ARW files, the RAW image format used by Sony cameras, are essential for preserving high-quality photos. In this guide, you will understand the common causes of ARW file loss and learn practical ARW file recovery solutions, ensuring valuable Sony RAW photos remain safe and accessible.
ARW files are Sony’s RAW image format, used by Sony digital cameras to store uncompressed and unprocessed photo data. Unlike JPEG or PNG, which are compressed and optimized for sharing, ARW files retain all the information captured by the camera’s sensor, such as color, exposure, and detail without any loss.
Different camera manufacturers use their own RAW formats: for example, Fuji saves images in RAF format, Canon uses CRW, CR2, or CR3, while Sony relies on ARW. Despite the differences in file extensions, the purpose of these formats is the same: to preserve the highest quality data for professional editing. With ARW, you can adjust shadows, highlights, white balance, and even recover details from overexposed or underexposed shots with much greater accuracy compared to standard image formats.
However, because ARW files are large and contain RAW data, they are more vulnerable to corruption, accidental deletion, or storage errors. Once lost, recovering ARW files can be more challenging than restoring typical image formats.
In most cases, ARW file loss stems from a few common causes. Take a look to see if any of these match the reason for your lost ARW files.
Before jumping into specialized ARW file recovery tools, you can give some manual methods a try to get your lost ARW files back. These steps are quick and cost nothing. If they don’t work, you can turn to professional software.
1. Check the Recycle Bin/Trash
If you deleted ARW files (after transferring them from camera to PC) on computer, check the Recycle Bin (Windows) or Trash (Mac) and click "Restore" to send them back to their original location if they’re there.
2. Check for the Backups
If you have used any backup tools, such as Windows built-in backup tools, cloud backup tools, or an external hard drive to back up these ARW files, you can also check the backup and restore the files from backups.
3. Stop Writing New Data
If the files are not in the Recycle Bin and no backups are available, stop writing any new data immediately to avoid overwriting the lost data.
When ARW files are permanently deleted, professional data recovery software becomes essential. This section will introduce four of the most effective ARW file recovery tools for 2026, and you can choose the one that best suits you based on their respective features. Let's explore them one by one.
Sony provides its own Sony Memory Card File Rescue tool, designed specifically for recovering RAW images and videos from Sony SD cards. It’s a completely free Sony ARW recovery tool for both Windows and Mac, with excellent compatibility for Sony devices. It supports the recovery of photos and videos files captured by digital cameras as much as possible. For RAW, it supports Sony, Nikon, and Canon RAW formats, including Canon CR3.
Step 1. Download and install Sony Memory Card File Rescue on your computer from Sony official channel.
Step 2. Connect the Sony SD card to your computer.
Step 3. Select the SD card to scan for lost files and click "Next".
Step 4. Check the files you want to recover and you can preview the photos in the right pane.
Step 5. Choose a safe location to save the recovered photos and click "Save".
Recovered files cannot retain their original filenames or directory structure.
Windows File Recovery is a command-line data recovery tool provided by Microsoft. This is also a completely free ARW file recovery tool with no brand restrictions on storage devices. It can scan all the local storage drives like USB drives, SD card, HDDs and recover permanently deleted files from these devices.
Step 1. Download and install Windows File Recovery from Microsoft Store on your computer. Insert the SD card into your computer and note its drive letter.
Step 2. Open Windows File Recovery and run it as administrator.
Step 3. Type the following command "winfr F: E: /regular /n *.arw" and press "Enter". Replace the drive letters "F" and "E" with your actual drive letters.
Wait for the process to complete, press "y" to check the recovered files in the destination folder path.
The ARW Recovery Tool is a relatively old utility provided by Sony. It can only be used to fix ARW file corruption caused by adding star ratings in specific versions of the PlayMemories Home software, when handling files from certain cameras (such as the ILCE-7M3 and ILCE-7RM3). This tool can restore damaged RAW files so they become viewable and editable again.
Step 1. Download the ARW recovery tool and save the downloaded file on your desktop.
Step 2. Open the downloaded ZIP file and double click the ARWRecoveryTool.exe to start the tool.
Step 3. Drag and drop ARW files with ratings to the ARW Recovery Tool app screen. You can recover up to 100 files at a times.
Step 4. When the process is completed, you'll get a message indicating the completion.
Although all the tools above can recover Sony ARW files in specific scenarios, due to its complex structure, you may encounter the issue of ARW files not working after data recovery. This happens because the file is only partially recovered or its internal structure (such as the header or RAW data blocks) has been damaged. Using a reliable data recovery tool can help ensure that ARW files are recovered as completely as possible in the first place, reducing the chances of ending up with files that won’t open.
This is where tools like MyRecover come in. Instead of trying to "Repair" broken files afterward, it focuses on scanning deeper and reconstructing file data more accurately during recovery, which improves the likelihood that recovered ARW photos remain intact and viewable. What's more, MyRecover supports the recovery of over 1000 file types from more than 500 storage devices.
Step 1. Download and install MyRecover on your computer from Microsoft Store. Remove the memory card from Sony camera and connect it to the computer.
Step 2. Launch it and choose the memory card to scan, then click "Scan".
Step 3. Browse through the scan results and choose the files you would like to recover from the recoverable lists, then preview the ARW file in the right panel and click "Recover".
Step 4. Select a safe location to save the recovered files.
Once the process is finished, you can check the recovered ARW files in the destination folder by clicking on the destination folder path or "Browse" button.
Losing RAW photos can be devastating, especially when working with Sony’s ARW files. From checking the Recycle Bin and backups to ARW file recovery tool, there are several options to recover deleted ARW files. For photographers who need a more reliable solution, MyRecover provides a future-proof solution that goes beyond traditional recovery tools.
MyRecover also offers a Technician edition to meet IT admins' and MSPs' needs, allowing you to deploy it on unlimited devices with just one license.
Q1: How to recover RAW files from USB for free?
You can recover RAW files from a USB drive using free data recovery software like MyRecover. First, stop using the USB to avoid overwriting data. Then run a scan with MyRecover that supports RAW formats, preview recoverable files, and restore them to a different location. Free version of MyRecover allows you to recover up to 500 MB of data.
Q2: How to repair ARW files?
Repairing ARW files depends on the type of damage. If the file is partially corrupted, some photo editing tools may open or convert it. However, if key data is missing, full repair may not be possible. In many cases, the best approach is to recover the file again using a reliable recovery tool like MyRecover to ensure it's complete.
Q3: Is it possible to restore permanently deleted files?
Yes, permanently deleted files can often be restored if they haven’t been overwritten. When files are deleted, the system marks the space as available but doesn’t erase the data immediately. Using data recovery software like MyRecover quickly increases the chances of success. Avoid saving new data to the same drive before attempting recovery.
Q4: How can I open an ARW file?
ARW files can be opened using compatible photo software such as Sony’s imaging tools or professional editors like Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop. If the file doesn’t open, it may be corrupted or incomplete. In that case, try re-recovering the file or converting it to another format to check if any data can still be accessed.
Q5: How to convert ARW files without losing quality?
To convert ARW files without losing quality, use professional tools that support RAW processing. Export the file to formats like TIFF or PNG instead of JPEG to preserve image data. Avoid excessive compression and ensure original resolution settings are maintained during conversion to keep maximum detail and color accuracy.
Q6: How to recover a raw drive without formatting?
You can recover data from a RAW drive without formatting by using data recovery software like MyRecover that scans the disk directly. Do not format the drive, as this may overwrite data. Instead, run a deep scan to locate lost files and recover them to another storage device. After recovery, you can safely format the drive if needed.