Have you just accidentally deleted an important file and emptied the Recycle Bin? As frustrating as this can be, don’t worry. As long as you take quick action, there are many ways to regain it.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to restore files deleted from Recycle Bin using simple and easy-to-follow techniques. Let’s get right into the details!
It is a built-in feature on Microsoft Windows systems that stores temporarily deleted items. When you remove something using the right-click menu or the "deleted" key, it doesn't disappear right away. Instead, it goes to the Recycle Bin, which stays until you decide to empty it or restore the file.
Although the Recycle Bin is great for keeping deleted files, it has limitations. These include the following:
By default, it takes up a certain percentage of your hard drive space and saves it for 30 days. When it gets full and reaches the deadline, older files are automatically deleted to make room for new ones. Also, when the size of the file you delete exceeds this limit, then it will not be put into the Recycle Bin.
This can be a problem if you need to recover an old file after it has been full for a while.
Once you empty the Recycle Bin, the files are considered permanently deleted. However, they're not truly gone from your computer right away. The space they previously occupied is just marked as available for new data.
In other words, if you're wondering how to recover files that were deleted from Recycle Bin, it's possible. However, it becomes more difficult the longer you wait or as new data overwrites them.
If you use Shift + Delete or delete files from external drives like memory cards or USBs, those files don't go to the Recycle Bin.
If you have lost data due to this, then click here to learn how to recover deleted files from Windows 11 or 10.
Yes, but it depends on whether or not the bin has been emptied. Let's look at the two common scenarios:
The recovery process is straightforward if you haven't emptied the Recycle Bin yet. The files are still stored there and are easily accessible. All you need to do is open the Recycle Bin, find the file, and restore it to its original folder.
Things get a little trickier here once the Recycle Bin has been emptied. When you empty it, the files are no longer visible, but the actual data is still hanging somewhere on your computer (at least for a while) until it gets overwritten by new files.
This means that you can still get back files deleted from the recycle bin; you just need a backup or professional recovery software. This is because the operating system no longer keeps track of where these items are stored.
If you've mistakenly deleted important something and didn't empty the Bin or use Shift + Delete keys, don't panic; there are several ways to get them back.
It's a quick fix if you discover the mistake immediately after deleting the file and have not yet taken further action (like pasting, copying, or restarting the computer).
If you've deleted a file and performed other commands on the computer but haven't emptied the Recycle Bin, getting it back is simple. The Recycle Bin temporarily stores deleted items, giving you a solution on how to retrieve deleted files from Recycle Bin easily.
If you're not sure where the file was originally located, right-click on it in the Recycle Bin before recovering and select Properties to see its original path.
When you meet the requirements of Option 2, you have certain skills and enjoy exploring new solutions.
Have you mistakenly emptied your Recycle Bin and thought all the important files you deleted would be lost forever? Don't panic – there are still ways to find them. In this section, we'll outline different methods. Let's get right into the details!
This is the best solution when you don't have a backup. It works by scanning your hard disk for deleted items that have not been overwritten.
It's simple to use and free, making FileRescuer a good option for users who want to know how to recover things deleted from Recycle Bin.
It is a free tool developed by Microsoft. While Windows File Recovery may not be as user-friendly as some 3rd-party software tools, it's a powerful option for people familiar with command-line tools. Because no one is more familiar with how their system handles deleted files than Microsoft.
Step-by-Step Guide to How to Restore Something Deleted from Recycle Bin:
It must be enabled File History and select this item before removing, if not, you won't have any copies on how to get back files deleted from Recycle Bin using it.
Tip: If you have created a system backup before, you can also click here to view detailed steps to extract files from the Windows backup.
When you enable OneDrive sync or the file is in the OneDrive folder, even if you empty the local Recycle Bin, the backup of the deleted item will also be kept in the cloud storage for a period of time.
When the above solution about how to recover files that were deleted from Recycle Bin does not work and these data are important to you, then you can consider this option. They will use advanced technology to diagnose the problem and perform a Recycle Bin recovery to ensure that they can help you salvage the data to the greatest extent possible. However, this is usually expensive, and you must send the hard drive to a service center.
You can find a data recovery service provider near you by searching. After obtaining the contact information, you can communicate with their service staff and decide whether you need this service.
The recycle bin can effectively prevent accidental deletion, but when it malfunctions, it can lead to disasters. If you find that deleted files do not appear in the recycle bin, here are solutions to help you troubleshoot.
When incorrect settings cause this option to be selected, it prevents files from being sent to the Recycle Bin. For this reason, you should first check it by following the steps below.
Did you delete a large file but find it is not showing up in the Recycle Bin? This is because the Recycle Bin's capacity has exceeded its maximum. You can customize it by following the steps below.
When the Recycle Bin malfunctions, the files you deleted may also not appear. Here are ways to fix this error.
Sometimes, incorrect registry settings can cause files to bypass the Recycle Bin. Follow the steps below to do this:
The reason your deleted files are not showing may be because your Recycle Bin is set to empty automatically. Follow the steps below to resolve this:
Deleting something in our computer is something we do quite often, but knowing how to retrieve deleted files from Recycle Bin can be useful, especially after you have emptied the Recycle Bin. In this article, we have introduced recovery scenarios for different situations and troubleshooting tips when deleted items are not showing in the Recycle Bin. With their help, you can avoid important data loss and minimize the risk of it.
There are several reasons for this:
In this case, you need file recovery software or a backup to get it back.
Yes, if you continue to use it or wait a long time after deletion before trying to recover it, it will be difficult or even impossible to get it back. So, if you find that important data is lost, take action as soon as possible.
First, you can consider using a free data recovery program such as ToolGeeker FileRescuer, Recuva, or TestDisk. If these tools don't work, then you can also try Disk Drill and Reciverit to recover deleted files from Recycle Bin.
First, you should stop using the system volume immediately after emptying the Recycle Bin. Then, use reliable tools such as FileRescuer or Disk Drill to retrieve data deleted from Recycle Bin. Finally, save them to a different drive or partition to avoid further data loss.
If using software does not help you find deleted items, you can contact data recovery services to find out whether it is possible to recover the files, the price, the time required, etc.
First, please use file history or cloud storage to save copies of your files. Then, according to your situation, set the maximum size of the Recycle Bin to save deleted files and whether they need to be emptied regularly. Finally, check carefully before deleting and emptying the Recycle Bin.
ToolGeeker only uses cookies to ensure you get the best browsing experience.