How To Recover Deleted Files From The Recycle Bin: 2023 Update
Part I: Is It Possible To Recover Files From The Recycle Bin?
Part II: How To Recover Files From The Recycle Bin If It Is Not Emptied
Part III: How To Recover Files From Empty Recycle Bin
Done it again, right? Accidentally deleted files from the Recycle Bin, maybe even cleaned it out? Well, worry not, because we are here to help you recover deleted files from Recycle Bin. Read on to know about your options from the data recovery experts.
Part I: Is It Possible To Recover Files From The Recycle Bin?
If you have not tinkered with Recycle Bin settings, then data recovery is possible, depending on size of file you want to recover. You see, by default, Recycle Bin is configured as a certain percentage of your disk reserved for storing the files you send to it. Files in Recycle Bin are deleted after 30 days, so if that time has not lapsed, your data would likely be there still.
However, if the Recycle Bin is configured to immediately delete files or if 30 days have lapsed since the file(s) you want to recover were put there, you will not be able to recover the files through Recycle Bin. You will then need a data recovery software that we will mention later.
Part II: How To Recover Files From The Recycle Bin If It Is Not Emptied
If you are a new to the Windows operating system, you might think files once sent to Recycle Bin are not recoverable. That is not true, unless changes were made to Recycle Bin settings, or the file you put into Recycle Bin was too large to be stored there and was deleted promptly.
If your Recycle Bin looks like the one above, it means there are files in it, that can be recovered. So, you might be in luck! Let’s open the Recycle Bin and see if the file you want is in there!
Step 1: Double-click the icon to open Recycle Bin.
Step 2: Select the folder/ file (single or multiple or all) to recover and click Restore The Selected Items. If no file were selected, the option to use will be Recover All Items. If you can’t see the option, it might be hidden behind the three-dot ellipses, as shown below:
But, what to do if the Recycle Bin was empty, like this:
In this case, you need a specialized tool to try and recover the deleted files. Such a tool is called a data recovery software, and we are going to share with you a well-respected tool you can use to recover data from the Recycle Bin quickly with ease.
Part III: How To Recover Files From Empty Recycle Bin
Now, if your Recycle Bin is empty, or your file is not there, you can try using an advanced Recycle Bin recovery software such as Wondershare Recoverit that can help you recover lost and deleted files from the Recycle Bin quickly with ease.
Wondershare Recoverit knows that scanning your entire disk for what was deleted from the Recycle Bin is a monumental waste of time, so it has a special Recycle Bin scan mode that scans only your Recycle Bin for files to be recovered.
Step 1: Launch Wondershare Recoverit and choose Recycle Bin:
Step 2: There are two scan modes, All-round Scan and Deep Scan. All-round scan will always be performed first and automatically. Usually, this is enough, and yields results quickly.
After an all-round scan, the software prompts you to perform a Deep Scan. In case you did not find the file(s) you wanted to recover during automatic scan, click Deep Scan to perform a thorough scan.
Step 3: If you want, you can use the filters to narrow the search, or use the search for a filename to find a specific file. When done, select the files by clicking the checkbox(es) on the left (or a single checkbox at the top to select all).
PREVIEWING: You can double-click files to enter preview mode for a preview of the selected file.
Click Recover at the bottom when done.
Step 4: Select the path to save the file(s) and click Recover.
Bonus: Tips For Choosing A Recovery Software
How to choose the right data recovery software for you?
Tip 1: Read Reviews From Reputed Sources And Users
When looking for a data recovery software, look for reviews from reputed review magazines and even user reviews to gauge how easy the software is to use and how well-received the software is. Reviews will tell you if the software works as its makers claim.
Tip 2: Free Is Not Always The Right Choice
It might tempt you to try a software out first or go for a free solution. However, every time your disk is accessed, there are read/write operations occurring that risk data recovery. Make the right choice the first time to increase chances of data recovery. Buying a software from a reputed company with rave reviews is better than trying several free software with no to limited success.
Conclusion
A deleted file can cause panic. However, not all is lost when a file gets accidentally deleted. The Recycle Bin serves as a safety net for 30 days, after which the files are deleted permanently. But, there are data recovery tools such as Wondershare Recoverit that users can use to recover files from emptied Recycle Bin quickly and reliably in a minimal number of steps.