Summary: When operating on Windows 10 or Windows 11, you may encounter a scenario when you have accidentally deleted files from the system. This post discusses the stepwise methods to recover permanently deleted files and get them back in your system again (without any damage). It also talks about using specialized ‘file recovery tools’ that could help you recover permanently deleted files almost instantly. Download the recovery software to verify the functionality and effectiveness of the software.
Contents
- Method #1: Using Backup
- Method #2: Using Previous Versions
- Method #3: Using Command Prompt
- Method #4: Using File Recovery Tools
- How to recover permanently deleted files in Windows 10 & 11: Video Tutorial
Have you been protecting your data lately, since your Windows system isn’t immune to data loss? (And, losing your critical files & folders can be extremely stressful. A simple Google search for “how to recover permanently deleted files in Windows 10 & 11” ends up giving numerous search results – some work and some don’t! In this blog, we’ll learn some of the best-proven ways to recover permanently deleted files in Windows 11 & 10 ).
Windows might come up with the latest OS with new and exciting features now and then, but they indeed aren’t 100% immune to data loss. The chances of losing data due to human error, data corruption, software issues, malware, hardware malfunction, or even unpredictable disasters always exist. Or, you could even accidentally press that ‘delete’ key somehow.
Irrespective of what your case of data loss is, Windows 10 or 11 have numerous methods to recover permanently deleted files while deploying seamless compatibility with third-party data recovery tools for addressing almost all sorts of data loss situations.
First, A Pop-Up Can Save Your File
You will always see this type of pop-up before permanently deleting the files. So, there is a chance you can save your files here.
But, if you somehow didn’t notice this, and lost your files permanently, we suggest you follow these methods to recover permanently deleted files..
Note: Immediately stop using the hard drive/system from where you’ve deleted the files. That will help prevent overwriting.
How to Recover Permanently Deleted Files on Windows 10/11?
With these methods, you can easily recover permanently deleted files. Just follow step-by-step to get your files back now!
Method #1: Using Backup
Did you know Windows 10 and 11 have a utility known as ‘Backup and Restore?’ This utility can help you restore your files as and when you want. For that, you will need to check the most recent backup (in case you are using Windows Backup).
- Connect the backup storage media to your system first.
- Now, go to the ‘Start’ menu by pressing the Windows logo key.
- Once opened, type ‘control panel’ and then hit ENTER.
- After that, go to Update and Security> Backup and Restore (Windows 7).
- You will see ‘Restore My Files,’ click on it, and then follow the wizard to get back your files.
- In case your system doesn’t show ‘Restore My Files,’ then you will need to click ‘Select another backup to restore files from.’ After that continue following the restore wizard.
Method #2: Using Previous Versions
The second way to recover your permanently deleted files is by using the ‘Previous Versions‘ feature. And, here is the process to do so:
- Go to the folder from where you deleted your files. Right-click on it and then choose ‘Restore Previous Versions.’
- You will see ‘Previous Versions,’ from where you can choose the version you wish to restore.
- For that, click ‘Restore’ or simply drag & drop the chosen version at the location you want to save it.
Pro Tip: Always use an external storage drive to save the restored file. You may overwrite the files, otherwise. Hence, to prevent data overwriting, we suggest you use an external storage device.
Method #3: Using Command Prompt
Sometimes, you might even accidentally pick the hidden attribute for your files/folders. In that case, you will not be able to find your files on your system. So, you will need to use ‘Command Prompt’ in that case to restore the files.
Here are the steps you must follow to recover permanently deleted files:
- Go to the ‘Start’ menu and type cmd in the search bar.
- Next, right-click on the command prompt tab to select the ‘Run as Administrator’ option.
- Now, in the command prompt, insert ‘chkdsk D: /f’ and then hit Enter. Don’t forget to replace D with your hard drive letter.
- Once that is done, insert ‘ATTRIB -H -R -S /S /D D:*.*’ and then hit Enter. Again, replace D with your hard drive letter.
- That’s when the recovery process will begin. You’ll have to wait for some time for the process to complete.
The last method is to use certain specialized tools to recover permanently deleted files on Windows. We’re mentioning two of the most prominent ones here:
- Windows File Recovery Tool
- Stellar Data Recovery for Windows
a. Windows File Recovery Tool
A command-line tool that utilizes ‘switches and modes’ to recover your deleted files. You can easily recover all your permanently deleted files on Windows 10/11.
Just follow the steps given below:
- Visit the Microsoft Store and download ‘Windows File Recovery’ to launch it.
- Now, press the ‘Windows’ logo key to type ‘Windows File Recovery’ before hitting Enter key.
- Allow the app to make changes to the device by selecting ‘Yes.’
- Then, enter the command given below in the Command Prompt.
winfr source-drive: destination-drive: [/mode] [/switches]
Here are some specific commands to recover deleted files from Windows 10:
Recover files from C: drive to the recovery folder on D: drive.
- Winfr C: D: /regular /n \Users\\Documents
Restore files like PDF and Word documents from C: drive to the recovery folder on D: drive.
- Winfr C: D: /regular /n *.pdf /n *.docx
Recover deleted files with the string “guitar” in the file name
- Winfr D: C: /extensive /n *guitar*
Recover JPEG and BMP images from the Pictures folder on D: drive.
- Winfr C: D: /extensive /n \Users\\Pictures\*.JPEG /n\Users\\Pictures\*.BMP
Note: When recovering deleted files from the C: drive, i.e., where Windows is installed, use the /n <filter>switch to specify the user files or folder.
