How to Recover Deleted Files in Windows 10 (7 Free Methods)

Want to recover deleted files in Windows 10? You can use several methods, including file recovery software. Windows also has built-in tools to help you recover your data. We'll show you the best ways to recover in different scenarios of data loss.

Method	Scenario
Windows 10 Data Recovery Software	Recover permanently deleted files not found in the Recycle Bin.
Undo Deletion	The file or folder was recently deleted and you haven't restarted your computer yet.
Restore from Recycle Bin	Files were removed using the standard delete method and the Recycle Bin has not been emptied.
Find Deleted File with Command Prompt	The file has been intentionally or accidentally hidden.
Windows File Recovery Tool	Recover files using the free command-line utility.
Recover from File History Backup	An important file was permanently deleted, but a backup exists.
Restore Previous Version	A folder was permanently deleted, but you don't want to use third-party software to recover files.

Recover Permanently Deleted Files in Windows 10 Using Data Recovery Software

Unfortunately, it's all too easy to accidentally delete files in Windows 10. Microsoft does provide a safety net in the form of the Recycle Bin, but it doesn't always come into play—you might accidentally delete something permanently. Holding Shift while you delete a file bypasses the Recycle Bin, for example, or attempting to delete a file when the bin is full will remove it immediately.

The most reliable method is to use professional Data Recovery Wizard software to restore permanently deleted files, which works on different Windows versions. The software has a high success rate and is user-friendly. This file recovery tool allows you to recover deleted files without backup.

Follow the steps in this article to recover deleted files or get back permanently lost files and data in Windows 10.

⚠️ It is crucial to remember that time is of the essence when it comes to data recovery. The sooner you begin locating and recovering your data, the higher the chances of a successful recovery. Delaying the process can make recovery impossible, as new data might overwrite the lost information or the drive attempting to be recovered could fail.

Video tutorial on how to recover deleted files in Windows 10 using 5 methods

1. 0:00 Method 1: Recover Lost Data from Recycle Bin
2. 0:48 Method 2: Recover Lost Data Using Command Prompt
3. 3:14 Method 3: Recover Files with Data Recovery Software
4. 5:53 Method 4: Restore Lost Data with File History Backup
5. 7:27 Method 5: Recover Deleted Files from Previous Versions

Share this ultimate data recovery tool with your friends on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram! You can also use this program to recover deleted files in Windows 11.

Recover deleted files using Undo Delete in Windows 10 If you accidentally deleted a file in Windows 10, you can try using the "Undo Delete" feature to restore it. Follow these steps: 1. **Open File Explorer**: Click on the folder icon on the taskbar or press the `Win + E` keys. 2. **Navigate to the location of the deleted file**: Go to the folder or location where the file was before it was deleted. 3. **View the Recycle Bin**: In the left-hand pane of File Explorer, click on the "Recycle Bin" icon. 4. **Find and select the file to recover**: In the Recycle Bin window, browse for and locate the file you want to restore, then click on it to select it. 5. **Use "Undo Delete"**: On the top menu bar in File Explorer, click on the "Home" tab, and then click the "Undo Delete" button (which looks like an arrow pointing left). Alternatively, you can use the keyboard shortcut `Ctrl + Z`. 6. **Confirm the file has been restored**: The file should immediately return to its original location. Check if the file has been successfully restored. Please note that if the file has been permanently deleted (e.g., by emptying the Recycle Bin) or the disk space has been overwritten with new data, this method may not work. In such cases, you'll need to use professional data recovery software to attempt to recover the file.

A lot of users are aware of the way to quickly recover recently deleted files with Ctrl+Z File Recovery. Or, you can right-click the folder where it was originally located and click “Undo Delete.”

Here are the steps to recover a file using the “Undo Delete” feature:

Step 1: Right-click on the location where the missing folder was.

Step 2: Click on "Undelete" to restore the file back to its original location.

Step 3: Or simply press "Ctrl+Z" to undo and recover the lost data.

⚠️ Note that using Ctrl+Z or "Undo Delete" only works if the file or folder was just deleted. If you restarted your computer after losing the file, this method won't work.

