How To Recover Recently Deleted Files?

Data loss — it is one of the most annoying and problematic experiences faced by users. One mistake and your data will is gone unless you know a way out. Fortunately, deleted files, folders, and other data can be recovered, but only with the right approach and method. Here, we share some of the most recommended and safe methods to follow to recover recently deleted files in the Windows system.

Nevertheless, ensure that you immediately stop using the drive from which you lost files. Adding more data to it will overwrite the data and the chances of file recovery will be lesser. Additionally, the sooner you act, the better the recovery results. So, why delay? Let’s proceed and recover your recently deleted files.

Method 1: Use Recycle Bin

This is the first place you must look for deleted files. Usually, when you accidentally delete your files or folders with the ‘Delete’ key/option, they automatically reach Recycle Bin. You can easily check data there and restore them. Follow the given steps to do so:

• Go to the Desktop and then open Recycle Bin.
• Locate if your files/folders are there.
• If found, right-click on them, and click Restore.

If the files are not in Recycle Bin, they must have been deleted permanently with the Empty Recycle Bin option or Shift + Del key. In such a case, proceed with the following methods.

Method 2: Recover Deleted Files with Backup

Creating data backup is always recommended and the most basic practice you should follow to prevent permanent data loss. If you have backed up your data in any of the following ways, you’d be able to recover recently deleted files quite easily.

A: Backup Storage Media/Drive

Users who create at least three copies of their data backup, tend to keep one copy offline, which is usually on an external storage media (HDD, SSD, USB, or SD Card). If you’ve backed up your data on an external drive, follow the given steps:

• Connect your backup drive to your system.
• Locate and select all the needed files.
• Now, copy-paste those files anywhere you want in your system. You can also drag and drop the files to the chosen location.

B: File History

If you’ve used the File History feature to back up your files on the Windows system, restoring them will be a breeze. File History is a Windows built-in backup utility that captures the snapshots of the changes in your system and data since the day it is turned on. You may follow the below steps and recover recently deleted files:

• Press the Windows icon to open the Start menu and then click gear-shaped Settings options from the available options.

• Now, click Backup in the left pane, and then under Back up using File History, click More options.

• On the next prompt, click Restore files from a current backup.

• You’ll see the backup results in a folder with the date and time.
• Open the backup folder and retrieve the files you need.
• You can restore the files to your chosen/desired location.

C: Google Drive

If you take a backup of your data on Google Drive, you just have to find the files you lost recently and restore them by downloading them. Follow the below-said steps:

• Log into your Google account and open Google Drive.

• There, choose the files/folders you want to retrieve, right-click on it, and click Download.

• Once downloaded, you can store the files at your preferred location.

Method 3: Choose the Best File Recovery Software

Worst case scenario, no backup is available. Worry not! You can still recover recently deleted files using data recovery software. Here, we provide you with two options — (i) Windows File Recovery tool and (ii) Stellar Data Recovery Software

A: Windows File Recovery

Microsoft’s Windows File Recovery tool is an open-source command-line tool that can recover multiple file types, such as photos, videos, documents, etc. It supports recovery from Windows system and external storage drives. The tool offers three different modes of operation, including Default, Segment, and Signature. You’d need to Default and Segment the mode of operation to recover recently deleted files from NTFS hard drives.

However, to retrieve files from hard drives with file systems, including FAT, exFAT, and ReFS, you’ll need to use the Signature mode. As Windows File Recovery is a command-line tool, you’d need to run a few syntaxes and commands to switch modes and recover different file types, making it a bit tedious for non-tech users. Moreover, this tool only works on Windows 10 version 2004. There’s no assurance of complete and accurate file recovery.

B: Stellar Data Recovery for Windows

Highly rated by tech media experts, Stellar Data Recovery for Windows supports recovery from Windows systems and supported storage media drives, such as HDDs, SSDs, USB drives, and more. The software comes with a simple and intuitive UI that helps you navigate around features easily. It recovers data only in three steps. You just need to select the data type, scan the location, and recover recently deleted files. You can even recover data from formatted, corrupted, or BitLocker-encrypted hard drives using this software. It offers a Preview File feature that allows you to get a glimpse of the files’ quality before recovering them. You can restore unlimited files with the same quality, format, and size.

Conclusion:

While losing your data is so easy, getting them back could be a daunting task if you don’t have a backup of a powerful data recovery solution available at your end. In this article, we provided you with the most basic to advanced way to recover recently deleted files. However, you need to make sure of the case behind data deletion. In usual accidental deletion with the Delete key, Recycle bin is there to get back your files.

However, if you empty it, it’s been more than 30 days from the date of data deletion or you pressed Shift + Del key to remove data, you won’t find it in the Bin. You’d need to use a backup or a file recovery tool. Furthermore, your data recovery success rate also depends on how quickly you act upon it. So, take prompt action with the right method and have a seamless data recovery.