How to Recover Permanently Deleted Files in Windows: A Step-by-Step Guide

Kuldeep Rathee

Data is growing at an ever-increasing rate, making digital files essential for daily work and memories. However, it is very easy to accidentally lose vital files — whether due to an accidental format, a simple mis-click, or unexpected storage corruption. While Windows includes the Recycle Bin to recover recently deleted files, it has limitations: it cannot restore files that have been permanently deleted (using Shift + Delete) or removed from an emptied Recycle Bin. In such situations, using reliable file recovery software becomes necessary.

A user working on a laptop displaying Windows File Recovery software scanning lost documents and photos on a wooden desk.

Essential Tips Before Attempting File Recovery

Before using any recovery software, taking a few basic precautions significantly improves your chances of getting your lost data back.

Do This First

  • Stop using the affected drive immediately — new data, file downloads, or software installations can overwrite the space where deleted files were stored, making them unrecoverable.
  • Choose a tool that matches your skill level — some recovery tools rely on command-line interfaces, which can be difficult for beginner users. A Graphical User Interface (GUI) tool is much easier to navigate.
  • Ensure sufficient destination space — always have enough free storage on a secondary drive to save the recovered documents, photos, or videos safely. If you're also moving important files between cloud storage services, see our guide on how to transfer data from Google Drive to OneDrive without errors.
  • Recover data as soon as possible — the longer a drive remains active after data loss, the higher the risk of permanent file overwriting.

Overview of MyRecover

When files are deleted, formatted, or inaccessible on a Windows PC, using a structured recovery utility simplifies the restoration process. MyRecover is a Windows file recovery software designed to locate and restore deleted files across various storage media, including internal HDDs, SSDs, USB flash drives, SD cards, and external hard drives.

Step 1 showing how to safely download and install MyRecover software on a separate Windows drive.

Key Features

  • Multi-Scenario Recovery: Helps retrieve lost files from accidental deletion, system crashes, formatted drives, or emptied Recycle Bins.
  • File Previewing: Allows you to preview supported file types before completing the restoration, ensuring you recover the exact files you need.
  • Dual-Scan Engine: Combines a Quick Scan for recently deleted files with a Deep Scan to locate deeply hidden or older lost data.
  • User-Friendly Navigation: Offers an intuitive interface that guides users through selection, scanning, and file recovery without requiring advanced technical expertise.
  • Non-Destructive Read-Only Operation: Scans the target storage media without modifying or writing over existing data.

How to Recover Deleted Files on Windows

Follow these steps to safely scan and restore lost files using MyRecover.

Step 1. Install and Launch

Download and install MyRecover on your Windows PC. Important: do not install the software on the drive where the lost files were located. If you are recovering data from an external hard drive or USB drive, connect it to the PC before launching the application.

Installing and launching MyRecover on Windows

Step 2. Select the Target Drive and Scan

Launch the application and select the target drive, partition, or external device where the files were lost. Click Scan to start searching for recoverable data.

Step 2 illustrating how to select the target local disk or external USB drive to scan for deleted files.

Step 3. Preview and Select Files

Once the scan is complete, browse through the list of found items. Preview files to verify their condition, select the specific items you wish to restore, and click Recover.

Step 3 displaying the scan results where users can preview photos and documents before clicking the recover button.

Step 4. Choose an Output Location

Select a different drive or directory as the output location for the recovered files. Never save recovered items back to the original drive to avoid accidental data overwriting.

Step 4 showing the process of selecting a different safe output folder to save the recovered files without overwriting data.
Quick Recap: Install away from the affected drive → scan the target location → preview and select the files you need → recover to a separate destination. Following this order keeps the original drive untouched and maximizes the chance of a clean recovery.

Final Recommendations

Bottom line: Standard built-in Windows options like the Recycle Bin are helpful for basic file deletion, but permanently lost files require specialized recovery tools. By acting quickly, avoiding further drive writes, and following structured steps, you maximize the probability of successfully retrieving your critical data.

Act Before You Overwrite

The single biggest factor in successful file recovery is speed. Stop using the affected drive, pick a GUI-based tool suited to your comfort level, and recover to a separate destination as soon as possible.

Categories: windows, data-recovery, how-to