6 Ways to Recover Permanently Deleted Files on Windows 10

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6 Ways to Recover Permanently Deleted Files in Windows 10

Inadvertently deleting important files using the shortcut Shift + Delete in Windows 10 is a common mistake that many of us make and may continue to make in the future. This shortcut will avoid recycling tanks, making it difficult to recover deleted files.

Fortunately, there are several ways to recover permanently deleted files in Windows 10. In this article, we will discuss and explain all these ways.

How to recover deleted files from trash in Windows 10

When you delete a file in Windows 10 by pressing the Delete button, it is usually moved to the repository, allowing you to search it if necessary. To recover deleted files from the trash:

  • Right-click on the Recycle Tank icon to open it.
  • Select “Open” from the menu to view the deleted files.
  • Capture the address box behind the file name you want to recover.
  • Right-click on the selected file and select “Restore” to restore it to its original location.

The disadvantage of using a recycle tank is that it does not immediately release storage space. When you manually empty the recycling tank, only the disk space used by the deleted file will be marked as existing.

If you want to permanently delete files without sending them to the trash, you can use the short Shift + Delete option. However, please bear in mind that you will not be able to recover files from the trash if necessary. But don’t worry, there is still a way of permanently recovering deleted files until you act quickly before the files are rewritten.

Recover deleted files in Windows 10 without using third-party software

One method involves using Command Prompt and running a specific command. Here’s how to do it:

  • Open the Start menu and type “cmd”
  • Right-click the pair at the top and select “Run as Administrator” to run the command with admin permissions.
  • Type “chkdsk X: /f” (replace “X” with the letter on your hard drive) and press Enter.
  • Print “ATTRIB -H -R -S /S /D X:.” (Replace “X” with the letter of your hard drive) and press Enter

Have patience while the recovery process is running and avoid using your computer to prevent rewriting deleted files.

Restore permanently deleted files from older backups

Another method involves recovering files from an old backup created using the switch and restore tool. Here’s how to do it:

  • Open the Start menu, type “Backup,” and press Enter.
  • Select the “go to backup and recovery (Windows 7)” option.
  • Click on the option “Select another backup to restore files from” and select your security.
  • Follow the instructions to complete the recovery process.

Recover deleted files using data recovery software

Microsoft also launched its own data recovery tool called Windows File Recovery. Although it is a command tool, you can download its GUI (Graphic Interface) version (WinfrGUI) for free if you have Windows 10, build 19041 or newer. This tool can be used to recover deleted files using specific commands.

Here’s how you can use WinfrGUI to permanently recover deleted files:

  • Get WinfrGUI by visiting the official website and downloading it.
Download WinfrGUI Free
  • Install WinfrGUI following the standard installation procedure for Windows applications.
  • Once installed, start WinfrGUI and navigate to the drive you want to recover files from.
  • Click on the “Find Lost Information” button to start the scan process.
  • Call through the list of recovered files and select what you want to receive.
  • Click on the “Recover” button to start recovering the selected file.

WinfrGUI accelerates the file recovery process for Windows 10 and 11 users with its user-friendly interface and powerful recovery features. Moreover, it is free to use, making it an accessible option for anyone who wants to recover deleted files without worry.

Use the previous version restore feature

If you do not see any folders, the history file may be closed and you will have to open it.

Windows 10 also features the “Previous Version Restore” feature, which allows you to restore previous versions of files and folders. To enable this feature:

  • Open the Start menu, type “System Protection,” and press Enter.
  • Select the hard drive under “Protection Settings” and click “Configuration.”.
  • Select “Enable system protection” and click “OK.”
  • Right-click on the file or folder. Go to the “Previous Version” tab and select the version you want to restore.
  • Restore permanently deleted files from Google Drive

Finally, if you use Google Drive to store and sync files, you can permanently recover deleted files by recovering data on the drive that stores Google Drive folders.

>>Further Reading: How to Restore Windows 10 to Previous Date?

Conclusion

In conclusion, even if you delete files using the short Shift + Delete in Windows 10, they can still be recovered if you act quickly and use the methods described in this article. Be sure to recommend Disk Drill for user-friendly data recovery solutions.