How to Recover Deleted Files on Windows (Step-by-Step Guide)
Accidentally deleted files on Windows? Don’t worry — you can often restore them without professional help. This guide shows the best ways to recover deleted files on Windows 10 and Windows 11, using both built-in features and free recovery tools.
1. Recover Deleted Files from Recycle Bin
The first place to look is the Recycle Bin.
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Double-click Recycle Bin on your desktop.
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Locate the deleted file, right-click, and select Restore.
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Your file will return to its original location.
2. Restore Deleted Files with File History
If File History was enabled before deletion, you can roll back to older copies:
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Open Control Panel → System and Security → File History.
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Click Restore personal files.
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Select the file version you want → hit Restore.
3. Use Previous Versions of Folders
Windows automatically saves restore points that may contain deleted files:
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Right-click on the folder where the file was stored.
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Choose Restore previous versions.
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Pick a version and click Restore.
4. Find Files After a Windows Update
After a system update, files may appear hidden or moved:
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Press Windows + S, type the file name, and search.
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Check C:\Users\YourName for relocated files.
5. Use Free File Recovery Software (If Needed)
If built-in methods don’t work, try trusted recovery software:
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Recuva – beginner-friendly and free.
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TestDisk / PhotoRec – advanced tool for deep recovery.
👉 Always save recovered files to a different drive to prevent overwriting.
Conclusion
Recovering deleted files on Windows is possible if you act quickly. Start with simple methods like Recycle Bin or File History, then move to recovery software if needed. To avoid future headaches, keep regular backups on cloud storage or an external hard drive.