Recover Deleted Files Windows Server 2016: 4 Proven Methods

Overview of Windows server 2016

Windows Server 2016, released by Microsoft, is a robust and highly versatile operating system designed for enterprise-level IT infrastructure. It provides many advanced features, such as increased security measures, improved virtualization, cloud integration, and better support for containers.

These features make it a popular choice for businesses looking to optimize Server performance, enhance security, and manage workloads efficiently. With its inclusion of technologies like Windows Containers and Nano Server, Windows Server 2016 stands out in terms of performance and flexibility.

However, like any other operating system, users may encounter challenges, such as data loss due to accidental deletion of files. Knowing how to recover deleted files in Windows Server 2016 is crucial for Server administrators to avoid data loss and ensure business continuity. This guide will provide 4 effective ways to help you retrieve the lost data.

How to Recover Deleted Files in Windows Server 2016

To prevent data loss, like other Windows operating systems, Windows Server has built-in data recovery tools such as the Recycle Bin, Shadow Copy, and Server Backup. This section will detail how to recover deleted files from these three built-in tools. Additionally, for data that has been permanently deleted, a third-party file recovery Windows Server software solution will be provided.

Solution 1. Restore from Server Recycle Bin

In Windows Server 2016, the Recycle Bin feature is available, and it functions similarly to the one in desktop versions of Windows. It provides an easy way to recover deleted files. This method is suitable for recovering files that have not been permanently deleted, as they are simply moved to the Recycle Bin.

Step 1. Double click the Recycle Bin icon to open it.

Step 2. Select the files you wish to recover and right click to choose "Restore" to recover the selected files to its original location.

Solution 2. Restore Previous Version via Shadow Copy

Shadow Copy is another powerful feature in Windows Server 2016. It allows you to restore previous versions of files and folders by using snapshots taken at specific times. If you have enabled it, you can use it to restore previous versions.

Step 1. Open the folder where the deleted files were saved in File Explorer.

Step 2. Right click the folder and choose "Restore previous versions".

Step 3. Choose the version of the file you want to recover and click on "Restore" to recover it.

Solution 3. Recover Files from Server Backup

One of the most reliable ways to recover deleted files from Server 2016 is through a backup solution. If your organization has been using Windows Server Backup or any other backup solution, you can restore files from the most recent backup.

Step 1. Launch Windows Server backup, and go to "Local Backup" to choose a created backup, then click "Recover".

Step 2. Select "This server" to start the recovery. If the created backup is not stored on the local drive or it's not connected to the Server 2016, select "A backup stored on another location".

Step 3. Select the date of the backup to use for recovery containing the deleted files, then click "Next".

Step 4. Select the recovery type as your needs. You can select the files or folders in the backup or the entire volume.

Step 5. Browse and select the files or folders you want to recover in the available items.

Step 6. Choose a secure destination to store the deleted files or folders. And choose how to deal the files are already in the recovery destination.

Step 7. Confirm the recovery items, destination, options and settings, then click "Recover".

Wait several seconds to complete the recovery process and click "Close". Then you can check the recovered files in the destination folder.

Solution 4. Third-Party Tool—MyRecover [Permanently deleted]

If you have accidentally deleted files and emptied the Recycle Bin, or if files were permanently deleted using "Shift + Delete" without any backup, you can use third-party data recovery software—MyRecover for Windows Server. These tools can help you recover files that are no longer in the Recycle Bin or the system’s current file structure.

As a professional data recovery software, MyRecover boasts a data recovery success rate of up to 99%. It requires no backups, allowing users to easily recover files—especially recover permanently deleted files—with just a few clicks. It can run on multiple Windows systems, including Server 2012 (R2), 2016, 2019, 2025 and Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7. Here’s why MyRecover stands out:

✅Broad Compatibility: It supports file recovery on storage devices such as SSDs, HDDs, SD cards, and USB drives.

✅High Reliability: During the recovery process, it only reads data without writing, avoiding data overwriting.

✅Versatile Recovery Capability: It can cover various complex data loss scenarios, such as recover from inaccessible partition, partition deletion, hard disk formatting, system crashes, and more.

✅Comprehensive Scan: You can run quick scan to recover data quickly, or choose Deep Scan to retrieve more data from fragmented clues.

4 steps to recover deleted files on Windows Server 2016

Step 1. Download and install MyRecover from secure channel on your computer.

Step 2. Launch it and select the drive with lost files to scan, then click "Scan".

Step 3. Select the files you wish to recover from the recoverable lists and click "Recover".

Step 4. Choose a secure location to store the recovered files.

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

Conclusion

Recovering deleted files in Windows Server 2016, 2019, 2025 or earlier 2012, 2012 R2 is critical for preventing data loss and ensuring your Server runs smoothly. Whether you use the built-in Server Recycle Bin, Shadow Copy, backup recovery, or third-party recovery tools, each method has its own benefits. The best approach depends on the type of deletion and whether backups are available.

If you need a data recovery software to ensure data security, MyRecover is a great choice. It also offers the Professional and Technician editions, which support to recover data from crashed Windows systems and allow you to preview file contents before recovery to confirm whether they are the files you want to restore.