While Organizing Files You Accidentally Deleted An Entire Folder? Recover Now!

How to recover files while organizing files you accidentally deleted an entire folder? Here are 5 tested methods, including backup or data recovery software, which can easily retrieve lost files.

By @Penny Last Updated December 11, 2024

While organizing files you accidentally deleted an entire folder

Have you ever been organizing your computer files and accidentally deleted entire folders? Those folders may contain your important work documents, family photos, or valuable information about your work. In an instant, they are all gone and you feel a wave of panic and helplessness. This scenario is a nightmare for anyone who relies on digital storage. But luckily, even in the worst-case scenario, we usually still have a chance to recoup our losses. This article will share 5 effective tips on how to recover the accidentally deleted folder as soon as possible.

While organizing files, you accidentally delete an entire folder what should you do next?

If you accidentally delete a folder while organizing files,  press CTRL + Z to undo the deletion. If not, here are 5 other ways to do it, including data recovery software, Recycle Bin, Backup and Restore, File History, and Previous Versions.

▶ Method 1. Recover the deleted/lost folder on computer via data recovery software

Finding a professional data recovery software like MyRecover is a good idea to recover accidentally deleted folders effectively on the computer. Let's see how it works first:

Step 1. Select the drive where the deleted folder is located, and click Scan.

Step 2. You’ll see all the deleted folders and other missing files saved on your selected disk/partition after scanning automatically.

Step 3. Confirm the scanning results and select your desired folders. Then click the “Recover x files” button and store these folders in a new location.

 ★Highlights of MyRecover:

Recover the deleted/lost files from HDD/SSD/USB and other storage devices.
 Recover 200+ types of data such as Word, PPT, Excel, Photos, Audio, Videos, Emails, Webpages, and Compressed files.
 Get the original path, filename, and format for the deleted files.
 The combined scanning method of Quick Scan and Deep Scan can find all the deleted files and other lost files on your computer.
 Deal with deletion, disk formatting, system crashes, and more data loss scenarios.
 Support NTFS, FAT32, exFAT, and ReFS in Windows 11, 10, 8, 7, and Windows Server.
Download SoftwareWin 11/10/8/7/Server
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▶ Method 2. Recover the recently deleted folder on computer from the Recycle Bin

If you haven’t pressed the “Shift + Delete” keys or emptied your Recycle Bin, the easiest method could be your treatment. It’s accessible for you to recover the recently deleted files from the Recycle Bin on Windows.

Step 1. Double-click the Recycle Bin icon on the desktop to open it.

Step 2. Locate your needed folder by browsing these files or enter the filename of the deleted folder.

Step 3. Right-click on it and click “Restore” to get your important files/folders back.

If your PC is Mac, you can search files in the Trash Bin. Besides, you can also restore files/folders with Time Machine.

▶ Method 3. Recover the accidentally deleted folder on computer from Backup and Restore

While organizing files you accidentally deleted an entire folder? Don’t panic! If you’ve made backups using Backup and Restore released in the Win7 operating system, you can restore the permanently deleted folder from this backup. Let’s show how it works.

Step 1. Type “Control Panel” in the search bar, and open it. Then click “System and Security” > “Backup and Restore (Windows 7).”

Step 2. Click the “Restore my files” button under the Restore tab.

Step 3. Select the “Browse for folders” option to locate folders you want to restore.

Step 4. You can store these retrieved folders in the original location or in a new location as you like.

▶ Method 4. Recover the permanently deleted folder on PC through File History

Besides Backup and Restore, File History is another practical function for Win8 and above users to backup files in Documents, Music, Pictures, Videos, Desktop folders, and OneDrive offline files stored on your PC. The following steps describe how to retrieve the folder while organizing files you accidentally deleted.

Step 1. Type “Control Panel” in the search box 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 “Restore” to store these retrieved folders in the original location.

If you need, please click “Restore” > “Restore to” to store these restored folders in a new location.

▶ Method 5. Recover the permanently deleted folder on PC via Previous Versions

Although File History can retrieve the deleted, lost, or damaged original desktop folders, it cannot help you restore a folder version during the editing process.

If you’ve activated File History first, at the moment, previous versions are your treatment. Because after turning on File History, you can select your needed folder from the list of different folder versions. Let’s show how it works.

Step 1. Press “Windows + E” to open “Windows File Explorer” on your PC. Then locate the folder that includes your needed folder before deletion.

Step 2. Right-click on your selected folder > “Properties”.

Step 3. Under the “Previous Versions” tab, select a folder version you want to “Restore”.

Wrapping up

While organizing files you accidentally deleted an entire folder! This guide has listed five efficient methods for your preferences. You can select a suitable solution to recover the recently/permanently deleted folders.

There’s no denying that the third-party tool, MyRecover could be the most comprehensive method because it has minimal restrictions and offers the maximum possibility for data recovery.

Moreover, if you want to prevent data loss in the future, you’re expected to make regular backups and update them in time. So why not try this free backup software for Windows -AOMEI Backupper?