How to Recover Permanently Deleted Files Windows 10?

Sometimes we delete something important by mistake. It could be your photos, videos, folders, office files, or anything. Don’t worry Windows 10 provides you multiple built-in options to recover permanently deleted files, whether files were Shift + Deleted, removed from the Recycle Bin, lost after a system crash, or deleted without any backup.
Windows only removes the “address” of deleted files but the actual data stays on the disk until new data overwrites it. That’s why you must stop using the PC immediately.
In this simple guide, you will find out how to restore permanently deleted files in Windows 10 step-by-step manually or using professional tools.
If you want the fastest and safest permanently deleted files recovery, you can use SysTools Windows Data Recovery Software. It is designed to restore permanently deleted, lost, formatted, Shift-deleted files from Windows 10 in a very easy way.

Why Files Get Permanently Deleted in Windows 10

Files get deleted accidentally or sometimes with internal or external issues like virus attack or hard drive corruption. In this case users search to recover permanently deleted files on Windows 10 because of the following situations:

• Shift + Delete used accidentally
• Virus attack
• Recycle Bin emptied
• System crash or Windows corruption
• USB or SD card formatting
• Hard drive bad sectors
• File History or backup was never enabled

9 Best Ways to Recover Permanently Deleted Files Windows 10

Find below all best and 9 working methods. These methods with and without software will help you recover your permanently deleted files easily in Windows 10. You will find features like built-in tools, backups, CMD, and professional recovery software. Follow each given step carefully and restore your lost data safely.

Method 1: Use Reliable Windows Data Recovery Tools

For reliable data recovery this is the most safest and professional way to recover permanently deleted files Windows 10, even if:

• Recycle Bin is empty
• Shift + Delete was used
• Files were deleted months ago
• Drive is corrupted
• File system is RAW
• System crashed or partition disappeared

Steps:

Perform the simple steps listed here:

1. 1. Download SysTools Software and launch on your Windows installed machine.

2. Select the partition from Files deleted and click on Scan.

3. Preview all retrieved files and folders.

4. Save all recovered files and folders on your Windows system.

You will easily recover old deleted data, recover from SSD, HDD, USB, SD, and Recover photos, videos, documents, emails, etc.

Method 2: Recover Files from Recycle Bin (If Not Emptied)

Check if your recycle bin is not emptied then this is useful in recovering your deleted files if you only deleted them normally.

Steps to perform:

1. Open Recycle Bin.
2. Select deleted files.
3. Right-click to Restore.

Note: You can easily recover deleted files in Windows 10 unless you find Recycle Bin was emptied.

Method 3: Restore Deleted Files Using Previous Versions

This method is based on shadow copies stored by Windows and works only when file history or restore points are enabled. Check below how you can use this method with simple steps:

1. Right-click the folder where the file existed.
2. Select Restore previous versions.
3. Choose a version before deletion.
4. Click Restore.

Method 4: Recover Data Using File History

If file history or system restore points are enabled then you must check for whether the previous version folder exists or not as it only works if File History was ON before deletion.

Steps:

1. Go to the Control Panel and open File History.
2. Click Restore personal files.
3. Browse versions and restore.

Method 5: Backup & Restore (Windows 7) – Works for Old Backups

Despite the name – Windows 7 this feature still exists in Windows 10 which is good for the users who made their backups manually.

Steps:

1. Go to Control Panel – Backup & Restore (Windows 7).
2. Click Restore my files.
3. Select backup – restore to original or new location.

Method 6: Windows File Recovery Using CMD Tool

This Microsoft official free tool works well to recover permanently deleted files using command prompt CMD in Windows 10. Here you can use the following mentors to restore your deleted files.

Use the following methods:

• Default Mode – recent deletions (NTFS)
• Segment Mode – files deleted a long time ago
• Signature Mode – for USB, SD Card, FAT, exFAT

Example Commands:

• Default Mode: winfr C: D: /regular
• Segment Mode (for older deleted files): winfr C: D: /segment
• Signature Mode (for USB, SD cards): winfr E: D: /signature

This method helps you recover permanently deleted files in Windows 10 but for this you need to have basic CMD knowledge.

Method 7: CMD /attrib Command (For hidden or lost files)

This method is useful when files are not deleted but hidden or corrupted, you must run CMD as admin and type: (attrib -h -r -s /s /d D:\*.*). Entering this will restore your hidden or lost files on USB, HDD, or SD card.

Method 8: Recover Permanently Deleted Files from OneDrive

If your files were synced it is the best suitable method for you. OneDrive allows you to keep files for 30 days for personal users and 93 days for businesses.

Steps:

1. Open OneDrive online.
2. Go to the Recycle Bin.
3. Restore deleted files.

Method 9: Check System Restore for Previous Versions

This is not for files however it can restore the entire system state, bringing back files stored in system folders.

Steps:

1. Search System Restore.
2. Select a restore point before deletion.
3. Restore the system.

Important Notes

1. File History must be enabled before deletion.
2. Windows File Recovery needs correct mode (Default, Segment, Signature).
3. Backup drives often delete old backups automatically when full.
4. Recovering files deleted months ago works only if not overwritten.
5. Deeper recovery requires Segment Mode for old deleted files.
6. The safest method is professional recovery software like SysTools.

Prevent Overwriting

Important things to keep in mind to successfully recover your permanently deleted files in Windows 10:

• Don’t download anything
• Don’t install new apps
• Don’t copy new files
• Don’t use the same drive you’re recovering from

Conclusion

If you’re worried about how to recover permanently deleted files in Windows 10, there are multiple options available from free recovery of your permanently deleted files to professional utility tools. But the recovery success depends on how quickly you act and whether the deleted space is overwritten.

Important Questions & Solutions

Q1. Can permanently deleted files be recovered in Windows 10?

Yes, permanently deleted files in Windows 10 can still be recovered as Windows does not remove actual data it only removes the file’s reference, your file remains on the drive until new data overwrites that space.

Q2. How to recover permanently deleted files in Windows 10 without software?

The only way to recover permanently deleted files in Windows 10 without software is if you previously enabled a backup feature like File History, Backup and Restore (Windows 7), or Restore Previous Versions. Simply open these tools and restore an earlier copy of the file or folder. Without backup Windows cannot recover the deleted data without third-party software.

Q3. Does Windows 10 have a built-in recovery tool?

Windows 10 does not include a built-in tool that can automatically recover permanently deleted files if no backup exists, but what Windows 10 offers are limited recovery options for you such as File History, Backup and Restore (Windows 7), and Restore Previous Versions. This works only if these features were enabled earlier and have saved copies of your data.

Q4. Why does Windows File Recovery not find my deleted files?

If you are using the wrong recovery mode, Windows may fail to find it as the drive is SSD with TRIM enabled, or the deleted data has already been overwritten. Also, it struggles with older deletions and fragmented files.

Q5. Can I recover files deleted months ago in Windows 10?

Yes, in such a case recovery is still possible only if the deleted files are still present on the hard drive or not overwritten by new data. If the drive was not heavily used after deletion, using deep file recovery software can often restore your files deleted months earlier with 99.9% success rate.