How To Recover Deleted Files? | Easy Guide

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This updated guide covers everything you need to recover deleted files from any Windows version on any computer or laptop. Use Remo File Recovery Software—a powerful, user-friendly tool for all your data recovery needs.

Download the tool now and get the deleted files back without breaking a sweat.

Gravatar John Harris
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This guide is perfect for anyone using a computer or laptop, whether on Windows 11 or Windows 10, or even Windows XP, facing data loss issues. If you’ve deleted files and need to recover files from a Windows computer, you’re in the right place. This article explains various solutions to perform deleted file recovery easily and effectively.

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Table of Contents:

  1. A Super Safe Yet Reliable Way to Restore Deleted Files on any Version of Windows
  2. Where Do Deleted Files Go?
  3. How To Recover Deleted Files?

Looking for a Super Safe yet Quick way to Recover Deleted Files on Windows?

Make Use of Remo File Recovery, our most advanced file recovery software to date. 

With more than 15 million downloads, Remo Recover is a well-known and highly recommended tool when it comes to data recovery.

The User-friendly interface makes the deleted data recovery experience absolutely flawless.

Manually deleted files or format an entire partition. Irrespective of the reason behind the deletion your important files. Remo’s powerful dual scan algorithms leave no stone unturned, making sure you recover your vital data.

File Recovery is a simple 4-step process: select the drive, initiate the scan, preview the recovered files, and save the files in any desired location.

Remo offers 24*7 tech support to assist you in the data recovery process.

Before we start talking about different ways to get back deleted files, let’s quickly find out what happens to the deleted files.

Where Do Deleted Files Go?

When you delete any file or folder, they usually end up in the trash or the Bin folder. Except in a few cases, such as deleting files using Shift + Delete option, or you might have emptied the recycle bin. In such events, you have permanently deleted files

The original space where the files were stored gets cleared and is marked “ready to be overwritten.” So you can save any new files in the same location.

The catch is the moment old files get overwritten by newer files, data recovery becomes impossible. So it is important you stop using the drive immediately after file deletion.

How To Recover Deleted Files on Windows?

  1. Recover Deleted Files Using a Professional File Recovery Software
  2. DIY Solutions to Recover Deleted Files Without a Software 

Recover Deleted Files Using a Deleted File Recovery Software

A powerful file recovery tool is essential if you’ve permanently deleted files or need a simple way to retrieve them.

Having said that, it is also important you choose the right tool. One that is reliable, easy to use, as well as easy on the pocket.

Having said that, it is also important you choose the right tool. One that is reliable, easy to use, as well as easy on the pocket.

Remo is here to make the deleted data recovery process simpler.

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Method 1: Recover Deleted Files Using Remo Deleted File Recovery Software (Works on all Windows Versions)

Remo File Recovery is a reliable tool that recovers deleted files, no matter the reason or method of deletion. Its user-friendly and intuitive interface makes the process simple. Equipped with powerful algorithms, Remo Recover can easily detect, identify, and recover over 500 file types. Plus, it works seamlessly with all versions of Windows OS.

Download the tool now to recover deleted files as well as deleted data with absolute ease.

How To Use Remo File Recovery Software To Recover Deleted Files?

Download the tool by clicking on the download button. Install and set up the software on your system.

  1. Open the tool, choose the drive or folder where files were accidentally deleted, and click Scan to begin.
    Note: For C Drive recovery, select Local Disk C.

    choose the drive to start recovering data

  2. While scanning, use the Dynamic Recovery View to view and recover files without waiting for the full scan to finish.

    initiate the scanning process and view the initial results

  3. Once scanning is done, a list of recovered files appears. Use the Advanced Filter to sort and filter files by type, author, size, etc.

    use the filter to sort the data

  4. Double-click any file to preview it.

    preview the recovered files for free

  5. When satisfied with the recovery, select the files to restore, click Recover, and choose a location to save them.

    save the recovered files

We are sure that you have recovered deleted files on Windows. 

