Windows File Recovery Stuck at 99% or 0%? Fix WINFR Stuck Issues Now

Windows File Recovery Stuck at 99%!

Windows File Recovery is a command-line utility developed by Microsoft to help users recover lost or deleted files from various storage devices. Unlike graphical recovery tools, it operates through the Command Prompt, making it suitable for advanced users who need precise control over the recovery process. The tool supports multiple file systems, including NTFS, FATand exFAT, and can recover data from hard drives, SSDs, USB drives, and memory cards.

Possible Cause of Windows File Recovery Stuck at 99% or 0%

Windows File Recovery getting stuck at 99% or 0% can be frustrating, and several factors may contribute to this issue.

• File System Corruption or Bad Sectors: Damaged file systems or bad blocks on the drive can cause the recovery process to freeze when attempting to read corrupted data.
• Insufficient System Resources (Low RAM/CPU/Disk I/O): Limited memory, high CPU usage, or slow disk access can prevent the tool from completing the scan.Background applications (e.g., antivirus, disk utilities) may interfere with recovery.
• Failing or Physically Damaged Storage Device: A dying HDD/SSD with mechanical issues or degraded NAND cells can cause freezes.Frequent disconnections or unstable USB connections may interrupt recovery.
• Incorrect Command Parameters or Recovery Mode: Using the wrong scan mode (Default/Segment/Signature) for the file system can lead to freezing.Overly broad filters (e.g., *.*) or incorrect paths may cause excessive processing.
• Overwritten or Highly Fragmented Files: If deleted files are partially overwritten or scattered across the disk, recovery may stall.
• Software Conflicts (Antivirus): Security software may lock files or block deep disk access.
• Large or Encrypted Drives: Scanning very large drives (e.g., 4TB+) may take excessively long, appearing stuck.Besides, encrypted drives (BitLocker) are unsupported and may cause failures.

How to Fix “Windows File Recovery Stuck at 99%”?

When Windows File Recovery (Winfr) gets stuck at 99% or 0%, it can be incredibly frustrating, especially when you're trying to recover important files. This comprehensive guide will walk you through all possible solutions, from basic troubleshooting to advanced recovery techniques.

1. Wait Longer (Especially for Large Drives)

The tool may appear frozen but could still be processing, especially on large or slow drives. Wait at least 2–4 hours before assuming it’s stuck.

2. Try Another USB Port/PC

If the Winfr stuck 99% when recovering files from SD card, USB drive or other external drives, you can try a different USB port, cables or even computer.

3. Run CHKDSK to Fix Disk Errors

Corrupted sectors or file system errors can cause freezing. Thus, you can run CHKDSK tool to check the file system and file system metadata of a volume for logical and physical errors.

Step 1. Search for "cmd" in the Windows Start menu.

Step 2. Right-click "Command Prompt" and select "Run as administrator".

Step 3. Type the following command and press Enter:

chkdsk g: /f /r

g:: Replace "g:" with the letter of the drive you want to check (e.g., D:, E:).

/f: This option tells CHKDSK to fix any errors it finds.

/r: This option tells CHKDSK to locate bad sectors and recover readable information.

4. Close Background Apps

When your system has low RAM, high CPU usage, or slow disk I/O that's interfering with file recovery, try these solutions:

Close unnecessary applications via Task Manager (Windows) or Activity Monitor (Mac). Especially close resource-heavy programs like video editors, games, or multiple browser tabs.

Free up disk space by deleting temporary files, clearingbrowser caches, and movinglarge files to external storage if possible.

5. Temporarily Disable Antivirus

If your Windows File Recovery tool freezes near completionlike stuck 99%because of antivirus interference, you can temporarily Disable Antivirus. For example, turn off Windows Defender:

Step 1. Press Win + I → Update & Security → Windows Security → Virus & Threat Protection → Manage Settings.

Step 2. Under the “Real-time Protection”, toggle the "Real-time protection" switch to the "off" position.

6. Use a Different Recovery Mode

IfWindows File Recovery gets stuck at 99%, you can change the recovery mode and use another one.

• Default mode (for recently deleted files on NTFS): Winfr C: D: /regular /n \Users\\Documents\
• Segment mode (for FAT/exFAT or deeper scans): winfr C: D: /segment/n \Projects\*.xlsx /r

• Extensivemode (for severely damaged drives): winfr H: D: \text /extensive

7. Use Alternative Recovery Tools

If "Windows File Recovery (Winfr) stuck at 99%" issue persists after the above solutions,please consideralternative recovery tool to totally bypass this error. We recommend using free MyRecover, a more reliable and user-friendly alternative that bypasses Winfr’s limitations.

🔥🔥Why Choose MyRecover Over Winfr?

✅ No Command Line Needed – Simple GUI (graphical interface) for easy file recovery.

✅ Higher Success Rate – Advanced deep scan for NTFS/FAT32/exFAT drives.

✅ Smart Filtering – Recover files by type, date, or size with precision.

✅Wide Device Support- Recover files from all types of devices like SSD, HDD, USB flash drive, SD card, cameras and more.

✅Handle More Data Loss Scenarios: Recover from deleted or formatted partition, emptied Recycle Bin, system crash, virus attack, etc.

✅ OS Compatibility– Work not only on Windows 11 /10, but also on Windows 8.1/ 8/ 7 and all Servers.

How to Use MyRecover

Step 1: Download and installMyRecover on your Computer. Avoid installing it on the drive from which you are recovering lost files.

Step 2: Double-click the software icon to launch it. Select the target drive and click on “Scan”.

Step 3: For recently deleted files, it will perform a “Quick Scan”by default. If you are trying to recover files from formatted or corrupted drives, it will start a “Deep Scan” instead.

Step 4: After the scanning process is finished, select files and click Click "Recover".

Step 5. Choosea different drive tosave the recovered file, which will avoid overwriting.

If you want to preview files before recovery, please use Professional edition.

In Conclusion

After exploring all potential causes and solutions for Windows File Recovery stuck at 99%, it's clear that this Microsoft tool has significant limitations when dealing withsome complex data loss cases. If you want to get rid of the issue in the future, try MyRecover to recover data on your storage device.

Besides, it also comes with another two advanced editions for different users. If you are trying to recover files from computer that cannot boot up as usual, or planning to use the software on unlimited computers like all devices in one company, switch to Professional or Technician version.