How Can I Recover Permanently Deleted Files in Windows 10
Summary: When operating on Windows 10, 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
There are only a few ways to recover permanently deleted files in Windows 10. However, before we head to the recovery part, it’s important that you must stop using the system or the affected drive immediately after data loss. The step is crucial to prevent overwriting of permanently deleted files.
If you continue to use the affected drive or the system, you may never be able to recover the permanently deleted files in Windows 10.
How a File is Permanently Deleted in Windows?
Typically, when we delete a file in Windows, we use either Delete key or Right-click on a file or folder and choose Delete. Such (temporary) deleted file or the folder goes straight to the Recycle Bin from where we can restore them in just a few clicks.
On the contrary, when we delete a file by using Shift + Delete key combination or empty the Recycle Bin — also happens when you run system cleaner app—the files and folders are permanently removed (deleted) from the system.
Fortunately, permanently deleted files are recoverable with prompt action.
Methods to Recover Permanently Deleted Files in Windows 10
Below are the steps you must follow in the sequence to get back permanently deleted files in Windows.
Method 1: Use Backup
Check your recent backup (if you are using Windows Backup) and restore permanently deleted files in Windows 10.
To restore data from a backup, connect the backup storage media to your Windows 10 PC and follow these steps:
- Open ‘Control Panel’
- Go to ‘All Control Panel Items>Backup and Restore (Windows 7)’
- Click ‘Restore my files’ and follow the wizard to restore lost files.
If ‘Restore my files’ isn’t visible, click ‘Select another backup to restore files from’ and follow the restore wizard.
Method 2: Restore Previous Versions
Alternatively, you can recover deleted files in Windows 10 with File History. The steps are as follows:
- Right-click on the folder that contained the permanently deleted file(s) or folder(s)
- Choose ‘Restore previous versions.’
- From the available versions, choose the one dated when files were there
- Click ‘Restore’ or drag & drop the desired version at any location on the system.
CAUTION: Use an external storage drive to prevent data overwriting in case the desired files are not found in the restored version.
Method 3: Deleted File Recovery through File Recovery Software
Follow the instructions given below to restore permanently deleted files in Windows 10 with the help of Stellar data recovery for Windows.
- Download Stellar Data Recovery software
- Install the software on a different volume or external USB drive (recommended) to avoid overwriting
- Launch the software
- Select ‘All Data’ or choose a specific file type from the options and click ‘Next.
- Select the location from where files were deleted. You can choose a particular folder under ‘Common Locations’ or the drive volume from ‘Connected Drives’ and click ‘Scan.
- After Scan, files are listed in the left Tree View pane. Expand the tree to locate desired files or click ‘File Type’ tab to sort files quickly.
Use the Search bar to locate files and click on a file to see its preview before saving.
- If the desired files are not found, click ‘Click here’ link at the bottom to run ‘Deep Scan.’
The deep scan takes more time but gets back all recoverable data as it thoroughly searches for the permanently deleted data on the hard drive based on file signatures.
- Finally, select the files you wish to recover, click ‘Recover>Browse’ and choose a save location. Click ‘Start Saving’
After restoring the permanently deleted files, create a backup to safeguard against future data loss.
Watch the video for detailed instructions on how to recover deleted files in Windows 10.
Conclusion
To prevent permanent data loss, always keep an updated backup of your critical files. You may use cloud storage or local drive to set up a backup. Alternatively, you may enable File History, which is a great backup tool available in Windows. File History automatically stores a shadow copy of the files and folders to an external USB or Network drive.
Further, a data recovery software such as the Stellar Data Recovery for Windows also comes handy in such data loss situations and beyond. It can recover deleted files, formatted data, and files from deleted partitions in just a few clicks. The data recovery software is strongly recommended to serve as a ‘backup of backup’ because the tool helps when a backup fails, is unavailable, or obsolete.
i bought the $49 but did not get the file i need do i get a refund ?
Hello Allen,
For better assistance of your query, I suggest contacting on this email id orders@stellarinfo.com.
Permanent Data Loss especially Video, images, office documents are well recovered using Stellar Data Recovery software.
Thanks for trying Stellar Data Recovery for Windows Software.
Hi, I have shift deleted one folder from my computer then using Stellar Windows Data Recovery I recovered one word document from that folder. Today I tried to recover another word document from that folder using Stellar Windows Data Recovery, but it didn’t show anything from that folder or that folder itself.
Please help me
Hello Hasmik,
We would like to inform you that Stellar Windows Data Recovery software recovers data as per the preview available inside the application once the scanning is completed.
Data recovery is dependent on factors like data loss reason, severity of corruption, overwritten activities etc. The software works on “what you see is what you can recover”.
As per the case we believe you might have performed overwritten activities on the drive. If you have performed read or write activities on the same drive then the data could be overwritten. There are very less chances for the recovery of overwritten data. We recommend you to perform Deep scanning over the drive for efficient scanning and recovery.
how to restore my folder if i deleted permanently and file history is off. kindly guide me…
Hello,
If the files are not overwritten they can be restore using Stellar Windows Data Recovery software
how much size of files can be recovered ind demo mode ?@
Hello Abhay,
The maximum file size of the particular file should be equal to or less than 25 MB.
Last month my two year daughter accidentally delete some of the important files from laptop. Due to the seriousness of data, I need to recover it back anyhow. Thanks to this wizard file recovery software, I retrieve all files.
Hello Kim,
Thanks for using Stellar file recovery software.
Uhmm hello, does this need license key or what to recover files? Do I need to buy the whole app to recover them just like the other app? Please tell me, so it doesn’t waste my time waiting for it to download and scan, and end up nothing just because I need a license key or I need to buy the app. Because I don’t have money, and I’m only just a student. Thank you 🙂
Hello Mark,
Thanks for contacting Stellar Data Recovery
Yes, for commercial data recovery software, you need a license key to save the desired files. But, you can try our another variant i.e Stellar Data Recovery Free Edition for limited file recovery.
I have clean up my recycle bin, how can I recover my deleted important data without any software?
Hello Danny,
Thank you for contacting Stellar Data Recovery.
You may try the demo version of the software to check the possibility of recovery.
However, as you wish to recover the data without using the software so we recommend you to go for our ‘Data Recovery Services’.
You may write to us on support [@] stellarinfo dot com so that our data recovery experts can assist you with the process of Data Recovery Services
How to recover permanently deleted files without software?
Please help
Hello Kerry,
Thanks for contacting Stellar Data Recovery
If your File history is on, then you can easily get back your lost and damaged file from File History option in Control Panel of Windows 10.
How many types of files are recovered using Stellar Software? Any link if you can provide is a great help.
Hello Jerome,
I hope this link will be useful to you – Read More
Regards
Team Stellar Data Recovery
Hi Jyoti,
I am facing some problem. I have already to use my third party programme to scan my hard disk. But those file i have since 2013 till 2018 are still there but it seem that from Aug 2016 to May 2018 are missing. And during this period. I am not around and I could only see some their 3rd party program. Can you give some advice.
Hello Bernard,
We would like to inform you that our software is capable enough to recover lost and deleted data from the system regardless of the time frame. However, recovery chances are less in case of overwritten activities, the severity of corruptions, drive failure etc.
The demo version of the software scans the drive and allows to preview the recoverable data. This application works on “what you see is what you can recover”. That means the files will be recovered in the same manner as you were able to see them in the preview window after the scanning is completed.