You deleted some of your important files from your Windows PC and now you are not able to find it. Maybe it is not in the folder where you saved it or you already checked the Recycle Bin. If you are asking Where to Find Deleted Files on Windows well then the answer completely depends on how the file was deleted from your system. In most cases you can first check the Recycle Bin, File History, Previous Versions and also OneDrive. If the file was permanently deleted or the Recycle Bin was emptied now you can not rely on manual methods here you need dedicated recovery software.
In this detailed guide we will explain everything to you if you really want to know where to find deleted files on Windows, what to check first and what to do if Windows no longer shows your deleted file.
Where Do Deleted Files Go on Windows?
Have you ever wondered what happens when you instantly delete a file on a Windows system? Is it deleted forever? Well many of you might think so but let me tell you that it is not the whole truth. If you select a file and press Delete here Windows normally moves it to the Recycle Bin. You can open the Recycle Bin and find the file and you can restore it to its original location.
However the situation completely changes when your action meet these following conditions:
- Use Shift + Delete
- Empty the Recycle Bin
- Delete files from some external storage devices
- Format a drive or partition
- Delete files using certain applications or commands
In these situations your file may not appear in the Recycle Bin. This is the time when you need to look at other recovery options.
Where to Find Deleted Files on Windows
If you are trying to find deleted files on Windows then you need to follow these methods in order. You can simply start with the easiest option and move to recovery only when your file cannot be found.
1. Check the Recycle Bin
The Recycle Bin is the first place you can start with and check for normally deleted files. Follow the given process to check the Recycle Bin.
- Open Recycle Bin from the desktop.
- Browse the list or use the search option.
- Look for your deleted file.
- Right click the file.
- Select Restore.
Windows will return the file to the folder where it was located before being deleted. So if you recently deleted the file and have not emptied the Recycle Bin this is the quickest way to get it back.
2. Check File History
If you have enabled File History before the file was deleted then you may be able to restore an earlier version. To check it you need to follow these simple steps:
- Open Control Panel.
- Go to System and Security.
- Select File History.
- Choose Restore personal files.
- Browse for the required file or folder.
- Select the file and restore it.
Let me be very clear as File History cannot help you if it was never configured or if a previous copy of the file was not available. You may also consider this guide to know How to Recover Permanently Deleted Files on Windows 11 in a few simple steps.
3. Check Previous Versions
Windows may have previous versions of a folder if the File History, System Protection or another backup mechanism created them.
To check quickly follow these steps:
- Go to the folder where the deleted file was stored.
- Right click the folder.
- Select Properties.
- Open the Previous Versions tab.
- Check whether an earlier version is available.
- Now open or just restore the required version.
This is another very useful option if you want to find deleted files on Windows without immediately using any recovery software.
4. Check OneDrive Recycle Bin
If your files were stored or synced with OneDrive so you need here to check the OneDrive Recycle Bin. Sign in to OneDrive and then open its Recycle Bin. If your deleted file is available there then select it and choose the option to Restore.
This is very useful if your missing file was inside a Desktop, Documents or Pictures folder that was being backed up or synced with OneDrive.
Why Can’t I Find My Deleted Files in the Recycle Bin?
You may still be able to recover your file even when it is not visible in the Recycle Bin. But before you can check some common reasons why you can’t find your deleted file in Recycle Bin:
- The Recycle Bin was emptied.
- File deleted using Shift + Delete.
- The file was deleted from a USB drive or another external storage device.
- If the file was removed by an application.
- The drive was formatted.
- File was deleted a long time ago and storage space has been reused.
- The file was moved or renamed instead of deleted.
If you are asking where to find deleted files on Windows 11 because the Recycle Bin is empty I would like to suggest you do not immediately save new files to the affected drive as using continue can overwrite storage space that may still contain recoverable data.
Where Are Permanently Deleted Files on Windows?
A permanently deleted file does not always mean it disappears from the storage device the exact moment it is deleted. For many traditional hard drives Windows simply marks the space occupied by a deleted file as available for new data. Recovery still remains possible as long as that space has not been reused.
This is one of the reasons why you should act quickly if you need to find deleted files on Windows after emptying the Recycle Bin or using Shift + Delete.
However let me tell you that recovery is not guaranteed. New files, software installations, downloads and other disk activity can overwrite the deleted data.
SSD storage can also behave differently due to features such as TRIM. In some cases users permanently deleted SSD data may become absolutely difficult or impossible to recover.
Can You Recover Deleted Files That Are Not in the Recycle Bin?
