How to Recover Permanently Deleted Files in Windows 10 Without Software

Are Permanently Deleted Files Really Gone in Windows?

When you "permanently delete" a file, it may seem like it's gone forever, but in many cases, the data can still be recovered—at least until it’s overwritten. Here’s what really happens:

1. Standard Deletion (Recycle Bin)

When you delete a file normally (e.g., sending it to the Recycle Bin on Windows ), the file isn’t actually erased.The system just marks the space it occupied as "available" for new data, but the original data remains until overwritten.

2. Permanent Deletion (Shift + Delete / Emptying Recycle Bin)

When you "permanently delete" a file (by bypassing the Recycle Bin or emptying it), the file’s entry in the file system is removed.However, the actual data still remains on the storage device until new data overwrites it.

So, in most cases, the permanently deleted files are not really gone and can be recovered using right tools.

How to Recover Permanently Deleted Files in Windows 10 without Software?

If you’ve accidentally permanently deleted files (using Shift + Delete or emptying the Recycle Bin), you might still recover them—without third-party software. Below are effective methods to restore lost files in Windows 10.

1. Restore from Windows File History Backup

If you had turned on or enabled File History before permanently deleting your files, you can restore them without third-party software in Windows computer. Follow these detailed steps:

Step 1. Press"Windows + S" on your keyboard and enter "Restore your files with file history". Click "open" under the matching result.

Step 2. This will take you to the File History backup control panel, where you can browse through all past versions of files that have been backed up.

Step 3. Now, you check all different backup versions andfind the correct version of your file, select it and click the "Restore" button (a green circular arrow) in the center. This will recover the file to its original location.

If you prefer to restore it to a different folder, right-click the file and choose "Restore to", then select a new destination.

2. Restore from Previous Versions (Shadow Copies)

Windows includes a powerful feature called Previous Versions that can help recover permanently deleted files from Windows computer without software. This method relies on System Restore points and shadow copies created by Windows.

Step 1. Open File Explorer and navigate to the specific directory where your lost file was stored before deletion. For example, if you lost a document from your Downloads folder, open that particular folder. Right-click on the folder and select "Properties" from the context menu.

Step 2. This action will open a new window, and you need to navigate to the "Versions"tab, which displays all available previous versions of the folder that Windows has saved. These versions are created through System Restore points or Volume Shadow Copy service backups.

Step 3. Choosea version that predates when you deleted your file. You can click the "Open" button to browse the contents of that folder as it existed at that specific point in time.

Step 4. Once you've found the file you want to recover, you have two options. You can select "Restore" to send them back to the original drive.

3. Recover from Windows Backup and Restore (Windows 7)

Windows 10 still maintains the legacy Backup and Restore feature from Windows 7, which can be a lifesaver for recovering deleted files if you had previously set up backups.

Step 1.Press "Windows + R" on your keyboardand enter "Control" to open the Control Panel.

Step 2. In the Control Panel, click "Backup and Restore (Windows 7)" under the "System and Security".

Step 3.In the main Backup and Restore window, locate and click on the "Restore my files" button. This will open the file restoration wizard that guides you through the recovery process. The system may take a moment to scan for available backups.

Step 4. You'll now see three options for locating your files: "Search," "Browse for files," or "Browse for folders." If you remember the exact name of your deleted file, use the "Search" function. For broader recovery, choose "Browse for files" to look through individual files or "Browse for folders" to restore entire directories.

Step 5. After selecting the files or folders you want to recover, click "Next" to proceed. The wizard will then ask where you want to restore the files. You can choose the original location or specify a different folder.

Step 6. Review your restoration choices on the final screen. Pay special attention to the restore location and the files selected. If everything looks correct, click "Restore" to begin the recovery process.

Step 7. Once the restoration completes, click "View restore files" and directly navigate to the location you specified to verify your files have been successfully recovered.

4. Retrieve Files via Microsoft Windows File Recovery

Microsoft offers an official command-line tool called Windows File Recovery that can help retrieve permanently deleted files even when no backup has been created. This powerful utility requires careful execution but can recover lost filesthat have been deletedfrom your local storage device (including internal drives, external drives, and USB devices) and can’t be restored from the Recycle Bin.

Step 1. Download and install Windows File Recovery from the Microsoft Store. This free tool from Microsoft requires Windows 10 or later versions.

Step 2. After installation, launch the tool by searching for "Windows File Recovery" in your Start menu and running it as Administrator to ensure proper functionality.

Step 3. Understand the basic command syntax: "winfr source-drive: destination-folder [/mode] [/switches]". The tool offers different scan modes: Regular mode for recently deleted files (NTFS drives), Extensive mode for deeper scanson NTFS/FAT/exFAT drives. Choose the appropriate mode based on your situation and file system type.

Step 4. Execute the recovery command with your specific parameters. For example

winfr F: E: /regular (scan and recover all data from F: drive to E: Drive)

winfr F: E: /Regular /n documents\video\ (scan F:\documents\video\ in regular mode for recoverable files.)

winfr F: E: /Regular /n translationtask.docx (recover a specific file named translationtask.docx from drive F: and saves it to drive E: if found)

Step 5. Monitor the recovery process which may take considerable time depending on your drive size and scan mode. The tool will display found files and recovery progress. When complete, check your destination drive for a "Recovery_[date]" folder containing recovered files.

Bonus Tip: Recover Permanently Deleted Files from Computer with Software

If you are looking for methods to recover permanently deleted files in Windows 10 without software, you can try the above 4 methods first of all. When they fails, data recovery freeware like MyRecover can help retrieve permanently deleted files—even from formatted drives.

No backup required! No command skills required! Just 3 steps can recover data from accidental deletion, emptied recycle bin, formatted drive, corrupted partition, virus attack, system crash, etc. You can download it and have a try when attempts of recovering permanently deleted files without software do not work.

Step 1. Launch the software. Select the target drive where the deleted files stayed and click on "Scan".

Step 2. Typically, it will start and finish a quick scan in seconds. If it does not find the deleted files, you can turn to "Deep Scan" manually. Once locating the target files, you can check the box and click "Recover".

Step 3. Select the destination recovery drive and click on "Select Folder".

Then wait for the process to be finished.

Summary

This article focuses on how to recover permanently deleted files without software in Windows 10, and the same methods also work on Windows 11, Windows 8 and Windows 7. While those Windows built-in methods can help recover deleted files, success depends on whether you had backups.For the best results, MyRecover is an excellent choice. If you only need to recover a small amount of data, the free edition is enough. To recover unlimited data, go for the Professional edition instead.