The best way to restore a deleted file in Windows 10 depends on where it was deleted from and whether another backup exists. Stop writing new data to the affected drive when an important file is missing, because new data can overwrite recoverable content.
- Open Recycle Bin and search for the missing file.
- If found, right-click it and choose Restore.
- If it is not there, check OneDrive or another backup/sync service’s recycle bin and version history if the folder was protected there.
- Check File History or another backup system you previously configured.
- For an important file with no backup, minimize use of the drive and consider Microsoft’s Windows File Recovery or a reputable recovery service/tool appropriate to the storage device.
Shift+Delete and emptied Recycle Bin
Files removed permanently bypass the normal restore path. Recovery becomes less predictable, particularly on SSDs where TRIM can make deleted data unrecoverable.
Do not install recovery software onto the affected drive
Installing or saving recovered files to the same disk can overwrite the data you are trying to recover. Use another drive when practical.
Cloud deletion can synchronize
If a synchronized file was deleted, check the cloud provider’s recycle bin promptly. Deleting additional local copies can make the situation worse.
Windows 10 status
Ordinary Windows 10 support ended in 2025. File recovery concepts still apply, but keep an actively used PC on a supported Windows release or an appropriate ESU path.
Related: finding recently deleted files.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.