How to Recover Deleted EMF Files in Windows 10? [Free]

What is EMF Files?

EMF (Enhanced Metafile) is a graphics file format developed by Microsoft as an improved version of the older Windows Metafile (WMF). It is primarily used in Windows applications to store vector graphics, though it can also include raster images.

Unlike pixel-based images (such as JPG or PNG), EMF files describe pictures using mathematical formulas for lines, shapes, and colors. This means they can be scaled to any size without losing quality, making them especially useful for:

• Charts, diagrams, and illustrations
• Logos and icons
• Graphics in Microsoft Office documents

EMF files are widely supported on Windows systems and can be opened in programs such as Microsoft Office, Adobe Illustrator, CorelDRAW, and other graphic design tools.

How to Recover Deleted EMF Files on Windows (10)?

No matter how you lose your EMF files (accidental deletion, formatting, corruption, or system errors), it can be troublesome, especially when they are often used in charts, diagrams, and professional documents. The good news is that deleted EMF files are not always gone forever. With the right recovery methods, you still have a good chance to restore them. Below are some effective solutions you can try.

Method 1: Recover EMF Files from Recycle Bin

If you accidentally deleted EMF files with the "Delete" key not "Delete+Shift" key, they usually go to the Recycle Bin.

Open the Recycle Bin on your desktop.Look for your deleted .emf files. Right-click the file and select "Restore" to put it back in its original location.

Method 2: Restore EMF Files from File History Backup

If you’ve enabled File History on Windows 10, you can easily recover deleted EMF files from a previous version.

Step 1. Press "Win + S", type "Restore your files with File History", and open it.

Step 2. Browse through the available backups until you find the folder containing your EMF files.

Step 3. Select the EMF files you need, then click the "Restore" button to recover them to their original location.

This method works only if File History was set up before the EMF file deletion happened.

Method 3: Restore EMF Files from Cloud Storage

If you stored EMF files in OneDrive, Google Drive, or Dropbox, check their Trash/Recycle Bin feature. Cloud storage services usually keep deleted files for 30 days (sometimes longer). Simply log in, go to the Trash, and restore your EMF files with one click.

Method 4: Retrieve EMF Files via Windows File Recovery Command

If your EMF files are no longer in the Recycle Bin and you don’t have a backup, you can try Windows File Recovery, a free command-line tool from Microsoft. It allows you to scan and recover deleted files from your drives.

Step 1. Open the Microsoft Store. Search for Windows File Recovery.Click "Download" to install it on your computer.

Step 2. Press "Win + S", type "Windows File Recovery", then right-click and select "Run as administrator". A command prompt window will appear.

Step 3. Understand the Basic Command Structure.

Step 4. Example Command to Recover EMF Files: If you deleted EMF files from the I: drive and want to save recovered files to D: drive, run: winfr I: D: /regular /n *.emf

• /regular → suitable for recently deleted fileson NTFS drive. If the I: drive is of FAT32 file system, use "extensive" mode.
• /n *.emf → tells the tool to search for all EMF files.

Step 5. After the scan finishes, a recovery folder will be created on the destination drive (e.g., D:\Recovery_20250911_xxxxx).Open it to see if your EMF files were restored.

Method 5: Use Professional Data Recovery Software

Apart from using the Microsoft Winfr command tool to recover deleted EMF files when no backup is available, you can also rely on a professional third-party data recovery tool such as MyRecover, which is now available in the Microsoft Store as well.

★Highlights:

All-in-One Data Recovery: No matter the cause—accidental deletion, disk formatting, system crash, or virus attack—this tool helps you recover lost data with ease.

Recover 1000+ File Types: Quickly restore documents, photos, videos, emails, and more in their original formats.

Support 500+ Devices: Compatible with desktops, laptops, HDDs, SSDs, USB flash drives, memory cards, cameras, players and more.

Advanced Scanning Technology: Powered by AOMEI, MyRecover combines Quick Scan and Deep Scan to ensure a thorough and reliable recovery process.

Step 1. Download and install MyRecover on your computer.

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Step 2. Launch the program and select the drive where your EMF files were deleted. Click "Scan".

Step 3.Wait for the scanning process to complete.You can directly search "emf" to quickly locat this type of files.

Step 4. Select what you need, and click "Recover" to save them to a safe location.

When it is completed, you will see a mini window including the information or the number and location of files successfully recovered.

Through clicking the "Browse" button or the path link, you can directly open the destination folder to check whether the recovered EMF files are intact.

Wrap Up

If you accidentally deleted EMF files which contain contain important charts, illustrations, or documents, please try the above methods—from checking the Recycle Bin and backups to using Windows File Recovery or professional tools like MyRecover. You have a solid chance to recover deleted EMF files successfully. If you frequently work with various file types and need daily recovery, MyRecover is a reliable choice. It can recover more than 1000 files, such as MKV file recovery, email recovery, audio recovery, etc.