How to Recover Deleted Files on Your Computer: A Step-by-Step Guide to File Recovery

How to Recover Deleted Files on Your Computer: Step-by-Step Tips

Introduction

Accidentally deleting important files on your computer can be a stressful experience. Whether it’s a crucial work document, treasured photos, or vital system files, the panic of losing them can be overwhelming. But don’t worry—deleted files are often recoverable. In this step-by-step guide, we’ll walk you through various methods to recover deleted files on your computer so that you can restore your lost data with ease.

1. Check the Recycle Bin

The first place to check for deleted files is the Recycle Bin (Windows) or Trash (Mac). When files are deleted, they’re usually moved to the Recycle Bin or Trash, where they stay until the bin is emptied.

Steps to Recover Files from Recycle Bin (Windows):

Open the Recycle Bin by double-clicking its icon on your desktop.
Look for the file(s) you want to restore.
Right-click on the file and select Restore.
The file will be restored to its original location.

Steps to Recover Files from Trash (Mac):

Click on the Trash icon in the dock.
Browse for the deleted file.
Right-click on the file and select Put Back to return it to its original folder.

Pro Tip: Use the search bar in the Recycle Bin or Trash to quickly find a specific file.

2. Restore Files from a Backup

If you’ve set up automatic backups on your computer, you can easily restore deleted files from your backup drive or cloud service. Regular backups are a lifesaver in case of accidental deletion or system crashes.

For Windows: Using File History

Go to Control Panel > System and Security > File History.
Click Restore personal files on the left panel.
Browse through the backup history and find the file you want to restore.
Select the file and click the Restore button.

For Mac: Using Time Machine

Open Time Machine from the Applications folder or by clicking the Time Machine icon in the menu bar.
Browse through your backups to locate the deleted file.
Select the file and click Restore to recover it.

Pro Tip: Regularly set up and update backups using external drives or cloud storage services like Google Drive, OneDrive, or Dropbox to avoid permanent data loss.

3. Use Data Recovery Software

If the file isn’t in the Recycle Bin or you don’t have a backup, you can still recover deleted files using data recovery software. These tools scan your hard drive for traces of deleted data and help recover files even after they’ve been permanently deleted from the Recycle Bin.

Popular Data Recovery Tools:

Recuva (Windows): A user-friendly and free tool for recovering deleted files.
EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard (Windows/Mac): A powerful recovery tool that supports a wide range of file types.
Disk Drill (Windows/Mac): Known for its high success rate in recovering lost data.

Steps to Recover Files Using Recuva:

Download and install Recuva from its official website.
Launch the program and select the file type you’re trying to recover (e.g., pictures, documents).
Specify the location where the file was last seen (or choose “I’m not sure” for a full system scan).
Click Start to begin the scan.
Once the scan is complete, select the files you want to recover and click Recover.

Pro Tip: Avoid installing recovery software on the same drive where the files were deleted, as it may overwrite the deleted data, making recovery impossible.

4. Recover Files from Previous Versions (Windows)

Windows has a built-in feature called Previous Versions that automatically saves earlier versions of files and folders. You can use this feature to recover deleted or overwritten files.

Steps to Recover Files from Previous Versions:

Open File Explorer and navigate to the folder where the file was located.
Right-click on the folder and select Restore previous versions.
A list of available previous versions will appear.
Choose the version you want to restore and click Restore.

Pro Tip: Ensure System Protection is enabled on your Windows computer so that it regularly saves restore points and previous versions of your files.

5. Use System Restore (Windows)

If your files were lost after a recent system change (like an update or software installation), you can try using System Restore to revert your system to a previous point in time when the files were still present.

Steps to Use System Restore:

Open the Start menu, type System Restore, and select Create a restore point.
In the System Properties window, click System Restore.
Choose a restore point from a date before the file was deleted.
Follow the on-screen instructions to restore your system.

Pro Tip: System Restore is primarily designed to fix system settings and software issues, but it can sometimes restore deleted files as well if they were lost due to a system malfunction.

6. Recover Files from Cloud Storage Services

If you use cloud services such as Google Drive, OneDrive, or Dropbox, you may still be able to recover deleted files from these platforms. Many cloud services store deleted files in a separate “trash” or “recycle bin” folder for a certain period of time before permanently deleting them.

How to Recover Files from Google Drive:

Go to drive.google.com and sign in.
Click on the Trash in the left panel.
Right-click the file you want to recover and select Restore.

How to Recover Files from Dropbox:

Sign in to your Dropbox account.
Go to the Deleted Files section from the left sidebar.
Find the file you want to recover and click Restore.

Pro Tip: Cloud services often retain deleted files for up to 30 days, so it’s important to check as soon as possible if a file is missing.

7. Try Command Prompt (Windows)

For more advanced users, the Command Prompt can sometimes be used to recover deleted files through the chkdsk or attrib commands. These methods aren’t always guaranteed, but they can be effective in certain cases where files have become hidden or inaccessible.

Steps to Use Command Prompt for File Recovery:

Open the Start menu, type cmd, and right-click Command Prompt to select Run as administrator.
Type chkdsk X: /f (replace “X” with the drive letter of the storage device where the file was located) and press Enter.
Once completed, type ATTRIB -H -R -S /S /D X:. (again, replace “X” with the appropriate drive letter) and press Enter.

This process attempts to recover and make hidden files visible.

Pro Tip: Use this method with caution, as using incorrect commands in Command Prompt can cause further data loss.

8. Avoid Using the Affected Drive (Post-Deletion)

When a file is deleted, it isn’t immediately removed from your hard drive. Instead, the space it occupies is marked as available for new data. Therefore, to increase your chances of recovery, avoid using the affected drive as much as possible after deletion to prevent new data from overwriting your deleted files.

Tips to Avoid Data Overwriting:

Stop saving new files to the same drive or partition where the data was deleted.
Use external drives or USBs to store any new files while you attempt recovery.

Pro Tip: If the deleted files were on your system’s main hard drive, consider shutting down your computer until you can attempt recovery.

Conclusion

Losing important files can be a stressful situation, but with these step-by-step tips, you have a strong chance of recovering them. Whether you’re restoring from the Recycle Bin, using backup solutions, or utilizing data recovery software, it’s essential to act quickly and avoid overwriting the lost data. By following this guide, you’ll be better prepared to recover deleted files on your computer and prevent permanent data loss.