How to Recover Deleted Files Windows 10 Quickly
Accidentally deleted something important on your PC? Don’t stress! If you’re trying to figure out how to recover deleted files windows 10, or maybe you’ve searched for how to recover deleted files in Windows 10, there are plenty of ways to get your data back. The easiest first step is to check the Recycle Bin—unless you used Shift + Delete, your files might still be there. If they’re gone, Windows offers features like File History and Previous Versions that could have backups waiting. For files deleted permanently, Microsoft’s free Windows File Recovery tool is powerful but uses command lines, which can be tricky. Luckily, tools like WinfrGUI make recovery straightforward for everyone. Just be sure to stop using your drive right away to avoid overwriting lost data. Follow these simple steps and you’ll increase your chances of a successful recovery.
Method 1: Recover Deleted Files from Cache in Windows 10
If you accidentally deleted files, the first place to check is the Recycle Bin. Follow these simple steps to restore your files:
Step 1: Locate the Recycle Bin icon on your desktop and right-click it.
Step 2: Click Open from the menu to view all recently deleted files and folders.
Step 3: Scroll through or use the search box to find the file you want to recover.
Step 4: Once you locate the file, right-click on it and select Restore.
Step 5: The file will automatically be restored to the original folder where it was deleted from.
Note: If you’re specifically trying to recover a deleted PDF, check out this step-by-step guide How to Recover Deleted PDF Files in Windows 10: 4 Ways
Method 2: Recover deleted files in Windows 10 without using third-party software.
You can recover some permanently deleted files using built-in Windows commands. This method requires using Command Prompt and is a bit technical but doesn’t need extra software. Follow these steps carefully:
Step 1: Open the Start menu, type cmd.
Step 2: Right-click Command Prompt from the results and select Run as administrator.
Step 3: In the Command Prompt window, type the following command and press Enter:
chkdsk X: /f
Replace X: with the letter of the drive where your files were deleted. This command checks the drive for errors and fixes them.
Step 4: Next, type this command and press Enter:
ATTRIB -H -R -S /S /D X:\*.*
Replace X: with your drive letter again. This command attempts to recover hidden or system files
Step 5: Wait patiently — the process may take several minutes depending on your drive size. Avoid using your PC during this time to prevent overwriting files.
Method 3: Recover permanently deleted files from old backups
If you’ve been using Windows Backup, good news—you can retrieve your deleted files easily. Just follow these steps:
Step 1: Click the Start button and type “Backup” into the search bar.
Step 2: Select Backup and Restore (Windows 7). Don’t worry about the name—it works perfectly on Windows 10 too.
Step 3: In the window that opens, click “Select another backup to restore files from” (only if you have more than one backup available).
Step 4: Choose the backup that likely contains your missing files and click Next.
Step 5: Browse through the backup using the folder tree or search function to locate your files or folders.
Step 6: Decide if you want to restore the files to their original location or choose a new folder.
Step 7: Click Restore, then wait as Windows recovers the selected files.
Step 8: Once the process finishes, head to the destination folder to confirm your files are back.
Note: If your files were permanently deleted from the Recycle Bin and you didn’t have backups enabled, try this guide instead How to Recover Permanently Deleted Files from Recycle Bin Windows 10
Method 4: Recover Deleted Files Using Data Recovery Software
You can also use data recovery software such as WinfrGUI to permanently recover deleted files. Winfr GUI is an easy-to-use tool that supports various file formats. Here’s how to use it:
Step 1: Download WinfrGUI by clicking the Free Download button. Install WinfrGUI like any other Windows 10 application.
Step 2: Start WinfrGUI and click on the “Find Lost Information” button near the hard drive you want to recover files from.
Step 3: Select the file you want to recover from the result list.
Step 4: Click on the “Recover” button to start the recovery process.
