Summary: Have you deleted a file on Windows 10? Accidental deletion is a primary reason for losing important files, and it mainly occurs due to human errors. This blog shares the methods to recover deleted files in Windows 10, including the use of Windows Backup & Restore utility, File History feature, and Stellar deleted file recovery software. Download a Free Trial of Stellar Data Recovery software before you read further. We will be using this software in one of the methods covered in this blog.
Today, human errors cause more data loss than other reasons, like virus attack, corruption, etc. In fact, after hardware failures, human error is the top cause of data loss across the globe.
“Accidental file deletion” is often a result of human error when you delete several files on Windows PC while clearing the desktop or a partition to make space. Later, you might realize the need to recover the deleted files from your Windows 10 laptop.
Methods in this blog provide you easy steps to recover deleted files in Windows 10, including the recovery of accidentally deleted photos, videos, documents, emails, audio files, etc. We wrap up with a list of measures that could save you from data loss due to deleting files on Windows — accidentally or knowingly.
Note: Before you jump over to the methods, be aware that you need to stop using your Windows system as soon as you realize that you have deleted an important file and want it back. This precaution will avoid overwriting of the deleted files by any new files you might store on the hard drive’s emptied space, thus retaining the chances to recover the deleted file.
- Method 1: Restore from Recycle Bin
- Method 2: Restore Windows 10 Backup
- Method 3: Use Windows 10 File History
- Method 4: Use Deleted File Recovery Tools
Method 1: Restore Deleted Files from Recycle Bin
A deleted file in Windows 10 goes to the Recycle Bin unless you customize the Recycle Bin properties, use Shift + Delete keys, or empty the Recycle Bin. In these cases, the file is permanently deleted, requiring Windows 10 backup restoration or data recovery software.
Steps to restore the deleted files from Recycle Bin
You need to check the Recycle Bin to restore the deleted files in Windows 10, as follows:
- Go to Desktop and open the ‘Recycle Bin’ folder
- Locate the lost file in the Recycle Bin folder
- Right-click the file or the folder, and click ‘Restore.’
This method will restore the deleted file or folder to its original location. Alternatively, you can cut and paste the file at the desired location.
Method 2: Recover Deleted Files by Restoring Windows 10 Backup
Windows 10 provides a built-in Backup and Restore feature for backing up files on external media and restoring them later. So, if you maintain a backup, you can recover the accidentally deleted files using the Windows Backup and Restore utility, as follows:
- Connect the backup storage drive to your Windows 10 PC.
- Press the Windows logo key to open the Start menu
- Type Control Panel and press Enter.
- Navigate to Update and Security > Backup and Restore (Windows 7)
- Click ‘Restore my files’ and follow the on-screen guidance to restore the deleted files.
- If ‘Restore my files’ is not visible, click ‘Select another backup to restore files from’ and follow the restore wizard.
Method 3: Use Windows 10 File History to Restore Previous Versions
Windows File History feature allows backing up the files located in the Documents, Music, Picture, Videos, and Desktop folders on an external media. You can restore the deleted files using the File History feature, as follows:
- Right-click the folder from where you deleted the files.
- Choose the ‘Restore previous versions’ option.
- From the available versions, select the version containing the files.
- Click ‘Restore’ or drag & drop the version at a location on your Windows 10 system.
Method 4: Use Deleted File Recovery Tool
You can use tools that specialize in deleted file recovery from Windows 10 systems. Stellar Data Recovery is a D-I-Y tool using which you can recover deleted files on your own without any technical expertise. It works on Windows 10, 8.1, and older systems.
Steps to use Stellar Data Recovery software
Download the Free Trial of the software from the below link.
Install and run the software. Follow the below steps to recover deleted files in Windows 10:
1. Select the files you wish to recover and click the ‘Next’ button
2. Select the drive or folder location from the ‘Recover From’ window and click ‘Scan’.
3. Search, filter, and sort to locate the desired file from the scan results and then select the files to save at your desired location using the ‘Recover’ button.
NOTE: If the scan results do not show the required files, use the ‘Click Here’ link to run a deep scan. Deep scanning scans each sector on the drive and recovers the lost and deleted files from any Windows media, including corrupted and formatted drives.
You can also preview the recovered files such as images, documents, video, and audio before saving them.
