AOMEI FastRecovery
6 Ways to Get Back Something You Accidentally Deleted
Here in this article, you'll learn the best method to get back something you accidentally deleted as well as other feasible methods, along with step-by-step instructions.
By Ivy / Updated on March 4, 2025
How to get back something you accidentally deleted
“Hello everyone. I deleted my files accidentally several days ago but I didn’t realize it at that time. Now I need it urgently but I don’t know how to recover my files. How do I get back something I deleted? I’ll be grateful if anybody tells me what I can do to change the situation.” – Question from a Windows user
Search online for "how to get back something you accidentally deleted", and you may find that many users are plagued by this issue, not only Windows, but also Mac, iPhone/iPad, and Android users.
Don't be afraid, we'll introduce you to several useful methods to restore deleted files, regardless of the platform you are using. Here's a quick navigation to browse them:
| Recovery Methods | Description | Supported Platforms |
|---|---|---|
| AOMEI Fast Recovery 👍 | It's a reliable and powerful data recovery software for Windows, which can recover deleted files in Windows 11, 10, 8, 7, etc., and Windows Server. | Only Windows |
| Undo Delete | If you accidentally deleted files without restarting the computer, it's worth trying to undo deleted files by "Ctrl + Z". | Only Windows |
| Recycle Bin/Trash/Recently Deleted | No matter whether you are using Windows, Mac, iPhone/iPad, or Android, there is a location to store deleted files temporarily, just check it first. | Windows, Mac, iPhone/iPad, and Android |
| File History | File History is a backup feature that can backup files automatically, allowing you to restore deleted files. Or use the "Restore Previous version" option. | Only Windows |
| MyRecover for iOS | It's a professional iOS data recovery software, which can restore accidentally deleted files. | iPhone/iPad |
How to restore something you accidentally deleted
"Accidentally deleted a file and it's not in the Recycle Bin" is fairly annoying and frustrating, especially for those very important files. Here we'll show you the best method how to get back something you accidentally deleted as well as other feasible methods.
Solution 1. Restore deleted files on Windows using software (Best)
If you are looking for a way with a high success rate and fast speed, try AOMEI FastRecovery, a powerful data recovery software for Windows. It integrates with top algorithms and has a user-friendly interface, making it easy and simple to recover data from SSDs/HDDs/USB drives/SD cards, etc., in any scenarios.
AOMEI FastRecovery- Combine Quick Scan & Deep Scan technologies to detect all deleted or lost files, with a high success rate and fast speed.
- Recover Word documents, Excel files, PPT, pictures, videos, compressed files, etc, and more than 1000+ file types.
- Search or filter data quickly through file name, extension, data type, etc.
- Preview and recover files while scanning.
- Recover specific files or folders instead of all.
- Compatible with Windows 11, 10, 8, 7, etc., and Windows Servers.
- Work perfectly with NTFS, FAT32, exFAT, and ReFS file systems.
- Handle different data loss scenarios, such as accident delete, formatting, lost partition, virus or malware attack, etc.
100% SecureNow get it and enjoy it with me.
Step 1. Download and install AOMEI FastRecovery on your computer. Then, open it after installing, find the drive containing deleted files, then click Scan.
Step 2. It will perform the Quick scan method automatically to find deleted files. You can search, filter, or preview files during scanning.
- Filter: Specify the data type and size to target your search.
- Search:Type file name or extension in the search box to locate files precisely.
- Preview: Preview files in a clear thumbnail, such as wav,ico, jpg, png, bmp, jpeg, tif, svg, gif, ico, mp4, mp3, txt, xlsx, pdf, ini, docx, etc.
Step 3. Once found, you can select the items you accidentally deleted and click the “Recover” button. Please choose a new location to save the recovered files to prevent data overwriting.
Solution 2. Use Ctrl + Z keyboard shortcut
Actually, if you just deleted your files, folder, and something else a few seconds ago, the quickest and most efficient way is to press “Ctrl + Z” simultaneously to undo the deletion operation. It works in most cases. Note if there's something wrong with the keyboard shortcut, you can also right-click your mouse and then click “Undo Delete”.
Solution 3. Restore deleted files in Recycle Bin/Trash/Recently Deleted
We know that the accidentally deleted files will be stored in the Recycle bin/Trash/Recently Deleted folder. So you can tryto check and restore deleted files from Recycle bin/Trash/Recently Deleted folder. Now, follow me to learn how to restore.
On Windows:
Step 1. Go to the "Recycle Bin" on your desktop.
Step 2. Find your accidentally deleted files or folders, select the file, and right-click on the "Restore" option to undo deleted files.
On Mac:
Step 1. Open the "Trash" folder in Finder.
Step 2. Locate the deleted files and drag them back to its original location.
On iPhone:
Step 1. Open the Photos app.
Step 2. Scroll down to the "Recently Deleted" folder and open it.
Step 3. Locate and right-click the deleted photos, and click the "Restore" button.
On Android:
Step 1. Open the Files app. Then, tap the menu icon and select "Trash".
Step 2. Here you can find deleted files and select to restore.
After that, all the deleted files will go back to the original location where the files were stored before.
Solution 4. Restore deleted files from File history
What if you empty the Recycle bin or delete files again? Don’t worry, it is still accessible. That's where File History comes in. File History, a backup tool for Windows 10 mainly, can be used to backup and restore files.
Step 1. Search “restore files” in the search box and open “Restore your files with File History”.
Step 2. Check the folder where your deleted files are saved. Click the Recycle icon to restore your deleted files.
Solution 5. Restore deleted files from previous versions
File History is also a way to restore previous versions of files. If you enabled this feature before, try the following steps.
On Windows 10 and 11:
Step 1. Open Windows File Explorer, right-click the folder which includes the deleted files and select “Previous Versions”.
Step 2. In the Properties window, select a folder version according to the time. Then, click “Restore” to get the folder back to a previous date.
On Windows 7:
Step 1. On the desktop, click on “My Computer”. Then, locate the folder that stores the deleted files,right-click and choose “Restore previous versions”.
Step 2. There will be a “Properties” window that pops up. You’ll find accidentally deleted files, select the file version and click “Restore” to get back accidentally deleted files.
Solution 6. Get back something you accidentally deleted on iPhone/ iPad
Moreover, if you delete something accidentally on your iPhone or iPad, you can get back lost data using professional data recovery software like MyRecover for iOS suits you best.
- Recover more than 10 data types, such as“Photos”, “Videos”, “Notes”, and so on.
- Get back lost data selectively, not all of them.
- Recover deleted files without overwriting existing data.
- Support iPhone/iPad/iPod touch, iOS 10.0 and above to the latest iOS 18.
What you need to do is connect it to a PC with a USB cable and then scan it. Now follow me to learn how to use it.
Step 1. Download MyRecover for iOS on your PC, install, and run it.
MyRecover for iOSProfessional iPhone data recovery software for personal use.
Step 2. Prepare a USB cable to connect your iPhone to your PC, prefer the original one. Once connected, click on “Scan Now”.
Step 3. Wait for a while, the scanning time depends on the amount of data. When it is completed, go to the tab you want to recover deleted files from, for example, “Notes”. Choose the deleted notes you want and click on “Recover”.
Conclusion
Here in this post, we list 6 ways how to get back something you accidentally deleted on Windows, iPhone, or iPad respectively. By using a “Ctrl + Z” shortcut, restoring from Recycle bin, File History... However, if you get tired of trying them one by one or the issue remains, you could try AOMEI FastRecovery to free yourself from the problem on Windows.
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