Can You Recover Shift Deleted Files from Windows 11 & 10?

Has a file been inadvertently deleted using Shift+Delete, and are you now uncertain if it is permanently lost? It is possible that you were unaware that Shift+Delete avoids the Recycle Bin, or that you initially believed that you no longer required those files, only to later reconsider. Either way, it is frequently feasible to retrieve files that were deleted using Shift+Delete on Windows, particularly if one is aware of the appropriate procedures.

Also, to maximize your chances of recovery on your hard drive, act quickly. Otherwise, your data could simply be wiped. We strongly advise that you do not use the problematic drive/partition where the files were wiped, or even your computer, until you have finished reading this page.

Is it possible to recover Shift Deleted files?

Using the Shift+Delete command in Windows essentially eliminates files and avoids the Recycle Bin. Unlike standard deletion, which lets you easily restore from the Recycle Bin, apart from data erased from some external media, shift-deleted files demand quick action to maximize recovery prospects.

The operating system does not instantly wipe a deleted file off of your storage device. Rather, it signals the area as open for fresh data. Your files stay on the drive thus till fresh data overwrites them. Downloading data, writing new documents, or installing software—including recovery tools—on the impacted drive or partition, for instance, will lower your chances of a successful recovery.

Note: SSDs' TRIM function makes recovering irreversibly erased files harder. To enhance SSD performance, TRIM automatically clears erased data, making data recovery difficult or impossible. Enabling TRIM on your SSD reduces the likelihood of recovering shift-deleted files.

How to recover Shift Deleted files

In this part, we’ll show you how to recover deleted files removed by Shift+Delete.

Option 1. Try professional data recovery software

If you don't have a backup, data recovery software can scan your drive for and recover erased items. This technique is also applicable if you have emptied your Recycle Bin.

AOMEI FastRecovery is developed for Windows environments such as Windows 11/10/8/7 and all Windows Servers. This utility stands out as a comprehensive data recovery solution that can thoroughly scan your disk's contents. As a result, it unearths file fragments that remain after being deleted from the storage device. This functionality allows for the rebuilding of files long after they have been erased, increasing the effectiveness of the recovery procedure.

Step 1. Install and launch AOMEI FastRecovery. Choose the exact partition or disk where your data lost and click Scan.

Step 2. Then, the recovery tool start to scan and search. lt will execute the “Quickly Scan" first for finding your deleted data fast, and then execute the “Deep Scan" for searching other lost data.

Step 3. Once the scan is completed, all deleted files, recycle bins and other missing files will be displayed. Please select the file you would like to recover and then click "Recover".

Step 4. Then, select a folder path to save your recovered files.

Step 5. Wait patiently for this process of recovering ends.

Option 2. Use Windows File Recovery to undo Shift+Del

For individuals who prefer a native Windows solution, Microsoft created Windows File Recovery, a command-line utility. Although it lacks a graphical user interface out of the box, it can do basic recovery operations and supports common file types like PDFs, Office documents (DOC/XLS), photos (PNG), movies (MP4/MOV), and ZIP files. This program is a good choice if you want to recover recently deleted files without installing third-party software.

Step 1. Download Windows File Recovery from the Microsoft Store.

Step 2. Launch Windows File Recovery after the installation completes.

Step 3. Determine the Appropriate Recovery Mode based on your file system and recovery needs. The basic command syntax is: winfr source-drive: destination-drive: [/mode] [/switches]

Step 4. You can use the Regular mode for NTFS file systems when recovering recently deleted files. Type in winfr C: E: /regular /n \Users\YourUsername\Documents\* (as example) and press Enter.

Step 5. This command recovers all files from the Documents folder on drive C: and saves them to drive E. When prompted with “Continue? (Y/N)”, type Y and press Enter.

Tip: If you use non-NTFS file systems, such as FAT32 or exFAT, run Extensive Mode. Here the example of command will be winfr C: E: /extensive /n *.pdf /n *.docx /n *.xlsx. This command searches for .pdf, .docx, and .xlsx files on drive C: and saves them to drive E:.

Option 3. Recover Shift Deleted files via Windows Backup

If you are one of the fortunate individuals who had native Windows backups enabled at the time of data loss, it is likely that you can recover your shift-deleted folders and files using the Backup and Restore option. If you are unfamiliar with the recovery process for this particular backup, we have outlined the steps below.

Step 1. Right-click on Start and select Search, and type in Control Panel.

Step 2. Go to System Security > Backup and Restore (Windows 7).

Step 3. Hit the Restore my files button in the bottom right corner. Here you can also browse for more backups if they are available.

Step 4. Select Browse for folders to see which files can be restored to their previous condition.

Step 5. Click on the folder that you wish to restore and select Add folder. Hit Next and locate where you wish to recover your files.

Step 6. Click Restore to undo shift delete.

Option 4. Check File History to cancel Shift Delete

Another convenient utility that is included with Windows is File History. File History is responsible for the transferring of all files in the Music, Photos, Videos, and Documents folders, whereas the previous method is employed to generate larger backups. It performs this action every hour, allowing you to effortlessly peruse numerous previous iterations and restore those that you prefer.

Step 1. Visit Settings > Update & Security > Backup.

Step 2. Click Add a Drive and make sure that the Automatically back up my files function is turned On.

Step 3. File History will make an updated copy of your files every hour.

If you have backup, you can quickly recover removed files.

Step 1. Click on the Quick Access icon located in your toolbar.

Step 2. Open the folder that contained your lost files. In the Home tab, click on the History icon to open up File History.

Step 3. To recover all the files in the folder, click on the green icon at the bottom.

To sum up

Shifting deleted files might be a hassle. Nobody wants to lose their essential files. Fortunately, Windows includes options for shift delete recovery. To recover these files, you can use either Windows built-in features or a data recovery application like AOMEI FastRecovery. If you keep file backups, a third-party backup/restore application will also function.

After a file has been removed, it is just marked for replacement. Eventually, new files will overrun it. However, if you act fast and minimize your activities on the drive you're recovering, you'll have a good chance of retrieving your accidentally erased files.