How to Recover Shift Deleted Files in Windows 10 Quickly and Safely
Have you ever accidentally pressed Shift + Delete on your precious files, only to realize they’re now permanently gone? 😱 Don’t worry—before you panic, know this: how to recover Shift deleted files is possible! Even though files deleted this way bypass the Recycle Bin, they aren’t gone forever. In fact, there are several methods you can use to recover them in Windows 10—quickly and safely. This guide will show you exactly what to do, from built-in tools like File History to more advanced techniques, so you can get your files back in no time!
What Happens When You Use Shift + Delete?
───────────────────────────────────────────
Stage │ Recovery Chance
───────────────────────────────────────────
Marked Deleted │ █████████████████████ 100%
Data on Drive │ ████████████████ 80%
Waiting Overwrite │ ███████████ 50%
───────────────────────────────────────────
- When you press Shift + Delete, Windows immediately marks the file as deleted, but the actual data is still stored on your drive, waiting to be overwritten.
- This is why the file is still recoverable, even though it doesn’t appear in the Recycle Bin.
- The sooner you act, the better your chances of successful recovery!
Pre-Recovery Checklist
Before diving into the recovery process, there are a few important steps to ensure the best possible outcome.
These steps will help you avoid further data loss and maximize your chances of success. Here’s what you need to do:
- Stop Using the Drive: Avoid saving new files to the same drive where the deleted file was stored.
- Double-Check Other Locations: Check cloud backups or external drives for copies of the file.
- Know Your File System: Determine if your drive uses NTFS or FAT, as some recovery tools work better with specific file systems.
With these preparatory steps completed, you’re ready to move on to the recovery methods.
Method 1: Restore Previous Versions (File History)
One of the simplest ways to recover Shift-deleted files is through File History, a built-in feature in Windows 10 that automatically backs up your files. If you’ve set it up beforehand, this method is quick and easy.
Steps to Use File History:
- Open File Explorer and navigate to the folder where the file was stored.
- Right-click the folder and select “Restore previous versions.”
- Browse through the list of available versions and select the one you want to restore.
- Click Restore to recover the file.
Note: File History must be enabled before the file was deleted to use this method. If it wasn’t set up, don’t worry, we still have other methods to try.
Also Related 👉How to Recover Deleted Files from Recycle Bin After Emptying It in Windows 11
Method 2: Using Windows File Recovery Tool (WinFR)
If File History wasn’t enabled, you can use Windows File Recovery (WinFR), a powerful tool that allows you to recover Shift-deleted files from NTFS and FAT file systems. This method is a bit more advanced but still easy to follow.
Steps to Use Windows File Recovery (WinFR):
- Install Windows File Recovery from the Microsoft Store.
- Open Command Prompt as an administrator.
- Use the following syntax to recover your file:
winfr C: D: /n \path\to\file.xlsx - Follow the prompts to complete the recovery process.
If you’re not comfortable with the command line, there’s a simple solution: WinfrGUI, a graphical interface for WinFR that makes the process even easier. Now, let’s explore another option if WinFR doesn’t work for you.
Method 3: Recover From Temporary & AutoRecover Files
If you were working on a file before it was lost, Excel’s AutoSave and AutoRecover features might have saved a version of it. These options are especially useful for recovering unsaved or lost work.
Steps to Recover From Temporary Files:
- Open File Explorer and go to the Temp folder by typing
%Temp%in the address bar. - Search for files with the .xlsx or .xlsb extension.
- Open the file to see if it’s the one you need, then save it to a safe location.
Using Excel’s AutoRecover:
- Open Excel, click on File > Info > Manage Workbook.
- Select Recover Unsaved Workbooks to find any unsaved files.
- Browse and restore the file if it’s there.
If these methods still don’t yield the results you need, there’s one more approach we can explore.
Advanced Option: Using Command Prompt (CMD)
For those who are comfortable with command-line tools, you can try using CMD with specific commands like attrib. This method is more technical, but it can still be very effective when other methods fail.
Steps to Use Command Prompt:
- Open Command Prompt as an administrator.
- Type the following command to search for and recover files: bash
attrib -h -r -s /s /d C:\*.xlsx - If you find your deleted file, move it to a safe location.
This is an advanced method, but it’s useful if the standard options don’t work. Now that your file is recovered, let’s look at how you can protect your data moving forward.
Also Related 👉How to Recover Permanently Deleted Files Windows 10 Using CMD
Post-Recovery Steps and Tips
Once your files are recovered, it’s time to take some precautions to avoid future data loss:
- Verify Integrity: Open the recovered files to make sure they’re not corrupted.
- Move Files to Safe Location: Always store recovered files on an external drive or in cloud storage.
- Run a Security Scan: Make sure the recovered files are safe from malware or corruption.
To ensure you don’t face this issue again, here are a few best practices:
- Enable File History to automatically save versions of your files.
- Set Up Regular Backups with cloud services or external drives.
- Use Safe-Delete Practices: Always use confirmation prompts when deleting important files to avoid accidental deletions.
Conclusion
In summary, learning how to recover Shift deleted files in Windows 10 quickly and safely doesn’t have to be complicated. With methods like File History, Windows File Recovery, and AutoRecover, you can recover your valuable files without hassle. Remember to back up your data regularly to minimize the risk of losing files in the future. The next time you accidentally hit Shift + Delete, you’ll know exactly how to get your data back!
