How to Restore .QVD Files from Formatted External Drives: Complete Guide

Have files been deleted due to a user’s error or software error? Have you formatted a disk by accident and need to know how to recover the files? Read our .QVD file recovery guide for Windows, MacOS, Android and IOS in 2025.

How to Restore .QVD Files from Formatted External Drives: Complete Guide
Data Recovery Tool

What is a .QVD file?

Database file used by QlikView, a business intelligence tool; saves an uncompressed "RAM image" representation of a QlikView table as it was stored in memory when open in QlikView; allows the database to be opened and loaded into memory quickly.

What Are Common Causes of ".QVD" Files Lost or Failure?

There are several common causes of ".QVD" files lost or failure:

  1. Accidental deletion: Users may accidentally delete ".QVD" files while cleaning up their computer or storage devices.
  2. Hardware failure: Hard drive failure, power surges, or other hardware issues can lead to the loss or corruption of ".QVD" files.
  3. Software issues: Errors or bugs in the software used to create or manage ".QVD" files can result in their loss or failure.
  4. Virus or malware attack: Malicious software can infect and corrupt ".QVD" files, making them inaccessible or unusable.
  5. Operating system issues: Problems with the operating system, such as crashes or system errors, can cause ".QVD" files to be lost or become corrupted.
  6. File system errors: Issues with the file system, such as disk errors or file system corruption, can result in the loss or failure of ".QVD" files.
  7. Human error: Users may accidentally overwrite or modify ".QVD" files, leading to their loss or failure.
  8. Network issues: Problems with network connections or file transfers can cause ".QVD" files to be lost or become corrupted.
  9. Software updates or upgrades: Incompatibility issues or errors during software updates or upgrades can result in the loss or failure of ".QVD" files.
  10. Insufficient storage space: If there is not enough storage space available, ".QVD" files may be lost or fail to save properly.

How to recover lost ".QVD" files?

Sometimes while working with a computer, laptop or other stationary or mobile devices, you may encounter various bugs, freezes, hardware or software failures, even in spite of regular updates and junk cleaning. As a result, an important ".QVD" file may be deleted.

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🧺 How to Recover Files and Folders After Sending Them to the Recycle Bin and Deleting? (Windows 11)

🧺 How to Recover Files and Folders After Sending Them to the Recycle Bin and Deleting? (Windows 11)

By no means should you think that the only way to recover a ".QVD" file is always to create it once more.

Use programs for recovering ".QVD" files if a file was lost after accidental or deliberate deleting, formatting the memory card or the internal storage, cleaning the storage device, after a virus attack or a system failure.

Programs to recover ".QVD" files

Looking for a way to get files back? In cases when files were deleted and they cannot be restored by using standard operating system tools, use Hetman Partition Recovery.

Partition Recovery™ 5.0
The tool recovers data from any devices, regardless of the cause of data loss.
Download

Follow the directions below:

  1. Download Hetman Partition Recovery, install and start the program.

  2. The program will automatically scan the computer and display all hard disks and removable drives connected to it, as well as physical and local disks.

    File Recovery Software

  3. Double-click on the disk from which you need to recover ".QVD" files, and select analysis type.

    Hetman Partition Recovery - Analysis Type

  4. When the scanning is over, you will be shown the files for recovery.

    Hetman Partition Recovery - Files that Can be Restored

  5. To find a file you need, use the program’s interface to open the folder it was deleted from, or go to the folder "Content-Aware Analysis" and select the required file type.

    Hetman Partition Recovery - Deep Scan

  6. Select the files you have been looking for and click "Recovery".

    File Recovery Software - Files List for Recovery

  7. Choose one of the methods for saving the files and recover them.

    Saving recovered files in Hetman Partition Recovery

How to open file with ".QVD" extension?

Looking for how to open a stereo qlikView Data File image file file?

Programs that open ".QVD" files

Windows
QlikTech International QlikView QlikTech International QlikView

Additional Information

  • File type: QlikView Data File

  • File extension: .QVD

  • Developer: QlikTech International

  • Category: Database Files

  • Format: Binary

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Comments (1)

  • Hetman Software: Data Recovery
    Hetman Software: Data Recovery 18.12.2019 15:56 #
    Leave a comment if you have any questions about Recovering lost .QVD files after deleting, cleaning or formatting!
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Vladimir Artiukh

Author: Vladimir Artiukh, Technical Writer

Vladimir Artiukh is a technical writer for Hetman Software, as well as the voice and face of their English-speaking YouTube channel, Hetman Software: Data Recovery for Windows. He handles tutorials, how-tos, and detailed reviews on how the company’s tools work with all kinds of data storage devices.

