Want to recover an accidentally deleted file in File Explorer? This article will be worth reading with 5 methods to help you find deleted files in Windows 11/10/8/7.
File Explorer allows users to view, access, and manage their files on hard drives. Users create, move, modify, and delete files in File Explorer while managing their files.
While processing their files, it is inevitable to avoid making some mistakes like accidental deletion.
Can I recover a permanently deleted folder?
About an hour ago I was clearing my documents out, and I deleted a folder by accident that contained a lot of important files. Does anyone know any way I can recover my files or any safe and reliable program that can help me?
- Question from Windows10Forum
This is not a rare case. Considerable users are now seeking methods of how to find deleted files in Windows.
As we all know, on your desktop, there is a Recycle Bin, which stores your removed files temporarily. Once you repent your deletion, you can open it and restore deleted files from Recycle Bin directly.
Some users will wonder if there is a Recycle Bin in File Explorer.
No, File Explorer does not have an exclusive trash bin; but every hard disk has one.
For example, if you remove a file from the d: drive, then the removed file will be thrown into the d: drive bin. But this folder is invisible in File Explorer for safety.
Commonly, the unwanted files you delete will only display in the desktop Recycle Bin.
In the next part, we will walk you through the detailed steps of how to retrieve deleted files on PC. Check it out.
Whether your files were recently or permanently removed, they are recoverable with the help of some inbuilt and third-party tools.
Directly restoring files from the Recycle Bin will be the easiest way.
Also, if you don’t know, you could press the Ctrl+Z key to undo the deletion right after removing the files. But if you reboot the PC, the shortcut will not work.
Step 1. Double-click Recycle Bin on the desktop.
Step 2. Locate the file you have just deleted > right-click the file > Restore.
The files will be restored to the original location.
Your files are more likely to be permanently gone due to Recycle Bin emptying, Storage Sense, etc. If you notice Recycle Bin deletes files automatically, Storage Sense and viruses might be the case.
Don’t worry; Windows PC inbuilt tools like Previous Versions can help you. It records the changes you made to the files/folders.
By reverting the folder to an earlier date, you can even restore permanently deleted files from File Explorer.
Step 1. Start File Explorer > locate the upper/parent folder that contains the removed files from File Explorer.
Step 2. Right-click this folder > Restore previous versions > choose an earlier version > Restore.
Also, you could restore previous versions of Word documents using it.
As mentioned, users can restore previous versions of files or folders to recover an accidentally deleted file in File Explorer; the versions come from File History and restore points.
File History is also a good option. It stores the file copies of the c: drive, e.g., Desktop, Documents, Favorites, etc. This method would suit you if the removed files were from the c: drive.
Step 1. Control Panel > System and Security > File History.
Step 2. Restore personal files.
Step 3. Go to the original location > find the wanted files > Recover.
Using this feature to recover deleted Excel files is also easy and quick.
How to find deleted files in Windows 10? A backup is of help if you possess one. Windows PC has an inbuilt backup feature named Backup and Restore (Windows 7).
It allows users to choose what they want and restore what they need.
Step 1. Control Panel > System and Security > Backup and Restore (Windows 7).
Step 2. Click Restore my files.
Step 3. Click Browse for files > locate your wanted files > Next.
Step 4. Choose a preferred place for your recovered pictures > click Restore.
You can also browse for folders to recover a deleted folder on desktop or elsewhere.
All these methods introduced above require backup in advance. But, not all users back up their essential files to guard against data loss.
How to retrieve deleted files on PC without backups? Are there any easy approaches to getting data back after deletion, Recycle Bin emptying?
Seeking help from professional Windows data recovery software will be a preferable choice. Among many tools, MyRecover is a satisfying and efficient one that can help you retrieve deleted files from File Explorer.
Using it will be easy to realize missing and deleted file recovery from internal & external HDD, SSD, SD card, USB flash drives, etc.
Now follow the steps to learn how does Windows recover deleted files easily with the help of an effective tool.
Step 1. Install and run MyRecover > Hover the mouse over the drive > click Scan.
Step 2. Search and sort the detected files by extensions, filenames, Size, Type, Date modified, etc.
Step 3. Go to Deleted files > head towards the original location > choose the files you want > click Recover x files. Or go to Other missing files > select specific data types to restore.
Besides, this tool also helps you recover data from formatted hard drive without any backups.
Users who have accidentally deleted file in File Explorer can refer to this article and get some help in learning how to find deleted files with & without backups.
Windows inbuilt tools, like, Recycle Bin, Previous Versions, File History, and Windows backup, all need backups in advance to help you perform data recovery.
If, unluckily, there is no backup with you, you can still seek help from the professional data rescue app – MyRecover. It is equipped with advanced tech and algorithms that quickly detects lost and missing files.