How to Recover Lost or Deleted Data on Windows? [Quick Methods]

Recovering lost or deleted data on Windows devices can be a challenging task, especially when you lose something important and precious. Whether your data is deleted due to accidental deletion, formatting, system crashes, or other unforeseen circumstances, don’t lose hope. The good news is that there are several free data recovery software and manual methods available online to restore those deleted data.

In this guide, we will explore the most effective methods to help you learn how to recover lost or deleted data on Windows. Just go with these methods one-by-one to get your deleted data back.

What Causes Deletion of Data on Windows?

There are several reasons why data usually gets deleted on Windows PC. Some of them are:

Accidental Deletion: You may have unintentionally deleted important files by using the “Shift + Delete” command, which bypasses the Recycle Bin.
System Crashes: Unexpected system crashes or power failures can corrupt data stored on your device or even lead to their deletion.
Malware or Virus Attacks: Malicious software like viruses or malware can corrupt or delete files, causing significant data loss.
Software Glitches: Sometimes, software bugs or glitches cause data corruption or deletion.
Formatting Errors: Accidentally formatting a drive or partition can lead to the deletion of all data stored on it.

Immediate Steps to Take After Data Loss

When you encounter that important data is deleted from your device, it's important to act quickly to maximize the chances of successful recovery. Here are the immediate steps you should take:

Stop Using the Affected Drive: Continue using the drive from where the data was deleted can overwrite the deleted files, making them unrecoverable. If possible, stop all write operations to that drive.
Check the Recycle Bin: Before you use any free data recovery software or apply any other recovery workaround, it is good practice to check the Recycle Bin on Windows. The Recycle Bin folder temporarily stores deleted files.
Create a Backup: If possible, create a backup of the affected drive before attempting any recovery. This ensures you have a safety net in case something goes wrong during the recovery process.

Quick Methods to Recover Deleted Data on Windows

In this part of the blog, we’ve outlined some commonly used Windows data recovery methods to recover your deleted data. Let’s discuss these methods in detail:

Method 01: Check the Recycle Bin Folder

The first and easiest method to recover lost or deleted files on Windows devices is to check the Recycle Bin folder. As mentioned above, every deleted data on Windows PC goes to the Recycle Bin folder and remains there for some days, say 30 days. You can easily follow the below steps to recover deleted data from the Recycle Bin:

Double-click on the Recycle Bin icon on your desktop.
Browse through files in the Recycle Bin to find the ones you want to recover.
Right-click on the selected files and choose the “Restore” option to save them to their original location.

Method 02: Restore Data from File History

Windows OS provides a built-in File History backup feature, which automatically backs up your files to an external drive or network location. If you have enabled File History on your Windows device, follow the below steps to restore previous versions of your files:

Type "File History" in the Windows search box and select "Restore your files with File History."
Browse through the available backups to find the version of the file you want to restore.
Select the file you need to recover and click "Restore" to return it to its original location.

Method 03: Use Backup and Restore (Windows 7)

Another backup utility that you can try to create a backup of important files on your Windows devices is by using the built-in Backup and Restore feature. To recover lost or deleted data on Windows using this method, you need to:

Open the Control Panel and go to "System and Security" > "Backup and Restore (Windows 7)."

Now, click "Restore my files" and go through on-screen prompts to recover files from your backup.

Method 04: Restore Deleted Data using Google Drive

If you use cloud storage services like Google Drive on your Windows PC, your files may have been backed up automatically. In such cases, you can follow the below steps to restore these files directly from Google Drive:

Firstly, open any web browser and visit Google Drive's official website.
Log in to your Google Drive account.
Click on the Trash folder where all the deleted files are stored and select the files you need to restore.
Lastly, click Restore to save selected files to their original location or download them to your computer.

Method 05: Use Third-Party Free Data Recovery Software

Sometimes, the aforementioned data recovery methods to recover lost or deleted data on Windows fail. In such cases, you can use a professional data recovery software to restore those deleted files easily. There are several third-party free data recovery software available online, but the Stellar Data Recovery Free tool offers many amazing features, like a user-friendly interface, compatibility with multiple devices, etc.

Key Features of Stellar Data Recovery Free:

Supports recovery of deleted photos, videos, documents, and other types of files.
Retrieves data from formatted, encrypted, or corrupted drives.
Recovers up to 1 GB of files for free, without any credit card.
Allows you to recover deleted files in three steps, i.e., Select, Scan, and Recover.

Here’s how to recover lost or deleted data on Windows using Stellar Data Recovery Free software:

Step 1: Download and install the Stellar Data Recovery Free tool on your Windows device. Launch the software and from the homepage, select Everything and click Next.

Step 2: Now, from the Recover From window, choose the folder location where your files were stored before deletion and click Scan.

Step 3: Select the files you need to restore and click the Recover button to save selected data at the desired location.

Tips to Prevent Data Loss on Windows

Preventing data loss is always better than recovering lost data. Below are some additional tips to help you avoid data loss on Windows:

Regular Backups: Always keep a regular backup of your important files using Windows built-in tools like File History or third-party backup software.
Enable System Restore: System Restore can help you recover your system and files to a previous state in case of any major issues.
Avoid Unnecessary Formatting: Double-check before formatting any drive or partition to ensure you don't lose valuable data.
Use Reliable Antivirus Software: Protect your computer from viruses and malware, which are common causes of data loss.

Wrapping Up

Hope, the above-mentioned methods help you to recover lost or deleted data on Windows. Start by checking the Recycle Bin folder and then move to more advanced techniques like using a free data recovery software like Stellar Data Recovery Free. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can increase your chances of successfully recovering your important files. Additionally, implementing preventive measures can help you avoid data loss in the future, ensuring your data remains safe and accessible.