How to Recover Deleted Files on Windows 11

Everyone has accidentally deleted an important file at some point. The good news is that deleted files are often recoverable, especially if you act quickly. Here is how to get them back.

Check the Recycle Bin First

Deleted files usually go to the Recycle Bin before being permanently removed. Double-click the Recycle Bin icon on your desktop, find your file, right-click it, and select Restore. The file will return to its original location. If you emptied the Recycle Bin, the file may still be recoverable.

Use File History

If you had File History enabled, Windows automatically backs up your files. Go to Settings > Accounts > Backup and click More options. Scroll down to Restore files from a current backup. Browse through the backed-up versions and restore the file you need. File History must be set up before you lose a file.

Use Previous Versions

Windows creates shadow copies of files automatically. Right-click the folder where the deleted file was located and select Properties. Go to the Previous Versions tab and look for earlier versions of the folder. If available, select a version from before the deletion and click Restore.

Free Recovery Tools

If Windows built-in options do not work, free recovery tools can help. Recuva is a popular free tool that can recover files from hard drives, SSDs, and memory cards. PhotoRec is another option that works well for photos and documents. Install these tools on a different drive than the one you are recovering from to avoid overwriting data.

Stop Using the Drive Immediately

When you delete a file, the space is marked as available but the data remains until it is overwritten. To maximize recovery chances, stop using the computer immediately after realizing the file is missing. Do not install new software, download files, or save documents to the same drive.