The cyclic prefix-based enhanced data recovery method retains the cyclic prefix (CP) upon reception and routes the CP to a data detection module to enhance the operation of the orthogonal frequency division multiplexed (OFDM) receiver whether operating in the blind, semi-blind, training, or perfectly known channel modes. Processing of the OFDM symbol and the CP is performed in the data detector and obtains data recovery by computing a maximum likelihood estimation based on the CP and the OFDM symbols.