How to Find Deleted Files in Windows and MacOS

January 31, 2024 (updated April 8, 2024)

Displaying your family’s important files on your computer can be a challenge when you can’t find them. It’s a heartbreaking situation, but the reality is that files are mistakenly deleted more often than we thought. Luckily, there are some tips that can help you recover your lost files.

How to Find Deleted Files in Windows

1. Check the Recycle Bin

If you’re using Windows, the first thing to check is the recyclable cistern. When you delete a file, it usually goes to the trash. So a quick search in the cisterna may enable you to select and restore your missing files back to the original folder. Just make sure you don’t have an empty recycling cage.

To make sure you do not delete files by mistake, you can enable the confirmation dialog. Right-click on the Recycle Box icon on your desktop. Click on your properties and then click on the box that says “Show Delete Confirmation Dialog”. In this way, your screen will appear every time you try to delete a confirmation file.

How to Find Deleted Files from Recycle Bin

To recover files from the recycling cistern, you can open them from your desktop or from the Start menu. When you find the missing files you want to restore, emphasize them and click “restore”. If you want several files restored, then you can select them, and click on “Restore selected lists” at the top left. Another way you can drag and drop files from your recycle box to another folder if you don’t want them back to their original location.

2. Backup File History

If you deleted the trash or the file is missing. Try backing up your file history next. This function lets you store files to external SSD network storage or hard drives in Windows 8.1, 10, and 11. You must enable this option before losing files and make your first backup. For extensive Windows file backup instructions, see our page.

File recovery utilizing backup file history:

Simply type “Recover your files using file history” in Windows’ search bar to recover files from backup file history. Click the version you wish to restore after finding the file. You can move it or save it in the original folder.

3. Windows File Recovery

If the above option doesn’t work, you can try Windows File Recovery. This app can recover deleted files from various local storage devices such as USB drives or SSDs. It has two modes: Normal and Extensive. The normal mode is best for recovering recently erased files, while Extensive mode has recently improved file retrieval. Keep in mind that using this app may require more advanced technical skills. You can use WinfrGUI version of its GUI (Graphic Interface).

4. WinfrGUI

Designed specifically for Windows 10 and 11 users, WinfrGUI is a free tool that makes the recovering files deleted from the recycle bin process easier. With its easy-to-use graphical interface, you can easily navigate through the recovering process. Just follow the instructions and let WinfrGUI let you get your deleted files easily.

How to use WinfrGUI to find deleted files

Start WinfrGUI:
Visit the official website to download and install WinfrGUI. After installation, double-click the desktop icon or search in the start menu to launch the software.
WinfrGUI will prompt you to choose a drive to recover the deleted file. Click “Next” after selecting the drive where your delete files are set.
Select Recovery Mode: WinfrGUI offers customizable recovery modes. Select the mode that recovers recently deleted files or searches for recently erased data. Click “Next” to proceed.
After selecting recovery mode, WinfrGUI will examine the specified drive for deleted files. This may take a long time depending on the drive size and amount of files to recover. Wait for Winfr GUI to scan.
Example of recoverable file: After scanning, WinfrGUI displays a list of recovered files on the specified drive. Check these files to make sure you want to recover them. Carefully inspect the objects.
You can recover deleted files by selecting them from the list and choosing a target folder. Click “Recover” or “Restore” to begin recovery.
After recovery, WinfrGUI will display the restored files. Visit the target folder to examine the recovered files’ integrity.
Close WinfrGUI after completing the recovery and verifying file restoration. Maintain the apps on your machine for future file recovery needs.

Following these procedures will maximize WinfrGUI’s ability to recover deleted data on Windows 10 or 11.

How to Find Deleted Files in MacOS

1. Check the Trash

For MacOS users, this process is similar. Just like Windows, MacOS sends deleted files to the trash. Unless you delete them manually, or some apps will put the files in the dumpster. They will stay there until you’re empty. To restore files from the trash, just open it, find the file you want to restore and click on it. You can also drag and place the files to a new location if desired.

2. Backup Time Machine

MacOS file recovery via Time Machine is another alternative. Built-in Time Machine lets users schedule automatic backups to external storage devices. Backups might occur hourly, daily, or weekly. Setting up Time Machine and making backups before losing files will help you recover them. For extensive MacOS file backup instructions, see our page.

3. File Recovery Software

If the above methods don’t work, you can consider using file recovery software for both Windows and MacOS. This software, which is called “unerase” or “undelete”, can help find deleted files and removed junk. However, bear in mind that the system may rewrite parts of the hard drive or SSD on which the file is stored. For better chances of recovery, you may download the software to an external SSD.

Remember that deleting files failed, but with these tips you can increase your chances of recovering your valuable files.