Windows 11 · Windows
Recover Deleted Files in Windows 11
Source-checked About 10 minutes
Answer
Check Recycle Bin and cloud storage first, restore from File History or another backup, then use Windows File Recovery before new data overwrites the deleted space.
Minimize use of the source drive
Stop installing apps, downloading files, and saving new work to the drive that held the deleted file. Windows marks deleted space as free, so normal computer use can overwrite data that might otherwise be recoverable.
Check easy recovery locations
Check Recycle Bin and any backup or cloud recycle bin first. Windows File Recovery is for local files that cannot be restored from Recycle Bin; it does not recover from cloud storage or network shares.
Prepare a different destination drive
Connect a USB or external drive for the recovered output. Microsoft's tool requires the source and destination drives to be different; do not create a new partition on the affected drive after the loss.
Use Microsoft's recovery tool
Install Windows File Recovery from Microsoft Store, run it as permitted, and use Microsoft's syntax: winfr source-drive: destination-drive: /mode /n filter. Start with Regular for a recently deleted NTFS file; use Extensive for older deletion, formatting, corruption, FAT, or exFAT.
Inspect recovered copies safely
Open the new Recovery_<date and time> folder on the destination drive and verify copies before relying on them. Recovery is not guaranteed, and recovered filenames or folder layout can differ from the originals.
Video walkthrough
If it does not work
- If Regular mode finds nothing on NTFS, Microsoft recommends trying Extensive mode. If the drive is physically failing, disappears, or makes abnormal sounds, stop using it rather than repeatedly scanning it and consult a qualified data-recovery service.
Sources and verification
Checked against official documentation on . Scope: Windows.
Microsoft's Windows File Recovery guide documents the overwrite risk, supported local-storage scope, separate destination requirement, and Regular/Extensive modes.