- Once you have run all these commands given above, you will need to enter ‘Y’ to begin the recovery process. (Read detailed instructions on how to use this recovery tool appropriately).
NOTE: When installing Windows File Recovery Tool on Windows 11, some people sometimes face issues. It might fail to download, and the reason is the incompatibility (most of the time). You can face other issues as well, where the issue might not be clear.
If that is the case with you, go for the other alternative to recover the lost files on Windows 10, which is given below!
b. Stellar Data Recovery Software
A smart DIY recovery software that will help you recover all your permanently deleted files on almost all versions of Windows, such as Windows 10, 11, 8.1, and other older versions. This Windows 10 deleted files recovery software helps you recover permanently deleted files of any type, be it your audio or video files, and even documents, images, and all other types. And, it even recovers from any type of storage device. The best part is that this software tool helps recover data from encrypted and RAW drives as well.
How to Use ‘Stellar Data Recovery Software’ for Restoring Deleted Files?- Download ‘Stellar Data Recovery Standard’ Software.
- Install the software on either an external USB or on a different volume to prevent overwriting.
- Now, launch the software.
- From the options, select the specific file type or choose ‘all data’ and then click Next.
- Now, select the location from where your files are deleted. Pick a specific folder under ‘Common Locations’ or from the drive volume under ‘Connected Drives.’ After that, click Scan.
- Once the scanning is done, you will see in a ‘tree-view’ structure the recoverable files. It is usually in the left pane. Click on it to expand the tree and locate files to sort them quickly. You can even go to the ‘File Type’ tab to sort it. Or, simply go to the search bar to find out the files you want to see.
- You will have to run ‘Deep Scan’ if you are unable to find files using the method above. However, a deep scan will take more time than a Quick scan comparatively. But, Deep Scan will help you recover all the data on the hard drive.
- Now, select all the files you need to recover and then click ‘Recover.’ After that, click on ‘Browse’ for picking the location to save these files.
- Finally, click on ‘Start-Saving’ to recover all your files.
- Once everything is restored, create a backup to secure your files against all future data loss.
How to recover permanently deleted files in Windows 10 & 11: Video Tutorial
Conclusion
Congrats! You just learned how to recover permanently deleted files on Windows 10. We believe you won’t fret about loosing your important data ever again after this (on Windows though).
However, you must always keep an updated backup of all your critical files. (A Pro tip to keep your files safe).
You may use a local drive or even store your files safely on cloud storage when backing up files.
Or, you can even enable ‘File History’ (which indeed is an amazing backup tool available in Windows). It will store a shadow copy of your files and folder automatically to either a network drive or USB.
Moreover, if you want a highly reliable data recovery software solution for your system, we suggest Stellar Data Recovery, which is the ultimate savior of all your data. With it, you can recover permanently deleted:
- Files
- Formatted data
- Images
- Videos
- Documents
(And, almost every other file or document on your Windows).
It even comes in handy when the backup fails/is unavailable/obsolete.
Also, don’t forget to check some frequently asked questions on how to recover deleted files in Windows 10, & 11, which are as follows:
FAQs on how to recover permanently deleted files in Windows 10
Q. Where do my permanently deleted files go in Windows 11?
A. All deleted files remain inside the computer hard drive even if you empty the Recycle Bin or use the Shift + Delete command for deletion. However, you can’t access the deleted files normally because their location addresses in the hard storage are deleted (removed), and that space is allocated for fresh usage.
Q. I deleted my files from a Windows 10 computer a few weeks ago. Can I recover them?
A. The possibility of recovery depends on whether the deleted files are still intact on the hard disk drive and not “overwritten” with regular usage. As you deleted the files a few weeks ago, the chances of recovery could be slim, mainly if you used the device a lot. Still, you can quickly determine the possibility by running Stellar Data Recovery, a professional deleted files recovery software for Windows 10. After scanning the hard disk drive, if you can see the deleted files in Preview, you can recover them.
Q. I deleted my files by pressing the Delete key in Windows 10. Where do I find them? Is there a way to restore deleted files?
A. Firstly, look into the Recycle Bin because that’s where the deleted files go unless you deleted them by pressing the Shift + Del keys or the files were too large (several GBs in size). Once you reach the Recycle Bin, right-click the file and click ‘Restore’ to restore deleted file to its previous location. If the files are not found in Recycle Bin, you can use a professional data recovery tool to recover the deleted files.
Q. I want to recover my deleted files for free on a Windows 10 laptop. Is there a way to do that?
A. Yes, you can use the Microsoft Windows File Recovery tool using the steps described in this post. You can also use Stellar Data Recovery Free Edition – a DIY software that allows free recovery of up to 1 GB of data.
Q. I don’t want to be in a situation where I need to worry about data loss due to the accidental file deletion in Windows 10. Is there a way to avoid this situation?
A. Yes, Windows 10 offers a built-in ‘Backup and Restore’ feature that allows you to back up the files on an external hard disk drive or network location. In case you want to recover files deleted due to any reason, including permanent file deletion, you can restore a previous backup copy and recover deleted files on Windows 10.
Follow these steps for deleted files recovery on Windows 10 computers:
- Press the Windows logo key.
- Type Settings and navigate to Update & Security.
- Click Backup and Add a drive to start creating backups.
Read detailed instructions for Backup and Restore in Windows 10
About The Author
isha
Isha is a technical blogger and data recovery expert. She has experience in Windows data recovery. She writes about technical tips and tutorials.
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