The main difference between Quick Scan and Deep Scan in data recovery software lies in speed vs. thoroughness:

Quick Scan

Purpose: Fast recovery of recently deleted files.

How it works:

- Scans the file system’s metadata (like MFT in NTFS, FAT table in FAT32/exFAT).

- Looks for entries of deleted files that are still intact and not overwritten.

Speed: Very fast.

Best for:

- Recently deleted files.

- Drives with no corruption or formatting.

- When you want to recover small, specific files quickly.

---

Deep Scan

Purpose: Thorough recovery when Quick Scan can’t find files.

How it works:

- Performs a sector-by-sector scan of the drive.

- Ignores damaged or missing file system structures.

- Uses file signatures (headers/footers) to reconstruct files, even if the directory structure is lost.

Speed: Much slower (can take hours for large drives).

Best for:

- Formatted or severely corrupted drives.

- RAW drives (where the file system is missing).

- Cases where Quick Scan doesn’t return results.

---

Simple analogy:

Quick Scan = Looking at the table of contents of a book.

Deep Scan = Reading every single page to find missing words.

In Stellar Data Recovery for Mac:

- The software always runs Quick Scan first.

- If results are unsatisfactory, it prompts you to run Deep Scan for a more thorough recovery.

FeatureQuick ScanDeep Scan
Scan MethodUses file system records (APFS, HFS+, FAT32, exFAT) to locate deleted files.Performs sector-by-sector scanning of the entire drive.
SpeedFast – completes in minutes (depending on drive size).Slower – can take hours on large drives.
Recovery AccuracyGood for recently deleted files if metadata is intact.Higher accuracy – can recover files even if metadata is lost or drive is corrupted.
Use Cases- Recently deleted files- Healthy drives with no major corruption- Formatted drives- Corrupted or RAW drives- When Quick Scan fails
File Recovery MethodRestores files using directory structure and existing metadata.Uses file signatures (headers/footers) to reconstruct files.
Default Behavior in Stellar MacRuns automatically when you start a scan.Suggested if Quick Scan results are unsatisfactory.