💡 This article is written by humans, with all solutions and steps verified.
Is there any way to recover accidentally deleted files in Windows 11? I accidentally selected the wrong file and pressed the "Shift + Delete" keys to remove it. I can't find it in the Recycle Bin either. Please help me!
As mentioned above, deleting files is often done on purpose, but sometimes, it is done accidentally. Although our disks are getting bigger and bigger these days, many users still habitually use "Shift + Delete" keys to delete files because it avoids having to empty the recycle bin to free up storage space. If you lose some important files as a result, don't worry, we will guide you on how to recover shift deleted files and provide related knowledge.
Getting to know the differences between Deleted and Shift+Delete will help you delete useless files safely in the future and avoid data loss troubles.
Before exploring the possibility of file recovery, let's learn how the "Shift + Delete" keys delete files. To figure out the reason behind it, we first need to understand the principles of file storage.
In simple terms, when you save a file on the disk, there are two parts of it: its index information and the actual content.
When you use the "Shift + Delete" keys to delete a file, its index information is immediately removed. The disk space occupied by its metadata is marked as "empty" rather than being wiped clean. Therefore, if its metadata has not been overwritten, the file can still be recovered. To reduce the risk of the file being overwritten or permanently cleared, you can do the following.
When you follow the above tips and choose the appropriate solution mentioned below as soon as possible, we are sure that your lost files will reappear on your computer.
Wouldn't you be thrilled if we told you that you can restore shift deleted files in Windows 10/11 without software? Yes, but you must know that these solutions work exclusively under particular conditions. Here are the common ones; check them out.
File History is a backup tool on Windows PCs that helps restore files lost due to accidental deletion, formatting, or hard drive failure. If you enabled File History before deleting the files and it is included in the backup, the following steps can help you easily retrieve them.
Note: If you do not see deleted files there, it is likely that File History is not enabled. To avoid data loss in the future, connect an external hard drive used for backups to your computer, click "Enable" in File History, and follow the built-in instructions.
In Windows 11/10, previous versions of folders or hard drives can record changes to files at different points in time, allowing you to restore them to a specific point in time. If you had Shadow Copy, System Restore, or File History enabled on your hard drive before accidentally deleting the files you need, it is another quick way to get them back.
Note: The following steps will roll back all files in this directory to a previous version. If you have made changes recently, please copy them to another location.
While the primary function of Backup and Restore in Windows PCs is to restore the system to its original state when a failure occurs, it can also help you recover shift deleted files if you selected the disk partition where the deleted files were located during system backup, or if the files were located on the system volume.
As mentioned in Chapter 2, although files deleted using the Shift+Delete shortcut will disappear, their metadata still exists. Therefore, in some cases, adding specific registry keys can make these files appear in the Recycle Bin, making it easier to restore them to their original location. While this requires a bit of luck, it's still worth trying.
OneDrive, the built-in cloud storage for Windows 10 and later, can automatically back up your computer's desktop, documents, and pictures folders. If you enabled OneDrive before deleting files and they happen to be located in these folders, then follow the steps below to quickly restore them.
While shift delete recovery without software is a useful and effective solution for users who accidentally delete important files, it's not suitable for everyone. If you happen to be one of those users, then try data recovery software to find these files. These software programs scan your storage device, look for the metadata of the deleted files, and rebuild their index information so that the operating system can recognize them again. Here, we'll show you how to use three of the best-performing data recovery programs we tested to recover files after shift delete.
It offers a powerful scanning algorithm that can detect file fragments that other tools might miss, thus increasing the chances of successful file recovery. In addition, iBeesoft Data Recovery also has the following features:
Note: If the deleted files are located on your computer's built-in disk and there are no other partitions, please download the portable version and save it to an external hard drive. It will prevent the lost files from being overwritten.
Recuva is a simple data recovery tool for Windows PCs. While it doesn't offer as many advanced features as iBeesoft Data Recovery, it's still a worthwhile option for simple tasks like accidentally shifting deleted files. In our tests, its success rate exceeded 85%, but sometimes some recoverable files cannot be opened, especially those previously saved on an SSD.
It is a command-line tool developed by Microsoft. It's a good option if you don't want to use third-party software to undo shift delete, but note that the Windows File Recovery Tool cannot select the installation directory. Therefore, if the deleted files are located on the system volume or hard drive, please try the two tools mentioned above.
While these services are expensive and time-consuming, they are often the last resort when other ways fail, or you don't want to try them by yourself. If your lost files are important and irreplaceable, you can seek their help through online searches. They thoroughly analyze hard drive sectors in cleanroom labs and extract data from the hardware level to ensure a high success rate. However, when choosing these services, be sure to select a reputable one and request an initial assessment. This will give you a preliminary probability estimate and approximate price.
Visually, Shift + Delete permanently moves files on Windows PCs, but fortunately, using the methods in this article, you can often restore them even if you haven't backed them up. However, it's important to note that the success rate of file recovery relies on whether you continue writing data to that hard drive. Therefore, once you realize you've deleted an important file, stop using the hard drive and try the methods described above as soon as possible.
Finally, to avoid data loss in the future, please avoid using the "Shift + Delete" key combination to delete files unless you are 100% certain that they are no longer needed. Furthermore, for very important files, please use Windows' built-in "File History" or cloud services to create backups whenever possible.
No. This key combination is only applicable to files that are deleted normally (pressing the "Delete" key). However, permanently deleting a file (by pressing the "Shift + Delete" keys) is irreversible. If you accidentally delete one you need, check for a backup first. Or using data recovery software or obtaining assistance from professional data recovery services remains your two solutions.
Yes, you can. However, it only works if you have the Windows File Recovery Tool installed. You can find and install it in the Microsoft Store. After that, type "winfr source-drive: destination-drive: /regular", where source-drive is the drive letter of the hard drive or partition where the deleted file was located, and destination-drive is where the recovered file will be saved.
Yes, you can. Regardless of the storage device from which you deleted the file, its metadata is still retained. Although it won't appear in the recycle bin like a regular deleted file, it can be easily recovered using tools like iBeesoft Data Recovery.
Besides iBeesoft Free Data Recovery, Recuva, and Windows File Recovery Tool, which we tested and found to have good recovery results, Disk Drill, iCare Recovery Free, Stellar Data Recovery Free, and EaseUs Data Recovery Wizard Free are also options worth trying.
Yes, you can. If you don't have a backup, try using recovery software for Mac, such as iBeesoft Data Recovery for Mac or Disk Drill for Mac, to scan your disk for deleted files. If you do have a backup, please see this guide on how to recover deleted files on Mac without software.
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