Wondering how to recover files after factory reset Windows 10? This complete guide covers easy methods to restore your lost documents, photos, and videos safely, helping you retrieve all important data even after a factory reset.
Ever hit that "factory reset" button and instantly regretted it? You’re not alone. Many users perform a reset to fix a sluggish system, only to realize their precious photos and documents weren't backed up. If you are wondering how to recover files after factory reset laptop or desktop systems, don't panic just yet. While a reset feels like a total wipe, data often remains hidden in the deeper layers of your hard drive. In this guide, we’ll break down exactly how to recover files after factory reset Windows 10 using both built-in features and professional data recovery solutions.
A factory reset brings your PC back to its original state — just like it came from the store. It wipes installed apps, custom settings, and personal files if you choose the "Remove everything" option. This is why it’s often used as a last resort for fixing major software issues.
Why Users Perform a Factory Reset
People choose factory resets for reasons like:
While it’s helpful, the process can wipe your data clean unless backed up.
Is it possible to recover files after factory reset / disk formatting?
My computer had a mic issue so i took it to a professional And they said that it might work back if i were to factory reset it. And so i asked will they recover all my files? And they said yes But ... They only recovered a fraction of it I am deeply hurt because of this i just froze at that moment. The mic didn’t even get fixed and all my files are gone so now please if anyone can give help or any solution to this i would deeply appreciate it i had photos of lost loved one and such ....
- Question from Reddit
The short answer is Yes, but the "why" is important. When Windows resets, it doesn’t immediately shred your data. Instead, it deletes the "file directory" (the index that tells the computer where files are located) and marks that space as "Free." As long as you haven't saved a massive amount of new data that physically overwrites those sectors, the original data is still there. This is why you must stop using the PC immediately to maximize your success rate when learning how to recover deleted files after factory reset Windows 10.
Factors Affecting File Recovery Success
Knowing these factors helps you plan your next move.
Before turning to third-party software, your first line of defense should be checking the native Windows safety nets. If you were proactive with your settings before the reset, these methods are the fastest way back to your data.
This tool is a legacy feature that allows users to create a full image or selective backup of their files to an external drive. It uses a "Mirroring" logic—if you set this up previously, your files exist in a protected container outside your PC’s internal drive.
Steps to Restore:
1. Connect your external backup drive to your computer.
2. Open Control Panel by searching for it in the Start menu.
3. Go to System and Security > Backup and Restore (Windows 7).
4. Click on the Restore my files button.
5. You can click Browse for files or Browse for folders to find the specific data you lost.
6. Select a destination (Original location or a new folder) and click Restore.
If you didn't have an external drive plugged in, Windows 10 has a secondary internal "time machine" feature called File History that may have saved you.
File History creates incremental snapshots of files located in your main user folders (Documents, Pictures, Desktop, etc.). Its logic is based on versioning, allowing you to "scroll back in time." You can try this tool if you had a secondary internal drive or a network drive assigned to File History before the reset occurred.
Steps to Recover:
1. Type Restore your files with File History in the Windows search bar and then open it.
2. A window will open showing your backed-up folders. Use the Left/Right arrows at the bottom to find a version dated before your factory reset.
3. Click the green Restore button to get your files back.
In the modern cloud-connected era, your files might not even be on your hard drive. Many users find success by looking "up" rather than "in."
Windows 10 often encourages users to sign in with a Microsoft account, which automatically syncs "Known Folders" (Desktop, Documents, Pictures) to OneDrive. Because these files are stored on remote servers, a local factory reset has zero effect on them. You can try to restore from cloud services if you used OneDrive, Google Drive, or Dropbox and had the "Sync" feature enabled.
Steps to Restore:
1. Go to OneDrive.com and log in with your Microsoft account. Browse your folders.
2. If you find your files, select them and click Download.
If the methods above fail, it means your only copy was local and the index has been wiped. This is where you need a specialized engine to scan the raw drive sectors for "orphaned" data.
When built-in tools fail, MyRecover is the most effective way to solve the puzzle of how to recover deleted files after factory reset Windows 10. While a reset wipes the file map, MyRecover uses "Deep Scan" technology to look past the empty map and identify the actual file signatures (like the header of a JPEG or the structure of a Word doc) still lingering on the disk.
Why MyRecover is the top choice for Factory Reset scenarios:
Step-by-Step Recovery Using MyRecover
1. Download and install MyRecover on a different drive (not the one you’re recovering from).
2. Launch the program and select the drive where your files were stored.
3. Click Scan — MyRecover will perform a scan quickly to locate lost files.
4. Preview the found files and select what you need.
5. Click Recover and save the files to a new location.
MyRecover works with various file types (documents, photos, videos) and supports both HDDs and SSDs. What’s more, you can also use MyRecover to recover SD data, such as performing SDHC card data recovery.
Losing data during a system refresh is stressful, but it doesn't have to be permanent. Whether you rely on the "time-travel" features of File History, the "off-site" safety of OneDrive, or the deep-sector scanning power of MyRecover, there are multiple paths to success. The key to how to recover files after factory reset Windows 10 is to stop writing new data and start the recovery process immediately.
1. Is it really possible to recover files after a "Remove Everything" reset?
Yes. "Remove Everything" deletes the file paths, but the data remains on the physical disk until it is overwritten by new information. This is why recover files after factory reset Windows 10 is possible if you act quickly.
2. How does MyRecover handle SSDs vs HDDs?
SSDs are trickier because of the "TRIM" command, which clears deleted data to keep the drive fast. However, MyRecover’s deep scanning algorithms are designed to find data fragments even on modern SSDs before the TRIM process is finalized.
3. I see my files in MyRecover, but they won't open. Why?
This usually means the file was partially overwritten by the new Windows installation. While how to recover files after factory reset Windows 10 is a proven process, file integrity depends on how much the PC was used after the reset.
4. Does a factory reset affect my D: or E: drives?
In most cases, no. Windows 10 resets typically only target the "System Drive" (C:). However, if you chose the "All Drives" option during the reset, you will need to use MyRecover to scan those secondary drives as well.
5. Is there a free way to recover files after factory reset?
Windows File History and OneDrive are free if they were set up beforehand. If they weren't, MyRecover offers a free trial to scan and see if your files are recoverable before you commit to the full version.
6. How long do I have before my files are gone forever?
There is no set time, but rather a "usage limit." Every time you save a file or Windows runs an update, the risk increases. For the best results on how to recover files after factory reset laptop, perform the recovery as the very first task after the reset completes.