Oleg Afonin

Editor: Oleg Afonin, Technical Writer

Oleg Afonin is an expert in mobile forensics, data recovery and computer systems. He often attends large data security conferences, and writes several blogs for such resources as xaker.ru, Elcomsoft and Habr. In addition to his online activities, Oleg’s articles are also published in professional magazines. Also, Oleg Afonin is the co-author of a well-known book, Mobile Forensics - Advanced Investigative Strategies.

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Questions and answers

  • What is a .QVD file and what is its purpose in data management?

    A .QVD file, also known as a QlikView Data file, is a proprietary file format used by the QlikView business intelligence software. It serves as an optimized and compressed storage format for data used within QlikView applications.

    The purpose of a .QVD file in data management is to efficiently store and manage data for faster retrieval and analysis. It acts as a data repository that holds pre-processed and transformed data, extracted from various data sources. These files can be generated from different data formats like databases, spreadsheets, or other QlikView applications.

    .QVD files offer several benefits in data management:

    1. Performance: The format is designed to optimize data loading and retrieval speed. It stores data in a columnar structure, enabling faster aggregation, filtering, and analysis.
    2. Data compression: .QVD files use compression techniques to reduce file size, resulting in efficient storage and reduced disk space requirements.
    3. Incremental loading: QlikView allows incremental loading, where only the modified or new data is appended to the existing .QVD file. This feature simplifies data updates and enhances performance.
    4. Data integration: .QVD files act as an intermediary layer between different data sources and QlikView applications. They enable data integration, transformation, and consolidation from multiple sources into a unified format.
    5. Data security: .QVD files can be encrypted and password-protected, ensuring data security and access control.

    Overall, .QVD files play a crucial role in data management within the QlikView ecosystem, providing a scalable and efficient solution for storing and processing data for analytical purposes.

  • How can I open a .QVD file and what software or tools are required?

    To open a .QVD (QlikView Data) file, you will need QlikView software. QlikView is a business intelligence and data visualization tool developed by Qlik. Here are the steps to open a .QVD file:

    1. Install QlikView: Download and install QlikView Desktop from the Qlik website. You may need to purchase a license or obtain a trial version.
    2. Launch QlikView: Once installed, launch the QlikView Desktop application.
    3. Open the .QVD file: In QlikView, go to "File" and select "Open." Browse for the .QVD file you want to open and select it.
    4. Load the data: After opening the .QVD file, you will need to load the data into QlikView to work with it. You can do this by creating a new QlikView document or adding the .QVD file to an existing document.

    QlikView provides a powerful set of tools and features to analyze and visualize data stored in .QVD files. It allows you to create interactive dashboards, perform data transformations, and generate various types of visualizations.

    Note that .QVD files are proprietary to QlikView, and you will need QlikView software to open and work with them. Other software tools may not be compatible with .QVD files.

  • Are there any specific considerations or limitations when working with .QVD files, such as compatibility issues or potential data loss risks?

    When working with .QVD (QlikView Data) files, there are a few considerations and limitations to keep in mind:

    1. Compatibility: .QVD files are specific to the QlikView and Qlik Sense data visualization platforms. They cannot be directly opened or used by other software applications. However, you can export data from .QVD files to other formats like CSV or Excel for wider compatibility.
    2. Data Structure: .QVD files store structured data, including tables and fields. While they can handle a wide range of data types, they may not be suitable for unstructured or semi-structured data like text documents or multimedia files.
    3. Data Loss Risks: When working with .QVD files, there is a risk of data loss if the files are not handled properly. If a .QVD file is deleted, corrupted, or modified incorrectly, it can result in the loss of data. It is recommended to have proper backup and version control mechanisms in place to mitigate this risk.
    4. Data Transformation: .QVD files are primarily used for data storage and retrieval within the QlikView or Qlik Sense environment. If you need to perform complex data transformations or calculations, it is often more efficient to load the data from .QVD files into the memory of the QlikView or Qlik Sense application and work with it using the platform's scripting and expression capabilities.
    5. File Size and Performance: .QVD files can handle large volumes of data, but extremely large .QVD files may impact performance when loading or querying data. It is important to optimize the file size and structure by applying appropriate data reduction techniques like filtering, aggregation, or compression.
    6. Version Compatibility: .QVD files created in newer versions of QlikView or Qlik Sense may not be compatible with older versions. It is advisable to ensure compatibility between the version of the software used to create the .QVD files and the version used to access or load them.

    Overall, .QVD files are a powerful and efficient way to store and retrieve data within the QlikView and Qlik Sense platforms. However, it is important to consider these limitations and take necessary precautions to ensure data integrity and compatibility.
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