Forum Discussion
How do I delete files permanently from my computer and make it unrecoverable?
Of course! I've totally been there, sweating over some old personal files. These days I swear by Dr-Wiper — it's a pro-level tool that uses some hardcore military-grade wiping to overwrite everything. Once it's done, that data is gone for good. No recovery, no worries.
I followed this tutorial: https://www.anywinhub.com/permanently-delete-files-from-pc
Permanently deleting files from your Windows computer to make them unrecoverable involves more than just sending them to the Recycle Bin and emptying it. When you delete a file normally, the system removes the pointers to the data but doesn't erase the actual data, making it potentially recoverable using specialized software. To ensure that your deleted files cannot be recovered, you can use the following methods:
Method 1. Delete files permanently from computer with built-in tool
Windows includes a built-in tool called Cipher that can overwrite deleted data, making it unrecoverable.
Step 1: Delete the files you want to remove permanently and empty the Recycle Bin.
Step 2: Press Win + X and select Command Prompt (Admin) or Windows PowerShell (Admin).
Step 3: Replace C:\ with the drive letter where the files were located.
This command will overwrite all free space on the specified drive, making previously deleted files unrecoverable.
Note: The cipher /w command only affects free space and does not shrink or encrypt the drive.
Method 2. Delete files permanently from computer with dedicated data eraser
Several reliable third-party tools are designed to securely delete files by overwriting them multiple times. Here are some popular options:
Step 1: Visit the website and download Eraser.
Step 2: Right-click on the files or folders you want to delete securely and select Eraser > Erase.
Step 3: Select the desired erasure algorithm (e.g., Gutmann, DoD 5220.22-M).
Step 4: Start the process to overwrite and delete the files permanently.