Download Kickass Undelete v1.5.5
Download the original, unedited standalone executable for Windows. Free, open source under GPLv3, and requiring zero installation.
How to Launch & Use the Portable File
Kickass Undelete is a standalone portable application. There is no installer setup wizard or background service installation required.
Save File to External USB
Download KickassUndelete_1.5.5.exe directly onto a USB flash drive or secondary hard drive partition to protect lost data.
Run as Administrator
Right-click the executable file and select “Run as administrator” to give the application direct raw-level access to read drive storage sectors.
Scan and Restore
Select your target drive, press the large Scan button, filter your lost files, and click restore to output recovered data to a safe location.
System Requirements & Version History
Verify system compatibility before running the executable and review the official version release log.
Minimum System Requirements
Release Log & Archive
Official binary maintenance release. Contains core stability improvements for FAT/NTFS partition scanning, file extension filter fixes, and updated metadata.
Earlier releases and full C# source code commits remain archived and publicly accessible on the official SourceForge repository.
Download Troubleshoot & Commercial Alternatives
Common questions when downloading executable utilities and recommended options if your drive type is unsupported.
Download Safety & Security FAQs
Why does Windows Defender / SmartScreen show a warning?
Because Kickass Undelete is an open-source utility without an expensive commercial code-signing certificate, Windows SmartScreen may flag it as an “unrecognized app”. Click “More info” → “Run anyway”. The binary is completely malware-free.
Do I need to extract or unzip any archive files?
No extraction needed. The file KickassUndelete_1.5.5.exe is a ready-to-run standalone executable. Double-click to open it instantly.
Need exFAT, Mac, or RAW Recovery?
If Kickass Undelete cannot scan your drive system or if your device requires raw partition carving, these industry-standard alternatives offer advanced recovery:
Windows SmartScreen & Antivirus Guide
How to resolve common security warnings triggered by unsigned open-source standalone executables on Windows 10 & 11.
Why Warnings Happen
Kickass Undelete is a lightweight open-source tool developed under GNU GPLv3. Commercial digital certificates cost hundreds of dollars annually, which non-profit open-source projects typically do not purchase.
Because the executable lacks a paid commercial EV Code Signing certificate, Windows SmartScreen may automatically mark it as “Unknown Publisher”. This is a heuristic reputation warning, not a virus detection.
Bypass SmartScreen Safely
- When the blue “Windows protected your PC” window pops up, click the underline text link labeled “More info”.
- Confirm the publisher reads “Unknown Publisher” and the app name is “KickassUndelete_1.5.5.exe”.
- Click the “Run anyway” button at the bottom to open the application.
- Optional: Verify the file’s SHA-256 hash hash against our checksum table to ensure zero tampering.
Golden Rules for Data Recovery Success
Maxing out your file recovery success rate requires avoiding destructive disk actions immediately after file deletion.
Never Save Recovered Data to the Same Drive
Restoring files directly back onto the affected partition will overwrite the unallocated sectors containing lost file fragments, destroying any chance of recovering remaining items. Always restore to a secondary drive.
Stop Writing New Files Immediately
When a file is deleted, Windows marks the disk space as “available” without physically erasing data. Browsing the web, saving documents, or downloading installers can overwrite these hidden blocks permanently.
Be Aware of SSD TRIM Constraints
Modern Solid-State Drives (SSDs) utilize the TRIM command to clear deleted memory blocks in the background. Deleted files on internal SATA/NVMe SSDs must be scanned as soon as possible before TRIM zeroes out sectors.
Start Recovering Your Data in Seconds
No installer required. Simply download the lightweight standalone executable to an external USB drive and scan your FAT or NTFS partition.