with PhotoRec — pairs with CGSecurity's companion tool for recovering individual lost files.
How to Install TestDisk on Windows
- Open the official download page using the button on this page, which links to cgsecurity.org.
- Download the TestDisk & PhotoRec package for your operating system.
- Extract the ZIP file to a folder — no installer is required.
- Run testdisk_win.exe (or the equivalent for your OS) as an administrator.
- Select the affected disk from the menu and follow the guided recovery steps carefully.
Is TestDisk really free?
Open Source. TestDisk is free, open-source software with no paid tier, ads, or account requirement.
How to download TestDisk safely
Use the request button on this page and we will email you the current link for www.cgsecurity.org — the publisher's own website — so you receive the authentic build. We do not host, mirror, patch or repackage this software in any way.
Avoid third-party "download manager" sites offering TestDisk. They commonly wrap the genuine installer in their own bundler, which is how adware and browser hijackers get onto a machine that the user believed was clean.
Alternatives to TestDisk
Other free backup & recovery software worth comparing before you decide:
Recuva
A free file recovery tool for accidentally deleted files.
Frequently asked questions
Is TestDisk safe to use on a failing drive?
TestDisk's analysis steps are read-only until you explicitly confirm a write, but for physically failing drives it is still safest to image the disk first before attempting repairs.
Does TestDisk recover individual deleted files?
TestDisk focuses on partitions and boot sectors; for recovering individual lost files it is typically paired with its companion tool, PhotoRec.
What file systems does TestDisk support?
TestDisk works with FAT, NTFS, exFAT, ext2/3/4, HFS+, and several other common file systems.
Is TestDisk free?
Yes, TestDisk is completely free and open source, distributed by CGSecurity.
Can TestDisk fix a drive that will not boot?
Yes, one of its core uses is rebuilding damaged partition tables and boot sectors so a drive becomes bootable again.
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People also search for
The terms visitors use to find this page. Each one lands here because it describes the same program.
Searches from India
TestDisk is identical worldwide — these are search phrasings, not different downloads. Every one of them gets the same official build from www.cgsecurity.org.
