How to Recover Deleted Files from a Laptop/Desktop [2024 Guide]

How to recover deleted files on a Windows PC:

1. Step 1: Open the "Recycle Bin" on your Windows PC or laptop.
2. Step 2: Locate the missing file. You can search by file name or deletion date.
3. Step 3: Right-click on the deleted file and select "Restore" to bring it back to its original location.

Accidentally deleting files is something we're all guilty of. If you've deleted a file and then realized you need it, you can use the handy tips in this guide to recover deleted files from your Windows 10/8/7 laptop or PC.

How to Recover Deleted Files from the PC Recycle Bin

If you delete files on your computer by moving them to the Recycle Bin and not subsequently pressing the "Empty Recycle Bin" button, you can easily recover recently deleted files. Follow these steps to retrieve deleted files from the Recycle Bin on Windows 10:

Step 1: Open the Recycling Bin and find the file you need.

Step 2: Right-click the file you want to recover and select “Restore.”

Step 3. This will restore the deleted file to its original location. After it's restored, you can copy the file to another drive if you want.

How to Use Deleted File Recovery Software to Restore Lost Files Deleted file recovery software is a specially designed tool that helps users retrieve accidentally deleted, formatted, or lost files. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to use such software to recover deleted files: 1. **Choose the Right Recovery Software**: First, you need to select a reliable deleted file recovery tool. There are numerous options available, such as Recuva, tools Data Recovery Wizard, or Disk Drill. Ensure the software is compatible with your operating system and has good user reviews. 2. **Download and Install**: Visit the official website of the chosen software and download the version suitable for your computer's operating system. Follow the installation wizard's instructions to complete the setup process. 3. **Launch the Software**: After installation, open the deleted file recovery software. It will typically present a user-friendly interface guiding you through the process. 4. **Select the Drive to Scan**: From the list provided by the software, choose the hard drive partition or external device where your deleted files were located. If unsure, opt for a full disk scan. 5. **Start the Scan**: Click on "Scan" or "Start" to initiate the search for deleted files. The scanning process may take a few minutes to hours, depending on the size of the drive and the number of files. 6. **Preview and Select Files**: Once the scan is complete, the software will display all recoverable files found. You can filter and sort these files by name, type, size, or date. Some tools also allow you to preview file content to confirm if it's the one you want to restore. 7. **Recover the Files**: Choose the files you want to recover and click on "Restore" or "Save." Make sure not to save the recovered files back to the same drive, as this could overwrite other lost data. Opt for another disk or an external storage device instead. 8. **Check Recovered Files**: After recovery, immediately check if the files open and function correctly. If they're corrupted or inaccessible, you might need to try alternative recovery methods or consult a professional data recovery service. Please note that while these software tools can significantly increase the chances of recovering deleted files, there's no guarantee of 100% success. The best strategy is to regularly back up important files to prevent data loss.

If the deleted file is not in the Recycle Bin and there are no previous versions saved, you can use one of the best data recovery software tools – Data Recovery Wizard to restore deleted files from your computer or laptop.

Equipped with advanced algorithmic technology, Data Recovery Software is an easy-to-use tool with a spotless decade-long record in the data recovery field.

• Recover Deleted Files on Windows 10 and Windows 11
• Support for permanent deletion recovery, formatted recovery, RAW recovery, and more data recovery scenarios.
• Recover deleted files from SD cards, USB flash drives, HDDs, SSDs, external hard drives, and more
• Restore lost Word documents, Excel files, photos, videos, audio files, emails, and hundreds of file types.

Download a free data recovery software tool and follow an intuitive process to restore deleted files from your Windows 10 laptop or PC.

Step 1: Select the exact location of the file and then click on the “Scan” button to proceed.

Step 2: After the scan is finished, select the "Deleted Files" and "Other Lost Files" folders on the left. You can then use the "Filter" feature or click on the "Search for files or folders" button to look for your deleted files.

Step 3: Click on the “Recover” button to save the retrieved files to another location (preferably different from the original one).

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Note: Do not save the recovered data to the same partition or disk where you lost it! You can move it back after the recovery, but saving it directly to the same drive may overwrite your files. If you only need to recover a few small files, you can use the free version of the Data Recovery Wizard. This free data recovery software for Windows 10 allows you to recover up to 2 GB of data. You can use it to retrieve files from a laptop or desktop hard drive.

We also have a video tutorial that will help you search for deleted files on a Windows computer.

Recover Deleted Files from Your Laptop Using the "Previous Versions" Feature (No Software Needed)

If the deleted file is not in the Recycle Bin or you need to recover an emptied Recycle Bin without using third-party software to retrieve your lost data, you can try to restore an older version of the deleted or lost file using the built-in free backup and restore feature. Follow the steps below to recover deleted files in Windows 11 or 10 without special software.

In Windows 10/8.1/8:

The first step: Open the control panel.

Step 2: Go to File History > Restore your personal files.

Step 3: Click the green “Recover” button to retrieve your deleted files.

