How to Retrieve Permanently Erased Files in Windows 10

"Need to recover deleted files in Windows 10? You have several options to retrieve your lost data, including using data recovery software. Windows also offers built-in file recovery utilities. Let's explore the most effective approaches for different data loss scenarios."

Unfortunately, it's all too easy to accidentally delete files in Windows 10. Microsoft has provided a safety net in the form of the Recycle Bin, but this doesn't always come to the rescue – sometimes you can inadvertently delete data "permanently."

For example, holding down the Shift key while deleting a file bypasses the Recycling Bin, making data more difficult to recover. Moreover, the Recycling Bin has limited capacity. It can only hold a certain amount of data and files up to a specific size. Attempting to delete files when the Bin is full will result in the data being immediately erased.

But all is not lost. There are steps you can take to retrieve files you thought you’d never see again. Join us as we show you how to recover deleted files in Windows 10, using both built-in tools and third-party options.

Recover Deleted Files in Windows 10 from the Recycle Bin

If you delete a file by hitting the Delete button on your keyboard or simply drag it to the Recycle Bin, the steps to undelete files in Windows 10 are straightforward.

Step 1. Open the "Recycle Bin" from the desktop or Start menu, and then locate the deleted files you are interested in.

Step 2. Browse through the contents of the Recycle Bin to find the files you need. You can also perform a search for a specific file, or utilize the column headings to identify files based on size, modification date, and more.

Step 3. Select the files you would like to retrieve and then right-click on them.

Step 4. Click on "Restore" to recover the deleted files.

However, this method has its limitations. It will only work if you haven't emptied the Recycle Bin and if you didn't bypass the Bin by holding the Shift key while deleting the data. If you can't locate what you're searching for in the Recycle Bin, it's possible that your files have been "permanently" deleted. In that case, you can attempt the following methods to retrieve them.

How to Recover Permanently Deleted Files on Windows 10 Using Data Recovery Software

Perhaps the most reliable method of retrieving deleted files is to utilize specialized data recovery software. One such tool for both Windows 10 and macOS is the Data Recovery Wizard, which boasts a high success rate while remaining user-friendly.

Regardless of whether you have a backup available or not, the program will most likely be able to recover your deleted data for you.

You can download the free file recovery software from the link above and then follow these steps to recover your deleted files.

Step 1. Launch the Data Recovery Wizard and select the location from which you wish to recover data, such as the Recycle Bin or a hard drive. Click the "Scan" button to initiate the search for deletable files that can be restored.

Step 2. When the scan is complete, you can click the "Filter" menu or type in the "Search files or folders" field to narrow down the search and find specific files that meet your specified criteria.

Step 3. Preview and select the files you wish to recover. Click the "Recover" button to restore them.

These few steps serve as a brief guide to getting started with Data Recovery Wizard. For a more detailed understanding, you can watch this video tutorial for additional information.

What is crucial to bear in mind, however, is that time is critical when it comes to data recovery. The earlier you initiate the process of locating and retrieving data, the higher the likelihood of a successful recovery. Delaying action for too long could result in the impossibility of recovery because the data might get overwritten or an issue could occur with the drive from which you are attempting to recover data.

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Recover Deleted Files in Windows 10 with Windows File Recovery

As long as you have the May 2020 Update for Windows 10 (Windows 10 2004) or later installed, you can use Windows File Recovery – though you'll need to download it from the Microsoft Store. This is Microsoft's own free data recovery utility, but it differs from tools like tools Data Recovery Wizard because it's a command-line tool. That means, instead of a user-friendly interface with icons and menus, it operates through text commands, which might not be comfortable for everyone.

Due to the potential for things to go wrong, Windows File Recovery is really only recommended for slightly more experienced computer users.

Before you begin with Windows File Recovery, there are two things you need to prepare and a couple of conditions you should be aware of:

• You require a secondary drive to recover the data onto - this can be a standard hard drive or an external USB drive.
• You must know the exact location where your deleted files were originally stored.

How to Use Windows File Recovery to Restore Deleted Files in Windows 10

Step 1. Open the "Microsoft Store" app and search for Windows File Recovery. Click on the "Get" button to download and install the app.

Step 2. Open Windows File Recovery from the Start menu shortcut.

