(The Ultimate Guide)How to Recover Deleted Files in Windows 10?

Before you apply these guides below to recover deleted files in Windows 10, please go to check the recycle bin where deleted files are stored temporarily.

Step 1. Open the Recycle Bin and find deleted files by name, file type, or even time.

Step 2. Select those deleted files and right-click them.

Step 3. Click Restore to recover deleted files in Windows 10

This method only works if you haven't emptied the Recycle Bin or when you delete files in normal ways. Once you execute a permanent deletion like using the "Shift+Delete" keys or emptying the Recycle Bin, please read on and get a suitable solution for restore deleted data.

1. 1. Windows File Recovery
2. 2. Windows File Backup
3. 3. Windows Previous Versions
4. 4. Windows 10 Deleted File Recovery Software
5. 5. Windows Command Prompt

1. Windows File Recovery

Windows File Recovery, developed by Microsoft, is a free data recovery tool, but only available for Windows 10 May 2020 Update (Windows 10 2004) or later versions. Moreover, it is a command-line app, unlike what we usually know.

Pros:

• A totally free data recovery tool
• Safe, reliable, and trustable (developed by Microsoft)

Cons:

• Only available for Windows 10 Build 19041or Later
• Complicated for computer users

This data recovery utility is available in Windows Store. If you want to try this tool, you should first download and launch the app from Microsoft Store.

Windows File Recovery is based on the command line, please follow the link from Microsoft Support below and get detailed steps to recover lost files.

2. Windows File Backup

Windows File Backup is an integrated function in Windows to back up data like documents, photos, emails, and even os.

Pros:

• Free and Easy
• Suitable for all-levels computer users

Cons：

• Only work when you set up a backup.

Follow the Guide to Restore Windows Backup

Go to check your recent backups and follow steps to get deleted files back from a Windows backup:

Step 1. Open "Control Panel", go to "System and Maintenance".

Step 2. Select "Backup and Restore (Windows 7)" >"Restore my files" > "Browse for files" or "Browse for folders" to select the previously created backup.

Step 3. Customize a path to save your files.

If there's a conflict, choose "Copy and Replace", "Don't copy" or "Copy, but keep both files" according to your needs. Then, wait for the restoring process to complete.

3. Windows Previous Versions

Also, you can recover deleted Windows 10 files by using the previous versions. Before you try this method, you must be sure that you have set up File History to back up files automatically.

Pros:

• Free and Easy

Cons：

• May cause data overwriting issues.
• You need to set it up before data loss happens.

Steps to recover deleted files with Windows Previous Versions

Step 1. Look for and right-click on the folder that contained the permanently deleted files.

Step 2. Click "Restore previous versions".

Step 3. Select the wanted files and click "Restore" to retrieve deleted files in Windows 10.

If the computer warns you that it already contains a file or folder with the same name, select "Replace the file in the destination" to retrieve deleted files right now.

4. Windows 10 Deleted File Recovery Software

If all methods mentioned above can't recover your deleted files, here you'll need a third-party tool like EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard. It tackles all tough data loss issues and restores data after a shit+delete, format, virus attack, system reinstalling, hard drive crash, and more.

Pros:

• A clear-designed interface
• No backup or previous versions required
• High data recovery rate than other solutions
• Easy and Safe

Cons:

• Only 2GB free with a free version. You need to upgrade to a paid version for a large amount of data.

Follow the Guide below to Recover Deleted Files with Data Recovery Utility

Step 1. Choose the exact file location and then click the "Scan" button to continue.

Step 2. After the process, select the "Deleted Files" and "Other Lost Files" folders in the left panel. Then, you can apply the "Filter" feature or click the "Search files or folders" button to find the deleted files.

Step 3. Click the "Recover" button and save the restored files – ideally, it should be different from the original one.

5. Windows Command Prompt

The Command Prompt is used to show and unhide those hidden files. Sometimes, maybe your files aren't deleted and just be hidden by a virus or some settings that you don't know.

Pros:

• Free

Cons:

• Not for deleted data, only for hidden files
• Command-line method, not easy for all computer users

Follow the steps below to show those hidden files

1. Press Win + R keys and type: cmd, hit Enter to open Command Prompt window as an administrator. 
2. Type: attrib -h -r -s  G:\*.* /s /d and hit Enter. (Replace G with the drive letter of the device where you lost files or data)

Conclusion

Time is a key point to successfully recover deleted files in Windows 10. Among all solutions on this page, data recovery software is the reliable solution that doesn't ask for backups before and can restore almost any type of data from simple delete to the system or hard drive crash error. It quickly scans everywhere of your hard drive to locate lost data and recover deleted files in time, avoiding further damage or wrong operation.