How To Recover Permanently Deleted Files On Windows

Your file is gone from the Recycle Bin, but that space on your drive is likely still holding your data. Stop using the affected drive immediately to prevent your computer from overwriting the deleted data with new files.

Why this happens

When a file is emptied from the Recycle Bin, Windows removes the pointer to the file but keeps the data blocks intact until they are overwritten by new information. This is why you must avoid saving anything to that drive until the recovery process is complete.

What you'll need

You will need a secondary drive, such as a USB stick or external hard drive, to serve as the destination for recovered files. If using Windows File Recovery, ensure you are on Windows 10 build 19041 or later, or Windows 11.

Steps

1. 01
   Open the Recycle Bin from the Start menu to double-check that your file is truly missing.
2. 02
   Navigate to the folder that previously contained the file in File Explorer, right-click the folder, choose Show more options, and select Restore previous versions to see if an older copy is available.
3. 03
   Install Windows File Recovery from the Microsoft Store, open the application, and select Yes when prompted to allow changes.
4. 04
   In the command window, type winfr C: D: /regular /n *.ext (replacing C with your source drive, D with your destination drive, and .ext with your file type like *.docx or *.png), then press Y to start.
5. 05
   Check the Recovery folder created on your destination drive for your files; if the folder is empty, run the same command again but replace /regular with /extensive.
6. 06
   If the built-in tools fail, download and install Recuva to a drive different from the one you are recovering from, run the setup wizard, and scan for your files.

Still not working?

If you see a red dot next to your files in Recuva, it means the data has already been partially overwritten and is likely unrecoverable. For critical professional or personal data that remains missing, you may need to consult a professional data recovery service. Remember that these tools do not support files stored in OneDrive or on network locations.

Frequently asked questions

Can I recover files from an SSD after deleting them?

Recovery is significantly harder on SSDs because the TRIM command often clears free space almost immediately to maintain performance. You must act as fast as possible to have any chance of success.

Will installing recovery software overwrite my deleted files?

It can, which is why you must install any recovery tools onto a separate drive, such as a USB flash drive, rather than the drive where the deleted file originally lived.

Why can't I recover files from OneDrive?

Windows File Recovery only works on local physical drives. For OneDrive, check the online Recycle Bin at onedrive.live.com, as files deleted from cloud-synced folders are often stored there for 30 days.