Accidentally deleted a PowerPoint file and can’t find it in the Recycle Bin? Don’t panic. This guide explains how to recover deleted PowerPoint presentations not in the Recycle Bin on Windows 10. From using built-in recovery tools and checking temporary file folders to applying professional data recovery software, we’ll help you get your PowerPoint presentation back step by step.
I have deleted by mistake a powerpoint file that was saved on my computer. However I cannot find it in the recycle bin. When I search through the computer I can only find it as a shortcut but I'm not able to open it.Has anybody have had this problem? Could you please help meto recover deleted PowerPoint not in Recycle Bin?Best regards!
The Recycle Bin is a temporary storage area in Windows where deleted files are kept before being permanently removed. It allows users to recover mistakenly deleted files—but not all deletions end up there.If you can’t find your deleted PowerPoint (.ppt/.pptx) file in the Recycle Bin, it might be due to one of the following reasons:
1. Permanently Deleted (Shift + Delete)
Using Shift + Delete bypasses the Recycle Bin and removes the file immediately from the file system.
2. Deleted from an External Device
Files deleted from USB flash drives, external hard drives, or network drives do not go to the Recycle Bin—they are deleted permanently.
3. File Size Exceeds Recycle Bin Limit
If the file is too large, Windows may skip the Recycle Bin and delete it directly.
4. Recycle Bin is Disabled or Misconfigured
System settings or third-party tools might turn off the Recycle Bin or set it to auto-delete files without storing them.
5. Deleted by Software or System Process
Some programs (including PowerPoint autosave cleanup) or Windows processes may delete temporary or unsaved files without sending them to the Recycle Bin.
If your PowerPoint file is permanently deleted and not found in the Recycle Bin, don’t worry. You still have several effective ways to get it back:
PowerPoint often creates temporary backups while you're workingto help prevent data loss in case of a crash or unexpected shutdown. These temp files often remain on your system even if the original presentation is accidentally deleted — making them a potential recovery source.
Step 1. Press "Win + R", type "%temp%", and press Enter.
Step 2. Look for files starting with "ppt"or similar.
Step 3. Copy and rename the file extension to ".ppt"or ".pptx".
Step 4. Try opening it in PowerPoint.
If System Restore or File History was enabled on your Windows 10/11 system before the PowerPoint file was deleted, you might be able to recover a previous version of the file or folder where it was stored. This feature periodically backs up files or snapshots of folders, allowing you to roll back to an earlier stateeven if the current PowerPoint filehas been deletedbut not in Recylce Bin,or just modified.
Step 1. Press "Win+S" at the same time. Input "Restore your files with File History" and click on "Open".
Step 2. In the File History backup interface, browse all backups and select the target PowerPoint files. Click the green Restore button.
Or you can restore the PowerPoint files from Windows File Explore.
Step 1. Open File Explore. Navigate to the original folder where the PowerPoint file was stored.
Step 2. Right-click inside the folder > Properties > Previous Versions.
Step 3. Look for earlier versions and restore the needed file.
If none of the built-in Windows methods help you recover your deleted PowerPoint filenot in Recycle Bin, it’s time to turn to a professional data recovery solution. One highly recommended tool is MyRecover, known for its reliability, ease of use, and high recovery success rate.
Step 1. Install and launch MyRecoveron your computer.
Step 2. Select the drive where the deleted PowerPoint file was deletedand click on “Scan”.
Step 3. When the scanning process completes, you can choose (use the search bar to quickly filter a certain type of files) and preview PPT files. Then select necessary .ppt/.pptx files and click on “Recover”.
Step 4. Choose another safe location to hold the recovered PowerPoint files.
After the recovery is finished, you'll see a message showing how many files were restored and where they’ve been saved. You can click on "Browse" button to see the recovered PowerPoint files not in Recycle Bin.
If you prefer a command-line method or want to recover deleted PowerPoint files without third-party tools, Windows File Recovery is a powerful utility provided by Microsoft. It’s free, but requires some technical familiarity with the command prompt.
Step 1. Go to the Microsoft Store, search for Windows File Recovery, and install it.
Step 2. Launch Command Prompt as Administrator.
Step 3. Input corresponding command:
For Example: winfr H: D: /regular /n *.pptx
Explanation:
When the recovery is complete, you will see the “progress” achieves 100%. You can press on “Y”key on your keyboard to directly view the recovered files in the destination folder.
Microsoft PowerPoint includes a built-in AutoRecover feature designed to help protect your work in case of accidental closure, software crashes, or unexpected system shutdowns. It works by automatically saving temporary versions of your presentation at regular intervals (typically every 10 minutes by default). This means even if you didn’t manually save your latest changes, you may still be able to recover a recent working version using AutoRecover.
Step 1. Open "PowerPoint > File > Info > Manage Presentation".
Step 2. Click "Recover Unsaved Presentations".
Step 3.Browse the listed files and open the one you need (default path: "C:\Users\[YourName]\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Office\UnsavedFiles")
Losing a PowerPoint file can be frustrating, especially when it doesn’t appear in the Recycle Bin. Fortunately, with the right tools and steps, you can also easily recover deleted PowerPoint not in Recylce Bin. The key is to act quickly and avoid using the affected drive to prevent overwriting your lost data.
In addition to recovering deleted PowerPoint presentation files which are not in Recycle Bin, the above methods can also be applied to recover deleted excels, words, txt and other types of files. For a quick and satisfactory recovery, MyRecover is the best option. With powerful data recovery ability, it even enables you to recover data from unbootable computers.