7 Methods to Solve Files Appearing after Deleting

Why do my deleted files keep coming back after I delete them?

Are you bothered by files appearing after deleting or deleted folder keeps coming back? Want to avoid reappearing after deletion? Please read further.

Possible reasons for deleted files reappearing

Please get an overview of its possible causes before fixing the issue of deleted files keep coming back Windows 10.

• Misconfigured permissions
• Virus or Malware affects
• Corrupted Recycle Bin
• Corrupted file systems of your deleted files
• Cloud syncing services or cloud storage services affect

How to fix files and folders keep reappearing after deletion?

Files appearing after deleting? Deleted folder keeps coming back? Or desktop icon reappears after deleting? Please refer to the following solutions.  

Solution 1. Change permissions to prevent deleted files keeps coming back Windows 10

In computing, you’re not allowed to make any changes without permission. To prevent the deleted folder keeps coming back, you’re supposed to check the permission settings and modify the corresponding permissions.

Step 1. Right-click on your unwanted file/folder. Then click Properties > Security.

Step 2. Locate your username and click the “Edit” button.

Step 3. Choose Allow for all permissions. Then “Apply” it and click the “OK” button.

Solution 2. Run Microsoft Safety Scanner

Sometimes, virus attacks or malicious software could lead to deleted files keep coming back Windows 10. For safety reasons, it’s advisable for you to perform Microsoft Safety Scanner to remove ransomware viruses.  

Step 1. Download Microsoft Safety Scanner from the official Microsoft Website. Please note that the downloaded Microsoft Safety Scanner is only valid for 10 days.

Step 2. Choose Quick scan, Full scan, or Customized scan according to your needs.

Step 3. This malware removal tool will automatically find harmful viruses and remove them from your PC. Please wait patiently.

Solution 3. Detect Virus & threat protection in Windows Settings

Files keep reappearing after deletion in Windows 10? If you’re unwilling to download another software, in this scenario, you can take advantage of Windows programs and features to get rid of the malicious viruses from your Windows PC.

Step 1. Press “Win + I” to open Windows Settings. Then click Update & Security > Windows Security > Virus & threat protection.

Step 2. On the Virus & threat protection screen, click the “Scan options” button.

Step 3. Select “Full scan” and click “Scan now” to begin the scanning process.

Solution 4. Delete files in Safe Mode

Files appearing after deleting? You could delete your unwanted files or explicit malware in Safe Mode because Windows OS only runs essential drives and files. This is how you can exclude the presence of malware.

If you need to fix the issue of the Red Screen of Death, this method is also useful.

Step 1. Press “Win + I” to open Windows Settings and click the “Update & Security” button.

Step 2. Click “Recovery” on the left. Under the “Advanced startup” tab, click the “Restart now” button.

Step 3. Your PC will reboot into the winRE. Then click Troubleshoot > Advanced options.

Step 4. Under the Startup Settings tab, you can press F4/F5/F6 to start your PC in Safe Mode.

Step 5. Remove the problematic files again or uninstall the explicit malware after going to Safe Mode. After that, open Windows Settings again and select the Normal Boot option. Then click OK and restart your PC.

Solution 5. Fix the corrupted Recycle Bin using the elevated command prompt

If the Recycle Bin shows empty but it is not or its icon becomes greyed out, which implies it might be damaged. In brief, if the Recycle Bin cannot automatically cycle the deleted files, these files will reappear in their previous storage locations.

To stop files appearing after deleting, you’re prompted to reset your Recycle Bin using the elevated command prompt.

Step 1. Type “cmd” in the search bar and “Run as administrator” to open the command prompt window.

Step 2. Type “rd /s /q C:\$Recycle.bin” in the window and hit “Enter” or press “OK” to begin the process. If you need, please replace the letter C with your selected drive.

Solution 6. Fix corrupted system files using SFC scan

If your files appearing after deleting because of their corrupted/damaged file systems, you can run the System File Checker tool (SFC.exe) to scan Windows and restore files.

Step 1. Type “cmd” in the search bar and “Run as administrator” to open the command prompt window.

Step 2. Enter the following command line in the window and hit “Enter” or press “OK” to start the process.

• DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth
• sfc /scannow

Solution 7. Uninstall cloud storage and turn off cloud sync service

With cloud storage apps or cloud syncing services on, your deleted documents are likely to reappear after deletion. For instance, without disabling OneDrive, your deleted folder keeps coming back and going back to its previously saved path.

At this point, please consider uninstalling the cloud storage software or disabling your cloud sync services.

▶Uninstall Cloud Storage Software  

Step 1. Open Control Panel by typing it in the search bar. Then click the “Programs” button.

Step 2. In the Programs and Features window, right-click on your selected Microsoft OneDrive application, then “Uninstall” it.

▶Turn off Cloud Sync Service

Step 1. Tap the OneDrive icon in the taskbar notification area. Then click the “More” button.

Step 2. Select “Pause syncing” and choose the period of pause sync according to your needs.

If the above solutions fail to discourage your files appearing after deleting, perhaps you can try a professional data eraser tool to remove them.

Further reading: How to recover deleted files from desktop?

After intentional deletion, some users will be regretful. Let’s make it plain, some of you are eager to recover deleted files from desktop, or hard drives.

Nevertheless, it might be problematic for those users who’ve made permanently deleted performances to recover old deleted files without backups.

Are you wondering how to recover deleted files from desktop? At the moment, reliable data recovery software like MyRecover is perfectly tailored to help you get permanently deleted desktop files back.

Its powerful features and friendly design have established a good reputation in the market.   

★Tips:   

Recover the deleted/lost Word, Excel, PPT, PDF, photos, videos, audio, folders, and other 200+ types of data from HDD, USB, SD cards, and other storage devices.

Keep the original paths, filenames, and format for the deleted files.

During Quick Scan and Deep Scan, enter filenames in the search bar to locate your desired desktop files or wait to see all the deleted and other lost files.   

Support NTFS, exFAT, FAT32, and ReFS file systems.

Download MyRecover on your Windows 11, 10, 8, 7, or Windows Server computer to perform desktop data recovery!

Step 1. Launch MyRecover on your PC and hover the mouse over the C drive. Then click Scan.

Step 2. Quickly locate your needed desktop files by Name, Date, Type, Size, or Path. You can also wait to view all the deleted and other missing files after Quick Scan and Deep Scan.

Step 3. Go to the Deleted Files/Other Missing Files folder, and click “Recover x files” to get your selected desktop files back. Please remember to save them in a new location.

Related suggestions

Files appearing after deleting? Please read the above content to get seven fixes to solve this problem. Those users who’re keen to perform desktop data recovery can go to the last part.

Here comes some practical data loss prevention tips. Please take these practical tips into consideration and put them into action.

• Please think twice before deletion.
• You can customize the storage size of your Recycle Bin to save larger deleted files.
• Try to cultivate a good habit of creating regular backups using free backup software for Windows to back up files, folders, partitions, disks, or the system.

• Sync your files to your cloud storage devices such as OneDrive or Google Drive.
• Please don’t put all your eggs in one basket to prevent data loss.