Recover Deleted Files from a Specific Folder (Max 4 Steps)

If you accidentally deleted files from a specific folder, worry not, there are 4 proven ways to help you recover deleted files from a specific folder. Get them right now!

By @Ivy Last Updated September 13, 2024

Storing files in a specific folder is a good way to organize different types of files, for example, put your travel photos in a folder called Travel Memories, so you can easily find them without having to spend time searching on your disk.

However, sometimes you delete some files in this folder or the entire folder by mistake and want to get them back quickly. If you are reading this article, you are in luck. We will delve into the reason behind deleted files from a specific folder, as well as the 4 proven methods and guides described below.

Is It Possible to Recover Deleted Files from a Specific Folder? 

YES! The deleted files will be moved to the Recycle Bin folder if you are using a Windows PC. So you can easily find them in the Recycle Bin folder and recover deleted files from Recycle Bin.

But if you delete a large file, it will be deleted permanently instead of moving to the Recycle Bin. Besides, files deleted from Recycle Bin are permanently deleted too. In this case, Windows only removes the file system access to your files, but it is still there and recoverable.

Possible Causes for Files Deleted from a Specific Folder

You must be curious about the reason why your files deleted from a specific folder. It may provide you with some clues to recover deleted files or prevent this error from happening again. We have collected the following possible reasons for you.

  • Accidental deletion or recycle bin empty. This human error is usually the biggest cause of file deletions.
  • Unconscious disk formatting. For example, you plug the disk in and click the Format disk option unconsciously whenyour computer asks, "You need toformat the disk before using it".
  • Improper operation, such ascorruption during file transfer, abrupt system shutdown or power cut, don’t eject device safely, etc.
  • Virus or malware attack. Malicious software may hide, delete, or modifyyour files without notification.
  • ...

How to Recover Data from Specific Folder

After knowing the possible reasons, you may have clues on how to recover deleted files from folder. If you still don’t know, it does not matter. This article will introduce you to 4 effective methods to help you, even if the deleted files are not in Recycle Bin.

⚠️Please stop using this folder and don’t add new data to its used space. In addition, don't format the disk containing this folder. Otherwise, the deleted files will be overwritten, making data recovery more difficult.

Way 1: Recover Deleted Files from a Specific Folder with Software

To recover deleted files from a specific folder, whether files deleted from Recycle Bin or not, or it's permanently deleted, you can easily get back them easily and quickly with the help of reliable Windows data recovery software like MyRecover.

MyRecover
Trustworthy Data Recovery Software for Windows
  • Two crucial scanning technologies: Scans your disk thoroughly to find deleted or lost files in a specific folder and recover them easily and quickly, with a high success rate.
  • 200+ recoverable file formats: Recover Word documents, Excel files, PPT, pictures, videos, compressed files, etc., without quality degradation, with more than 200 file types.
  • Highlight features: Locate deleted files in a specific folder quickly, preview, and recover while scanning saving your precious time.
  •  Comprehensive data loss scenarios: Recover virus infected files, formatted or damaged disk, lost partition, system crashes, etc.
  • Recover deleted files in Windows 7, 8, 10, 11, etc., and Windows Server for free over 500MB.

To get started, download the trustworthy Windows data recovery software - MyRecover and install it on your Windows PC.

Step 1. Launch this Windows data recovery software- MyRecover. Hover the mouse over the drive saved in the specific folder from which you want to recover deleted files, and click Scan.

Step 2. The software will run Quick Scan & Deep Scan automatically and find all the recoverable data on the selected drive. You can type the folder name in the search box to locate deleted files quickly. Once found, it will display this folder and all the deleted files in it below.

To recover specific files, such as Word documents, click the Filter feature, displayed as a funnel-shaped button, click Type, and select Documents. Then, type .docx in the search box to narrow it down. You can also specify the date modified or size to refine the search results.

Step 3. Select deleted files in a specific folder and click Recover X files. It will display the number of files to be recovered and their entire size.

Step 4. Select a new location to save the recovered files or folder. Retrieving files to original location may overwrite the space of deleted data, resulting in data recovery failure.

💬 MyRecover allows you to find and recover deleted files in a specific folder over 500MB for free. Once exceeded, please upgrade to MyRecover Pro or Technician. They offer Monthly, Yearly, and Lifetime subscription plans, and unlimited data recovery.

