Free Restore Deleted Files from Recycle Bin Windows 11/ 10

How Does Windows Recycle Bin Work?

The Windows Recycle Bin serves as a built-in safeguard, holding deleted files and folders temporarily so you can restore them if needed. Instead of removing items right away, Windows simply transfers them to a dedicated system folder.

Temporary Holding Area: When you delete something, it isn’t erased immediately. Windows places it in the Recycle Bin, where it remains until you manually restore it or empty the bin.

Automatic Space Control: The Recycle Bin has a set storage limit. Once it reaches that limit, Windows will automatically clear out the oldest items to make room for newly deleted files(Check also: how often does Recycle Bin empty itself).

Permanent Removal: To permanently delete a file, you can either empty the entire Recycle Bin or press Shift + Delete while selecting the file to bypass the bin entirely.

Local Hard Drives Only: The Recycle Bin only holds files deleted from local hard drives. Files removed from external storage like USB flash drives or network drives are typically erased permanently.

How to Restore Deleted Files from Recycle Bin?

If you did not empty the Recycle Bin, or you delete the files from local drive via Delete key (not Shift+Delete), you can recover them from Windows Recycle Bin easily.

Step 1. Double-click the Recycle Bin icon on your desktop.

Step 2. Inside, you can sort and browse by name, original location, or deletion date to find what you need.

Step 3. Click to select a single file. To restore multiple files, hold Ctrl while clicking to select individual items, or hold Shift to select a contiguous range.

Step 4. Right-click on the selected file(s).From the context menu, choose "Restore".

Did Not Find Deleted Files in Windows Recycle Bin?

If you cannot locate your deleted files in the Recycle Bin using the method above, don't panic. This situation typically occurs for several common reasons:

Permanent Deletion Methods

• Used Shift + Delete shortcut.
• Deleted from USB flash drive or other external storage devices.

Recycle Bin Settings & Limitations

• Recycle Bin has been manually emptied.
• Files exceed Recycle Bin's storage capacity.
• "Don't move files to the Recycle Bin" setting is enabled.

System & File Type Factors

• Files deleted from command prompt or PowerShell.
• Very large files to recycle and thenbypass the Recycle Bin.

• Certain system files and temporary files.

Methods to Restore Permanently Deleted Files from Recycle Bin Windows 11

Although files might not appear in the Windows Recycle Bin for easy recovery, you can still recover them using the right methods.

1: Use File History Backup

File History is a built-in Windows backup feature that automatically saves versions of your files to an external drive or network location. If you had this feature enabled before file deletion, it provides the most reliable recovery option.

Prerequisite: Must have been set up beforehand

Step 1. Navigate to the folder where the deleted files were originally stored.

Step 2. Right-click and select "Properties".

Step 3. Go to "Previous Versions" tab. Select a version from before deletion. Click "Restore".

Alternatively, you can:

Input "Restore your files with File History" in the Windows search box, click "Open" under the exact result.

Then choose the desired folder or files in the File History interface, and click "Restore" button.

2: Microsoft Windows File Recovery [Not Require Backup]

Windows File Recovery is a free command-line tool from Microsoft available from the Microsoft Store. It can recover files even after they have been permanently deleted from the Recycle Bin, by scanning your drive's raw data.

Prerequisite: Requires downloading and installing the tool. Works only on Windows 10 and Windows 11.

Step 1. Download "Windows File Recovery" from the Microsoft Store.Install it on another different drive from where the data was lost.

Step 2. Type "Windows File Recovery" in the Windows search box. Right click the result and choose "Run as administrator". It runs in Command Prompt or PowerShell).

Step 3. Use the appropriate command syntax. A basic example for recovering PNG file from your H: drive to an D: recovery drive is:

winfr H: D: /extensive /n *.png

★Breakdown of the command:

winfr: Launches the recovery tool.

H:: Source drive to scan for deleted files.

D:: Destination drive where recovered files are saved. Must be different from H: to prevent data overwriting.

/extensive: Uses deep, signature-based scan (most thorough but slowest mode). Ideal for FAT or exFAT drive, or formatted / damaged partition recovery. For NTFS drive recovery, use /regular mode.

/n *.png: Filter to recover only PNG image files.

Step 4. Follow the on-screen prompts to confirm and start the recovery process. As it is done, you can hit on Y to directly access and check the recovered files in the specified destination drive.

3: MyRecover [Not Require Backup]

MyRecover is a user-friendly data recovery software designed for all WindowsPC and Serverusers. It offers a straightforward graphical interface that simplifies the recovery process, making it accessible even for non-technical users. Unlike command-line tools, it allows for previewing files before recovery and supports multiple file types and storage devices.

Step 1. Download and install MyRecover from its official website. Launch the application.

Step 2. Upon launching, select the drive or partition where your deleted files were originally stored. Click "Scan" to begin the analysis process.

Step 3. The software will perform a Quick Scan or a Deep Scan automatically. You can browse the results by category, use the search box to find specific files, or apply filters by "Type" . Preview files by clicking on them.

Step 4. Select all the files and folders you wish to recover. Click the "Recover" button.

Step 5. Choose a safe destination folder on a different drive, and confirm to restore your data.

Summary

Recovering lost data doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. Your first line of defense is simple: restore deleted files from Recycle Bin Windows 11. But even if the Recycle Bin has been emptied or your files were permanently removed, you still have multiple reliable recovery options. From built-in tools like File History and Windows File Recovery to user-friendly software such as MyRecover, each method can help you recover your data quickly and safely.

For more complex data recovery scenarios—such as retrieving files from an inaccessible drive or restoring data when you can’t boot into the operating system—MyRecover is the more recommended and reliable choice.