If the deleted files are still in the Recycle Bin, you can restore them by dragging and dropping. If you have already emptied the Recycle Bin, the files are not permanently erased immediately. You can still perform Recycle Bin recovery using professional data recovery software.
Recovering files from the Recycle Bin is a common solution when you accidentally delete important files on Windows. In most cases, deleted files are first moved to the Recycle Bin, where you can easily restore them using built-in Windows features.
However, if the Recycle Bin has been emptied, data recovery software is required to recover the deleted files.
This guide explains how to perform Recycle Bin recovery in different situations, including restoring files without software and recovering permanently deleted files with professional data recovery software.
| Situation | Recovery Method |
| Deleted just now | Use Ctrl + Z |
| File still in Recycle Bin | Drag and drop or use the Restore button |
| Recycle Bin emptied | Use data recovery software |
| SSD with TRIM enabled | Recovery may be difficult |
Case 1: How to Recover Files From Recycle Bin Without Software
Windows provides several built-in options to recover deleted files from the Recycle Bin. Below are three simple methods you can try: using the Ctrl + Z shortcut, selecting the Restore option, and dragging files back to the desired location.
Method 1. Use the Ctrl + Z Key Combination
The first way is using “Ctrl” + “Z“: this is a simple shortcut key combination to undo an action that has been performed on Windows just now. This is the easiest and most convenient way to undo deletion.
Related Article: Ctrl + Z Not Working in Windows 11/10? How to Fix It?
Method 2. Use the Restore Button
The second way is to make use of the “Restore” feature: just click on the Recycle Bin icon to enter it. Then, select the files/folders you’ve deleted accidentally. Afterward, right-click on them and choose the “Restore” option from the pop-up menu.
Method 3. Drag and Drop the Files
The third way is dragging files directly out of the Recycle Bin: enter the Recycle Bin as we suggested above. Then, select the correct file(s) and drag them out directly to the desktop or another desired location.
The above content shows the solutions to file recovery before the files have been cleared permanently from the computer. Well, some people will ask “Can I restore permanently deleted files”. Sure, the answer would be a certainly yes.
Case 2: How to Recover Deleted Files From Recycle Bin After Empty
Why Files Can Still Be Recovered
Emptying the Recycle Bin does not immediately erase the actual file data from your disk. Instead, Windows removes the file references and marks the space as available for new data. Until that space is overwritten, the deleted files may still be recoverable with professional data recovery software.
However, Windows does not provide a built-in feature to restore files after the Recycle Bin has been emptied. To perform Recycle Bin recovery in this situation, you need to use reliable data recovery software, such as MiniTool Power Data Recovery.
It supports the recovery of different file types, including documents, photos, videos, audio files, and other commonly used data. The free edition supports recovering 1 GB of files for free.
MiniTool Power Data Recovery FreeClick to Download100%Clean & Safe
How to Recover Files Deleted From an Emptied Recycle Bin
Step 1. Select the Recycle Bin to scan for deleted files.
Launch MiniTool Power Data Recovery. Select Recycle Bin from the main interface and click Scan to search for deleted files. You can also scan the original drive where the deleted files were stored.
Step 2. Use multiple features in this software to locate the desired files.
After the scan stops automatically or you stop the process manually, you can expand the folders and subfolders under Path to find the needed files.
Alternatively, you can move on to the Type category list to make this software display all files according to file type and file format.
Furthermore, there are two useful features to help you simplify the file discovery process:
- Filter: You can filter files by file type, file modification date, file size, and file category.
- Search: You can type a partial or complete file name in the search box and press Enter to search for a certain file.
Step 3. Save recoverable files.
Select the files you want to recover and click Save to store them.
Once the save process is done, you can click the View Recovered button to view and use the recovered files. As the free edition of MiniTool Power Data Recovery only supports recovering 1 GB of files, if you need to recover more, you have to upgrade the software and get a license key.
How to Avoid Permanent Data Loss After Deleting Files
Check Files Before Emptying Recycle Bin
Before permanently deleting files, review the items stored in the Recycle Bin carefully. This simple step can help prevent accidentally removing important documents, photos, or other files.
Enable Windows Backup Features
Enable built-in backup features such as File History or use cloud backup services like OneDrive to keep additional copies of important files.
Disable Automatic Recycle Bin Cleanup in Storage Sense
Windows Storage Sense can automatically remove files from the Recycle Bin after they have been there for a certain number of days. To prevent accidentally losing deleted files before you review them, you can disable this option:
- Open Settings and go to System > Storage.
- Click Storage Sense > Configure Storage Sense or run it now.
- Turn off the option Delete files in my recycle bin if they have been there for over a certain amount of time.
Avoid Using the Drive After Accidental Deletion
If you accidentally delete important files, avoid saving new data to the same drive. New files may overwrite the deleted data and reduce the chance of successful recovery.
Summary
Recycle Bin recovery provides a solution to restore accidentally deleted files on Windows. If the deleted files are still stored in the Recycle Bin, you can restore them directly without additional tools. However, if the Recycle Bin has been emptied, the deleted files may still be recoverable before new data overwrites them.
To improve the chances of successful recovery, avoid writing new data to the disk after file deletion and use data recovery software to start the recovery process as soon as possible.
Should you encounter any issues during the data recovery process by using MiniTool Power Data Recovery, please send an email to [email protected].
About The Author
Position: Columnist
Shirley holds a bachelor’s degree in English and has been an editor at the MiniTool Team for many years. She specializes in IT-related content, with a focus on data recovery, file backup, disk management, and other technical topics. She is committed to delivering clear, accurate, and practical solutions to help users resolve common computer issues.
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