Recover Deleted Files from Recycle Bin in Windows 10

How to recover deleted folder from desktop? If you deleted the folder by pressing the “Delete” key on your keyboard or by dragging it to the Recycle Bin, the steps to recover the file in Windows 10 are very simple. The Recycle Bin is very helpful for free file recovery in Windows 10.

Trash Can File Recovery

How to Recover Permanently Deleted Files from Windows 10 Using CMD

The Windows Command Prompt can be a powerful tool for managing your disks and files. You can use the attrib command-line to restore hidden files through CMD, but these commands won't recover deleted files.

Step 1: Type cmd in the search box, right-click Command Prompt, and select Run as administrator.

2. Type ATTRIB -H -R -S /S /D X:*.* in the Command Prompt window, then press Enter. Replace “X” with the letter of your hard drive.

Want to help others? Share this Command Prompt tutorial on social media and start a discussion on how to recover deleted files in Windows 10.

Recover Files with Windows File Recovery on Windows 10 Windows 10 includes a tool called "Windows File Recovery" that can help you restore accidentally deleted files. Follow these steps: 1. Open Command Prompt (run as administrator): - Press the `Win + X` key combination, then choose "Command Prompt (Admin)" or "PowerShell (Admin)." 2. Enter the following command and press Enter to start the Windows File Recovery tool: ``` winfr : : ``` Here, `` is the disk partition where your lost file was, `` is the location where you want to save the recovered files, and `` (optional) is the specific file or folder's name. 3. Choose a recovery mode based on the prompt: - `Standard`: Best for recently deleted files. - `Deep Scan`: A more thorough scan that might take longer but recovers more files. - `Raw`: Use only when other modes fail; it may recover files but not preserve original filenames and structure. 4. Wait for the recovery process to finish. This can take some time depending on the file size and disk speed. 5. After the recovery is complete, check the target drive to find your recovered files. Please note that this method doesn't guarantee a 100% recovery rate, and restored files might have different sizes than their originals. Before attempting recovery, ensure the target drive has enough space and avoid any write operations on the source drive to prevent overwriting lost data.

As long as you're running at least the May 2020 Update (Windows 10 2004), you can use Windows File Recovery – though you'll have to download it from the Microsoft Store. It's a free file recovery tool from Microsoft, but very different to programs like Data Recovery Wizard, as it's a command-line tool. This means it doesn't use the familiar icon and menu system, but is text-based, so not something everyone will be comfortable with.

Given the potential for mistakes, the Windows File Recovery tool is really only recommended for more experienced computer users.

Before you start using the Windows File Recovery tool, there are two things to prepare and some conditions to know:

You will need a spare drive to recover the data – either a regular hard disk or an external USB drive. You will also need to know the exact location where the file was originally stored.

How to use the Windows File Recovery tool to restore deleted files in Windows 10

Step 1: Open the Microsoft Store app and search for the Windows File Recovery tool. Then, click on the Get button to download and install the app.

Step 2: Press the Windows key, then click the Search bar. Type Windows File Recovery in the search box, then select it.

The solution comes from the official Microsoft website.

Step 3. Begin the deep scan recovery process using the syntax shown below. The basic command line is:

WinFR source-drive: destination-drive: [/switches]

For example:

winfr C: D: /n \Users\Documents\test.docx This is a Windows file recovery command used to restore a file named "test.docx" from the C drive to the D drive. The "/n" parameter indicates that a new directory structure should be created to save the recovered file.

This particular command will restore a deleted Word document named “test” that was previously stored on the C: drive and save it to the D: drive.

Step 4. Then follow the on-screen instructions to finish the process of recovering your deleted files.

⚠️ This method may not work for everyone, as different situations require different commands. Also, it doesn't always help, for example, in the case of a virus attack or lost partitions. In such instances, it's best to use the data recovery wizard tools mentioned above.

Recover Permanently Deleted Files in Windows 10 from File Backup

This method only works if you set up a backup or turned on File History before you lost the files. If you don't have a backup, you'll still need data recovery software to restore permanently deleted files on Windows 10.

Please check your recent backups, and then follow the steps to restore deleted files from Windows Backup:

Step 1: Open Settings from the Start menu, and then go to Update & Security. Click on the Backup section on the left.

