How to Recover Recycle Bin Deleted Files in Windows 11?

Where do files go after being deleted from the Recycle Bin?

The Recycle Bin is a special folder in Windows 11 to temporarily store deleted files and folders. It allows you to recover deleted items at any time, as long as they stay in this folder. Simply locate the desired file, right-click on it, and select the Restore option; the file will be returned to its original location.

To protect your privacy or free up space on the C: drive, you might delete these items or clear the Recycle Bin directly. But where do the files go after that? Actually, even after being permanently deleted, the files still remain on your device, instead of vanishing immediately. The space they occupy on the hard drive is marked as available for new data. Once that space is overwritten, recovering the files becomes much more challenging.

How to recover files deleted from Recycle Bin in Windows 11?

As previously mentioned, even if files are permanently deleted, they’re not immediately gone forever. If you take prompt action, they can still be restored. This section outlines five effective methods to recover files deleted from the Recycle Bin on Windows 11. Let’s explore them one by one.

Fix 1. Recover deleted files from Recycle Bin on Windows 11 using software

Data recovery software like AOMEI FastRecovery is one of the simplest and most effective ways to recover files deleted from the Recycle Bin on Windows 11, especially if you don't have any backups.

This tool uses advanced scanning technology to quickly locate lost or deleted data. With a simple click, your files can be retrieved to specified locations. There is no need to worry about data leaks because it keeps your data safe during the recovery process. Feel free to download this tool and give it a try:

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Here’s how to recover files deleted from the Recycle Bin in Windows 11 using AOMEI FastRecovery:

Step 1: Install AOMEI FastRecovery and launch it; then choose the partition or disk where your files were saved.

Step 2: Scan your disk for the deleted files. It has two modes, Quick Scan and Deep Scan, that allow you to search for lost data thoroughly.

Step 3: Once the scan is complete, all the missing files will be displayed. Select the files you want to retrieve and click the Recover option.

Step 4: Choose a location to save the recovered files and wait for the process to finish.

Highlights of AOMEI FastRecovery:
◆ Restore various lost or deleted files from different storage devices, including HDDs, SSDs, SD cards, and USBs.
◆ Feature a user-friendly interface, making it easy for users with little experience to use.
◆ Compatible with almost all Windows versions, including Windows 11/10/8/7 & Windows Server.
◆ Support recovering files from various loss scenarios, such as accidental deletion, system crashes, or unexpected formatting.

Fix 2. Download from cloud backups

If your files are stored on a cloud platform, you can restore them from cloud backups after deleting the local copies. Here we take OneDrive as an example. Follow these steps to recover files deleted from the Recycle Bin in Windows 11:

Step 1: Go to the website of OneDrive and sign in with your account.

Step 2: Find the file you want to restore and right-click on it.

Step 3: Select the Version history option from the drop-down menu.

Step 4: Choose the desired version, click the three dots, and select the Restore option.

In addition to OneDrive, there are many cloud services you can use, such as Google Drive, Dropbox, and iCloud. 

Fix 3. Recover deleted files from local backups

In addition to cloud backups, Windows 11 provides the Backup and Restore feature to create local backups of the entire system or individual files. When encountering data corruption, storage device failure, or virus infection, this feature allows you to recover lost data from backups with ease.

Here’s how to recover files deleted from the Recycle Bin in Windows 11:

Step 1: Go to the Control Panel, and select System and Security > Backup and Restore.

Step 2: Click Restore my files.

Step 3: Click Browse for files to choose the file you want to recover, and then click Next.

Step 4: Specify the saving path for your recovered file, and click Restore.

Fix 4. Restore deleted files from previous versions

Besides that, you can also recover deleted files from previous versions if you have enabled File History beforehand. This feature saves multiple versions of your files, enabling you to revert to an earlier version when necessary. Follow these steps to recover files from previous versions:

Step 1: Open File Explorer and navigate to the folder where your file is located.

Step 2: Right-click the file you want to restore and select Restore previous versions from the context menu.

Step 3: You will see a list of available versions. Please choose the version you like.

Step 4: Click the Restore button to bring back the deleted file to its original location.

Fix 5. Use Windows File Recovery to recover files

If you are familiar with the command-line interface and knowledge, using Windows File Recovery to recover files deleted from the Recycle Bin in Windows 11 is also a good option. Here are the detailed steps to do that:

Step 1: Go to Microsoft Store to install Windows File Recovery and run it as administrator.

Step 2: Type the command: winfr source-drive: destination-drive: [/mode] [/switches] and press the Enter key.

• source-drive: The drive where the files were deleted.
• destination-folder: The folder where the recovered files are to be saved.
• /mode: Choose between Regular for recently deleted files or Extensive for files deleted a long time ago or from a formatted drive.
• /switches: Additional filters, such as file extensions.

Step 3: Wait for the process to complete and check if your files have been restored.

FAQs

Q1: How long does the Recycle Bin store deleted files in Windows 11?

Generally, the Recycle Bin stores deleted files until it reaches its storage limit or until you manually clear it. But regularly removing unnecessary files can free up much drive space, improving the system performance.

Q2: Is it safe to empty the Recycle Bin?

Yes, it is generally safe to empty the Recycle Bin if you are certain that the deleted files are no longer needed. So please double-check the files before clearing the Recycle Bin folder.

Q3: How can I prevent accidental deletion of files in the Windows 11 Recycle Bin?

There are many ways to avoid file deletion, but one of the most effective is creating regular backups. You can store files you’re unsure about in cloud services or on external storage devices. 

Summary

Emptying the Recycle Bin or manually removing files from it is a good way to free up drive space and protect sensitive data. But it’s not uncommon to delete files by mistake. Fortunately, these files are not immediately gone forever. This article shows you how to recover files deleted from the Recycle Bin in Windows 11. By following these methods above, you can easily retrieve what you need. If none of these native recovery options work, consider using data recovery software like AOMEI FastRecovery to restore your data.