How to Recover Emptied Recycle Bin Files in 4 Ways

“I recently encountered a problem where I accidentally emptied my Recycle Bin on my Windows 11 PC, and lost several important files that I hadn't intended to delete. I understand that once the Recycle Bin is emptied, the files aren't easily recoverable, but I’m hoping there might still be a way to get them back. Has anyone else experienced this issue and successfully recover deleted files after emptying the recycle bin?

I’ve read that it might be possible to recover deleted files using specialized data recovery software. If anyone has recommendations for reliable tools or methods that can help retrieve files after they’ve been permanently deleted, I would greatly appreciate your advice.”

Can I recover files after emptying the Recycle Bin?

Yes, it’s possible. When files are deleted in Windows, the Recycle Bin temporarily stores them, allowing for easy recovery. You can retrieve deleted files and folders from the Recycle Bin within its retention period, ensuring no data is lost.

However, if you’ve emptied the Recycle Bin or the files were automatically deleted after expiring, recovery is still possible—provided the data hasn’t been overwritten. To maximize recovery chances, stop using your computer immediately until the files are restored.

Several reliable recovery methods can help you retrieve deleted files from the Recycle Bin. Below, you’ll find an overview of these solutions and the scenarios where they are most effective.

How to recover emptied Recycle Bin files in Windows

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

The simplest and most efficient way to retrieve files from an emptied Recycle Bin is by using a reliable recovery software tool. This method requires no technical expertise or prior setup, making it accessible to all users.

AOMEI FastRecovery is a powerful data recovery tool designed to help recover permanently deleted files, even after the Recycle Bin has been emptied. It scans your system to locate lost files, provides a preview, and allows you to recover them seamlessly.

This versatile software works on both Windows 11/10/8/7 and Windows Server systems. Its high efficiency, user-friendly design, and excellent customer support make it a trusted choice among users and media alike.

☛ Key features of AOMEI FastRecovery:

✯ All-in-one recovery tool: Supports data recovery across various devices and application data. Additional features include file repair and recovery of application messages and history.
✯ High recovery rate: Achieves a high recovery success rate, requiring no technical skills. Recover files with just a few clicks.
✯ Comprehensive scanning: Recovers files lost in various scenarios, such as permanent deletion, accidental formatting, power outages, or drive damage. It supports recovery from hard drives, external drives, memory cards, and more.
✯ Supports over 1,000 file formats. It is capable of recovering data in formats including photos, videos, audio, archives, emails, and more.
✯ Selective recovery with preview: Offers a free preview of recoverable files, allowing you to restore only the data you need selectively.

With AOMEI FastRecovery, you can efficiently recover lost files from virtually any scenario, ensuring peace of mind and data security.

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 recovery to end.

Method 2. Recover permanently deleted files from Recycle Bin via File History

With Windows File History, you can back up and restore deleted files quickly, provided a backup was created beforehand. This feature is available for Windows 8, 10, and 11 users. Below are the steps to recover permanently deleted files:

Step 1. Go to Control Panel > System and Security and click File History.

Step 2. Select Restore personal files. It will open the file history recovery window.

Step 3. Click the left arrow to locate your deleted files, and click the Restore to original location icon to restore deleted files from Recycle Bin.

Method 3. Restore Recycle Bin data with the Previous Version

If the Recycle Bin cannot restore deleted files, you can try recovering them using the "Previous Versions" feature in Windows. This method is not guaranteed but is worth attempting. Here’s how to restore deleted files via previous versions:

Step 1. Open Windows File Explorer on your computer.

Step 2. Navigate to the folder where the deleted files were originally stored. Right-click the folder and select Properties.

Step 3. In the Properties window, go to the Previous Versions tab.

Step 4. Select a version from a date before the files were deleted and click Restore to recover the previous state of the folder.

This simple method can help reclaim lost items when other recovery options fail.

Method 4. Recover deleted Recycle Bin files from Windows Backup

If you’ve emptied the Recycle Bin and want to recover deleted files without additional software, utilizing a Windows Backup file is a viable option. When properly configured, Windows Backup regularly saves your data to the designated storage space, allowing you to restore your system to a previous state. Keep in mind this method may result in the loss of data created after the last backup point.

Here’s how to restore your files using Windows Backup:

Step 1. Go to Control Panel > System and Security and select Backup and Restore (Windows 7). Then, click Restore my files.

Step 2. In the Restore Files box, you may search for and restore files and folders.

◤ Search: enter a portion of the filename and pick the deleted files to recover.

◤ Browse for files: Go to the folder containing deleted files from the Recycle Bin and select it. Next, choose Add Files.

◤ Browse for folders: choose the full folder containing deleted files.

Step 3. Select a location to restore deleted files from the Recycle Bin. You can choose the original location or browse to a new location. Then, click Start Restore.

This method provides a straightforward way to reclaim lost data if a backup was created beforehand.

Conclusion

This guide outlines four effective methods to recover deleted files from the Recycle Bin on Windows 11, 10, 8, and 7. By now, you should have a clear understanding of how to retrieve data removed from the Recycle Bin.

For a reliable and comprehensive solution, consider using AOMEI FastRecovery. This tool can restore files whether they’ve been temporarily deleted or permanently removed after emptying the Recycle Bin, ensuring a quick and efficient recovery process.