Wondering how to recover deleted files from File Explorer after an accidental deletion? This guide explains where deleted files go, what recovery methods actually work, and how to avoid permanent data loss using built-in Windows features and reliable recovery tools.
Before jumping into recovery, it helps to understand what "deleting" actually means on your computer.
🗑️ What "Delete" Really Means in File Explorer
When you delete a file using the Delete key or right-click → Delete, Windows doesn’t immediately wipe it from existence. Instead, it removes the file’s reference and moves it to a holding area—the Recycle Bin.
Think of it like throwing something into a trash can inside your house. It’s still there… just not where it used to be.
⚡ Difference Between Delete and Shift + Delete
Here’s where things get serious.
That shortcut is convenient—until it ruins your day.
Most accidental deletions happen because of very normal behaviors.
🖱️ Misclicks and Human Error
Accidentally deleted an entire folder? We’re all guilty of it. One wrong click while multitasking and—oops—important files vanish.
⌨️ Keyboard Shortcuts Gone Wrong
Ever tried to press Ctrl+C but accidentally hit Delete? Or Shift+Delete out of habit? Keyboard shortcuts are fast… and unforgiving.
📁 Bulk Deletions and Folder Cleanups
Cleaning up folders feels productive until you realize you deleted the wrong folder—or didn’t check what was inside it.
Knowing where your files went is half the battle.
♻️ Recycle Bin Explained
The Recycle Bin is Windows’ safety net. Most deleted files end up here unless:
⏳ How Long Files Stay in the Recycle Bin
Files stay until:
Translation? Act fast.
Time matters. A lot.
🛑 Stop Using the Drive Immediately
Why? Because deleted files aren’t erased right away. The space they occupied is simply marked as "available". Using the drive increases the chance of overwriting that space—and once that happens, recovery becomes much harder.
🔍 Check the Recycle Bin First
Yes, it sounds obvious—but people skip this step all the time. Open it. Search. Double-check.
Now let’s talk solutions.
This is the easiest win.
1. Open the Recycle Bin.
2. Find your file.
3. Right-click → Restore.
Boom. Back where it belongs.
If you just deleted the file:
It’s like hitting rewind on a bad decision.
If the file isn’t in the Recycle Bin, backups are your next best friend.
If enabled, File History keeps snapshots of your files.
1. Right-click folder → Restore previous versions.
2. Browse older copies.
3. Restore what you need.
Option 2. ☁️ Cloud Backups
Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox—all of them keep deleted files temporarily. Check their trash folders too.
When the Recycle Bin is empty and backups aren’t available, data recovery software becomes your last and most powerful option. This is where tools like MyRecover come into play—designed specifically to retrieve accidentally deleted files from File Explorer with minimal hassle.
✅ When Data Recovery Software Like MyRecover Works Best
Recovery software works by scanning your storage device for file traces that haven’t been overwritten yet. MyRecover is particularly effective when:
MyRecover supports recovery from internal hard drives, SSDs, USB flash drives, and external storage, making it a solid choice for everyday file loss scenarios.
What makes it beginner-friendly is its simple scan-and-recover workflow. You don’t need technical knowledge—just select the drive, let it scan, preview the files, and restore what you need.
Here’s how the process typically works:
1. Install MyRecover on a different drive (to avoid overwriting data).
2. Select the drive where files were deleted.
3. Run a quick or deep scan.
4. Preview recoverable files by name, type, or path.
5. Restore files to a safe location.
It’s like having a digital archaeologist carefully brushing away dust to uncover what you thought was lost forever.
❌ When Recovery Software Might Not Work
Even powerful tools like MyRecover have limits. Recovery may fail if:
Let’s make sure this doesn’t happen again.
🔁 Enable File History
This one setting can save hours of stress. Turn it on and forget about it.
☁️ Use Cloud Sync
Cloud storage isn’t just convenient—it’s a built-in safety net.
⌨️ Be Careful with Keyboard Shortcuts
Especially Shift + Delete. If you don’t need it, don’t use it.
Accidentally deleting files from File Explorer feels like a disaster—but it usually isn’t. In most cases, your data is still recoverable if you act quickly and follow the right steps. Whether it’s the Recycle Bin, backups, or recovery software, you have more options than you think.
⚖️ Manual Recovery vs Software Recovery
| Method | Best For | Difficulty |
| Recycle Bin | Recent deletions | Easy |
| Undo | Immediate mistakes | Very Easy |
| File History | Ongoing backups | Medium |
| Recovery Software | No backups | Advanced |
The real lesson? Backups turn panic into inconvenience. Set them up once, and future-you will be very grateful.