How to Recover Permanently Deleted Files in Windows 10 Without Software

How can I recover Shift-deleted files without software?

Case study for Removal and Deletion Recovery without Software:

Like Shift+Delete, there are many other ways to lose data, including emptying the Recycle Bin, reformatting a hard drive, and deleting files without sending them to the Recycle Bin.

Once a file or folder is permanently deleted, your best bet is to use a professional data recovery tool like tools Data Recovery Wizard. This utility can recover permanently deleted files from HDD, SSD, USB, SD card, external hard drive, laptop, and desktop before they're overwritten and quickly restore lost data. (Notice: Data may get covered as long as you continue using the storage device or computer after deleting files.)

However, some users want to try to recover deleted files without software. For this reason, we've summarized three methods and their conditions below. Choose the one that suits you best to restore permanently deleted files in Windows 10 without using any software.

If none of the above methods without using recovery software work for you, skip to How to Recover a Permanently Deleted File Using Software.

How to Recover Deleted Files from the Recycle Bin Without Software - Using CMD

As mentioned above, emptying the Recycle Bin is one of the common ways to permanently lose data. A possible way to recover deleted files from an emptied Recycle Bin without using software is by using the Command Prompt. With Windows File Recovery, you have a free chance to restore your deleted files.

Let's see how to use it.

Step 1: Download and open the Windows File Recovery tool.

Step 2: Type the winfr command in the Command Prompt window. An example is shown below:

WINFR source-drive: target-drive: [/mode] [/switches]

Step 3. The Windows File Recovery tool offers two modes to recover deleted files: Standard mode or Advanced mode.

Please refer to the source page from Microsoft for detailed steps on how to use the Windows File Recovery tool to recover lost files on Windows 10.

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How to Recover Deleted Files from an External Hard Drive Without Software - Restore from Previous Versions

The "Previous Versions" feature is part of the Shadow Copy service. This service creates restore points that allow you to effectively undo changes. In this scenario, if you accidentally delete one or more crucial files or folders, you can attempt to recover them from "Previous Versions" without downloading or installing any third-party data recovery software.

This method works even if you've emptied the Recycle Bin or deleted files/folders from your USB drive or external hard disk using Shift key. Check out the steps below:

Step 1: Right-click on the folder where the deleted file was, and select “Restore previous versions.” You should now see an option to restore that folder. If you don't see “Restore previous versions” when you right-click, follow these steps.

Step 2: Open Control Panel and launch System Protection.

Step 3: Click “System and Security” → “System” → “System Protection” (in the left pane).

Step 4: Displays available disks with the corresponding protection.

Step 5. Select a specific disk and click “Configure.”

Step 6: Click “Restore my files” and then click “OK.” There you go – you should now see an option to restore specific files.

How to recover permanently deleted files from Windows 10 without software

Windows operating systems come with a built-in data recovery component called "Backup and Restore," which users can use to create backups and restore files from previous backups. If you've been using the Windows backup feature, there's a good chance you can recover permanently deleted files through backup means. Here's how to recover permanently deleted files using backup:

Step 1. Connect the backup storage medium to your Windows PC.

Step 2: Press Windows + I, and then go to “Settings.”

Step 3: Choose Update & security > Backup.

Step 4. Click on “Backup and Restore (Windows 7).”

Step 5: Click “Restore my files.”

How to Use Data Recovery Software to Retrieve Permanently Deleted Files in Windows 10

If you can't recover Shift+Delete files without software, don't lose heart. With the help of file recovery tools like the free Data Recovery Wizard, you stand a good chance of retrieving permanently deleted files from an emptied Recycle Bin or external hard drive.

Data Recovery Wizard is a user-friendly tool suitable for users of all levels. With it, you can easily recover deleted files in Windows 10 with just three simple steps. The Data Recovery Wizard supports Recycle Bin recovery, lost partition recovery, RAW recovery, system crash recovery, and deletion recovery.

Now, download this best data recovery software to retrieve permanently deleted files from Windows 10/8/7.

Step 1: Select the location to scan

Select the specific device or drive from where you Shift + Deleted the files or emptied the Recycle Bin. Click on the “Scan” button to look for the lost files.

Step Two: Check the Results

The software will automatically start scanning everything on the selected drive. Once the scan is complete, select the "Deleted Files" and "Other Lost Files" folders in the left panel. Then, use the "Filter" feature or click the "Search for File or Folder" button to quickly locate the deleted file.

Step 3: Recover the deleted file

Select the deleted files you want to restore, and click “Preview.” Then, hit “Recover” to save them to a different secure location or device.

Share the data recovery software on your social media to help more people who can benefit from this tool.

The bottom line?

Can I recover permanently deleted files or folders without software? Yes, there are three ways to do this: restore from previous versions, use the Command Prompt, and recover from a backup. If these options are unavailable and you can't get your lost files back, turn to the tool Data Recovery Wizard. This ultimate file recovery tool can help you recover permanently deleted files in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, and other Windows operating systems.

Frequently Asked Questions About Software for Recovering Deleted Files

If you have additional questions about the recovery of permanently deleted files without software, please read through the following FAQ.

Isn't there any software to recover permanently deleted files?

If you don't want to use any third-party data recovery software, there are two ways to recover permanently deleted files without software: Restore from previous versions or recover from backup files.

How can I recover permanently deleted files without software?

You can restore a previous version of the file:

Step 1: Find the folder that contained the deleted file, right-click it, and choose Restore previous versions.

Step 2: You will see a list of available previous versions. Select the version that contains the file you want to restore from the backup.

How can I recover deleted files from the recycle bin without software?

After emptying the Recycle Bin, you can use the Windows File Recovery tool to retrieve deleted files from the Recycle Bin. Launch the Command Prompt and use the winfr command to restore lost data.