Proven Ways to Recover Documents from Recycle Bin

How do I retrieve documents from Recycle Bin?

Many users usually don’t think twice before deleting documents. In this case, how to recover the deleted data is always a hot topic. Maybe this guide could be your treatment to recover documents from Recycle Bin. Please scroll down.

How to recover documents from Recycle Bin?

The recently deleted and permanently deleted files determine the targeted method you’ll select. So how to distinguish between the recently deleted and the permanently deleted files?

If you haven’t emptied your Recycle Bin or pressed the “Shift + Delete” keys, these files are recently deleted. Otherwise, these files are permanently deleted.

Case A. Recover the recently deleted files from Recycle Bin

The Recycle Bin is a storage space for the deleted files. You could recover the recently deleted files from the Recycle Bin.

Step 1. Double click the Recycle Bin icon on the desktop. After opening it, find the deleted files you want to retrieve.

Step 2. Right-click on your desired files, and click the “Restore” button to get them back.

Case B. Recover emptied Recycle Bin from File History

The second scenario is heavily dependent on backups using the Windows feature. Let’s perform how to recover emptied Recycle Bin through File History.

File History made its debut in Windows 8. This practical Windows feature could backup Documents, Music, Pictures, Videos, Desktop folders, and OneDrive offline files saved on your PC. You’re allowed to restore the deleted, lost, damaged files from this valuable backup.

Step 1. Enter “Control Panel” in the search bar, and open it. Then click the “System and Security” option.

Step 2. Click “File History” > “Restore files with File History”.

Step 3. Click “Restore personal files”.

Step 4. Click the “Restore” button to store these retrieved files in the original location.

If you prefer to store these documents in your destination place, right-click “Restore” > “Restore to”.

Case C. Document recovery software

The above methods fail to recover documents from Recycle Bin if you’re in this part. The third scenario shares two pieces of document recovery software with you. Get an overview of these two efficient tools before following one of them.

Option 1. Use Windows File Recovery

Released in 2020, Windows File Recovery is a command-line tool that aims to recover the lost files from HDD, SDD, USB, and other storage devices. And there’s no sign of these lost files in the Recycle Bin. However, the recovery on cloud storage and network file shares is disabled. Meanwhile, Windows File Recovery only works with Win10/11.

You’re supposed to recover files using CMD because it lacks a graphical user interface. Moreover, users need to replace their selected mode and switches with the basic format line. So how to select the recovery mode and switches? Please check them out below.   

Notes:✎...

Please reduce the usage of your PC after data loss. If possible, stop using it.   

Windows File Recovery enables you to recover the deleted Word, PPT, Excel, ZIP, PDF, JPG, JPEG, etc.

Ensure the source drive (where to store files before deletion) is different from the destination drive (where to store recovered data).

The Extensive, Regular, Segment, and Signature modes support NTFS, FAT, exFAT, and ReFS file systems.

Step 1. Check the file system of your source drive: Click “This PC” > right-click on the source drive > “Properties.”

Step 2. Select a suitable mode according to your file system and data loss scenarios.

Step 3. Select some common switches from the following form.

Step 4. “Get” Windows File Recovery from Microsoft Store, then install and “Open” it on the computer.

Step 5. Let’s take the PDF file as an example. Assume you’ve deleted the PDF file for several days and want to retrieve it from the C drive to the E drive. At the moment, you could use the wildcard “*” if you don’t know the filename of this document.

the basic format command: winfr source-drive: destination-drive: [/mode] [/switches]

the adjusted command line: winfr C: E: /extensive /n *.pdf

Step 6. Enter your prepared command line in the window. Then press “y” to continue. After the recovery process, you’ll find your recovered documents in the destination drive. Press “Ctrl + C” if you want to stop it.

Option 2. Use the best software to recover deleted/lost files

As you can see, the former documents recovery software closely links to the command prompt. So don't you consider MyRecover and use this best software to recover deleted/lost files in Windows 11, 10, 8, 7, and Windows Server? Likewise, you’d better don’t add new data to your storage devices after data loss.

Let’s dig into the highlights of this powerful and user-friendly software.

Step 1. Launch MyRecover on your PC.

Step 2. After loading the disk, hover the mouse over the drive saved deleted files before, and click Scan.

Step 3. The software will run Quick Scan and Deep Scan automatically. During scanning, you can also search for your needed documents.

Step 4. Go to the Deleted files/Other missing files folder > Recycle Bin to locate the documents you want to restore. Then click "Recover x files" and save them in a new location.

In conclusion

How to recover documents from Recycle Bin? Please confirm whether your deleted documents are recently deleted or permanently deleted ones. Because this little tip could help you find targeted methods faster.

In brief, MyRecover could be the most comprehensive tool for you to utilize. If you want to prevent data loss in the future, you can make backups at once using the Windows features or freeware AOMEI Backupper.