Forum Discussion
Where do permanently deleted files go after Recycle Bin on Windows 11?
I recently emptied my Recycle Bin on Windows 11, but now I realize I need to recover some important files that were permanently deleted. I'm aware that these files are not immediately removed from the hard drive and that there might be ways to retrieve them. I am wondering where do permanently deleted files go after Recycle Bin on Windows 11?
Can someone guide me on the best methods or tools to recover permanently deleted files on Windows 11? Are there any recommended software programs or specific steps I should follow to maximize the chances of getting my data back? I appreciate any help or suggestions!
When you delete files from the Recycle Bin on Windows 11, they don’t actually vanish right away. The system just marks the disk space as “available,” so the files stay on the drive and can be recovered.
I once lost some project files this way, and Aiseeesoft Data Recovery saved me—it scanned the drive and brought most of them back.
Check this tutorial:
https://www.wintiplab.com/recover-permanently-deleted-files-from-windows-10-11
Worth a try!
11 Replies
- KaarolineIron Contributor
When you delete files from the Recycle Bin on Windows 11, they don’t actually vanish right away. The system just marks the disk space as “available,” so the files stay on the drive and can be recovered.
I once lost some project files this way, and Aiseeesoft Data Recovery saved me—it scanned the drive and brought most of them back.
Check this tutorial:
https://www.wintiplab.com/recover-permanently-deleted-files-from-windows-10-11
Worth a try!
- ScottoomCopper Contributor
When it comes to recovering permanently deleted files on Windows 11 using the Command Prompt, or where do permanently deleted files go after Recycle Bin on Windows 11? it can sound like a neat trick. But from my experience, it's not guaranteed to work. Just because you run these commands doesn't mean you're going to recover your files. If those files have already been overwritten by new data, they're pretty much toast. I've had occasions where I got my hopes up after typing in those commands, only to be greeted by disappointment.
Not everyone is comfortable navigating the Command Prompt. If you’re not tech-savvy, reading through all those commands can be intimidating. The last thing you want is a typo that messes up your system or makes things worse. I remember once trying to help a friend out with this and we ended up more confused than when we started. Not ideal!
- AhmadA2020Copper ContributorYour right. It can get really scary if you dont know what your doing.
- Dornier5Copper ContributorUsing the "Previous Versions" feature in Windows 11 to recover permanently deleted files is handy for sure, but there are definitely some downsides to consider.
backup limitations are a biggie. This feature only works if you’ve actually set up File History or created System Restore points prior to losing those files. If you didn’t take the time to set that up, or if those backups have been deleted or overwritten, you're just out of luck. I learned this the hard way when I thought I could recover an important docume nt—only to find there were no previous versions saved. Talk about a major facepalm moment! - SamuelyurCopper Contributor
Eliyorp File History is a backup feature in Windows 11 that automatically saves copies of your personal files stored in libraries, desktop, favorites, and contacts. This feature allows you to restore files if they are lost, corrupted, or accidentally deleted. File History continuously monitors the files and makes periodic copies of them, ensuring that you have access to previous versions and can recover them if needed. It’s a convenient and user-friendly tool for maintaining data safety without needing extensive technical knowledge.
To retrieve permanently deleted files go after Recycle Bin with File History, go to Settings > Update & Security > Backup. Click on "More options" and then "Restore files from a current backup." Use the File History window to navigate to the folder where the deleted files were stored. Select the files you want to restore. Click on the "Restore" button to recover permanently deleted files to the original location.
- LawrencecemIron Contributor
Where do permanently deleted files go after Recycle Bin? This is a frequently asked questions among Windows users. In some cases, you can use the Command Prompt to recover permanently deleted files on Windows 11, especially if they are not yet overwritten.
Press Win + X and select "Command Prompt (Admin)" or "Windows Terminal (Admin)."
Type chkdsk X: /f (replace X with the drive letter where the files were stored) and press Enter.
After the scan, type ATTRIB -H -R -S /S /D X:*.* and press Enter (replace X with the drive letter).
This command will check the disk and recover any files that were deleted but not overwritten.
- ToonvanDaeleCopper Contributor
These commands do close to nothing as to the recovery of lost files. Best thing to do: do not write anything anymore on the drive involved. Install a tool like free R*e*c*u*v*a on a different drive and then have it look for deleted files. Best chance you've got, unless your are using a lowlevel diskaccess tool as HxD and you know what you are doing (and looking for)
- AhmadA2020Copper Contributor
Lawrencecem I tried this and it said i had to force a dismount (its on my D) What should i do?
- SincererIron Contributor
Eliyorp Windows 11 has a built-in feature called "Previous Versions," which can help you restore files from backups made by File History or System Restore points. This is quite efficient way to recover permanently deleted files on Windows 11 or Windows 10 after recycle bin.
- Navigate to the folder that contained the deleted files.
- Right-click the folder and select "Restore previous versions."
- In the "Previous Versions" tab, you’ll see a list of available versions.
- Select a version that contains the files you want to restore.
- Click on "Restore" to recover the files to their original location.
- Alternatively, you can click "Open" to browse the previous version and manually copy the files.
- SebRoman1906Copper ContributorThank you so much. Your solution worked perfectly.
- ColtonchooCopper Contributor
When you permanently delete files from the Recycle Bin on Windows 11, they don't get immediately erased from your hard drive. Instead, the system marks the space on your drive as "available" for new data, but the actual data remains on the disk until it gets overwritten by new files.
To recover permanently deleted files, you can use specialized data recovery software. Here are some tools and steps you can follow:
- Stop Using the Computer: To avoid overwriting the deleted files, try not to save any new data to the drive where the files were located.
- Recovery Process:
- Download and install one of the recovery tools.
- Run the program and select the drive where the files were deleted.
- Let the software scan for recoverable files.
- Once the scan is complete, preview the files and select the ones you want to recover.
Keep in mind that the longer you use the drive after files are deleted, the higher the chance of overwriting the data and making it unrecoverable.