解决方案来源：来自微软官方网站的https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/p/windows-file-recovery/9n26s50ln705?activetab=pivot:overviewtab

Step 3. Use the syntax shown below to initiate the process of recovering deleted files: The basic command line is:

winfr source-drive: destination-drive: [/switches]. This is the command syntax for using the Windows File Recovery tool to recover files from a source drive to a destination drive, with optional switches for specific recovery options. In this command: - "source-drive" refers to the drive from which you want to recover files. - "destination-drive" is the drive where the recovered files will be saved. - "/switches" represents additional command-line options that can be used to customize the recovery process, such as specifying file types or using different recovery modes. These switches vary depending on the version of Windows and the specific options needed for your case.

For example:

winfr C: D: /n \Users\Documents\test.docx This command translates to: WinFR (Windows File Recovery) command: Recover files from drive C: to drive D: specifically targeting the file or folder \Users\Documents\test.docx, using the /n switch which enables the naming recovery option.

This specific command will recover a deleted Word document named "test" that was previously stored on the C: drive and save it to the D: drive.

Step 4. You can then follow the on-screen instructions to complete the restoration of deleted files.

This method of data recovery may not be suitable for everyone due to the requirement of different commands for each specific situation. It's also important to note that it won't be effective in every case. For instance, it won't be able to recover files after a virus attack or a lost partition. In such instances, it's recommended to utilize tools like the Data Recovery Wizard, as mentioned earlier.

Recover Deleted Files in Windows 10 from File Backup or Previous Version

These two solutions only work if you have set up a backup or enabled the File History function prior to the data loss. If no backup is available, you will still require a data recovery software to retrieve permanently deleted files on Windows 10.

1. Use Windows File Backup to Restore Permanently Deleted Files

Proceed to examine your recent backups and adhere to these steps to retrieve deleted files from a Windows backup:

Step 1. Open "Settings" from the Start menu and navigate to "Update & Security." Click on the "Backup" section on the left side.

Step 2. Choose "Backup and Restore (Windows 7)." Click "Restore my files" > "Browse for files" or "Browse for folders" to select the previously created backup.

Step 3. Select where to save your files. If there's a naming conflict, Windows will alert you. Choose "Copy and Replace," "Don't copy," or "Copy and keep both files" based on your needs, then wait for the restoration process to finish.

2. Recover Deleted Files in Windows 10 Using Previous Versions

You can also recover Windows 10 files using the "Previous Versions" feature - but this will only work if you've already enabled it. To make sure this option is available, you need to have set up File History to automatically back up your files.

Assuming you have already set up the necessary feature in Windows, you can follow these steps to restore permanently deleted files: 1. Press the "Windows" key + "E" on your keyboard to open File Explorer. 2. In the left pane, click on "This PC" or "Computer." 3. Locate the drive where the deleted file was originally stored, usually the "C:" drive for the main storage. 4. Right-click on the drive and select "Properties." 5. In the Properties window, click on the "Restore Previous Versions" button. 6. A new window will appear showing available restore points or previous versions of the files/folders on that drive. These are typically created by the System Restore feature or through file backups if enabled. 7. Browse through the list of available versions, looking for the one that was taken before the file was deleted. 8. Click on the desired version, then click "Open" to preview the contents. 9. If the file you need is there, click "Restore" to recover it to its original location. 10. Wait for the restoration process to complete. Your file should now be back in its original location. Please note that this method might not work in every situation, as it depends on whether or not previous versions of the file were saved by Windows. If this method doesn't work, you may need to explore other data recovery options or software.

Step 1. Locate and right-click on the folder that previously contained the permanently deleted files.

Step 2. Click "Restore previous versions."

Step 3. Choose the files you're interested in and click "Restore".

If Windows warns you that it already contains a file or folder with the same name, choose "Replace the file in the destination" to overwrite it, or select a new file name.

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What is the Best Method to Recover Permanently Deleted Files in Windows 10?

As you can see, there are multiple methods to recover deleted files in Windows 10. The most effective approach for you will largely depend on your specific situation and how the files were deleted.

The table below compares the various recovery methods available to you, helping you to weigh up the pros and cons of each.

All the methods and techniques outlined in this article can be used to help get your data back. However, it's the specialized recovery software tools like Data Recovery Wizard that offer the best chance of success across a broad range of scenarios.