Where to Find Deleted Files on Windows 10 or 11 [4 Top Ways]

Where to find deleted files on windows 10 or 11?

For file deletion in Windows 10 or 11, you can right-click the target file and use the Delete option or the Shift + Delete key combination after choosing the file. However, some users complain that they deleted the items by accident or want to get them back after a long deletion. Here comes the question: Where to find deleted files on Windows 10?

✍ Scenario 1: Using the Delete option

When you delete files using the standard Delete option, they are sent to the Recycle Bin, represented by a wastebasket icon on your desktop. The Recycle Bin temporarily stores these files, typically for up to 30 days, during which they remain recoverable. This can include any file type—documents, pictures, folders, shortcuts, etc. Thus, you can check the Recycle Bin first.

✍ Scenario 2: Using Shift + Delete keys

Alternatively, pressing Shift + Delete permanently removes files from your system, bypassing the Recycle Bin. Although these files won’t appear in the Recycle Bin, they still occupy space on your hard drive until they are overwritten. That means you have the chance to find them back. In such a case, you can utilize the Windows built-in features or resort to a specialized recovery software to find where are deleted files on Windows 10 or 11.

How to recover deleted files on Windows 10 or 11

This part will focus on where to find deleted items in Windows 10/11 after using Shift + Delete deletion. Four ways have listed to recover the lost files with the step-by-step guide.

Way 1. Retrieve lost files using File History Backup

Windows File History Backup is a built-in feature designed to help you recover lost files, including documents, videos, music, pictures, and desktop folders. However, this option is only viable if you’ve previously set up backups. To recover files, simply restore them from your backup by following the steps outlined in your system settings.

Step 1. Open "Control Panel" by typing it in the search bar and then click "System and Security".

Step 2. Select "Restore your files with File History" under the "File History" tab.

Step 3. Click the "Restore personal files" button.

Step 4. If you directly click "Restore", the deleted Excel files will be sent to their original location. If you right-click "Restore", you can save them in your specific location.

Way 2. Restore deleted files in Windows 10 via Windows File Recovery

Where to find deleted documents on PC? For files that can't be retrieved from the Recycle Bin, Microsoft provides the Windows File Recovery tool. This command-line utility allows you to recover files by typing specific commands. Keep in mind, accuracy in command entry is crucial for successful recovery.

Step 1. Download Windows File Recovery on your computer from Microsoft Store and run it as administrator.

Step 2. Type in the command: winfr source-drive:destination-drive:[/mode][/switches].

For example, winfr E: D:/regular /n*.docx restores a docx file from E Drive to D Drive.

Step 3. In the end, type y to continue the recovery process. After a few minutes, the file will be restored at the restoring location on your PC.

Way 3. Get Windows missing files back from the previous version

If you've accidentally replaced a file, restoring from previous versions is a straightforward and cost-effective method. If your system has restore points or File History enabled, you can revert to an earlier version of the file. Restore points automatically save snapshots of your system's state, potentially preserving an earlier version of the file you're looking to recover.

Step 1. Go to File Explorer, locate and right-click the file/folder you need to restore an older version and select Restore Previous Versions.

Step 2. Choose Previous Versions and choose the right version from the list of File versions.

Step 3. Click Restore to recover it to its original location.

Way 4. Recover Windows 10/11 deleted files using data recovery software

For a more robust solution, professional data recovery software like AOMEI FastRecovery can simplify the process. AOMEI FastRecovery is a reliable tool that recovers files in just three steps, whether from a local drive, external hard drive, or SD card.

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. Thus, the answer to where to find recently deleted files on Windows 10 depends on the path you choose to store while recovering.

Conclusion

Where to find deleted files on Windows 10 or 11? The Recycle Bin would be the first destination. If the gone files are completely deleted or erased from the Recycle Bin automatically, you can try to use a professional hard drive data recovery like AOMEI FastRecovery to restore the data simply.

Actually, it’s better to protect files from being mistakenly deleted, lost, or damaged than to recover them after loss. One of the best ways is to back up your data at a regular time. Besides, cloning a hard drive and turning on BitLocker on a drive are also good ways to keep your data safe.