You can also wait for the final scanning result and select all the files on this drive to recover. Not only Windows 7, 8, 10, and 11, you still can use it to recover deleted files from Windows Server 2016, 2019, 2022, etc.

Way 2: Recover Files from Deleted Folder with File History

If you find the deleted files not in Recycle Bin, restoring deleted files from backup image will be a great choice. File History, one of Windows backup software, can backup and restore user files, such as files in Desktop, Downloads, Documents, Pictures, etc. Try this If you turn on it in advance.

Step 1. Click on search bar, type “restore”, and select “Restore your files with File History”. It will open File History window.

Step 2. Check if there is a specific folder including your deleted files and click the green restore button to restore them.

If not, click the left arrow to find it in the older backups. You can also click the right arrow to go back to the most recent backup.

Way 3: Retrieve Files Deleted from Folder using Backup and Restore (Windows 7)

Backup and Restore (Windows 7) is another backup software for Windows and you can use it to backup files in the user profiles as well as include a system image as well in Windows 7, 8, 10, and 11.

Step 1. Navigate to Control Panel > System and Security and select Backup and Restore (Windows 7). Then, click Restore my files.

Step 2. In the Restore Files window, you can choose to search or browse for the specific files or folder.

  • Search: type part of the name of files and select the deleted files to restore.
  • Browse for files: navigate to the folder containing deleted files from Recycle Bin and select it. Then, click Add Files.
  • Browse for folders: select the entire folder with deleted files.  

Step 3. Select a location to recover deleted files from a specific folder. You can choose the original location or browse to a new location. Then, click Start Restore.

Way 4: Restore Deleted Files from Previous Version

If you just want to recover deleted files from previous version, try folder properties. It is able to recover Word documents, Excel files, PPT, compressed file, etc and requires the File History or System Restore is enabled.

Step 1. Start File Explorer/This PC. Locate the folder which is used to save the deleted file.

Step 2. Right-click it and then select Properties > Previous Version.

Step 3. Select the folder version which is exactly the one before you delete it, and click Restore to restore deleted files to previous version.

How to Prevent Files Being Permanently Deleted

The above ways are useful to recover deleted files from specific folder. But sometimes data loss can be avoided. Here are some suggestions you can follow:

  • Don’t save new data to this drive when you recognize file deleted from a specific folder.
  • Use the Delete key or the right-click to delete files instead of Shift + Delete, which will cause permanently deleted files
  • Scan your computer for viruses regularly.
  • Automatically backup files to external hard drive or other devices. You can choose to use built-in File History or Backup and Restore (Windows 7). To make it easier and more flexible, try third-party software - AOMEI Backupper Standard.

Hope it helps you!

Written in the End 

If you read this article carefully, you may already know how to recover deleted files from a specific folder. There are 4 proven ways in total, and of these, using trustworthy data recovery software - MyRecover will be simple and straightforward if you don't have a copy of your files in any storage device.

Start a deep scan for free right now!

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Always remember to double-check if you don't want to lose any important data, especially on external hard drive as Windows does not offer the Recycle Bin feature for such devices. In addition, you can choose to schedule a file backup task and save at least 3 copies of your files on different devices.

FAQs

Where can I find accidentally deleted files?
 
If you use the Delete key or right-click to delete files, they will be put in the Recycle Bin. If it's permanently deleted, the data is still on the disk, just becoming invisible.
How do I recover deleted files from a folder in Windows 10?
 
If you turn on File History or system restore point, right-click the folder and select Restore previous versions. You can then select a file version based on date and time.
Can I clone a larger hard drive to a smaller one?
 
Definitely, you can if the used space of larger drive is smaller than or equal to the smaller drive and the cloning software you choose supports the "Intelligent Clone" feature. It only cloned the used sectors of a drive to another by default.
Can I recover permanently deleted files?
 
Yes, it's possible to recover permanently deleted files as long as you don't overwrite data. The space for deleted data is marked as "free" for new data and the data are still on the original location.
Where can I find previously deleted files?
 
You can try to check the Recycle Bin folder if you deleted files a while ago. If files not in the Recycle Bin, you can also check all of your storage devices and see if there is a copy of your previously deleted files.