Save your Deleted Files from Permanent Loss – Best Practices
Here are some best practices you can follow to secure your deleted files from permanent loss:
- Change the Recycle Bin properties:
You can configure the Recycle Bin properties such that the deleted files are moved to the Recycle Bin and not permanently removed without confirmation. Right-click the Recycle Bin and set its properties as shown in the below image.
- Maintain data backup:
Method 2 and 3 were based on restoring a backup copy to recover the deleted files on Windows 10. So, having a backup increases your odds of pulling off a file recovery job.
- Stop using the computer:
Continued use of the system after deleting a file can dramatically reduce the chances of recovering the file because Windows might overwrite it. So, you need to stop using the system, particularly actions like copy/paste or storing new files.
Conclusion
This blog shared different methods to recover deleted files in Windows 10. For example, you can restore the deleted file from the Recycle Bin, restore a system backup, use File History feature, or run a file recovery tool such as Stellar Data Recovery.
Among these methods, the best one is “backup” that can avoid permanent data loss by restoring the deleted file. Alongside you can have data recovery software pre-installed on your Windows 10 system to tackle any data loss or deletion situation.
Hello Sir, I copy 11.4 gb file and after I paste into another drive and suddenly I press ctrl z with my mistakes so how to get that file and it’s not shows in recycle bin so how to get that folder files back and please help me and thank you.
Hi Raghavendra, You have copied the file not cut. So you can find the files from where you copied them. If not present there then you can try stellar data recovery professional and run on your machine. If you see lost data in preview, you can recover it easily. Thanks
i deleted all my folders from jupyter notebook i dont know that it will permanently remove the, from my pc please help me
You might find them in Recycle Bin. Check it. If not, you can scan the Folder or drive location by using the Stellar Data Recovery software. Before Scan, add the .ipynb file format in Add Header option under Settings of the software. Then run a Deep Scan to find all Jupyter notebook files. To know more on how to add new file type, follow this KB: https://www.stellarinfo.com/support/kb/index.php/article/how-can-i-add-a-file-type-in-the-software
I accidentally deleted my documents file on my computer loosing quite a bit work. Thank you soooooooo much I can’t believe I Was so stupid I never licked in the bin file
is there a way to recover data from damaged hard disks?
hello Yogi,
Unfortunately, if the drive is physically damaged, you can’t recover’data. However, if the drive is logically damaged and recognized in Disk Management tool, you can follow this guide to restore your data: https://www.stellarinfo.com/blog/how-to-repair-corrupted-hard-disk-without-formatting/
Hello.
I have accidentally formatted my external hard drive and so is there any way to recover these files. Please do help
Hi Sanjay,
You don’t need to worry. You can try Stellar Data Recovery Professional for Windows to recover your formatted external hard drive. It is a DIY software that is easy to use and recover. Thanks
Hi,
I was facing “The document is locked for editing by another user” error when I was trying to open the documents in word. Then I searched on the internet and apply some manual steps:
1. Quit all instances of Word.
2. Start Windows Explorer, and then browse to the folder that contains the document file that you tried to open when you received the error message
3. Delete the owner file.
4. Start Word. If Word asks you whether you want to load the changes that were made to the Global or Normal template, click No
I followed these instructions and now my file was completely deleted – not in recycle folder and cannot restore previous versions. Any help? Thanks
Hello Samantha,
We would recommend you to perform deep scan by our data recovery software and check the results. If you still do not get data then you may also perform can’t find drive process in our software in which software will search deleted or lost partitions and recovers the data from those partitions.
Hello, In my laptop windows 10 is install and usually windows 10 comes with built in backup features. So I did not take backup but some error occurred and I had to face problem. Then I used Stellar Windows Data Recovery Software and got my files. Thanks for this.!!!
Hello Wayne,
It’s good to know that Stellar Data Recovery Software helped you to recover your data. Thanks.
I was transferring photos from my laptop to phone via bluetooth. At 80% transfer rate, i accidentally clicked on cancel button and the photos are not found in laptop as well in mobile. Please help me restore it.
Connect the Pen Drive to your PC and Download Stellar Data Recovery Professional Software. Make sure to choose Pen Drive as the install location while installing the software in order to prevent overwriting of the data. The software will help you recover your lost photos.