Restore deleted files

Safer file recovery: 14 September 2026

The 2011 guide is retained below as a historical text. Not every deleted file enters the Windows Recycle Bin. Do not empty it on a fixed weekly schedule while files are missing. A recycle bin is not a backup, and recovery is not guaranteed.

1. Open the Windows Recycle Bin, check the file name and original location, and select only the items you need. Restore them through the context menu. Then open the file in its original location and check its contents. If names conflict, do not replace an existing file without checking it.
2. If the file was in OneDrive, also check the recycle bin on the OneDrive website in the correct account. Online-only files and files deleted in the cloud do not appear in the local Recycle Bin. Microsoft specifies 30 days for personal accounts and a default of 93 days for work or school accounts; administrator settings may differ. This is not a retention guarantee after manual permanent deletion.
3. If nothing is found, check existing independent backups. For important missing local data, minimize use of the affected drive; do not format or clean it, or install more programs on it. Save recovered files to another drive. Stop and seek expert diagnosis if there are unusual noises or failures.

Windows File Recovery is a possible later option for local drives, not cloud storage or network shares. Source and destination must differ; a separate destination device is the cautious recommendation here. No generic command is provided for unknown drive letters, and success is not guaranteed. After recovery, open the files and retain an independent copy. No recovery was performed for this article, and no new paid tool is recommended.

Sources: Microsoft: OneDrive / Recycle Bin; Microsoft: Windows File Recovery.