X-Ways Imager review
A focused Windows tool for advanced disk acquisition, cloning, RAID, and evidence imaging.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
X-Ways Imager is a portable Windows forensic disk-imaging tool for specialists who need to acquire, clone, restore, and document physical disks or individual partitions. It supports evidence collection from physical disks, SSDs, partitions, raw images, E01 images, and disk-based RAID systems. The product is intentionally focused: it provides core imaging and related evidence-handling functions rather than a broader case-management environment. Mobile forensics and case collaboration are not part of its stated scope.
Its strongest area is the depth of disk acquisition options. X-Ways Imager can create raw and E01 evidence files, convert between image formats, exclude free drive space, and restore images. It also supports reverse imaging for damaged disks, HPA and DCO detection and acquisition, disk-based RAID reconstruction and imaging, hash computation, and technical-details reports. Portable operation allows the software to run directly from removable media without installation. F-Response is the listed integration, and remote RAM dumping is associated with using F-Response.
The published plans include a non-perpetual license with immediate use with BYOD and a perpetual license for long-term use, with BYOD supported. The published starting price is 13,800 JPY. X-Ways Imager should suit forensic practitioners whose work centers on sophisticated disk imaging, damaged media, RAID, and evidence-format handling. Teams seeking a wider platform for case collaboration, mobile investigations, or broader forensic analysis should consider a product with those capabilities instead. Its Windows-only availability also makes platform fit an important buying decision.
X-Ways Imager pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Creates raw and E01 evidence files and converts between image formats
- Handles HPA/DCO areas, damaged disks, and disk-based RAID systems
- Portable operation from removable media without installation
- Where it doesn't
- Windows-only platform support
- Focused on disk imaging rather than full case-based forensic analysis
- Paid product with no free plan
X-Ways Imager fact sheet, pricing and score →
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