But, if you are looking to recover deleted files without the software? Look no further; this section talks about 5 solutions that are guaranteed to work.

How To Recover Deleted Files Without Software?

This section lists proven solutions for file recovery. However, some require basic setup, like enabling File History, activating restore points, or downloading apps from the Microsoft Store.

  1. Undo the Deleted File Action
  2. Recover Recently Deleted Files From Recycle Bin
  3. Restore the Previous Version of the Deleted Files
  4. Recover Deleted Files on Windows Using the File History Option
  5. Deleted File Recovery from Windows Using the Microsoft Windows File Recovery Tool

Method 2: Undo File Deletion (Works on all Windows Versions)

Undo file deletion is probably the simplest way to recover any file or folder that was recently deleted.

How to Undo Deleted Files on Windows?

Go to the folder from where the deleted files were originally saved and right-click, and from the drop-down menu, select the Undo Delete option.

You can also undo the deletion of important files by hitting Ctrl + Z keys simultaneously. 

click on undo delete option

If you are not able to use the Undo delete option or it’s been a while since you have deleted files. We suggest you try the next solution.

Follow this article to find many more ways to recover files from Windows apart from Undo file deletion option. 

Method 3: Recover Recently Deleted Files From the Windows Recycle Bin (Works on all Windows Versions)

As discussed earlier in the article, every single file or folder you delete ends up in the Recycle Bin of your Windows system. So if you ever changed your mind and want to get back the deleted files, this is the most basic way to do it.

How To Recover a Deleted File From The Bin Folder?

Step 1: Go to the Bin folder of your system.

Step 2: You will find all of your deleted files and folders here. Select the files that you want to pull back.

Step 3: Right-click and select the Restore option.

restore deleted files from recycle bin

If you have permanently deleted files from the trash. You can follow this article to find out how to recover files deleted from the recycle bin.

If the above-mentioned solutions have not worked out well for you, then we suggest you try the next solution to restore previous versions of deleted or over-saved files.

Method 4: Restore the Previous Version of the Deleted Files (Works only when you have enabled restore points)

Previous Versions is a feature in Windows systems that lets you restore deleted files. Previous Versions are copies of files and folders that the system automatically saves as part of a shadow copy.

It is necessary to set up a restore point or File History in order to access Previous Versions. 

If you have set up restoration points earlier, then follow the steps mentioned below.

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Step 1: Go to the folder where the files you want to delete are located. Choose Restore Previous Versions from the drop-down menu when you right-click.

Step 2: From the list of restore points, locate and pick the correct version of the files. After choosing the file, select the Restore option.

restore previous version of any deleted file

Method 5: Recover Deleted Files on Windows Using the File History Option

File History is a free built-in Windows backup tool. It lets you back up files in your Documents, Music, Pictures, Videos, and Desktop folders, saving them to either an internal drive or an external device.

You have a complete backup of all files once the File History option is enabled. Therefore, if your files become corrupt or destroyed, or if you lose them for any other cause. File History can be used to restore backed-up files.

How To Recover Deleted Files on Microsoft Windows Using File History?

1: Open the Control Panel application by typing Control Panel into the search bar.

2: Find the File History option in the System and Security panel.

restore backup using file history

3: In the left side panel, select the option for Restoring Personal Files.

4: Find the backup copies of the files you wish to recover.

5: Select every file you wish to restore and press the green Recover button.

click on the green recover button to start the file restoration process

If you have not enabled Restore Points and if you are a Windows 10 or Windows 11 user. You can try the Windows File Recovery tool to get back your deleted files.

Method 6: Deleted File Recovery Using Windows File Recovery Tool (Works on all Windows 10 and Newer Versions)

Microsoft Windows File Recovery is a free command-line application developed by Microsoft to recover deleted files from local folders, partitions, and various internal and external storage devices. 

It would be best if you keep a few things in mind:

First- The basic requirement is you need to use Windows 10 19041 build and other later versions.

