How Do I Perform Windows Recycle Bin Restore after Empty It?

Unintentionally erasing crucial files can lead to significant issues. While the Windows Recycle Bin is meant to safeguard against data loss, if you've already emptied the Bin and lost your files, what options do you have? Below, we will demonstrate various methods for executing a Recycle Bin recovery.

Can you recover permanently deleted files from Recycle Bin?

Simply put, the answer is affirmative. It is possible to perform Windows Recycle Bin Restore even after accidentally cleaning the Bin.

When an item is deleted within the Windows operating system, it isn't immediately eradicated from your storage media. Although the data might be invisible and inaccessible, it retains the potential for recovery even post-emptying the Recycle Bin. The crucial factor is to initiate the retrieval of files before them being overwritten by fresh data.

To achieve this objective, it's advisable to refrain from using your computer until the restoration of your vanished files is completed. If swift action is taken, we will introduce several techniques to reclaim files that have been deleted from the Recycle Bin.

5 ways to perform Windows Recycle Bin Restore

In this part, we’ll show you 5 easiest ways to recover deleted files from recycle bin after empty. You can choose one based on your cases.

Method 1. Recover deleted files from Recycle Bin with Windows File Recovery

Windows File Recovery offers a cost-free solution for retrieving erased data from the Recycle Bin, even in cases where the Bin has been emptied. This tool is compatible with Windows 10 versions from 2014 onwards, and its effective use requires a comprehensive grasp of its recovery modes and command options.

✍ Overview of 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

✍ Overview of 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.

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

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

Method 2. Recycle Bin recovery with the previous version

Except for method 1, you may still restore prior versions of files or folders if you empty the Recycle Bin regularly. It is necessary to enable system restore and have system restore points accessible.

Step 1. Start File Explorer/This PC. Locate the folder which is used to save the deleted file.

Step 2. Right-click it and then select Properties > Previous Version.

Step 3. Select the folder version which is exactly the one before you delete it, and click Restore to restore deleted files to the previous version.

Method 3. Restore Recycle Bin in Windows 10 after empty using File History

If you have a file history backup of your lost information, you may simply recover deleted files from the Recycle Bin after it has been emptied in Windows 10 or 11. Otherwise, nothing will be discovered.

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

Step 2. Select Restore personal files. It will open 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 4. Restore deleted files from Recycle Bin with OneDrive

Many individuals also rely on internet storage to ensure that their data is protected to the fullest extent feasible. OneDrive is the one recognized by Windows. You may also retrieve your data if you have engaged the functionality to back up your data to OneDive.

Step 1. Log on your MS account on the OneDirve official website.

Step 2. Scroll down the menu and select Recycle bin on the left side.

Step 3. Find the file you want and click Restore on the top pane.

Method 5. Employ professional data recovery tool to recover Recycle Bin

In comparison to Windows File Recovery, the free WinfrGUI stands out for its user-friendly nature. However, it falls short of preserving the original filenames of deleted files. In scenarios like this, opting for dedicated data recovery software presents the simplest and least complex route to regain data from an emptied recycle bin. This method is also the swiftest and demands no prerequisites.

In this case, we offer AOMEI FastRecovery, a software that may help users remove the onerous command lines necessary to rescue lost data from the Recycle Bin. It has a simple user interface. Windows 7/8/8.1/10/11 users may swiftly recover lost and deleted data from HDD, SSD, external hard drives, USB drives, SD cards, and other storage devices.

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.

To sum up

This post will show you 5 efficient techniques for Windows Recycle Bin restore even after it has been empty. Some are somewhat technical, such as using the command prompt, while others are much easy. Using powerful data recovery software, such as AOMEI FastRevoery, is the quickest and easiest way to recover all of your important files from an empty recycle bin.