Yes, sometimes it is possible to recover deleted data from the recycle bin. If you want to know proper steps then you can read our dedicated detailed guide to know How to Restore Permanently Deleted Files from Recycle Bin using quick and simple methods.
If you cannot find deleted files on Windows using the Recycle Bin, File History, Previous Versions or OneDrive then you can choose the reliable HDD recovery software that can deeply scan your storage device and show you all recoverable files.
You can check the given table below to figure out the recovery chances and it is depend on several factors which give you idea if the possibility is still remains or not:
| Situation | Recovery possibility |
|---|---|
| Recently deleted file | High Chance of Recovery |
| Recycle Bin emptied | May be possible |
| Shift + Delete | May be possible |
| Deleted from USB drive | May be possible |
| Formatted drive | Depends on drive usage and file system |
| Data overwritten | May not be recoverable |
| SSD after TRIM | Recovery may be limited |
| Physically damaged drive | Software Can’t Recover |
The most important rule is simple to stop using that affected drive as soon as you realize important data is missing.
How to Find Deleted Files on Computer Windows 11 and 10
If you are trying to find deleted files on Windows and the normal recovery locations do not contain them. This is the time when you can trust SysTools Data Recovery Software for deep scanning your drive for deleted, formatted or otherwise inaccessible files and allow recovery of your files safely. You need to Download this software by clicking the Download bullet below to start the process by following these simple five recovery steps.
Note: Stop Using the Affected DriveYou should not continue downloading files, installing applications, copying large amounts of data or saving any new files to that affected drive that containing the deleted data. If possible you should connect the affected drive as a secondary drive and then perform recovery from another storage device.
Step 1: Install SysTools Recovery Wizard
You can install the recovery software on a different drive whenever possible as Installing software on the same affected drive where your deleted files existed can overwrite recoverable data.
Step 2: Select the Drive or Location
You need to open the software and select the drive, partition or location where your deleted files were stored.
Step 3: Run the Scan
Once the location is selected now you can start the scan and allow the software to examine the selected storage location.
Step 4: Preview the Recoverable Files
Once scanning is complete now you can browse the results and look for your missing files. You can use the available file information and preview options to figure out the files you want before recovery.
Step 6: Recover the Files to Another Location
Now you need to select the required files and simply save them to a different drive or storage device. You must avoid saving recovered files back to the same drive from which they were deleted.
Where to Find Recently Deleted Files on Windows
If the deletion happened recently you can start with the Recycle Bin. This is the simplest answer to where to find recently deleted files on Windows when your files were deleted normally. And if the Recycle Bin is empty now you need to check:
- File History
- Previous Versions
- OneDrive Recycle Bin
- Backup locations
- recovery software
If you are searching for where to see recently deleted files on Windows then you must remember that Windows does not provide one universal deleted-files folder. The correct location depends on how and where your file was deleted.
When Deleted Files May Not Be Recoverable
Using professional recovery software does not mean that recovery is guaranteed or it is possible in every situation. As a deleted file may become unrecoverable when its storage space has already been overwritten. Recovery can also be very limited when the SSD drive has processed deleted blocks using TRIM.
If your drive has serious physical problems such as clicking sounds, a burning smell or complete hardware failure at this stage software based recovery is not an appropriate option. In such cases you must only seek professional lab recovery services.
So if you are trying to find deleted items on Windows you must then avoid assuming that every deleted file can always be restored. The condition of your storage device and the amount of new data written after deletion are the most important factors.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Where can I find deleted files on my PC?
You can start with the Recycle Bin. If your file is not there then you should next check File History, Previous Versions, OneDrive and also available backups. If the file was permanently deleted then you can go with the recovery option by choosing SysTools Software.
Q2. Where are deleted files on Windows 11?
Normally deleted files are moved to the Recycle Bin. Files removed using Shift + Delete or after emptying the Recycle Bin may not appear there and you may need another recovery method.
Q3. Where can I find deleted files on Windows 10?
Same step to check first the Recycle Bin. You can also check File History, Previous Versions, OneDrive and backups.
Final Takeaway
If you are wondering where to find deleted files on Windows then you must always start with the simplest options to check Recycle Bin, File History, Previous Versions, OneDrive and also backups. These are some of the proven methods which can help you to restore your files without any advanced software.
If your file was permanently deleted, Recycle Bin was emptied or the file was deleted from an external storage device then you must immediately stop using that affected drive and consider a recovery scan with SysTools Software.
The sooner you stop writing new data to the affected storage device the better your chances may be of recovering your important files that have not yet been overwritten.