If you have accidentally deleted a file from your computer, don’t worry, there is a solution. In Windows there are several methods that allow you to recover your files easily and in a matter of minutes.Losing important files while moving them from your PC to an external storage device or somewhere else on your system can be one of the most frustrating experiences you can face. This situation is made worse when that data is crucial to your work or contains valuable personal memories.
Fortunately, all is not lost. There are several ways to recover deleted files , as Windows 11 offers multiple options to carry out this task effectively. Below, we show you the steps you must follow to the letter.
Check the source and destination folders
The first step is to check the source and destination folders . Sometimes files are not moved properly due to interruptions during the transfer, so carefully check the folders from where you moved the documents and the folder where you intended to save them.
Are you sure you selected the right folders? Was the transfer interrupted at some point? Double-check every detail – you may find the files in an unexpected location. Even if you are sure you moved them to an external drive , disconnect and reconnect it to make sure they were transferred correctly.
Search in the recycle bin
Another place where you can find your lost files is the Recycle Bin . Many times, when cleaning up the source folder before finishing the transfer, you may have accidentally deleted the files you were looking for.
In this case, open the trash on your Windows PC , find the files you need, and restore them to their original location. Remember that this folder has a limited capacity, so if you have deleted many files recently, older ones may no longer be available.
Take a look at your backups
If you have a habit of backing up your files, this is very good news, as this way you can recover your lost files. What you have to do is access your cloud storage service or the device where you saved the information and search for the data.
It is worth noting that if you are lucky, you will find a recent backup and you will be able to restore everything without any problems. Remember that it is essential to keep your backups up to date to avoid irreparable losses. You can also check the OneDrive Recycle Bin , as deleted files are often stored there temporarily.
Use the File History feature
Windows 11 includes a feature called File History , which automatically backs up your documents to an external drive or the network. That way, if you turned this feature on before you lost your files, you can easily recover them .
To do this, connect the corresponding external drive and open the tool’s settings on your system, which you can search for from the Start menu . From there, you will be able to restore the lost files to their original location or to a new folder within the operating system.
Use a third-party tool
If the above options have not worked, don’t worry. There are data recovery programs that can help you find your files easily and in a matter of minutes . They work by scanning your PC’s hard drive for traces of deleted files and allow you to recover them.
However, keep in mind that this option may not be free and it doesn’t always guarantee anything, but it’s worth a try if your data is really important. Remember to do your research and choose a reliable and well-reviewed software, a good option is Disk Drill .
Before you give up, consider whether you’ve shared the files with someone else via email , uploaded them to a cloud storage service like OneDrive or Google Drive , or copied them to another device like a USB stick or external hard drive.
It is important that you check each and every possible location where your files could be. Likewise, you can try looking in other Windows folders , such as on the desktop or within other sections in Documents.