In Windows 7:

Step 1: Click the “Start” button, select “Computer,” and then find the location where the file or folder you want to restore was originally saved.

Step 2: Right-click the folder and select “Restore previous versions” from the context menu.

Right-click on the folder and select "Restore previous versions."

Step 3: You will see a list of available previous versions of the deleted file or folder with different times and dates. Select the version you want and click “Restore” to retrieve your deleted file.

Please refer to the full guide on Microsoft's website for how to recover deleted files from a previous version.

How to Recover Deleted Files from Windows 10/8.1/8/7 Backup

If you've previously set up “Windows Backup,” you can use it to restore your deleted files. To restore files from a backup, make sure the backup media or drive is available, then do the following:

Step 1: Click the “Start” button, type “Control Panel,” and then choose it.

Click on to launch Control Panel.

Step 2: Choose “Backup and Restore (Windows 7).”

Click Backup and Restore.

Step 3. Click the “Restore files from another backup” option, and then select the backup you want to use.

Step 4: Click “Next” and follow the instructions to complete the recovery process.

If you found this tutorial helpful, remember to share it with your friends on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram!

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Read on to learn more about how to recover deleted files.

Where do deleted files go?

Usually, deleted items go to the Recycle Bin, in case you change your mind and want to restore them. However, if you use the “Shift+Delete” keyboard shortcut to delete one or more files, the deleted items skip the Recycle Bin altogether.

But they do not disappear forever, because operating systems do not delete files immediately after they are removed. Though the disk space is marked as available, the file still exists somewhere.

How to recover deleted files on a Mac?

You can use a Mac Data Recovery software tool to recover deleted or permanently erased files from the macOS. Download the free Data Recovery Wizard for Mac and run it.

Step 1: Launch the Any Data Recovery Wizard, and select the disk where you lost your data for scanning.

Step 2: After the scan, use the file type filter on the left or top-right to locate the lost or deleted files you need.

Step 3: Preview and recover the lost data or files.

How can I recover deleted files from an external hard drive, SD card, or USB flash drive?

If you delete files from an external hard drive, a removable USB flash drive, or an SD card, those deleted files won't go to the Recycle Bin. You'll need to connect your external storage device to your computer and have it show up. Then, follow these simple steps to use data recovery software to recover deleted files from an external hard drive.

Step 1: Connect your external hard drive, USB, or SD card to your laptop or desktop.

Step 2: Verify that your device is listed.

Step 3. Launch the data recovery tool and use it to retrieve the deleted files from the external drive.

How can I recover deleted files on Android?

Before you can recover data from an Android device, there are some extra steps you need to take. You'll need to have root access to your device, and you'll need to install the Android Data Recovery tool, such as Mobisaver for Android, on a Windows computer. This software will scan your smartphone for lost photos, contacts, messages, videos, and a variety of file types, displaying your results by category.

Step 1: Connect your Android phone to the computer. Run the MobiSaver for Android tool and click on the “Start” button.

Step 2: Scan Your Android Phone to Find Lost Data

Step 3: Preview and Recover Data from Android Phone

File Deletion Recovery Conclusion

After reading this guide, you should know how to recover deleted files on your Windows 10/8/7 computer. The next time you lose a file, remember to look around before giving up.

1. Firstly, you can recover files that have not been permanently deleted from the Recycle Bin. 2. If the first method fails, you can use data recovery software to scan your hard drive for files that have been permanently deleted in Windows 10. 3. Lastly, check your File History or backups to restore your files. Remember, it's much easier to back up files before they're lost. You can enable File History backup or use automatic file backup software to proactively protect your files.

Frequently Asked Questions About Recovering Deleted Files

If you have any of the common questions about file deletion recovery, you'll find the answers here.

**1. How can I recover a file that has been permanently deleted?**

You can use a professional Windows File Recovery tool to restore files that have been permanently deleted:

Step 1: Download and run the Data Recovery Wizard.

Step 2: Scan your PC or laptop to find the lost files.

Step 3: Preview the recoverable files and restore them with ease.

**2. How can I recover permanently deleted files without a backup?**

Method 1: Use a professional data recovery utility, like Data Recovery Wizard, to recover deleted files without a backup.

Method 2: You can use Microsoft's built-in accessible data recovery tool, “Windows File Recovery,” to restore deleted files without a backup.

3. Can you recover deleted files from a computer?

Follow these simple steps to recover deleted files from your PC using a recovery tool:

Step 1: Download and install the Data Recovery Software on your computer.

Step 2: Select the disk or folder where you lost files for scanning.

Step 3: Preview and recover the lost files.

4. How can I restore a deleted file?

Step 1: In File Explorer, navigate to the folder that contained the deleted file.

Step 2: Right-click anywhere within that folder and choose Undo Move from the shortcut menu.

Step 3: Your deleted file should now be recovered. Alternatively, you can press Ctrl+Z immediately after deleting a file to undo the deletion.