How to Get Deleted Files in Recycle Bin Recovery

Some users wonder if deleted files in Recycle Bin can be recovered even after being removed permanently. In this post, we'll show you how to get deleted files in Recycle Bin recovery whether the Recycle Bin is empty.

Hedy

By Hedy / Updated on March 10, 2025

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Can I recover files deleted from Recycle Bin?

Yes, it is possible to recover deleted files in Windows. When files are accidentally deleted, they are temporarily stored in the Recycle Bin for a limited time. During this period, you can easily retrieve deleted files and folders by simply accessing the Recycle Bin.

However, if you've emptied the Recycle Binor if the files have been automatically removed after their retention period expired, recovery becomes more challenging. Although the files may no longer be visible or accessible, they can still be recovered as long as they haven't been overwritten by new data. To maximize your chances of recovery, avoid using the computer until you've retrieved the deleted files.

There are several reliable tools available for recovering data from the Recycle Bin. By following the proper steps, you can recover deleted files using Windows file recovery tools. Understanding these recovery methods and how they work in different situations can help you get your lost data back.

Easy steps to get deleted files in Recycle Bin recovery

Deleted files from Windows can typically be recovered from the Recycle Bin. If you've enabled the option to automatically empty the Recycle Bin, be sure to back up any important files before the system empties it. By default, Windows keeps deleted files in the Recycle Bin for 30 days, making it easy to restore them.

Here’s how to recover files from the Recycle Bin:

Step 1. Double-click the Recycle Bin icon on your desktop to open it.

Step 2. Browse through the deleted files and find the ones you wish to recover. You can use the search bar in the top-right corner to quickly locate specific items.

Step 3. Select the file you want to restore or hold the Ctrl key to select multiple files at once.

click-restore

Step 4. Right-click the selected files and choose the option to restore them, or click "Restore the selected items" from the "Manage" tab at the top of the window to return the files to their original locations.

How to recover files permanently deleted from Recycle Bin

In many situations, users want to recover deleted files from the Recycle Bin but find that the files are no longer there. In this section, we will guide you through the process of recovering files that have been permanently deleted from the Recycle Bin.

Method 1. Recover files deleted from the Recycle Bin with data recovery software

While system tools can sometimes help recover deleted files, they are not always effective, as the data may be overwritten during other operations. For the best chances of recovery, it's recommended to use a third-party data recovery tool.

AOMEI Partition Assistant for Recovery offers a straightforward solution, eliminating the need for complex command lines to restore lost data from the Recycle Bin. With its simple interface, users of Windows 7 through 11 can easily recover deleted files from a variety of storage devices, including HDDs, SSDs, external hard drives, USB drives, SD cards, and more.

Free DownloadWindows PCs and Servers
Free Download

Step 1. Install and launch AOMEI Partition Assistant for Recovery. Choose the exact partition or disk where your data lost and click Scan.

select-drive

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.

scan-and-search

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".

choose-files

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

save-recovered-data

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

Method 2. Retrievedeleted filesinRecycle Bin with Windows File Recovery

Windows File Recovery offers a free solution for retrieving deleted data, even after the Recycle Bin has been emptied. Designed for Windows 10 versions from 2014 onward, this tool requires a solid understanding of its recovery modes and command-line options to maximize its effectiveness.

✍ Recovery mode corresponding to scenarios and file system:

File system

Scenarios

Mode

NTFS

Deleted recently

Regular

NTFS

Deleted for a while

Extensive

NTFS

Formatted disk

Extensive

NTFS

Corrupted disk

Extensive

FAT and exFAT

Any

Extensive

✍ Switches to narrow your scanning range:

Switches

Meaning

Supported mode(s)

/n

Filter the scan range: scans for a specific file with its file name/path/type, etc.

All

/y:

Recover specific extension groups.

Signature

/k

Recovers system files.

NTFS Segment​​​​​

/u

Recovers undeleted files, for example, from the Recycle Bin.

NTFS Segment

✍ Steps to check file system of your drive:

Press Win+E to open This PC > right-click on the drive where you have deleted files from> click Properties.

Check file system

On PCs that use the NTFS File System, both Regular Mode and Extensive Mode are available.If you don't want to use the NTFS file system, you can use WINFR's Extensive Mode.

Step 1. Go to Microsoft Store to Get Windows File Recovery.

Step 2. Run Windows File Recovery as administrator, then input the command line based on syntax: 

winfr source-drive: destination-drive: [/mode] [/switches]

For example, if you need to recover zip files from the Recycle Bin under C: drive to E drive, you need to input commands like:

winfr C: E: /extensive /n \C:\Recycler\*.zip

Recycler zip

Step 3. Wait for the recovery to complete. Then a folder named "Recovery_(date and time)" will be generated automatically in the destination.

Method 3. Restorefiles from previous versions using file history

In Windows 10, 8, and 7, system protection is enabled by default, automatically creating restore points. These restore points can be used to recover permanently deleted files from earlier versions. Here’s how to recover deleted files after the Recycle Bin has been emptied:

Step 1. Create a new file or folder on your desktop with the same name as the deleted one. If the file was located at the root of a drive (e.g., C:), right-click the drive and select "Restore previous versions" from the context menu.

Step 2. Right-click the file and choose "Restore previous versions".Windows will search for and display available versions of the deleted file, including timestamps.

Step 3 .Select the most recent version and click "Restore" to easily recover the deleted files or folders.

previous-version-restore

FAQs

Can you recover deleted files after emptying the Recycle Bin?

Yes, it's possible to recover deleted files after emptying the Recycle Bin, as long as the data hasn't been overwritten. You can use data recovery software like AOMEI Partition Assistant for Recovery to scan your drive and retrieve the files. The sooner you attempt recovery, the higher the chance of success.

Are files deleted from Recycle Bin gone forever?

Not necessarily. Files deleted from the Recycle Bin can still be recovered with data recovery tools, provided the space they occupied hasn't been overwritten by new data. However, after a long period or frequent computer use, recovery chances may diminish.

How do I recover a file I accidentally deleted?

To recover a file you accidentally deleted, first check the Recycle Bin. If it's not there, use data recovery software like AOMEI Partition Assistant for Recovery to scan your drive. For better chances, stop using the drive to avoid overwriting the deleted file, then follow the software instructions to restore it.

Conclusion

After reading this post, you'll discover several methods to get deleted files in Recycle Bin recovery. Additionally, if you're using cloud storage services like OneDrive, check there as well. These services typically save your files automatically, making recovery easier. We hope you successfully recover your deleted files.

Hedy
Hedy · Staff Editor
Hedy is an editor of AOMEI Technology. She is very good at solving problems of partition management, and she wants to share all the problems she had already solved to users who met the same questions.