How to recover a permanently deleted file in windows 10？

​Accidentally deleting important files can be a distressing experience, especially if you believe they are permanently lost. Fortunately, Windows 10 offers several methods for recovering permanently deleted files.

File Deletion in Windows 10

Before diving into recovery methods, it’s essential to understand how file deletion works in Windows 10. When you delete a file, it typically moves to the Recycle Bin, where it remains until the Recycle Bin is emptied. However, if you delete a file using the Shift + Delete command or empty the Recycle Bin, the file may appear permanently deleted. In reality, the file’s data remains on the hard drive until it is overwritten by new data.

Methods to Recover Permanently Deleted Files

Check the Recycle Bin

Step 1: Double-click the Recycle Bin icon on your desktop.

Step 2: Look for the deleted file. If found, right-click on the file and select “Restore” to return it to its original location.

Use File History Windows 10 includes a built-in backup feature called File History, which automatically saves copies of your files. If you have enabled this feature, you can recover previous versions of files.

Step 1: Type “Control Panel” in the Windows search bar and open it.

Step 2: Navigate to “System and Security” and select “File History.”

Step 3: Click on “Restore personal files.”

Step 4: Browse through the available backups and select the file or folder you want to restore.

Step 5: Click the green “Restore” button to recover the selected file.

Restore Previous Versions Windows 10 maintains shadow copies of files through a feature called “System Restore.” You can recover older versions of files if this feature was enabled.

Step 1: Navigate to the folder where the deleted file was located.

Step 2: Right-click on the folder and select “Restore previous versions.”

Step 3: A list of available versions will appear. Select the version you want to restore and click “Restore.”

Use Windows Backup If you use Windows Backup to create regular backups of your files, you can recover deleted files from these backups.

Step 1: Go to “Settings” > “Update & Security” > “Backup.”

Step 2: Click on “Go to Backup and Restore (Windows 7).”

Step 3: Click “Restore my files” and follow the prompts to recover your files.

Use Third-Party Data Recovery Software If the previous methods do not yield results, you can turn to third-party data recovery software. Many options are available, ranging from free to paid, that can help recover permanently deleted files.

Popular Data Recovery Software:

Panda Assistant is a powerful and user-friendly data recovery software designed to help users retrieve lost or deleted files from various storage devices, including hard drives, USB drives, and memory cards. Whether you accidentally deleted important documents, formatted a drive, or experienced data loss due to a system crash, Panda Assistant is here to assist you in restoring your valuable data.

With its intuitive interface, Panda Assistant simplifies the recovery process for both novice and experienced users. The software supports multiple file formats, ensuring you can recover everything from photos and videos to documents and archives. Its advanced scanning algorithms delve deep into your storage devices, locating recoverable files even after they’ve been permanently deleted.

One of the standout features of Panda Assistant is its ability to preview files before recovery. This allows you to identify the exact files you need, saving time and storage space. Additionally, the software provides a safe recovery environment, ensuring that your data remains intact throughout the process.

How to Use Data Recovery Software:

Step 1: Download and install your chosen data recovery software on a different drive than the one you want to recover data from.

Step 2: Open the software and select the drive from which you want to recover files.

Step 3: Run a scan. This may take some time, depending on the size of the drive and the amount of data.

Step 4: Once the scan is complete, browse through the list of recoverable files and select the ones you wish to recover.

Step 5: Follow the prompts to recover the selected files to a different drive to avoid overwriting any data.

Check Cloud Backup Services If you use cloud services like OneDrive, Google Drive, or Dropbox, your deleted files may still be recoverable from these platforms. Each service has its own method for restoring deleted files.

OneDrive:

Step 1: Log into your OneDrive account.

Step 2: Go to the “Recycle Bin” on the left sidebar.

Step 3: Select the files you want to restore and click “Restore.”

Google Drive:

Step 1: Go to Google Drive and log in.

Step 2: Click on “Trash” in the left sidebar.

Step 3: Select the files to restore and click “Restore.”

Dropbox:

Step 1: Log into your Dropbox account.

Step 2: Click on “Deleted files” in the left sidebar.

Step 3: Find the files you want to restore and click “Restore.”

Using Command Prompt For advanced users, the Command Prompt can be utilized to attempt recovery of deleted files.

Step 1: Press Win + X and select “Command Prompt (Admin).”

Step 2: Type chkdsk X: /f (replace “X” with the letter of the drive you want to recover from) and press Enter.

Step 3: Follow the prompts to check for and fix file system errors. Sometimes this can recover lost files.

Contact Professional Data Recovery Services If all else fails, and the data is critically important, consider contacting professional data recovery services. These experts have specialized tools and techniques to recover lost data from damaged or corrupted drives.

Preventing Future Data Loss

To avoid the stress of recovering deleted files in the future, consider implementing the following practices:

Regular Backups: Use Windows Backup or third-party solutions to create regular backups of your files.

Cloud Storage: Utilize cloud services for automatic backups of your important documents.

Enable File History: Ensure that Windows File History is enabled for easy recovery of previous versions of files.

Be Cautious with Deletions: Double-check before deleting files, especially if using Shift + Delete.