Recover Deleted Games on PC & Mobile—Everything You Need to Know

Can I Recover Deleted Games?

Playing games has become an increasingly popular way for many to relax after daily work and study. As a gaming enthusiast, you might have accidentally deleted your favorite game to free up storage space, or found games got removed after device upgrades. You are not alone. With the rising frequency of such cases, the need to find methods for recovering deleted games has become essential.

Before the detailed recovery process, you might be wondering: Can I recover deleted games? The answer is a resounding yes, in many cases. Deleted games can be recovered on PC and mobile device, especially if you act quickly and follow the right steps. Whether you’re using a PC, an Android device, or an iPhone, there are built-in tools and methods that can help you retrieve lost game data or reinstall games without losing progress.

How to Recover Deleted Games on Windows PC

Before we dive into the details, it’s important to understand that recovering deleted games on Windows PC can often be done using Windows built-in features. Whether you have a backup or not, you can find a suitable method in this section.

Method 1. Check the Recycle Bin

If you accidentally deleted the game's installation directory in File Explorer, it's likely moved to the Recycle Bin. You can restore it to its original location from the Recycle Bin.

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

Step 2. Right click the folder with the deleted game and choose "Restore". The folder will be restored to its original location, and you can reinstall the game to make it usable again.

Notes:✎...

When uninstalling a game through "Control Panel" > "Uninstall a Program" > "App Uninstall", program files are deleted directly without passing through the Recycle Bin. This uninstallation operation is a complete removal rather than a temporary deletion. In such cases, you can try the methods below or reinstall the game.

Method 2. Restore Files with File History

File History is a Windows feature that backs up files in Libraries, Desktop, Contacts, and Favorites. So, you can easily restore your personal files and folders in case of the game deletion. If you have enabled File History feature, you can restore the folder with deleted games.

Step 1. Type "Restore your files with File History" in the Start menu and open it.

Step 2. Select the folder where the deleted games were stored and choose a desired version based on the backup date.

Step 3. Click the green "Restore" button to recover it.

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

Backup and Restore in Windows 7 lets you create system images and back up files to external drives or networks, allowing you to restore your system or data quickly in case of failures or losses. Here's how:

Step 1. Type "backup settings" in the Start menu and open it.

Step 2. Choose "Go to Backup and Restore (Windows 7)" and click "Select another backup to restore files from".

Step 3. Choose a created backup containing the deleted games to restore files and click "Next".

Step 4. Select the files you want to restore. You can check the "Select all files in the backup" option to recover all files in the backup. If you want to recover a specific file or folder, just click "Browse for files/folders" to select specific files or folders.

Step 5. Choose a safe location to save the recovered files and click "Restore" to start the process.

Once the process is completed, the message "Your files have been restored" will be displayed on the screen. You can check the recovered files by clicking "View restored files".

★Tips:

Both "File History" and "Backup and Restore" require being enabled before files are deleted to function. If you haven’t enabled these features in advance, please try the methods below.

Method 4. Run Windows File Recovery Command

If you are proficient in using command-line tools, Windows File Recovery is an ideal choice for you. Developed by Microsoft, this powerful command-line utility helps recover deleted files in Windows 10/11, especially those permanently removed. Here's how to use Windows File Recovery command to restore deleted files on Windows.

Step 1. Download and install Windows File Recovery on your computer from the official Microsoft channel.

Step 2. Type the command "Winfr F: E: /regular" and press "Enter". Replace the drive letters "F" and "E" with your actual drive letters. This command is used to perform a quick scan on "F" drive for lost files and save the recovered files on "E" drive.

When the process is finished, press "y" to check the recovered files in the destination folder.

Method 5. Recover with Professional Recovery Tool—MyRecover

If you dislike command-line tools and have no backups, user-friendly third-party data recovery software like MyRecover is tailor-made for you. MyRecover can recover deleted photos, videos, and compressed files over 1,000 file types, without requiring any backups. Moreover, it features a graphical user interface (GUI), allowing even novice users to achieve data recovery with simple icon clicks. It boasts wide compatibility, running on Windows 11/10/8/8.1/7 & Server.

4 steps to recover deleted games on Windows

Step 1. Download and install MyRecover on your computer, avoid installing it on the drive with lost files.

Step 2. Launch it and select the drive or folder with deleted 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 safe location to save the recovered files.

Once the process is completed, you can access and check the recovered files by clicking the designated folder.

