How to Permanently Delete Files from Hard Drive [Windows 11]

Our documents, photos, films, music, and other personal files are stored on external or internal hard drives. They function as vital safeguards for much of our sensitive and personal data. Many individuals utilize external hard drives as a backup storage solution for their PCs. However, there may be instances when it becomes necessary to permanently erase files from the hard drive.

It's a well-known fact that you can "delete" a file by using the right-click context menu. This sends the file to the Recycle Bin on Windows, which can then be emptied, making the file appear to vanish.

The problem is that files "deleted" in this way do not actually disappear from your hard drive. Instead, the data remains on your computer and can be recovered using simple software for hard drive deleted file recovery.

How to Permanently Delete Files from Hard Drive in Windows 11

Send files to the Recycle Bin on Windows 11, then empty the Recycle Bin to delete the files, and it appears they are "permanently removed." This is because without file recovery software, it's not possible to retrieve the files once the Recycle Bin has been emptied.

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How to Recover Permanently Deleted Files in Windows 11 [3 Top Methods]

You will discover three effective methods to recover permanently deleted files in Windows 11. You can utilize data recovery software to restore lost files. Read more >>

To learn more about permanently deleting Windows files from your computer, continue reading.

Method 1: Permanently Delete Files Using Shortcuts

By selecting a file and pressing Shift + Delete, you can bypass the Recycle Bin and permanently delete files you no longer need. Here's how to permanently remove files from Windows using straightforward keyboard shortcuts:

Step 1. To select a file, simply click on it once. If it's saved on your desktop, click on the file. Otherwise, find it in Windows File Explorer and click to highlight it.

Simply click on it once.

Step 2. Press the Delete and Shift keys at the same time.

Step 3. On the window that appears, choose "Yes." This method allows you to use the Keyboard shortcut to delete files without first "temporarily saving them" in the Recycle Bin. In other words, when using keyboard shortcuts, files are immediately and permanently deleted, eliminating the need to empty the Recycle Bin.

Method 2: Format the Hard Drive

If you wish, you can also choose to format all files on your internal and external hard drives. To do this, select the hard drive, right-click on its icon in your computer's interface, and choose "Format." The exact steps are as follows:

When choosing a file system format for an internal hard disk, there are several factors to consider.

• The operating system to be used comes first. For example, macOS uses HFS+, whereas Windows employs NTFS. File size is another factor to consider.
• If the drive is utilized for storing large files like videos or audio, NTFS or exFAT might be a better option.
• Compatibility of the file system with various devices is also a significant consideration.
• The optimal file system setup for an internal hard drive depends on the user's specific requirements and specifications.

Method 3: Delete Hard Drive Files Using Command Prompt

Using the CMD to delete files is considered advanced or forced deletion. This method is efficient for removing a specific file from your Windows computer. Follow this step-by-step guide to proceed:

Step 1. You need to launch the Command Prompt first.

1. >Press the Windows key and R to open the "Run" dialog box.
2. >Type in cmd and press Enter to open the "Command Prompt".

Step 2. Next, type the command del /f "filename", where "filename" represents the name of the file or its path.

Step 3. Finally, press Enter to execute the command. Remember that files deleted using CMD do not go to the Recycling Bin.

Multiple users have verified the effectiveness of these solutions. If you find any method helpful in permanently deleting files from your hard drive, kindly share it on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or other social media platforms!

Method 4: Use PowerShell to Delete Files

More experienced users can permanently delete files using PowerShell. Here's how to do it: 1. Press the Windows key + X on your keyboard and select "Windows PowerShell (Admin)" from the menu. 2. In the PowerShell window, type the following command, replacing "filename" with the actual name of the file you want to delete: ``` Remove-Item -Path "C:\path\to\filename.ext" -Force -Confirm:$false ``` Make sure to replace "C:\path\to\filename.ext" with the full path of the file you want to delete. 3. Press Enter. The file will be permanently deleted without going to the Recycle Bin. Please exercise caution when using PowerShell to delete files, as this action cannot be undone.

Step 1. At the bottom of your screen, in the Start Menu, type "PowerShell".

Step 2. Press "Enter" or select "Windows PowerShell" from the menu if it is already highlighted.

Step 3. To start, type Remove-Item -path c:\[Filename] -recurse. This will delete all the files and subfolders within the specified folder.

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How to Recover Permanently Deleted Files from Hard Drive

Sometimes, files that you think are irretrievably deleted can still be recovered. Most hard drive file recovery tools, including those built into Windows 11, require a backup to restore your files. However, if you don't have any backups, using a tool like Data Recovery Wizard is an option to recover permanently deleted files.

This is because Windows does not create a new empty space on the drive where the file previously resided. Instead, that space on the disk is marked as available for overwriting. It could be immediately overwritten by subsequent actions you take, or that space might remain available for much longer.

The Data Recovery Wizard tool can assist you in easily recovering deleted files, whether you removed them using PowerShell or the Command Prompt. Follow these steps:

Step 1. Select the drive where you lost your data and click "Scan".

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Step 2. After the scan is complete, use "Filter" or "Search" to locate the missing files.

Step 3. Choose all the files you wish to recover and click "Recover". Next, browse for a secure location to save them.

In Conclusion

Our most valuable informational assets are our hard drives. They serve as the primary source for many users' PC backups and contain a significant amount of our personal and sensitive data. If you have not yet lost files, it is advisable to utilize File Backup or Windows Backup as your first line of defense to recover permanently deleted files. However, if you do not have any backups, do not worry; there are still ways to recover your files.

If you require assistance, various data recovery solutions are available; if you're unsure where to begin, try using the tool Data Recovery Wizard.

Frequently Asked Questions on How to Permanently Delete Files from Hard Drive

Here are 4 additional questions regarding permanently deleting files from the hard drive. Find the answers here.

< strong >1. How do you permanently delete a file without sending it to the recycle bin? To permanently delete a file without sending it to the Recycle Bin in Windows, follow these steps: 1. Select the file or files you want to delete. 2. Press and hold the `Shift` key on your keyboard, then press the `Delete` key. 3. A confirmation dialog will appear asking if you want to delete the file permanently. Click "Yes" to proceed. For Mac users: 1. Select the file or files you want to delete. 2. Press and hold the `Command` + `Option` keys, then press the `Delete` key. 3. A dialog box will appear asking for confirmation. Enter your password (if prompted) and click "OK" to permanently delete the file. Remember that once you permanently delete a file, it's gone, and there may be no way to recover it.

By default, deleting a file sends it to your computer's Recycle Bin. If you accidentally delete something, you can restore the removed data from there. To permanently delete files that don't go into the Recycle Bin, follow these steps.

• Right-click on the Recycle Bin and select "Properties."
• Choose the drive for which you want to permanently delete the data. Select the option "Don't move files to the Recycle Bin."
• When files are deleted, they will be removed immediately. Click "Apply" and then "OK" to save the settings.

You can easily uncheck this option if you want to revert to the default settings.

**2. Where do permanently deleted files go?**

When a file is permanently deleted, only its entry is removed; the file itself remains untouched. It is removed from the file system tables but not actually erased. On the hard drive, it still exists.

3. How do I format a hard drive in Windows 10?

• To format a drive, right-click on it and select the "Format" option.
• Enter a name, choose a file system, and determine the allocation unit size.
• Click "OK" to continue.

4. How to permanently delete files from a Mac hard drive?

Translate the following text into English: - Press Option + Command + Delete to permanently delete a file or folder, bypassing the Trash. - Press Command + Delete to send a file or folder to the Trash. - Use Command + Option + Shift + Delete to empty the Trash.