Step 2: Select “Backup and Restore (Windows 7).” Click “Restore my files” > “Browse for files” or “Browse for folders,” and select the system image backup file you created earlier.

Step 3: Choose where you want to save the file. If there's a naming conflict, Windows will warn you. Choose “Replace and copy,” “Don't copy,” or “Copy and keep both files” as needed, then wait for the restore process to finish.

Restore deleted files in Windows 10 from previous versions

You can also use the "Restore previous versions" feature to recover permanently deleted files in Windows 10, provided that you had this feature enabled beforehand. To ensure that you have this option, you need to have set up a File History backup to automatically create copies, or have initiated System Restore Points.

Assuming you have this feature enabled on Windows, you can recover permanently deleted files by following these steps:

Step 1: Find the folder that contained the permanently deleted file, and right-click on it.

Step 2: Click “Restore Previous Version.”

Step 3. As the popup explains, previous versions come from File History backups or System Restore points. Choose the files you're interested in, and click “Restore” to bring them back.

If Windows alerts you that a file or folder with the same name already exists at the destination, choose Replace the file in the destination to overwrite the file, or choose a new name for the file.

⚠️ Previous versions and file history backups need to be backed up before data loss occurs. Otherwise, without a backup available to restore, you will lose your files entirely.

Was this solution able to help you recover deleted files with File History in Windows 10? Share it on social media to help others find it.

How to Prevent Accidentally Deleting Files in Windows 10

Far better than trying to recover lost data is to prevent files from being deleted in the first place. Here are some tips for protecting yours.

❌ Avoid Human Errors	Be cautious when accessing or editing files to avoid accidentally deleting them. Also, don't permanently delete all data at once, as it can make recovery more difficult.
✅ Regularly Backup Important Data	Back up your data regularly using any effective method. You can use built-in Windows tools like File History or opt for a reliable third-party file backup software.
? Stop Using the Device and Recover Deleted Data Soon	When you delete data from an HDD, SD card, or external drive, immediately stop using the device and employ professional data recovery software to restore deleted files.

Frequently Asked Questions About Restoring Deleted Files in Windows 10

Read more about how to recover permanently deleted files in Windows 10.

1. Can I recover permanently deleted files from my computer?

In most cases, yes. However, there are several factors that can affect your chances of successfully retrieving a file, such as the type of file and how long it has been since it was deleted. If you've recently deleted a file and emptied your computer's Recycle Bin, you may still be able to recover it using a deleted file recovery program.

How can I recover deleted files for free from Windows?

One way to do this for free is by using a free file recovery program like tools Data Recovery Wizard Free. This tool scans your hard drive and attempts to recover any deleted files. With this tool, you can recover up to 2GB of data for free.

Step 1: Download and launch tools Data Recovery Wizard Free Edition.

Step 2: Scan the disk to find the deleted files.

Step 3: Preview and save the recovered files to an external storage device

How can I recover deleted files in Windows 10 without using software?

There are several ways to recover deleted files without using any third-party software. One method is to check the Recycle Bin to see if the file you accidentally deleted is still there. If it is, simply right-click on the deleted file and select "Restore."

If the file is not in the Recycle Bin, you might be able to restore it from a previous version. To do this:

Step 1: Open File Explorer and navigate to the folder where the deleted file was located.

Step Two: Right-click the folder and select “Properties.”

Step 3: Under the Previous Versions tab, select the latest version of the folder that contained the deleted file, and then click Restore.

How can I recover permanently deleted files from the Recycle Bin?

You can use third-party data recovery tools to retrieve permanently deleted files from the Recycle Bin.

Step 1: Install and launch Recycle Bin Recovery software.

Step 2. Under the Locations section, click Recycle Bin and then hit Scan.

Step 3: Select the files you need, preview them, and recover them.

How can I recover permanently deleted files in Windows 10 without a backup?

If you accidentally deleted a file and don't have a File History backup, you'll need to use a dedicated Windows 10 data recovery tool to get it back. There are many different file recovery programs to choose from, and one of the popular tools is Data Recovery Wizard, which can recover data after a file gets corrupted.

Once you've chosen and installed a file-recovery program, simply run it and follow the prompts to try to restore your permanently deleted files.