How to Undo Deleted Files on Windows?

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Nearly all Windows users accidentally delete something or the other by mistake. If, unfortunately, you are the one this time, then worry not. We have got you covered. This article will show you how to undo the last delete to get back files and folders you might have accidentally deleted from your Computer and Laptop.

Gravatar John Harris
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Gravatar John Harris
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You may wish life had an “undo” button, but while that’s impossible, you can undo accidental file deletion. If you accidentally or intentionally deleted important files, folders, or data from a Windows system or external storage device and later realized they were needed, this post explains proven methods to recover them.

How To Undo Deletion of Files, Folders, and other Data?

This section covers three solutions for recovering deleted files, from simple methods to advanced ones. If basic undelete techniques fail on your computer or laptop, robust tools like Remo File Recovery Software can help.

Method 1: Undelete Files Using Ctrl + Z Keys

One of the most powerful keyboard shortcuts is undoing an action. That is, recovering accidentally deleted files or photos by pressing the Ctrl and Z buttons simultaneously. However, according to statistics, very few PC users use this shortcut to undo deletion, and a few percent are not even aware of it.

Steps to Undo Deletion on Windows Computer

One of the most commonly asked questions is, “How do I recover something I accidentally deleted?”. The simplest way to undelete something is using the ‘Ctrl+Z’ option.

You can use the Ctrl+Z command where the data or files are deleted in the heat of the moment or because of mere recklessness. Summing up, ‘Ctrl+Z‘ is one of the easiest ways to undo deleted in File Explorer or any other location to reverse the action.

Undo Delete option: Alternatively, you can undo deletion using the following steps.

  • Go to the folder or location in which you have deleted files.
  • Right-click on the location and select the Undo Delete option.
Right click in the Explorer path and click on the undo delete option

Ctrl and Z keys, Undo Delete, and restoring files from the Recycle Bin are just some of the ways of recovering files. Refer to this article to find out all the possible ways of recovering files from Windows, including File History and Previous Version solutions.

Method 2: Undo Deleted Files From Recycle Bin

Any PC user will know the existence of the Recycle Bin. When you delete files from your PC, they land up in the Recycle Bin. Often, the functionality of Recycle Bin is underrated.

Steps to Undo File Deletion using the Recycle Bin

Open Recycle Bin > Select the files you want to recover and Right-click on them > Click on the Restore option to get back accidentally deleted files using the Recycle Bin.

Click on the Restore button to restore files from the recycle bin

If you mistakenly deleted files, you can restore them from the Recycle Bin. But, if you have deleted files using the shift + delete keys or emptied the Recycle Bin, it permanently deletes files.

In such instances, you must use data recovery software like Remo to undo deleted files in Windows 10 and other versions.

The above methods are undoubtedly useful and can save you several times during file temporary deletion. But sometimes, the situation can be more serious than it appears to be.

Your data can get deleted for several reasons. Some could be just due to human errors, while some could be intentional deletion. 

But the moment of helplessness arrives when you realize the data is permanently deleted. None of the above methods can help you reverse the deletion. 

Though undoing the permanently deleted data is difficult, it’s not impossible. You can undelete all your files instantly by utilizing reliable data recovery software like Remo File Recovery Software.

Refer to this article to find out what happens to deleted files that do not end up in the Bin folder and how to recover deleted files that are not in the Recycle Bin.

Method 3: Undo Deletion of File Using Remo File Recovery Software

Remo File Recovery is a rigorous tool tested under 1000+ data loss scenarios.

Remo is an extremely easy-to-use tool for recovering more than 500 types of files, including Photos, Audio, Videos, RAW images, Documents, and Office files, from any internal or external storage device.

Moreover, the tool is compatible with all newer and older versions of Windows, including Windows 11, Windows 10, and others.

Download and try the tool for free now!!!

Steps to Undo Deletion using Remo Recover software

  1. Download and install Remo File Recovery on your Windows or Mac.

  2. Now, select the folder or drive to recover deleted files, and click Scan.

    choose the drive to start recovering data

  3. Use Dynamic Recovery View to view and recover files during the scan.

    initiate the scanning process and view the initial results

  4. After scanning, view the list of recovered files.

  5. Use Advanced Filter to sort files by status, extension, or other criteria.

    use the filter to sort the data

  6. Preview recovered files before saving.

    preview the recovered files from virus attacked drive

  7. Select files to recover, click Recover, and choose a save location.

    save the recovered files

We are sure by now you have successfully undeleted the deleted files.

Note: If you are facing any issues using Remo. Contact our tech support executives to assist you in recovering your files.

Conclusion:

This article concludes our guide on recovering deleted files on Windows. We hope you can restore accidentally deleted files on Windows computers or other storage devices. Use solutions like Ctrl + Z, the Recycle Bin, or professional tools like Remo to recover files on Windows 10 or other operating systems.

Note: If you’re using Windows 10 or older versions, check our article on three ways to upgrade to Windows 11 for free without losing data.

Frequently Asked Questions on Undo Deletion of Files

1. What is the Shortcut key for Recovery?

To recover any accidentally deleted file or folder, the shortcut key is to go to the original location and hit the Ctrl + Z keys simultaneously. This will help you undo the last action.

2. Does Ctrl Z work for Deleted Files?

The command Ctrl Z is specifically designed to undo the last action performed by the user. So, as long as you have not permanently deleted files using the Shift Delete keys, you can always use the Ctrl Z keys to undelete the deleted files and folders.

3. Can I undo a Permanent Delete?

Unfortunately, the Ctrl + Z keys cannot undo the permanently deleted file action. 
Methods like External and Cloud backups, Previous Versions, and File History are some solutions to help you bring back permanently deleted files.
Follow this article to learn more about those solutions to recover permanently deleted files and folders from Windows.  

Gravatar John Harris

About the Author: John Harris

With a decade of experience in data recovery, John Harris, Senior Editor at Remo Software, is your go-to specialist. His focus includes partition management, Windows solutions, and data troubleshooting, delivering insightful content that serves both users and search engines. John's expertise shines through in illuminating blog posts, untangling data loss intricacies across diverse storage platforms.…