How to Recover Overwritten File [5 Possible Methods]

Recovering Overwritten Files? ImPossible!

In the field of data loss, overwriting is rarely discussed compared to other issues such as accidental deletion and file corrupted. When it happens to you, the scarcity of helpful information and the claim that it's impossible to recover overwritten files can plunge you into despair. Recovering overwritten files can definitely feel like an impossible task, and honestly, it’s tough. ​

When you overwrite a file, the old data gets replaced with new data, making it seem like it’s gone for good. But here’s the thing: in many cases, the file itself isn’t immediately wiped from your drive—it’s the file pointers that are altered, and the space is marked as available for new data.​

That means it is possible to recover part or all of overwritten files until it’s actually and completely overwritten with something new. Although there is no 100% guarantee, if the files are truly crucial, it is still worth a try.

How to Recover Overwritten File

Recovering an overwritten file can feel like an uphill battle, but it’s not always a lost cause. The recovery chances depend largely on how the file was overwritten and whether any backup is available. In this section, we’ll walk through several different approaches depending on with backups or not, help you to recover overwritten file. ​

Recover Overwritten Files with Backup

If you have a backup in place, recovery becomes a lot more straightforward. Let’s dive into how you can use these resources to recover your overwritten file. Windows has four features for restoring files using backups. If you have enabled these functions before the file loss occurred, you can use previous backups to restore overwritten files.

✅Restore Previous Versions​

Windows has a built-in feature that allows you to restore previous versions of a file or folder, provided that System Restore and File History are enabled. This is a great option for users who frequently back up their files. Here's how to recover overwritten files using "Restore previous versions".​

Step 1. Press Win+E to open File Explorer and locate to the folder where the overwritten file was originally stored.​

Step 2. Right-click on the folder and choose "Restore previous versions" from the menu.​

Step 3. A list of previous versions of the file will appear. Select the version that is closest to the one you want to recover. Then click "Restore" to recover the file.​

✅Restore your Files from File History​

File History is a backup feature that continuously backs up your files and allows you to restore older versions easily. If you have enabled File History, you can go back to the previous versions of files.​

Step 1. Type "Restore your Files with File History" in the start menu and open it.​

Step 2. Select the folder where the overwritten file was stored.​

Step 3. Click the green restore button at the window bottom to recover the file.

✅Restore from Backup and Restore​ (Windows 7)

Backup and Restore (Windows 7) is the process of copying data and applications to a secondary device or location, and then using those copies to recover data in case of loss or damage. This feature effectively safeguards data against loss or damage resulting from various events.​

Step 1. Type "backup settings" in the start menu and open it. Click "Go to Backup and Restore (Windows 7)".​

Step 2. Choose "Select another backup to restore files from" and select a created backup to restore.​

Step 3. Browse and select files you wish to recover and click "Next".​

Step 4. Choose whether you want to restore the files to their original location or a new one. Then, click "Restore".​

Step 5. Once the process is completed, the message "Your files have been restored" appears on the screen. Then you can click "View restored files" to check the restored files in the destination folder.​

★Tips:

Both "File History" and "Backup and Restore" features need to be enabled before data loss occurs in order to help restore overwritten data.

✅Restore from Cloud Backup​

Many cloud storage services, like Google Drive, Dropbox, and OneDrive, offer built-in version history, which lets you recover older versions of a file, even if it has been overwritten.​ Here's take the OneDrive as example:

Step 1. Open OneDrive app and sign in.​

Step 2. Navigate to the folder where stored the overwritten files, select the files and right-click to choose "Version history".

Step 3. Review the available versions, select the desired one, click the edit menu, and choose "Restore".

Recover Overwritten Files Without Previous Versions and Backup

If you don’t have backups or previous versions to rely on, the situation becomes a bit trickier. The professional data recovery software, MyRecover, will be your last resort. It doesn't require prior activation or any backups to help you recover lost data. It restores data by scanning for residual clues on the hard drive. Most importantly, during the scanning process, MyRecover only reads the data on the hard drive without writing on it. Therefore, even if it fails to find the data you need, it won't cause secondary overwriting of the target files.​

 MyRecover

Top-Rated Windows Data Recovery Software

• 500+ Devices Supported | SSD, HDD, USB Flash Drive, SD Sard, etc.
• 1000+ File Formats Supported | PNG, MP4, MP3, TXT, ZIP, MSG, etc.
• 500+ Data Loss Scenarios | Deletion, Format, System Crash, Virus Attack, etc.

Download Freeware
Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7

100% Secure

✅4 steps to recover overwritten files​

Step 1. Download and install MyRecover on your computer (avoid installing on the drive where files were overwritten).​

Step 2. Launch it and select the drive where the overwritten files were stored to scan, then click "Scan".​

Step 3. Choose the files you wish to recover from the recoverable lists and click "Recover". If the results don't include the files you wanted, you can click "Deep Scan" to perform a comprehensive scan of the drive.​

Step 4. Select a safe location to store the recovered files. (The location must be different from the drive with files loss to avoid causing overwriting for other files.)​

When the message "Your files have been recovered successfully" shows on the screen, you can check the recovered files in the destination folder.

Prevention Tips to Avoid Future Overwrites

Unfortunately, not all overwritten data can be recovered. Once a file is overwritten multiple times or you’ve written a lot of new data after the overwrite, recovery chances drop significantly. If a file is stored on an SSD, once it is deleted, the SSD's TRIM command will accelerate the deletion of the old data, making recovery even more difficult.​

Therefore, it is essential to take measures to prevent data from being overwritten after it has been deleted. You can take the following steps to avoid data overwriting.​

🌞Enable Backups: Make sure you enable and maintain regular backups, whether through cloud services or local external drives. Automatic backups can be a lifesaver.​

🌞Be Cautious with File Handling：Always double-check before overwriting important files especially on SSDs. Using descriptive file names and organizing files in specific folders can reduce the risk of accidental overwrites.​

🌞Stop Using the Drive: Once data loss is detected, immediately stop using the drive if you still want to retrieve the lost files.​

🌞Use Reliable Data Recovery Tools: When choosing third-party data recovery software, make sure to opt for reliable tools. For example, software like MyRecover only reads data during the recovery process without writing any new data. This helps avoid causing further issues during data recovery and reduces the risk of additional data loss or corruption.

Conclusion

Recovering overwritten files on Windows is undoubtedly challenging, but it’s not always hopeless. If you have backups or access to previous versions, recovery is straightforward. On the other hand, without backups, reliable file recovery software—MyRecover can help you effectively retrieve files. ​

In addition, the Professional and Technician Versions of MyRecover, cover a wide range of complex data loss scenarios, such as unbootable computer drive, corrupted system, and more. It also supports file preview before recovery, allowing you to confirm whether the files are what you need. MyRecover will undoubtedly be a great assistant in safeguarding your data security.