How to Recover Deleted Files in Windows 10/11

Are you worried about permanently losing an important file after being accidentally deleted? If yes, then you landed on the article. In this era of digital technology, even permanently deleted files can be recovered. This article will explore different methods to recover deleted files in Windows 10/11, both with and without software. In addition, it also includes tips on how to maximize the success rate of recovery and how to prevent accidents from happening again.

Table of contents
How Does File Deletion Work?
Is It Possible to Undelete on Windows PC?
How Can I Maximize the Recovery Success Rate?
Tips to Prevent Data Loss on Your PC
Final Thoughts
FAQs

How Does File Deletion Work?

Before you start trying retrieval methods, you should first understand the principle of deleting files on a Windows PC. This will be very useful for determining which method to adopt and will also save you time.

What happens when we permanently delete the file or empty the recycle bin? Firstly, it will disappear from the file explorer, which is only temporary. At this point, the operating system will remove it from the index list and mark the storage space it occupies as blank, but it will still remain in your storage device.

Of course, this processing method does not include when you use the "delete" key or right-click menu to delete it from the built-in volume. This is because the system is just putting the file in the recycle bin instead of actually deleting it.

Is It Possible to Undelete on Windows PC?

When you understand how file deletion works, the answer is "Yes," even if you don't have a backup. However, this is not absolute, and the results will vary depending on the deletion method below.

How Can I Maximize the Recovery Success Rate?

Do you want to reget the accidentally deleted file? For this, please follow the following tips:

  1. If you didn't delete it permanently, check the Recycle Bin immediately. If you deleted a file larger than 6GB, skip it.
  2. Stop using the drive or partition immediately and use the following methods to recover deleted files from Windows 10 or 11.
  3. If you deleted files from an SSD, try disabling TRIM to prevent permanent erasure.

How to Recover Deleted Files in Windows 10/11 With Freeware

No matter how you delete files or accidentally clear the recycle bin, the files themselves are only marked as invisible by the system without completely erasing them. Although we cannot locate the items manually, but using tools can help you get them back by finding their traces and reorganizing them. For this reason, if a free option is available, this is the best. For this purpose, please try the following ones.

Option 1. FileRescuer

This free data recovery tool for PC is not only efficient and easy to use, but it is also capable of repairing corrupted files. Therefore, you can try it first. Here are the steps on how to recover permanently deleted files in Windows 10/11.

Video Guide:

Detailed Text Steps:

  1. Download and install it. By default, FileRescuer displays English, but you can choose the corresponding language based on your region.
  2. After that, select the volume where the deleted files are located and click "Search for lost files." If you have deleted individual file types, you can also click "Filter file types" at the bottom left of the page to uncheck others.
  3. Click the "Deleted Files" folder in the sidebar to find the ones you accidentally deleted. If not, go to the "Other Lost Files" folder.
  4. Once you find your target files, select them and click "Recover." Then, in the dialog, please choose a location to save them.

Option 2. Recuva

It is also a useful option for users who need to undelted files on Windows 11/10 free. It has a built-in wizard-style interface that allows you to complete the process with just a few clicks.

  1. Download it and follow the wizard to complete the installation, then click "Run Recuva" > "Next."
  2. Choose the file type you need to restore and click "Next."
  3. Select the folder or volume where the data was previously saved and click "Next" > "Start."
  4. Select the file you accidentally deleted in the results list and click "Recover."

Option 3. Windows File Recovery

Do you feel unfamiliar with it? It is a recovery tool developed by Microsoft for its own operating system. Although it runs on the command line, you can still refer to the following instructions to retrieve your lost data.

Mode Description:

Mode Extension:

Here an example of commands that you can follow to restore deleted files in Windows 10/11

  1. Go to Microsoft Store, find "Windows File Recovery," and install it on your computer.
  2. Open this app as an administrator, type the following command, then press Enter.
    winfr <Source Drive>: <Destination Drive>: [/mode] /n /users/<username>/Documents/mywork.doc"
    Here, you have to replace the "<Source Drive>" with the drive letter from where you deleted file, the "<Destination Drive>" will be replaced with the drive letter to which you want to save the recoverable files and change the path and file name to the you need
  3. After completing the modification, enter "Y" and press Enter.
  4. When the progress is 100%, please go to the destination disk or partition to check the recovered files.

