Help Needed: How to Recover Permanently Deleted Files on Windows 11?

[Lucascobo]

My kid logged in my Windows 11 PC and deleted a bunch of files from the computer. And unfortunately, they seem to be permanently deleted (not in the Recycle Bin). I haven’t created any backup or used any file recovery software so far.

Is there an easy way to recover these permanently deleted files on Windows 11 without professional help or resorting to expensive software? I’ve heard of data recovery tools but would love to get suggestions on what’s reliable for Windows 11, especially free or budget-friendly options. Are there any built-in tools or methods that can help recover permanently deleted files?

Thanks for your input!

[#2]

@Lucascobo Don't worry too much. The deleted files are not gone immediately even they are not in Trash. They are still on the hard drive unless new incoming data erase them from the drive. Go and login in OneDrive account and check if the deleted files are in cloud storage. This is the easiest way to recover permanently deleted files on Windows 11 without using any data recovery software.

[#3]

@Lucascobo  When you delete a file on Windows 11, it is not immediately gone from the hard drive. Instead, the file is typically moved to the Recycle Bin, which acts as a temporary storage area. This allows you to recover the file if you change your mind or accidentally delete it. The file remains in the Recycle Bin until you either manually empty it or it exceeds the Recycle Bin’s storage limit, at which point older files may be permanently deleted. During this time, the file is still occupying space on your disk but is no longer visible in its original location.

However, even after permanently deleting a file from the Recycle Bin, the data is not immediately erased from your hard drive. Windows simply marks the space that the file occupied as available for new data, but the actual content of the file remains until it is overwritten by new files. This means that with the right recovery software, it is often possible to recover deleted files on Windows 11 unless the space has been reused. Overwriting or using secure deletion methods can ensure that deleted files are truly irrecoverable.

[#4]

@Lucascobo If you've deleted a large number of files from Windows 11or need to restore the entire OneDrive to an earlier state, you can use OneDrive’s "Restore your OneDrive" feature:

1. Go to OneDrive website and sign in.
2. Click on the gear icon in the upper-right corner and select "Restore your OneDrive."
3. Select a date from which you want to restore your OneDrive (e.g., before the deletion occurred).
4. You can choose from preset options (e.g., yesterday, last week) or select a custom date.
5. Confirm the restoration, and OneDrive will revert to how it was on the selected date.

By following the above steps, you should be able to recover permanently deleted files from OneDrive on Windows 11 as long as they haven’t been purged from the OneDrive Recycle Bin or overwritten.

[#5]

Recovering permanently deleted files on Windows 11 can be a bit of a tricky task if you're not careful. Check your Recycle Bin first! If you've just deleted the files, they might still be hanging out there. Just double-click that icon on your desktop and see if your precious files are there. If you keep using your PC after you delete files, you might accidentally overwrite the sectors on your hard drive where those files were stored. it's all jumbled up now! So, if you realize you've lost something important, stop using the drive that contained the deleted files ASAP.

[#6]

When you restore your OneDrive to a previous date, you're basically rolling back your entire drive to that time. That means if you've made any important changes to files or added new files since that date, they're going to disappear.

This feature only covers files stored in OneDrive. If you had important documents or changes on your local drives that aren't synced with OneDrive, well, this option isn't going to help you to recover permanently deleted files on Windows 11 one bit. You'll still have to figure out how to recover those files separately.

[#7]

How to recover deleted files Windows 11? If you've enabled System Restore, this could be another route. While it's mainly about restoring system settings, some personal files may be included in the restore points:

• Search for Create a restore point in the Windows search bar.
• Click on the System Restore button, and follow the prompts to check if there's a restore point before the files got deleted.

Note: This won't directly recover the files, but it may restore your system to a point where the files existed.

[#8]

@Lucascobo Take a look at File History, a built-in backup and restore feature in Windows 11 that automatically saves copies of your files to an external drive or network location. This tool helps you recover older versions of files or even files that have been permanently deleted. It focuses on backing up personal files stored in common directories like documents, pictures, music and videos. File History allows you to recover deleted files or folders from Windows 11 PC that you may have lost, overwritten, or deleted permanently.

Step 1: Type File History into the Start menu search bar and select Restore your files with File History from the results.

Step 2:  The File History window will display a list of your backed-up folders. You can navigate through these folders to find the file or folder you want to recover. If you’re looking for a specific file, you can use the search bar.

Step 3: Once you’ve located the file you wish to recover, you can select it and click the green Restore button at the bottom of the window. This will restore the file to its original location.

[#9]

@Lucascobo 

I have encountered a similar situation before. I deleted important files, but they were not in the Recycle Bin. I was confused at the time, but later I found that the "File History" feature that comes with Windows 11 is quite useful.

1. The steps are not complicated. Let me tell you how I did it at the time:
2. Type "Recover Files" in the search bar and find **"Restore Files from File History"**.
3. After opening it, you will see the previously backed up file versions.
4. You can browse to see if there are any files you want to restore. If you find them, click "Restore" and they will automatically return to their original location.

However, the premise of this method is that the "File History" function has been turned on before. If it is not turned on, you have to find another way. But if it is turned on, it is quite easy to recover permanently deleted files on Windows 11.

[#10]

@Lucascobo Another possible ways to recover deleted files on Windows 11 PC is to find a good workshops or companies that specialize in data recovery. Ensure they have good reviews, experience with Windows 11 systems, and can handle advanced data recovery tasks. Inquire about their tools and techniques to confirm they use safe methods.

Clearly explain to the technicians how the files were deleted (e.g., using Shift+Delete, emptying the Recycle Bin, etc.) and if you’ve tried any recovery methods before taking it to the workshop. Mention the specific file types and locations, as this information can help them focus their recovery efforts.

If possible, avoid using the drive to prevent overwriting the deleted files. Ask the workshop to create a clone or backup of your current hard drive before attempting recovery. Some workshops will clone the drive first to perform recovery attempts on the copy, ensuring no further damage to your original data.

[#11]

File History, a built-in backup and restore feature in Windows 11 that's supposed to save your bacon when you accidentally delete important files. But, let's get real, folks. While it's a great tool, But File History only keeps copies of your files for a limited period, usually 30 days. If you delete a file after that, it's gone for good! If you're trying to recover these permanently deleted files that's older than 30 days, you might be out of luck.

[#12]

@Lucascobo 

Try the system restore point function. Sometimes you can restore to a certain point in time, and the files may be restored together. Especially if the computer has set a restore point before. Although it is mainly used to restore the system status, in many cases, the files will be restored along with it.

The specific operation is not complicated:

1. Type "Create a restore point"  in the Windows search box.
2. After entering, click "System Restore", and then select a previous restore point.
3. The system will return to the state at that point in time to see if the accidentally deleted files can be recovered.

However, please note that this method is not 100% able to recover all deleted files from Windows 11, but it is still worth a try, especially when there is a problem with the system.

[#13]

The process of recovering deleted files can be time-consuming, even for professionals. It may take several days or even weeks to recover permanently deleted files, which can be frustrating if you're in a hurry. If you're not careful, using a data recovery workshop could potentially cause further damage to your original data. This is why it's crucial to find a reputable workshop that uses safe methods and takes precautions to avoid overwriting your files.