Oops!! You are figuring out that you just deleted an important file and now, you are thinking of a way to instantly recover deleted data on your computer. In the heat of a moment, not all essential files are always guarded completely from accidental deletion. There are times when the situation goes terribly wrong and you happen to delete and empty your Recycle Bin before realizing that one important document is gone. Thankfully, in this guide, we have detailed various ways to help you recover deleted content on your computer that is listed below.
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1. Recycle bin
Just in case you haven’t emptied it, the quickest and simplest way of recovering deleted content on your computer (Windows 11/10/8/7) is the Recycle bin. Recycle bin is a unique folder that enables the operating system to temporarily store deleted content such that it can be restored. The Recycle Bin is by default found on your desktop. If, however, you can’t find it follow these simple steps.
- Select Start > Settings > Personalization > Themes > Desktop icon settings.
- Make sure the check box for Recycle Bin is checked, then select OK. You should see the icon displayed on your desktop
If this doesn’t work, you can search for it from the Start menu. Once the Recycle bin folder is launched, search for the file that you would like to restore, right-click on it, and click or choose Restore from the popup menu. Files in the recycle bin folder are stored for only 30 days from the date of deletion, after that, the files are deleted permanently.
Read Also: How to Enable the Recycle Bin in Chrome OS
2. Using File History
You can use File History to restore deleted content to previous versions but unfortunately, File History can only be effective if your content was enabled to File History before deletion. To use File History,
- Type Restore files in the search box on the Taskbar.
- Select Restore your files with File History.
- Look for the file you need, then use the arrows to see all its versions.
- When you find the version you want, select Restore to save it in its original location.
- To save it in a different place, press and hold (or right-click) Restore,
- Select Restore to, and then choose a new location.
If you are figuring out right now that your files weren’t backed up to File History, you can choose to enable the backup feature in case similar incidents occur. In Windows 10, click the Start button and go to Settings > Update & Security > Backup, and then choose an external drive or network location for your backups.
3. Using Backup
Backup is a sure-fire method of recovering deleted content, always create a backup and configure your computer to always back up your content on other storage devices like cloud storage. This will always help you restore your content in case of accidental deletion. you can choose to backup on external physical storage like hard drives, memory cards, or flash disks, or you can choose cloud storage backup that is safer and less susceptible to damage and data loss.
Cloud storage is a cloud computing model that stores data on the Internet through a cloud computing provider that manages and operates data storage as a service. It is preferable to physical storage as there is minimal risk of losing data. Some of the most secure cloud storage include
- IDrive
- pCloud
- Sync.com
- Microsoft OneDrive
- Google Drive
- iCloud
- Egnyte Connect
- MEGA
- Tresorit
- SpiderOak
- Koofr
Because Google Drive is one of the most used cloud storage worldwide, below are the steps to follow if you are looking to restore lost data backed up on your Google drive.
- Open the Google Drive App and log into your Google Drive Account.
- Tap on the Home tab and select Backups.
- Locate the files you want to restore, and select Download
Read Also: How to recover lost data or files on a Hard Disk
4. Using File Recovery Software
Use File Recovery Software like Disk Drill for Windows, run it, and follow the steps below to recover deleted content on your Windows PC.
Select the drive and search for lost files. Select the partition from which you need to recover deleted content. Scan the drive completely to fully recover all the content, click the Search for lost data button to start the tool’s sophisticated scanning algorithms to locate your deleted content, preview the located content, and select the content you’re looking for to restore it in your computer.
5. Using CMD
“CMD” stands for “Command” A Command Prompt is a shell script that is used to execute commands. It can be used to execute commands on local and remote computers. CMD consists of system tools that can help you recover deleted content without third-party software. To use CMD:
Select Windows Powershell, type the command ( chkdsk X:/r), and replace X with the letter of your storage device. This command searches for bad sectors on the storage device and changes system attributes to normal hence you can locate your deleted content.