How to Recover Deleted Files in Windows Server 2016/2019/2022/2025 [2 Ways]

Whether it is Windows Server 2016 or Windows Server 2025 or even other Windows operating systems, data loss is always inevitable.

For example, problems such as recovering accidentally deleted files, hard disk formatting, system failure, empty recycle bin or virus attacks. So, many users ask for a solution to recover lost data on Windows Server.

If you are also suffering from this, read on, this post discusses all about how to recover deleted files from Windows Server 2016/2019/2022/2025.

How to recover deleted files in Windows Server 2016

A shared network folder does not transfer deleted files to the user's recycle bin; instead, they are immediately removed.

If users have accidentally deleted files from a shared folder, they might take actions like utilizing the Audit Policy to find out who deleted the items, turning to backups, or using a powerful Windows data recovery tool, which is considerably easier.

▶ Solution 1. Deleted files recovery with Volume Shadow Copy

Volume Shadow Copy service is a backup application available for Windows Server 2025/2022/2019/2016/2012, etc.

A shadow copy is a snapshot of data. You could view, check, and restore an earlier version of the files/folders you want from the snapshots taken on a regular schedule. Windows 10 Shadow Copy has helped many users to recover their lost files.

It is pretty similar to the Previous Versions feature on a general Windows machine. You could restore previous versions of files to get the deleted or edited data back.

Note:✎...

If you want to use this method, the shadow copy feature must be enabled in advance.

Step 1. Go to the shared folder > right-click the parent folder that contains the deleted files > Properties.

Step 2. Previous Versions > choose an earlier or the latest version > click Open to view it > copy and paste the wanted files to get them back.

Thus, you can perform deleted file recovery successfully.

▶ Solution 2. Recover deleted files from Windows Server 2016 with ease

How to recover deleted files from Server effortlessly? Since the files deleted from the shared drive will be directly removed from the device, you cannot recover deleted files from the Recycle Bin.

If you haven't enabled the Shadow Copy feature, the files will be permanently gone, and you will have nowhere to seek them.

But don't be frustrated; you still have the chance to restore deleted files with the help of a reliable Windows Server data recovery tool – MyRecover.

The Tech Version facilitates users to restore unlimited data from unlimited devices and is specially designed for Windows users, applying to Windows Server 2025, 2022, 2019, 2016, 2012, etc.

Using it, you could get guided in various aspects.

Notes:✎...

If you use a Windows Server OS without GUI, this tool cannot help you.

Step 1. Install and run the software > locate the target drive, and click Scan.

Step 2. All recoverable files could be sorted and searched using Type, Size, Date modified, etc., to narrow the scanned range.

Step 3. Go to Deleted files > go to the original location > select files > click Recover x files. If you cannot find files in the original place, please go to Other missing files > choose specific types to restore.

In this way, you could achieve deleted file recovery in a breeze.

Also, this tool is compatible with Windows 11/10/8/7 and external hard drives; you could use it to restore files from external hard drive in Windows 10.

FAQs about recovering deleted files from Windows Server 2016

There are some frequently asked questions that you can refer to, which can help you to recover deleted files with a higher recovery success rate.

▶ Why is it important to stop writing new data to disk immediately?

When a file is deleted, it is not removed from the hard disk immediately, but the directory entry of the file is marked as “overwritable”. This means that as long as the data is not overwritten by new data, the file can theoretically be recovered. Therefore, to increase the chances of successful file recovery, you need to stop writing new data to the disk immediately.

▶ What are the common reasons for file deletion by mistake?

✦ Operational errors: When operating files, negligence or incorrect operation may result in files being deleted by mistake.
✦ Virus infection: When the computer is infected by a virus or malware, it may lead to file deletion or corruption.
✦ Hardware failure: When the hard disk or storage device fails, it may lead to file loss or inaccessibility.
✦ System Error: An error or crash in the operating system may result in files being deleted or corrupted.

▶ Where do deleted files go on Windows Server?

When users delete files from their shared drives on a Windows server, the files are typically moved to the server's Recycle Bin. However, several factors can affect the behavior of deleted files on a network file share: Recycle Bin Settings: Check the Recycle Bin settings on the server.

▶ Any suggestions to avoid accidental file deletion?

✦ Regular backup: Backup important files regularly using Shadow Copies or professional backup software for Windows.
✦ Operate with caution: Before deleting a file, please double-check if you want to delete the file to avoid misuse.
✦ Use anti-virus software: Install and update anti-virus software to protect your computer from virus and malware attacks.
✦ Pay attention to hardware maintenance: Regularly check the status of your hard disk and other storage devices to detect and repair hardware failures on time.
✦ Avoid using insecure software: avoid downloading and using software from unknown sources to prevent damage to your computer from malware

Conclusion

Feasible means to recover deleted files Windows Server 2016 has been detailed in this post to help you perform a successful deleted files recovery, including Shadow Copies and MyRecover.