Before you start
- Another drive or USB stick to save recovered files to
Method 1 Check backups and the cloud first
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Step 1: OneDrive
If the folder was in OneDrive, go to onedrive.live.com > Recycle bin. Files stay there for 30 days (up to 93 for work accounts), even if you emptied the PC’s Recycle Bin.
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Step 2: Google Drive / Dropbox
Check their web Trash or Deleted files sections too.
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Step 3: Email and phone
Did you ever send or receive the file by email or messaging? Search there.
Method 2 Restore previous versions or File History
This works only if File History or System Protection was turned on before the deletion.
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Step 1: Find the folder
In File Explorer, go to the folder that contained the file.
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Step 2: Restore previous versions
Right-click the folder > Properties > Previous Versions (Windows 11: Show more options > Restore previous versions). Open an older version and copy the file out.
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Step 3: File History
If you’ve set up File History, search Start for Restore your files with File History, browse to the date and click the green restore button.
Method 3 Recover with Recuva (free, easy)
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Step 1: Install on another drive
Download Recuva from ccleaner.com/recuva, ideally installing it to a USB stick so you don’t overwrite data on C:. During setup, untick any bundled offers.
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Step 2: Scan
Choose the file type and location, and tick Enable Deep Scan if the quick scan finds nothing.
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Step 3: Recover
Tick the files (green = good condition) and click Recover, choosing a different drive to save them.
Method 4 Recover with Windows File Recovery (Microsoft, command line)
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Step 1: Install it
Install Windows File Recovery from the Microsoft Store.
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Step 2: Run a command
Open it (it asks for admin rights) and use a command like the example below: it searches C: for Word files and saves them to D:.
winfr C: D:\ /regular /n *.docxTroubleshooting
Recovered files won’t open
They were partly overwritten. Try a deep scan or a different tool; for critical files, a professional recovery service may help.
Nothing found on an SSD
SSDs often erase deleted data within minutes through TRIM. Recovery tools have much lower success rates on SSDs than on hard disks.
Frequently asked questions
Can I recover files deleted with Shift + Delete?
Yes, the same way: they skip the Recycle Bin but stay on the drive until overwritten.
How long do I have to recover a file?
On a hard disk, until the space is reused, which can be days or weeks. On an SSD, often only minutes.
Summary
Check OneDrive’s recycle bin, Previous Versions and File History first. If there’s no backup, stop using the drive and run Recuva or Windows File Recovery, saving results to a different drive.