Method 5: Use Windows File Recovery Tool
Microsoft’s Windows File Recovery is a free command-line tool to help recover deleted files on Windows 10. Here’s how to use it step-by-step:
Step 1: Click the Start button, type Windows Terminal or Command Prompt, then right-click it and choose Run as administrator to open with admin privileges.
Step 2: Identify your source drive (the drive where files were deleted, e.g., C:).
Step 3: Choose a destination drive (a different drive from the source, such as an external USB or another partition, e.g., D:) where recovered files will be saved.
Step 4: In the terminal window, type the recovery command using this format:
winfr [source drive]: [destination drive]: /mode [/switches]
Step 5: For example, to recover Word documents from C: to D:, enter:
winfr C: D: /regular /n *.docx
Step 6: Select the appropriate recovery mode:
/regularfor recently deleted files/extensivefor files deleted a while ago or after formatting
Step 7: Use the /n switch to specify file types or folders, like /n *.jpg for images or /n \Users\YourName\Documents\ for a specific folder.
Step 8: Press Enter to start the recovery process. Depending on drive size, this may take some time.
Step 9: After completion, check the destination drive for recovered files. Note that files might have different names, especially if recovered in extensive mode.
Method 6: Permanently update deleted files in Windows 10 free of file history backup.
If you had File History turned on before the files were deleted, you can easily restore earlier versions of your files—even if they’re no longer in the Recycle Bin. Here’s how to do it:
Step 1: Open the Start menu and type Restore your files with File History, then press Enter.
Step 2: In the File History window, browse through the folders to locate the one that contained the deleted file.
Step 3: Use the arrow buttons at the bottom to navigate to a backup version that includes the missing file.
Step 4: Once you find the correct version, select the file or folder, then click the Restore button. This will return the file to its original location.
Note: File History must have been enabled beforehand for this method to work.
Method 7: Use the previous version restore feature.
Windows 10 includes a feature called Previous Versions that lets you recover older versions of files or folders—if System Protection was enabled. Here’s how to use it:
Step 1: Type System Protection in the Start menu and press Enter.
Step 2: Under the Protection Settings section, find the drive where the file was stored and click Configure.
Step 3: Make sure Turn on system protection is selected, then click OK to save the setting (if it wasn’t enabled already, this method won’t work retroactively).
Step 4: Navigate to the folder that contained the deleted file.
Step 5: Right-click on the folder or an existing file within it, then choose Restore previous versions.
Step 6: From the list of available versions, select the one you want and click Restore to recover it.
Note: This method works best if System Restore points or File History were previously configured.
Method 8: Restore permanently deleted files from Google Drive
If you deleted files from Google Drive and they’re no longer in the Trash, there’s still a chance to get them back—especially if they were shared or synced with your Windows 10 device.
Option 1: Check Google Drive Trash (if not yet emptied)
- Go to drive.google.com.
- On the left panel, click Trash.
- Right-click the file you want and choose Restore.
Option 2: Use Google Drive Activity Panel
- In Google Drive, click the “i” icon (top right) to open the Activity pane.
- Look for any actions related to the deleted file (who deleted it, when, etc.).
- If it was shared, ask the original owner to re-share it.
Option 3: Contact Google Support
If files were recently deleted and you’re the account owner, contact Google Drive Support to request file recovery within 25 days.
Summary
Losing files unexpectedly can feel like a disaster, but learning how to recover deleted files Windows 10 empowers you to fix it yourself. Whether your files slipped into the Recycle Bin, were backed up in File History, or deleted permanently, there’s a solution for every scenario. If you’re comfortable with tech, Microsoft’s Windows File Recovery tool offers a powerful command-line option. For those wanting simplicity, tools like WinfrGUI provide a hassle-free way to recover your data without stress. Remember, the faster you act and the less you use the affected drive, the better your chances of successful recovery. Always back up important files regularly to avoid future headaches. With the right approach, lost photos, documents, and folders aren’t gone forever—they’re just waiting to be restored. So don’t give up—your deleted files can still come back!
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