Method 6. Reinstall the Deleted Game

In addition to the above methods for recovering deleted games on PC, the simplest way is to redownload the game if you have purchased it before. Game launchers like Steam or Epic Games Store can help reinstall missing games. Here's how to reinstall deleted games on Steam.

Step 1. Launch the Steam client on your computer and sign in to with your account.

Step 2. Click "Library" section at the top of the screen. A list of games you owned appears on the left side of your screen. And you may see some games are grayed out, that means they're uninstalled on your computer.

Step 3. Select the grayed-out game you want to reinstall and click "Install" to redownload it on your computer.

How to Restore Deleted Games on Mobile Devices (iOS & Android)

Recovering deleted games on mobile devices is generally similar to that on PC. This section provides different solutions for iOS and Android platforms respectively, so you can choose the appropriate method according to your operating system of mobile devices.

Restore Deleted Games on iPhone

If you backed up the games before they were lost, you can restore them via Apple's backup tools—iCloud. It allows seamless restoration of lost game apps from pre-existing backups. Even without backups, the MyRecover for iOS provided here can help you recover deleted games.

✅Using iCloud Backup

If your game was backed up with iCloud, you might be able to restore it along with its data. Before the process, you should note that this method will restore your phone to the backed-up version. Here's how:

Step 1. Go to "Settings" > "General" > "Transfer or Reset iPhone" > "Erase All Content and Settings".

Step 2. Enter your passcode to confirm that your device will be reset.

Step 3. When the process is finished, click "Restore from iCloud backup".

Step 4. Sign in to iCloud with your account, then select a backup that includes the deleted games you wish to recover and initiate the restoration process.

✅Using MyRecocver for iOS

The MyRecover for iOS can recover deleted games on iOS devices. It’s a 100% safe third-party tool that doesn’t require backups and won’t erase your existing data on your phone. It supports recovering deleted voice recordings, photos, and WeChat history and over 10 additional data types.

Step 1. Download and install Myrecover for iOS on your computer.

Step 2. Connect your iPhone to the computer and trust the computer on your iPhone.

Step 3. Click "Scan Now" on MyRecover for iOS to scan lost files on the iPhone.

Step 4. You can choose the files what you want restore and click "Recover" in the top right corner.

Restore Deleted Games on Android

Recovering deleted games on an Android phone depends on where you downloaded them. If you got the game from the built-in app store, you can redownload it from your download history. For games downloaded from other sources like the Google Play Store, they're also can be restored with correct methods.

✅Reinstall the Game in GetApps

The app stores provided by Android phones record all downloaded apps including games. You can find the deleted games in the download history and redownload them. Takes Redmi as an example here:

Step 1. Open the "GetApps" on your phone and select "Account" at the lower-right corner.

Step 2. Under the "Manage Apps" section, select "Installation history" and "Games".

Step 3. Browse and choose the deleted games, then click "Install" to redownload them.

✅Reinstall in Google Paly Store

If you downloaded the game from the Google Play Store, the recovery method is similar to the one mentioned above—just redownload it.

Step 1. Launch the Google Play Store app and tap your "Google account profile" icon at the upper-right corner of the screen.

Step 2. Select "Manage apps & device" and "Installed", you can see all of the apps you have installed.

Step 3. Choose "Not installed" from the drop-down that currently shows Installed.

Step 4. Browse and select the deleted games, then click the "Download" icon to reinstall them.

FAQ:

1. Can you recover deleted game data on Nintendo Switch?

Yes, you can recover deleted game data on Nintendo Switch. If you are a subscriber of the Nintendo Switch Online service, you can restore lost game saves from cloud backups. Additionally, you can redownload games from the eShop. If you have deleted game files from your microSD card, try SD card recovery software.

2. Can you recover a deleted game data on Xbox?

Yes, you can recover a deleted game data on Xbox. Xbox allows you to restore deleted data from cloud backups, and you can also redownload purchased games.

3. Are deleted PS4 games gone forever?

No, recovery deleted games on PS4 can be achieved using correct methods. Don't worry, you won't lose access to any deleted games — you can redownload the application from your Library whenever you like.

Conclusion

Now that you know how to recover deleted games on PC and mobile device using above methods, you’ll be better equipped to retrieve lost games and continue enjoying your progress. Remember to back up your game data regularly to make future recovery even easier.

If you find regular backups too troublesome, try MyRecover to protect your data on both Windows and iOS. MyRecover recovers data from various complex loss scenarios like recovery from formatted drive. Advanced features like pre-recovery file preview and unlimited data recovery quota are offered in MyRecover's Professional and Technician editions.