How to Find Deleted Files in Windows 11/10 without software

Using the above software, you can easily recover Windows 10/11 deleted files. Can I do this without a tool? Of course! You can check out the following methods, but they will be some limited.

Method 1. Try Undo Option

Limited: After deleting the file, you cannot perform other operations like copy, paste, etc.

This is a quick way to undo your last action on your PC. When you accidentally delete the file, right-click on the original location and select "Undo Delete." At this point, the removed file will reappear. If you are used to using shortcut keys, you can also press "ctrl + z" simultaneously.

Method 2. Through Recycle Bin

Limited: The size of the deleted files does not exceed the maximum default value of 7727MB for Windows 11 and 5690MB for Windows 10, and you have not emptied the Recycle Bin.

This will be the easiest way to find deleted items in Windows PC as long as you don't use the "Shift + Delete" keys to delete the file.

To do this, you just need to open the Recycle Bin on your desktop, select the item that you accidentally deleted, right-click, and select "Restore." This file will head back to its original location.

Tip: To change the maximum size of files saved in the Recycle Bin, right-click > Properties. If you have already emptied it, please click here to see how to restore files deleted from Recycle Bin.

Method 3. Use File History

Limited: Only applicable if you use it to back up this file before deleting it.

This should be a 100% surefire way to undelete permanently deleted files in Windows 10/11, but only if you meet the above requirements. Here are the steps:

  1. Please connect the external hard drive or network drive as a file backup to your PC.
  2. Press the "Windows + R" keys, then type"control" in the dialog box that appears and click OK.
  3. After opening the Control Panel window, click "System and Security." Then, in the list on the right, you can see an "option for File History." Click its sub-item, "Restore your files with File History."
  4. In the File History window, go to the location where you saved the deleted files, then select them, and finally click the green button at the bottom of the page to restore them to their original location.

Method 4. From Previous Versions

Limited: Same as method 3 or with system restore point enabled.

This recovery method is similar to the previous one, except that it will restore the entire folder or drive to a previous version. Therefore, if you have only deleted some files in that location, please backup your existing data before starting.

  1. Open Explorer and go to the directory where you deleted the file.
  2. Right-click on the blank space > select "Properties."
  3. Switch to the "Previous Versions" tab. The dates on which the backup was created will be displayed. Choose the date accordingly.
  4. Click "Restore." Wait for the process to complete, and your deleted files will reappear.

Method 5. Use Command Prompt

Limited: Only works under certain conditions, such as file loss caused by malware infection.

This is a method that requires luck, but you can still give it a try. It should be noted that when recovering deleted files from Windows 10 or Windows 11, please carefully check after copying and replacing symbols to avoid further data loss or corruption caused by incorrect commands.

  1. Type the "CMD" in the search box at the bottom of the screen, then select Command Prompt from the list and click "Run as administrator."
  2. Type "chkdsk X: /f" (replace "X" with the drive letter where the files were deleted) and press Enter.
  3. When the disk check is complete, enter "attrib -h -r -s /s /d E:*.*" and press Enter.
  4. Go to the folder where you deleted the file to see if it reappeared.

Method 6. Extract from System Backup

Limited: You created a system restore point before deleting the file, and the file was included in it.

Although it mainly focuses on restoring your system and related settings, if this file is saved in the system volume, you may be able to find it.

  1. Open the "Control Panel" and go to "System and Security."
  2. Click "Restore files from backup" under the "Backup and Restore (Windows 7)" option.
  3. Click "Restore my files" in the window that opens, then click "Search" and "Browse for files" or "Browse for folders" in the next dialog box to check the data in the backup.
  4. When you find the deleted file, select it and click "Next," then select a location and click "Restore."

Tips to Prevent Data Loss on Your PC

After successfully retrieving deleted files, you can also use these tips as your regular practice to prevent such disasters from happening again.

Final Thoughts

By understanding the mechanics of file deletion and using the right methods, you can usually succeed in recovery files for Windows 10/11, even if they are permanently deleted. However, remember that whether you choose a free tool or a built-in method, the key to success is to stop using the drive immediately, act quickly, and follow the correct steps.

FAQs

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