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Have you ever faced a situation where you accidentally deleted an important file from your computer’s recycle bin, and now you desperately want to recover it? It can be a frustrating experience, especially when the deleted files are important documents, photos, or videos. Windows 11 is the latest version of the well-known operating system. It comes with new features and improvements that enhance the overall user experience. One of those features is the enhanced recycle bin functionality.
Although Windows 11 comes with an improved recycle bin that works better than previous versions, it still cannot guarantee your deleted files won’t be lost permanently. Therefore, it is essential to know how to recover deleted files from recycle bin from Windows 11.
Video Tutorial:
What’s Needed
To recover deleted files from recycle bin in Windows 11, you will need a few things. Firstly, it is important to stop any further saving of files to your hard drive after you discover the accidental deletion. Then, you will need a reliable data recovery software. There are plenty of free and paid options available, but it is recommended to use a paid software as they often provide more features and better results. Finally, you will need a backup location to restore the files to after recovery to avoid further data loss.
What requires your attention is…?
When attempting to recover deleted files from the recycle bin, it is crucial to avoid writing new files to your computer. Any new data that is saved can overwrite the deleted files and permanently destroy them. Therefore, it is recommended to stop using your computer/hard drive immediately and use a different computer to download and install the data recovery software.
Method 1: Restore from Recycle Bin
This method is the easiest and quickest way to recover deleted files from your computer’s recycle bin.
1. Open the Recycle Bin by double-clicking its icon on the desktop or searching for "Recycle Bin" in the Start menu.
2. Locate the deleted files in the Recycle Bin window. You can use the search bar or scroll through the list of deleted items.
3. Right-click on the file(s) and select "Restore." Alternatively, you can select the file(s) and click on the "Restore the selected items" option located in the Recycle Bin toolbar.
Pros: Simple and does not require any third-party software.
Cons: Only restores files that are in the recycle bin, thus, it is not very helpful when the files have been removed from the recycle bin.
Method 2: Use File History Backup
This method requires that you have enabled File History backup on your Windows 11 computer before the accidental deletion occurred. File History makes copies of your files and enables you to recover specific versions of them.
1. Search "File History" in the Start menu and click on "File History settings." Alternatively, you can go to the Control Panel and locate "File History" under "System and Security."
2. Click on "Restore files from a current backup" or "Restore personal files" options.
3. Check whether the deleted file is available for restoration. Browse the file list and select the file(s) for recovery.
4. Click on the "Restore" button to begin the restoration process.
Pros: Easy to use, and the files can be restored from anywhere as long as a backup location exists.
Cons: It requires File History to be enabled beforehand, consumes a lot of space on your hard drive, and can take a long time to restore large files.
Method 3: Use data recovery software
If the above methods do not work, or you have emptied the recycle bin, then data recovery software is the best solution. There are plenty of paid and free options with various features that allow for the recovery of different types of files. Here we recommend EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard, which is a paid software but has advanced features and a user-friendly interface.
1. Download and install EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard on a different computer and insert a USB drive or external hard drive.
2. Connect the USB drive or external media to your Windows 11 computer and open EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard.
3. Select the hard drive where the deleted files were located and click on the "Scan" button.
4. Once the scan is complete, select the files to be recovered and click on the "Recovery" button.
5. Choose the location to store the recovered files and wait for the process to complete.
Pros: Can recover a wide range of files, the software has advanced features, and it is a one-time purchase.
Cons: Paid software, and it takes longer to recover files than the previous two methods.
Why Can’t I Recover My Files?
1. Files may have been overwritten by new data.
2. The deleted files were too large for the Recycle Bin and are lost permanently.
3. The deleted files were deleted using Shift + Delete, bypassing the Recycle Bin.
Implications and Recommendations
It is essential to have a backup of your important files in case of accidental deletion or hardware failure. Data recovery software also helps to restore files when there is no other option- it is always better to have a backup before you need it.
FAQs
Q: Can I recover permanently deleted files from Windows 11?
A: Yes, you can use a data recovery software that specializes in file recovery to scan and recover permanently deleted files.
Q: Can I recover files that were deleted a long time ago?
A: Yes, files that were deleted a long time ago can be recovered as long as they have not been overwritten by new data.
Q: Which data recovery software is the best for Windows 11?
A: There are many data recovery software options available, including EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard, Recuva, and Disk Drill. However, EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard is recommended for its advanced features and an easy-to-use interface.
Q: Can the recovered files get corrupted or damaged?
A: The recovered files can get corrupted if they were already damaged or overwritten before being recovered. However, data recovery software is designed to recover files in their original form with the same integrity as before.
Q: Is it possible to recover files directly from the hard drive without using any software?
A: Technically, it is possible to recover files directly from the hard drive without the use of data recovery software, but it is not recommended as it can damage the files and make them unrecoverable.
Conclusion
Losing important files due to accidental deletion can be devastating. However, with the methods mentioned above, you can successfully recover deleted files from your Windows 11 computer. The best way to avoid this is to always have a backup of your important files. Nonetheless, if you do experience this problem, data recovery software is the best option to recover your files.