Guide to Retrieve Lost or Deleted Files in Windows – 2025

Guide to Retrieve Lost or Deleted Files in Windows

Losing important files can be a stressful experience. Whether it’s a document, photo, video, or project file, accidental deletion can happen to anyone. Fortunately, Windows offers several built-in and third-party options that can help you recover deleted files quickly and safely.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through the different methods you can use to restore deleted files in Windows, from the Recycle Bin to File History and professional recovery tools.

Understanding File Deletion in Windows

Before you start recovering, it’s important to understand how file deletion works in Windows. When you delete a file, it isn’t immediately erased from your hard drive. Instead, Windows marks the space it occupied as “available” for new data. Until that space is overwritten, the deleted file can often be recovered.

This means the sooner you attempt recovery after deletion, the higher your chances of success.

Check the Recycle Bin First

The easiest and most common way to restore deleted files is through the Recycle Bin. When you delete a file normally (not permanently), Windows stores it there temporarily.

Steps to Restore Files from Recycle Bin

1. Open the Recycle Bin

   • Double-click the Recycle Bin icon on your desktop.

2. Locate the Deleted File

   • Browse the list or use the Search box to find the file you want to recover.

3. Restore the File

   • Right-click the file and select Restore.

   • The file will be returned to its original location.

If you can’t find your file here, it might have been permanently deleted or removed using Shift + Delete, which bypasses the Recycle Bin.

Use File History Backup

If you have File History enabled in Windows, you can restore earlier versions of your files easily. File History automatically backs up copies of your personal files, allowing you to restore them if deleted or modified accidentally.

Steps to Recover Using File History

1. Open Control Panel and go to System and Security > File History.

2. Click Restore personal files on the left panel.

3. Browse through the folders and select the file or folder you want to restore.

4. Click the Green Restore button to recover the file to its original location.

You can also right-click a folder and select Restore previous versions to access earlier copies directly from File Explorer.

Recover Files Using Backup and Restore (Windows 7 Feature)

If you used the older Backup and Restore feature (available in Windows 7, 8, and 10), you can use it to bring back deleted files.

Steps to Restore Using Backup and Restore

1. Open Control Panel.

2. Navigate to System and Security > Backup and Restore (Windows 7).

3. Click Restore my files under the Restore section.

4. Follow the on-screen instructions to browse your backup and select files to restore.

This is especially helpful for users who regularly create system backups or schedule automatic backups.

Use the Command Prompt with Windows File Recovery Tool

If your files are not in the Recycle Bin or backed up, Microsoft offers a free tool called Windows File Recovery. It can recover permanently deleted files using command-line operations.

Steps to Use Windows File Recovery

1. Install the Tool

   • Download Windows File Recovery from the Microsoft Store.

2. Open Command Prompt as Administrator

   • Search for cmd, right-click Command Prompt, and select Run as administrator.

3. Run the Command

   • The basic syntax is:

     winfr C: D: /regular /n \Users\YourName\Documents\filename.docx


     • Replace C: with the drive where the file was deleted.

     • Replace D: with the destination drive to save recovered files.

4. Wait for the Process to Complete

   • Once done, check the recovery folder for your restored files.

This method requires a bit of command-line knowledge, but it’s very effective for deep recovery.

Use Third-Party File Recovery Software

If built-in options don’t work, you can use reliable third-party software to recover your deleted files. Some of the most popular tools include:

• Recuva (free and easy to use)

• EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard

• Disk Drill

• MiniTool Power Data Recovery

How to Use a Third-Party Recovery Tool

1. Download and install the recovery software on a different drive (to avoid overwriting deleted data).

2. Launch the program and choose the drive or partition to scan.

3. Start scanning to locate deleted or lost files.

4. Preview and recover the files you need.

These tools use advanced algorithms to locate fragments of deleted files that still exist on your hard drive, giving you a better chance of recovery.

Restore Files from OneDrive

If you use OneDrive to store or sync your files, you can restore deleted items directly from the cloud.

Steps to Recover Files from OneDrive

1. Go to the OneDrive website and sign in with your Microsoft account.

2. Click Recycle Bin on the left-hand menu.

3. Select the files you want to restore.

4. Click Restore to return them to their original folders.

OneDrive typically keeps deleted files for up to 30 days before they are permanently removed.

Restore from a System Restore Point

If a recent system change caused file loss, you can use a System Restore Point to roll your system back to an earlier state. Note that this mainly restores system files and settings, not personal files, but it can help if your files disappeared after a system error.

Steps to Use System Restore

1. Type System Restore in the Windows search bar and select Create a restore point.

2. Click System Restore under the System Protection tab.

3. Follow the prompts to select a restore point and confirm the process.

Best Practices to Prevent Future File Loss

• Regularly back up your data using File History or an external drive.

• Use cloud storage like OneDrive or Google Drive for automatic syncing.

• Avoid saving new files to the same location after deleting something important — it can overwrite recoverable data.

• Create restore points before installing major updates or software.

Conclusion

Accidentally deleting files on Windows doesn’t have to mean losing them forever. With built-in tools like the Recycle Bin, File History, Backup and Restore, and Windows File Recovery — plus third-party recovery software — you have several reliable options to retrieve your data.

By acting quickly and following the right recovery method, you can restore important files and avoid unnecessary data loss. And by implementing a good backup habit, you can protect yourself from future file disasters.