3 Proven Ways To Recover Deleted Files by Robocopy/MIR Command

Robocopy stands for robust file copy. Developed by Microsoft for the Windows operating system, Robocopy is a command-line tool. Mainly designed and created for copying, mirroring, and transferring files, folders, and directories between local directories or different network computers.

Though the tool is often used for backup and syncing tasks, thousands of Windows users complain that it has deleted some of their vital files from the destination folder.

How Does Robocopy/MIR Command Delete Files After?

The Robocopy/MIR Command is used to “mirror” the original directory, known as the “Source directory,” to the backup copy directory, known as the “Destination directory.” 

When you use the Robocopy/MIR command for the first time to create a backup of the original files, it will replicate the exact structure of the directory if you make any changes in the original directory, such as deleting files and folders. And later, when you run the /MIR command. The tool will also mirror the changes made in the original directory and reflect those changes in the destination directory by deleting the destination files; this process is called purging (deleting files and folders that no longer exist in the source directory). 

The main idea behind MIR (mirroring command) is to ensure that the Source and Destination directories stay in sync.

If you are one of the thousands of Windows users who have lost some of their essential files after using the Robocopy/MIR command, then worry not. This comprehensive article will guide you through all the possible ways to recover files deleted by robocopy/mir command.

So, without wasting any more, let’s start recovering accidentally deleted files with the robocopy/MIR command!!!

How To Recover Robocopy Deleted Files?

Solution 1: Undelete Files After Robocopy/MIR Command Using Remo File Recovery Software

Remo File Recovery is a specialized Robocopy/MIR file recovery software guaranteed to recover files deleted, missing, and lost after using the Robocopy/MIR command in Command Prompt or Powershell. 

How can Remo help you with Robocopy/MIR File Recovery?

1. Remo’s mighty algorithms forage deep into the Destination folder to recover more than 500 file types. 
2. Remo’s intuitive and simple user interface makes the tedious process of Robocopy deleted file recovery absolutely easy and straightforward.
3. Remo Recover is a feature-rich tool to make anyone a data recovery expert; features like the Advanced filter option quickly sort and filter files so that you can easily find the files that you want to recover, and the Preview option lets you preview the recovered files, ensuring that you recover the right files. 
4. The tool comes with our industry-leading support assistance if you face issues during the Robocopy folders and file recovery process.
5. Remo Recover is compatible with all the newer and older versions of Windows, including Windows 11, Windows 10, and Windows 8 and other older versions, such as Windows XP and Vista. As well as all versions of Windows Server OS.
6. Bonus Reason: Remo is an absolutely free-to-try software. You are only required to pay when you are completely satisfied with the recovery process.

Download Remo File Recovery Software now and start the Windows Robocopy deleted file recovery process.

Steps To Recover Files Purged by Robocopy/MIR Command

1: Download and install the Remo Robocopy File Recovery tool on your Windows system.

2: Launch the tool, select the drive or the folder where you have saved the destination directory, and click the Scan button.

If you have deleted data or other important files from external devices such as an external hard drive, USB drive, or USB flash drive, etc. Then, you need to connect it to your system, select it, and click the Scan button to get back files deleted by the robocopy/MIR command.

3: Remo will start the scanning process. Use the Dynamic Recovery View option to look at all the files Remo has recovered.

4: Upon completion of the entire scanning process, Remo will display a list of all the recovered files. You can use the Advanced Filter option to sort, filter, and find various file(s).

5: Double-click on any recovered files that were earlier deleted after using the Robocopy/MIR command to Preview them.

6: Select the files and folders you want to recover and click the Recover button. The tool will ask you to provide a location to save the recovered Robocopy files.

Remo has successfully retrieved the deleted robocopy files and saved them in your desired location.

Note: You can refer to this article to learn more about other manual solutions for recovering files from Windows.

Solution 2: Restore Files After Robocopy/MIR Command Using Previous Versions

The Previous Versions option is an in-built data backup tool. This tool, when enabled, takes regular snapshots of the older versions of the files, folders, and data created and saved on your system. These older or previous versions of files can be restored in case of data loss.

However, the Previous Versions might be helpful in some cases. However, it does not guarantee recovery of all deleted files after using the Robocopy/MIR command. 

How To Restore Robocopy/MIR Deleted All Files in the Destination Folder?

• Right-click the folder where the files that Robocopy deleted.
• Click on the "Properties" option and navigate to the "Previous Versions" tab.
• Restore previous versions: If available, restore earlier versions of the folder or individual files.

Solution 3: Recover Files Deleted by Robocopy/MIR Command From Cloud Backups

Suppose you have manually taken a copy of the original files and saved it on a Cloud or any external storage device. In that case, we recommend restoring the original files' backup copies.

1. Log in to your Google Drive, Microsoft OneDrive, or DropBox account using your credentials.
2. Find the files and folders you want to restore and download them.
3. The selected files will get downloaded to your system.
4. You can now move the downloaded data from your Downloads folder to any location of your choice.

I am sure you have safely recovered files deleted after using robocopy files. Understanding why you lose your files after using the MIR command is also important.

Note: The files and folders that the Robocopy/MIR command deletes get permanently deleted from your system. Therefore, it is extremely crucial for you to act quickly and start the robocopy deleted file recovery process before you lose those files forever.

How To Protect Your Crucial Files From Getting Deleted By the Robocopy/MIR Command?

By default, Robocopy will copy all the files in the Original Directory, and the MIR command is used to mirror the Original Directory. So, any changes made in the Source directory will also reflect in the Destination directory.

Unfortunately, most Windows Robocopy users are completely unaware of the fact that the tool also lets you create and set different rules for backing up and syncing. You can now decide which files you want to include (based on certain file attributes), exclude some files (based on file size), and copy only new or changed files without bothering about old and unchanged files.

Conclusion:

Here, we end our discussion. Where we have explained how to recover files deleted by robocopy/mir command. We discussed a brief history of the Robocopy tool and explained why many Windows users lose some of their vital files and folders. Later on, we also discussed a proven solution to recover the deleted robocopy files.
I hope you have found this article on Robocopy file recovery helpful.

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.…