Losing an essential file, photo, video, or folder accidentally is often distressing, particularly if you are using it for some work or other purposes. However, deleted files do not necessarily mean the end of your data forever. There are many ways in which one can restore his or her files in case he or she has lost them in Windows 11 OS.
In order to restore the deleted files on Windows 11, you should first check if your files are in the Recycle Bin. In case you cannot find any files, you may also use File History, OneDrive, and even the official Windows File Recovery tool provided by Microsoft. The sooner you take actions, the better, as the files might be overwritten with newly stored data.
In this article, we will discuss the best ways to recover deleted files using different practical approaches.
1. Recovery of Files Deleted from the Recycle Bin
The Recycle Bin is the most straightforward source from which you can recover accidentally deleted files from your PC. In Windows, such deleted files are normally kept in the Recycle Bin until they are restored or emptied.
Use the following guide:
Launch the Recycle Bin from your desktop.
Find the deleted file or folder.
Right-click on the needed file or folder.
Choose Restore.
Go to the original folder to locate the recovered file.
Windows moves the file back to its initial place.
This solution will be useful if the file was deleted from the Recycle Bin. The problem is that you won't be able to recover the file deleted via Shift+Delete, or removed from an external drive.
2. Recovery of the Removed Files with the Help of File History
This is one of the options that could be used for file restoration on the PC in case it has been deleted or removed. File History is a part of the Backup and Restore section that allows storing copies of files and recovering them later on.
This process involves such steps:
Go to the Start menu and choose File History.
Choose the File History option from the list of Control Panel.
Press the Restore personal files button.
Browse the available versions.
Locate the file that was deleted by you.
Choose it and press the Restore button.
If you need to preserve the current file and not to replace it, then look for the possibility to restore backup at another location.
Please note that File History can not be applied to the file that was not backed up.
If the file is missing from the Recycle Bin and no backup is available, Microsoft's Windows File Recovery tool may help. This free utility is available through the Microsoft Store and uses command-line instructions to attempt recovery from local storage devices.
It can be useful for recovering files from internal drives, external hard drives, and USB storage devices. Recovery is not guaranteed, particularly if the deleted data has already been overwritten.
4. Look for Deleted Files on OneDrive
If the files you want to restore were stored in a OneDrive-synced folder, there may be an online version that will still exist even if those files are not present on your PC.
For searching OneDrive for your files:
Access OneDrive using your web browser.
Log in using the proper Microsoft account.
Go to the Recycle Bin through the navigation bar.
Find the deleted file or folder.
Click on it and then choose Restore.
Your file should come back to the OneDrive and probably sync back to your PC.
It should be remembered that OneDrive has its own Recycle Bin that is different from the Windows one.
It is easier to prevent accidental deletion of files than try to restore them at a later stage. Some simple practices could help avoid this problem:
Activate File History or some other backup tool.
Create a separate backup of essential files and pictures.
Use OneDrive or some other cloud storage system for synchronized files.
Make sure you don’t delete any files before checking if they are really unnecessary.
Check periodically that your backups include all necessary files.
A backup is of no use if it does not work, thus, check periodically your saved files.
Is it possible to restore permanently deleted files on Windows 11?
Yes, in some cases. File History, OneDrive backup, Previous Versions feature, and Windows File Recovery are some options you can use to get your deleted files back, depending on the availability of a good copy.
How can I restore files that have been deleted even after emptying the Recycle Bin?
You should first look at the backup of those files on your cloud storage device. If you cannot find the copy, you can try using the Windows File Recovery tool.
Is Windows File Recovery a free tool?
Yes. The Windows File Recovery tool provided by Microsoft is available free from the Microsoft Store. It requires entering commands, which means that you have to specify the source, destination, and other details.
Am I able to retrieve my deleted files without backup software?
I am able to use the Windows File Recovery program even though I have not backed up my files. The problem is that the program does not guarantee a successful retrieval.
Even losing crucial files doesn't mean that they are lost forever. First, try the Recycle Bin; next, try File History, OneDrive, and Previous Versions. In case all those methods don't work, you can use Windows File Recovery to make an attempt to recover files from your hard drive.
Of course, the first thing to do is act fast and avoid adding new files to the drive. As for preventive actions, using a regular backup system is perhaps one of the most reliable ways to preserve your files in Windows 11.