Easy & Quickly | How to Recover ZIP/RAR Archive Files

The archive file is a computer file that contains one or more files and associated metadata. Archive files commonly have .zip or .rar extensions.

Zip files occupy less storage space and can be transferred to other computers faster than uncompressed files. Besides, RAR files are ideal for transferring or storing large files, such as downloading data from Google or Facebook or sending gigabytes of image, audio, or video files.

But sometimes, these archive files can get lost due to accidental/intentional deletion, formatting, Windows updates, or virus attacks. After that, you may lose your important photos or documents.

“So how do I recover a ZIP file in Windows 10/11?” Don’t worry, scroll down to get the corresponding 3 easy methods to get deleted or lost archive files (ZIP or RAR files) on your PC back.

Can Deleted Archives Be Recovered?

Your permanently deleted performance merely erases the reference path while the actual contents remain intact on your hard drives. Before newly added data occupies the free space where previously saved deleted or missing files, your permanently deleted archive files might persist.

This provides an opportunity to recover deleted ZIP files or other types of archive files before data erasure using data recovery software.

Crucially, if you lose archive files, please note the following:

• After data loss, avoid using your drive that saved your archive files immediately.
• Don't add new files to your drive.
• Avoid formatting your drive that saved your archive files again.
• Don't save recovered files to their original location.

How to Recover Lost or Deleted ZIP/RAR Files (3 Ways)

The following will provide 3 quick ways to solve the issue of how to recover deleted archives like ZIP or RAR files in Windows. If you don't have a backup or the recycle bin is empty. We recommend you use archive file recovery software to retrieve all your ZIP or RAR files because this way is the most effective.

Way 1. Recover Deleted Archive Files from the Recycle Bin

How to recover ZIP files or other types of archive files? The first way is to recover deleted files from the Recycle Bin. If you haven't emptied your Recycle Bin, then it is possible to find your deleted archive files from there. Please refer to the following clicks to perform Recycle Bin recovery.

• Open the Recycle Bin on your desktop, and locate your needed archive file. Right-click on it and choose Restore.

Way 2. Recover Deleted/Missing ZIP and RAR Archive Files (Faster)

If your archive files are too large or are permanently deleted, they will not be stored in the Recycle Bin. In this case, you might wonder how to recover permanently deleted files from the Recycle Bin after empty.

Without regular file backups, most users might seek powerful archive file recovery software like MyRecover for help is the most efficient way to recover permanently deleted archive files. MyRecover can help you to restore deleted or lost files from any storage device such as an HDD, SSD, USB, SD card, and more. Also, this tool supports Windows 11, 10, 8, 7 or Windows Server.

MyRecover

Professional Data Recovery Software

• Recover various archive files like ZIP, RAR, ZIPX, TAR, 7Z, ACE, and other compressed files.
• Advanced Scanning methods: Quick Scan & Deep Scan help you find all the recoverable files on your selected drive.
• Apply to various data recovery scenarios: accidental deletion, unintentional formatting, file system conversion, firmware bug, virus infection, etc.
• Enable advanced file filtering and preview by Files Type, Size, Date, etc. to save your time and effort.

Download Software
Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7& Windows Server

100% Secure

Please refer to the following steps to perform archive file recovery via MyRecover easily! Give it a try.

Step 1. Download and run MyRecover on your computer. Hover the mouse over the drive saved deleted files before, and click Scan.

Step 2. It will scan your disk automatically and thoroughly to locate all the found data. You can use the Search Box or the Filter feature to quickly locate the files you want.

Step 3. You will see a list of files that MyRecover has found on your drive. Choose your desired archive files like ZIP files and click Recover x files.

Step 4. Select a new location to save the recovered archive files (ZIP or RAR files) and click Select Folder. Your files will be recovered in a few minutes or longer.

You can recover deleted archive files for free, up to 500MB. If you want to enjoy unlimited file recovery, please upgrade to the advanced editions.

Way 3. Recover Deleted Archive from File History

How to recover deleted zip files free? File History can also help you. It is a built-in Windows feature, automatically backs up files like compressed files, documents, pictures, videos, music, and desktop folders after turning on File History.

By enabling File History, you gain the ability to restore previous versions of files/folders. Recovering ZIP/ RAR files is simple if you utilize this tool for disk file backups.

Step 1. Type Control Panel in the search bar to open Control Panel > System and Security > File History > Restore your files with File History.

Step 2. Click Restore personal files.

Step 3. Select the archive files you want to restore and click the green Restore button to get them to their original locations.

Bonus Tips: How to Prevent Archive File Loss

How do I retrieve a deleted archive? If your ZIP/RAR files are in the Recycle Bin, you can retrieve them directly. But if they are permanently deleted, use professional tools like MyRecover for easy recovery.

In addition, it is very important to take protection measures to avoid data loss. We provide some tips below to protect archive files from data loss.

1️⃣ Update Security Software: Keep your antivirus and anti-malware software up to date to protect against potential threats that could lead to data loss.

2️⃣ Be Cautious with Deletions: Double-check before deleting any files or archives. Accidental deletions are a common cause of data loss.

3️⃣ Organize Files: Maintain a well-organized file system, making it easier to locate and manage your archive files, reducing the risk of accidental deletion.

4️⃣ Regular Backups: Backup your archive files regularly on external drives or in the cloud. This guarantees you have a copy, making it easy to restore if files are deleted or lost.

Here comes another highly-praised free backup software for Windows to ensure data security. That is AOMEI Backupper Standard. You can make an incremental or differential backup to simplify your backup tasks using it. It also can sync files and folders. Maybe you can have a try.

5️⃣ More importantly, please don’t put all eggs in one basket to prevent data loss.

Closing Words

Losing important files can be stressful, but there are 3 effective ways to solve how to recover archive files. Also, use an archive recovery program like MyRecover to recover deleted or lost ZIP or RAR files.

Besides, to safeguard your data, it's crucial to create regular file backups using free backup software for Windows like AOMEI Backupper. With these backups, you can instantly recover files in case of loss, ensuring your important data is always secure.

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