Second – File Recovery from Cloud is not supported.

How To Use Microsoft Windows File Recovery to Recover Deleted Files?

First Step: Download the Microsoft Windows File Recovery application from the Microsoft Store.

Step 2: Select Windows File Recovery after pressing the Windows key and typing Windows File Recovery in the search box.

Third Step: Choose Yes when asked if you want to give the app permission to modify your device.

Step 4: Enter the command in the following format in the Command Prompt window:

winfr destination-drive: source-drive: [/mode] [/switches]

Windows File Recovery Tool lets you choose between Regular and Extensive Mode to recover files.

Regular Mode

The regular mode in the Windows File recovery tool is a basic mode that can be used to recover deleted files on Windows 10 and other newer versions.

For example, you want to recover a folder named “Work Documents” stored on the D drive and save the restored files onto the E drive.

Then you need to type in the following command

Winfr D: E: /regular /n \Users\<username>\Work Documents\

Similarly, if you are looking to recover Excel files and Word documents from the C Drive and want to save the files in D Drive. You need to follow the below-mentioned command.

Winfr C: D: /regular /n *.xlsx /n *.docx 

Extensive Mode

The Extensive Mode is designed to recover files from complex data loss scenarios such as file corruption, formatting, and other severe data loss scenarios.

Here’s how you can use the Extensive mode

Let’s say you want to recover Excel and Word files from C Drive and choose the destination folder as F Drive. You need to follow the below-mentioned command.

Winfr C: F: /extensive /n \Users\<username>\Pictures\*.XlSX /n\Users\<username>\Pictures\*.DOCX 

Final Step: Enter Y to begin the recovery operation when asked for confirmation to start the file recovery process. This could take some time, depending on the size of your source drive. Press Ctrl + C to end the recovery procedure.

Hopefully, by now, you were able to recover files deleted from any folder.

But in case you didn’t get the desired result? Do not worry; you can use always count on Remo File Recovery software to restore deleted files.

Note: You can follow this article to find out various ways to upgrade to Windows 11 for free.

Conclusion

Data loss can affect anyone, regardless of the system or operating system. Regular data backups are an effective way to avoid permanent loss.

Enabling File History or Previous Versions can also help you recover deleted files for free. Alternatively, specialized tools like Remo File Recovery Software can restore deleted files in case of data loss.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why can’t I find the Recycle Bin?

The Recycle Bin may be hidden or disabled. Check your desktop settings: right-click on the desktop, select “Personalize,” then “Themes,” and click “Desktop icon settings” to ensure the Recycle Bin is enabled.

How long after a file deletion can it be recovered?

Files can often be recovered from the Recycle Bin until it’s emptied. Beyond that, recovery is possible using tools like Remo File Recovery Software, as long as the deleted data hasn’t been overwritten.

How to turn on File History?

Go to Settings > Update & Security > Backup. Select an external or network drive, then turn on “Automatically back up my files” to enable File History.

How do I recover permanently deleted photos from my SD card?

If your photos are permanently deleted, stop using the SD card immediately to avoid overwriting data. Use a reliable recovery tool like Remo Recover to scan the SD card and restore deleted photos. These tools can often recover even files that don’t appear in File Explorer.

Are deleted files permanently gone?

Not always. When you delete a file, only its reference is removed; the actual data remains on the drive until it’s overwritten. With recovery software, you can often retrieve the file unless new data has replaced it.

How do I recover a file I accidentally deleted?

First, check the Recycle Bin. If it’s empty, use File History, Backup and Restore, or a data recovery tool. For SD cards or external drives, connect the device to your PC and use recovery software to scan for deleted files.

Where is File History?

On Windows, open Control Panel > System and Security > File History. If it was turned on previously, you can restore specific files or folders from there.

Can you recover deleted files after emptying the Recycle Bin?

Yes. Even after emptying the Recycle Bin, data recovery software can scan the drive for deleted files and restore them, provided the data hasn’t been overwritten by new files.

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.…