Recovering lost data such as text messages and contacts from an Android device is indeed very troublesome. Thus, it really pays to have a backup copy of your important data including your photos, videos and local music files. The thing is what if it’s already too late? What if your backup copy fails to work too? Isn’t there anything else that you can do? Well, FonePaw Android Data Recovery might be able to help you.

What Is It and What Does It Do

Main Functionality

FonePaw Android Data Recovery is a versatile Android data recovery software for Windows (it has a Mac version too).  What you can do with it is recovering lost data from your Android phone or tablet such as your contacts, call logs, messages, photos, documents, audio files, videos, etc. It supports a wide range of Android devices especially those from notable brands like Samsung, HTC, Motorola, LG, Huawei and Sony. It also claims to be fully compatible with more smartphone and tablet devices running on Android 4.4 and up.

FonePaw Android Data Recovery is a paid software that offers 15-day free trial for both Windows and Mac users.

Pros

• Easy installation
• Neat, modern and easy-to-use user interface
• Features a 4-step data recovery process – Connect, Choose, Scan and Recover
• Supports recovery of various file types including deleted contacts, text messages, call logs, photos, audios, videos, documents, etc.
• Supports a wide range of Android mobile smartphones and tablets including those from Samsung, HTC, Motorola, LG, Huawei and Sony. Also claims to be fully compatible with more devices running on Android 4.4 and up.
• Provides detailed information of the scanned data – for example, if you scan for deleted contacts, it will display the contact’s name, phone number, email, etc.
• Supports preview for deleted items – users can also recover selected files by type or category
• Can recover deleted contacts and messages in CSV/HTML format
• Unlimited data recovery – there is no limit to the number or size of files that you can recover
• You can customize the location where you want to save your recovered files
• Provides adequate articles and help guides, most of which can be found online via the FonePaw site
• Also supports Mac OS X

Cons

• Nothing worthy of mention

Discussion

FonePaw Android Data Recovery is designed to help users restore contacts from Android phones. Not just contacts but also call logs, messages, photos, videos, audio files and even documents. It supports Windows and also has a version for Mac. It’s easy to install and flaunts a user interface that’s neat, modern-looking and easy to use.

As a matter of fact, this data recovery tool only requires a 4-step process (Connect, Select, Scan and Recover) for you to be able to recover your deleted contacts, SMS, call history, photos, audio files, videos, documents, etc.

First off, you enable USB debugging on your device and then you connect it to your PC using a USB cable. Once connected, FonePaw Android Data Recovery will automatically detect your device. Once detected, it lets you choose deleted file types you wish to scan, view and recover. You can choose to just scan for deleted contacts and messages. You can choose to just scan for deleted pictures and documents. It’s all up to you.

After selecting the files that you want to scan, it will take a little time to analyze your Android and scan data you want to preview. It really depends on the type of deleted files that you want to recover.

After the scanning process, the data recovery tool will show the list of deleted files. I tried using it for recovering deleted contacts so it showed me their respective names, phone and email addresses. Since I only have a few people listed on my contacts list, it only took me five minutes (average) to view and recover my deleted contacts.

To recover the deleted data, just click “Recover” and then you can choose to import your data in VCF format. This is for contacts. For messages and call logs, just import in CSV. And for photos, videos and documents, you can recover them in their original formats.

Now, here comes the important part. FonePaw Android Data Recovery may support different types of Android devices but if you happen to have a device or phone model that it does not support, it will suggest you to root your device to improve the success rate of recognition. This requires explicit user consent but is not really applicable if the said tool has successfully recognized your tablet or smartphone. In such cases where you’ll be suggested to root your device, you’ll have to “Allow” it first and then it automatically installs the necessary rooting tools for you such as Superuser. If you decline and the data recovery tool fails to recognize your device, you won’t be able to proceed to the scanning and deleted data recovery process. Of course, if you choose to root, you’ll have to root at your own risk. As a fair warning, rooting poses the risk of your phone or tablet getting bricked.

Nonetheless, the said data recovery tool does well on supported devices like Samsung Galaxy Note Edge, Samsung Galaxy S6, Samsung Galaxy Note 4, HTC One M9, HTC Desire EYE, Moto X, Moto G, Huawei Ascend P7, LG G3, Sony Xperia Z Ultra XL39h, etc. On the other hand, it failed to recognize my old Samsung device running on Android 2.3.

Functionality wise, FonePaw Android Data Recovery serves as a useful data recovery tool for users whose devices are openly supported. It’s also good for users whose devices may not be openly supported but are well-aware and knowledgeable of how they can root their device. If you’re a total newbie whose sole desire is to recover your deleted contacts, better ask for assistance. This tool has already proven itself to be really useful and has been tested on many Android devices, but if you’re unsure of what you’re doing, don’t risk doing it especially if it already suggests that you root your smartphone or tablet.

Conclusion and Download Link

For a paid data recovery software that supports both Windows and Mac, FonePaw Android Data Recovery is definitely worth checking out. If you’re still skeptical as to whether it can really recover deleted contacts, text messages, call logs, photos, audios, videos, documents, etc., I would suggest you get its 15-day free trial version first and see for yourself. The trial version lacks the ability to recover data though but you can use it to scan and view the deleted contacts, SMS, documents and media files that you wish to recover.

Price: Free Trial (15 days), Paid – starts at $49.95

Version reviewed: 1.2.0

Supported OS: Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, 8.1 and 10 (32 bit or 64 bit) (also supports Mac OS X)

Download size: 35.5MB

VirusTotal malware scan results: 0/50

Is it portable? No

FonePaw Android Data Recovery homepage