Restoring Deleted Files in Windows: A Step-by-Step Guide

Did you accidentally delete any of your important files or documents from your computer or laptop? Don't worry, there might still be a chance that you can get them back. In this article we are going to show you some ways which will help you to restore your deleted files on your Windows computer or laptop.

Method 1:

Check the Recycle Bin they might still be there

One of the first things you should do after you have deleted an important file or document is to check the Recycle Bin in your device, they might still be there. The Recycle Bin is a location where the Windows OS (Operating System) stores the deleted files from your computer or laptop. Open the Recycle Bin and see if the file you deleted is there, if it is, you can restore it by right-clicking on the file and select 'Restore'.

Method 2:

Use File History to Recover your deleted files

Windows offers a feature called File History which automatically backs up your files to a network location or an external drive. If File History is enabled, you are able to restore your deleted files from a previous version. If you want to access File History, you need to go to the 'Control Panel' section, and then click on 'File History', then you can check through previous versions of your files and restore the one you need.

Method 3:

You can use a Data Recovery Software

After checking the file you deleted is not in the Recycle Bin or a previous version in File History, and you didn't find it, a data recovery software might come to help. You can find a lot of data recovery softwares that are available online, some of them are: Recuva, EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard, Disk Drill, and many more.

Method 4:

Another way that can help you to recover your deleted files is to check the Shadow Copies. This is a feature that Windows OS (Operating System) offers to it's users. It creates snapshots of your files and folders from your computer on specific intervals. These snapshots then can be used to restore the files that you have deleted. If you want to have access to the Shadow Copies, go to 'Control Panel' section, and then click on 'System and Maintenance' option, then you should click on 'System' and then click on 'System Protection'.

If you accidentally deleted a file, consider following these steps. So, keep in mind to back up your important files to an external drive or network location regularly, to avoid losing them in the future.