How to Recover Deleted Files in Windows 10 (7 Methods)

Deleted an important file on Windows 10? Don’t panic, and stop saving new files to that drive if the file isn’t in the Recycle Bin. Most deleted files can be recovered if you act quickly. This guide walks through every recovery option in order, from the Recycle Bin and undo to File History, OneDrive, Previous Versions, and Microsoft’s free Windows File Recovery tool.

Note: Windows 10 reached end of support on October 14, 2025. Consumer Extended Security Updates (ESU) now run until October 12, 2027. These steps still work on Windows 10, but upgrading to Windows 11 is the long-term way to keep getting security fixes.

Quick Answer

Open the Recycle Bin on your desktop, right-click the file, and choose Restore. It goes back to its original folder. If it isn’t there, check File History, OneDrive’s recycle bin, or a folder’s Previous Versions, and as a last resort use Windows File Recovery from the Microsoft Store.

1. Undo the Delete

If you just deleted the file in File Explorer, click in the File Explorer window and press Ctrl + Z right away. This undoes a normal delete and puts the file back. It doesn't work for files removed with Shift + Delete.

2. Restore From the Recycle Bin

1. Double-click Recycle Bin on the desktop (or type “Recycle Bin” in the File Explorer address bar).
2. Find the file. Sort by Date Deleted or use the search box.
3. Right-click it and choose Restore, or select several files and click Restore the selected items.

Files deleted with Shift + Delete, from USB drives, from network drives, or files too large for the Recycle Bin skip it and are deleted immediately.

3. Check OneDrive and Other Cloud Storage

• If the file was in a OneDrive folder, go to onedrive.com, sign in, and open Recycle bin. Personal accounts keep deleted files for up to 30 days.
• Google Drive, Dropbox, and others have their own trash or deleted-files sections on their websites.
• Check your email attachments or messages if you sent or received the file.

4. Restore From File History

If File History was turned on (Settings > Update & Security > Backup) with a backup drive:

1. Connect the backup drive.
2. Open the folder where the file was, click the Home tab in File Explorer, and click History. Or search Start for Restore your files with File History.
3. Use the arrows to browse back to a version that contains the file.
4. Select it and click the green Restore button.

5. Restore Previous Versions of a Folder

1. In File Explorer, right-click the folder that contained the file and choose Properties.
2. Open the Previous Versions tab.
3. Select a version from before the delete and click Open to browse it, then copy the file out.

This tab lists versions only if File History or restore points captured that folder. An empty list means none are available.

6. Restore From a Windows Backup

If you used Backup and Restore (Windows 7) in Control Panel, open it and click Restore my files. If you use third-party backup software or an external drive copy, restore from there.

7. Windows File Recovery (Free Microsoft Tool)

For permanently deleted files with no backup, Microsoft’s Windows File Recovery is a free command-line tool for Windows 10 version 2004 and later.

1. Install Windows File Recovery from the Microsoft Store.
2. Open it (it runs as administrator in a command window).
3. Use the pattern winfr source-drive: destination-drive: /mode /switches. The destination must be a different drive than the source. Example to recover Word files from Documents on C: to a USB drive E:
   winfr C: E: /regular /n \Users\YourName\Documents\*.docx
4. Use /regular for recently deleted files on NTFS drives, and /extensive for older deletions, formatted drives, or FAT/exFAT drives such as SD cards.
5. Recovered files appear in a folder named Recovery_ plus the date on the destination drive.

Recovery works best on hard drives (HDD). On SSDs, the TRIM feature often erases deleted data quickly, so chances are lower. Third-party recovery apps exist; choose well-known ones and don’t install them on the drive you’re recovering from.

Improve Your Chances

• Stop using the drive: every new file or download can overwrite the deleted data.
• Recover files to a different drive.
• For valuable data on a failing or physically damaged drive, contact a professional data recovery service instead of running software repeatedly.

Prevent Future Loss

• Turn on File History with an external drive, or use OneDrive folder backup.
• Right-click the Recycle Bin, choose Properties, and make sure Display delete confirmation dialog is on if you delete things by accident.

Summary

1. Press Ctrl + Z or restore from the Recycle Bin.
2. Check OneDrive and other cloud recycle bins.
3. Try File History and Previous Versions.
4. Use Windows File Recovery for permanently deleted files, saving to another drive.