Windows has no single Recently deleted folder. Files you delete normally go to the Recycle Bin, where you can sort by date deleted and restore them. If a file is not there, File History, Previous Versions or Microsoft’s Windows File Recovery tool may still get it back.
Tip: if you deleted the file a moment ago, press Ctrl+Z in File Explorer to undo.
See and Restore Recently Deleted Files
- Double-click Recycle Bin on the desktop.
- Click Sort, then Date deleted, to put the newest files at the top.
- Select the file you want.
- Click Restore the selected items (or right-click the file and choose Restore).
- The file returns to the folder shown under Original location.
If the File Is Not in the Recycle Bin
| Option | When it works |
|---|---|
| Previous Versions | Right-click the folder that held the file, choose Restore previous versions (needs File History or restore points) |
| File History | File History was turned on before the file was deleted |
| OneDrive recycle bin | The file was in OneDrive; deleted items are kept for a limited time |
| Windows File Recovery (winfr) | Free Microsoft command-line tool for NTFS and other drives |
Files deleted with Shift+Delete, from USB drives, or too large for the bin skip the Recycle Bin. Stop saving to that drive right away to improve recovery chances.
Recover Files With Windows File Recovery
- Install Windows File Recovery from the Microsoft Store.
- Open it (it runs as administrator in a command window).
- Type a command such as winfr C: E: /regular /n \Users\you\Documents\ and press Enter. The destination drive (E:) must be different from the source.
- Use /extensive instead of /regular for FAT or exFAT drives or older deletions.
- Check the Recovery folder on the destination drive.
Troubleshooting
- Recycle Bin is empty: it may have been emptied or Storage Sense cleared it.
- Restore previous versions shows nothing: backups were not set up. Turn on File History for the future.
- SSDs: deleted files are often cleared quickly by the drive, so recovery may fail.
Microsoft’s instructions: Windows File Recovery. Related: restoring deleted files in Windows 10 and how deleting works in Windows 11.
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.