How do I recover permanently deleted files?

How do I recover permanently deleted files?

Deleting a file on a computer can be a scary experience. It’s easy to do by accident, and even when it’s done intentionally, it’s possible to regret it later. Fortunately, it’s not always the end of the world. In some cases, it’s possible to recover a deleted file. This article will explain how to do so.

Method Description
Restore from Recycle Bin If the file was recently deleted, it may still be in the Recycle Bin.
Restore from Backup If you have a recent backup, you can restore the file from it.
Use a Data Recovery Tool If the file is not in the Recycle Bin or a backup, you can use a data recovery tool to attempt to recover it.

Restoring a File from the Recycle Bin

The Recycle Bin is a special folder on your computer that stores recently deleted files. If the file you’re trying to recover was recently deleted, it may still be in the Recycle Bin. To access the Recycle Bin, open the Start menu and type “recycle bin” in the search box. Then, double-click the Recycle Bin icon to open it.

Once the Recycle Bin is open, you can look for the deleted file. If you find it, you can right-click it and select “Restore” to restore it to its original location. After the file is restored, it will be accessible again as if it had never been deleted.

Restoring a File from a Backup

If you’ve been regularly backing up your computer, you may be able to restore the deleted file from a backup. If you have a backup application installed, such as Windows Backup, you can open it and browse the backups it contains. Then, you can select the backup that contains the deleted file and restore it.

If you don’t have a backup application, you can still use Windows’ built-in backup tools. To access them, open the Start menu and type “backup” in the search box. Then, select “Backup and Restore (Windows 7)” to open the Backup and Restore window. From there, you can select the backup that contains the deleted file and restore it.

Using a Data Recovery Tool

If the file is not in the Recycle Bin or a backup, you can still attempt to recover it using a data recovery tool. Data recovery tools can scan your hard drive for deleted files and attempt to recover them. There are many data recovery tools available, both free and paid. Some of the more popular ones include Recuva and Disk Drill.

To use a data recovery tool, download and install it on your computer. Then, open the program and follow its instructions to scan your hard drive for deleted files. Once the scan is complete, you can look through the list of deleted files and select the one you want to recover. Finally, click the “Recover” button to recover the file.



Deleting a file can be an upsetting experience, but it doesn’t have to be the end of the world. In many cases, you can recover the deleted file using one of the methods described above. If the file is in the Recycle Bin, you can restore it from there. If you have a backup, you can restore it from there. Finally, if all else fails, you can use a data recovery tool to attempt to recover the file.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)



The Recycle Bin is a special folder on your computer that stores recently deleted files. It is a temporary storage place for deleted files, and it is emptied periodically. If you recently deleted a file, it may still be in the Recycle Bin.



To recover a file from the Recycle Bin, open the Recycle Bin on your computer. Then, look for the file you want to recover and right-click it. Finally, select “Restore” to restore it to its original location.



Yes, if you have a recent backup, you can restore the file from it. To do so, open your backup application and browse the backups it contains. Then, select the backup that contains the deleted file and restore it.



A data recovery tool is a program that can scan your hard drive for deleted files and attempt to recover them. There are many data recovery tools available, both free and paid. Some of the more popular ones include Recuva and Disk Drill.



To use a data recovery tool, download and install it on your computer. Then, open the program and follow its instructions to scan your hard drive for deleted files. Once the scan is complete, you can look through the list of deleted files and select the one you want to recover. Finally, click the “Recover” button to recover the file.



No, there is no guarantee that you will be able to recover a deleted file. In some cases, the file may have been permanently deleted and will not be recoverable. However, if the file was recently deleted and you use one of the methods described above, there is a good chance that you will be able to recover it.



The best way to avoid losing files in the future is to regularly back up your computer. If you have a backup of your computer, you can restore any files that are lost or deleted. There are many backup applications available, both free and paid. Additionally, Windows has built-in backup tools that you can use to back up your computer.

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