Files sometimes go missing in Windows 10 if they get accidentally deleted, moved to a different location, or corrupted. When this happens, many users panic thinking their files are gone forever. However, Windows 10 has several built-in tools and methods that can help you recover and restore lost or changed files.
The key is knowing where to look and how to leverage the right solutions based on the type of issue you are facing. For example, the Windows Recycle Bin stores recently deleted files and allows you to restore them. Previous Versions and File History can retrieve older versions of files. System Restore can roll back system changes to recover lost files. There are also third party data recovery tools that can help in severe cases of data loss.
This guide will walk through various solutions to recover files that have been changed or moved in Windows 10. With the proper steps, you can find and restore your important documents, photos, videos, and other files.
Check the Recycle Bin
The Recycle Bin is the first place to check for deleted files. When you delete a file in Windows, it is moved to the Recycle Bin rather than being permanently erased. You can easily restore deleted files from the Recycle Bin.
To check the Recycle Bin for your deleted file:
- Open the Recycle Bin – Double click the Recycle Bin icon on your Desktop or open it from the start menu.
- Look for your file – Scroll through the contents of the Recycle Bin to see if your deleted file is there.
- Restore the file – Right click on the file and select Restore. This will move the file back to its original location.
If your missing file is in the Recycle Bin, restoring it is a quick and easy way to get it back. However, the Recycle Bin does have limited space. It can fill up over time as you delete more files, causing your computer to permanently delete files to make room for new ones. So if your file is no longer in the Recycle Bin, try the other restore methods below.
Use Previous Versions
Windows 10 includes a built-in feature called Previous Versions that can help restore older copies of files. Previous Versions allows you to go “back in time” to restore a file that may have been inadvertently modified, deleted, or that you may want to revert to an earlier state. To use Previous Versions, the feature needs to be enabled on the drive where the file was stored before changes were made.
To enable Previous Versions on a drive in Windows 10:
- Open File Explorer and navigate to the drive you want to enable Previous Versions on.
- Right-click on the drive and select Properties.
- Click the Previous Versions tab.
- Check the box next to “Allow files on this drive to have previous versions”.
- Click OK to save the changes.
Once enabled, you can right-click on a file or folder, select Restore previous versions, and choose a previous version from the list to restore. With Previous Versions, you can easily roll back changes and recover files from an earlier state.
Restore from File History
File History is a built-in backup feature in Windows 10 that can help restore previous versions of files. To use File History to restore a deleted or changed file:
- Connect the external drive you’ve set up File History to backup to. This should be automatic if the drive is connected.
- Open Settings and go to Update & Security > Backup.
- Under Looking for your files?, click More options next to Restore files from a current backup. This opens the File History window.
- Navigate to the folder or file you want to restore. You can view different backup versions and restore a specific version if needed.
- Select the file/folder and click the green Restore button to recover it.
File History can store multiple backup versions and allows you to restore previous copies of files from external drives like USB or external hard drives. It’s useful for recovering files after accidental deletion, corruption, or other issues. Just plug in the drive File History has been backing up to and you can access older versions of your files (Microsoft, 2016).
Restore from System Restore Point
System Restore can revert your system to an earlier state with all files. It saves restore points of your system periodically and they can be used to undo system changes. Follow these steps:
- Open System Restore by searching for it or going to Control Panel > System and Security > System.
- Click on System Restore on the left panel.
- Click on Choose a different restore point and click Next.
- Select a restore point that was created before the files were changed/deleted.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the system restore.
This will restore the computer to the selected restore point. Any files changed/deleted after that point will be reverted. So the lost/changed file should be restored.
Restore from Backup
Many third-party backup softwares and cloud storage services maintain version histories of files, which allows recovering previous versions of a file. Some popular backup solutions for Windows include:
Acronis Cyber Protect Home Office is a full disk imaging backup software that takes snapshots of your entire system that can be restored in case of data loss or corruption (source: https://www.pcworld.com/article/407021/best-windows-backup-software.html). Restoring a previous version of a file is as simple as mounting the backup image and copying the file back to its original location.
Backblaze is an affordable and easy to use cloud backup service that continuously backs up files and allows restoring previous versions up to 30 days in the past (source: https://www.pcmag.com/picks/best-backup-services). Users can browse previous versions of a file in the Backblaze interface and download the version they want to recover.
Other popular backup solutions like Macrium Reflect, Clonezilla, and iDrive also maintain version histories of files that can be leveraged to restore a previous copy of a changed or deleted file.
Use Shadow Copies
The Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS) keeps historical versions of files and folders on a system using shadow copies 1. Shadow copies allow you to restore previous versions of files and folders when needed. VSS is enabled by default in Windows 10.
To restore a previous version of a file using shadow copies:
- Navigate to the location of the file in File Explorer.
- Right click on the file and select Properties.
- Go to the Previous Versions tab.
- Select a previous version of the file and click Restore to revert back to that version.
Shadow copies are created automatically on a regular basis, or whenever a file is modified. They provide an easy way to access previous versions of files within File Explorer without needing a separate backup tool.
Restore Deleted Files with Software
Specialized data recovery software programs are designed to dig deep and scour the hard drive to find and restore deleted files. They bypass the Recycle Bin and look directly on the hard drive for retrievable data.
Some of the top data recovery software options include:
- Disk Drill – Offers free and paid versions for Windows and Mac. Can recover from internal/external hard drives, cameras, USB drives, and more. Easy to use with a high success rate.
- Stellar Data Recovery – Recovers lost or deleted files from Windows, Mac, and Linux. Has free and paid tiers based on features.
- EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard – Long-standing recovery software for Windows with a free trial. Allows finding lost files by file type.
The free versions of data recovery software will scan your drive and show files that can be recovered, while the paid versions will actually restore the deleted files. Going with a reputable program from an established vendor helps ensure maximum file recovery.
Send to OneDrive
Another option is to use the Send To OneDrive folder to automatically redirect files to cloud storage. This folder integrates with the OneDrive app and is located in File Explorer under Favorites. Simply drag-and-drop files into the Send To OneDrive folder and they will sync to the cloud (Microsoft). The files are moved off the local drive but remain accessible through OneDrive online or the OneDrive app.
Once files are in OneDrive, you can share them by right-clicking and selecting “Share.” This generates a shareable link that provides access, including edit access if desired. Permissions can be managed on OneDrive to control access (Microsoft). So if a file goes missing locally, you may still have access to it through your OneDrive cloud storage.
Conclusion
In summary, there are several methods to restore deleted or changed files in Windows 10:
First, check the Recycle Bin, which stores recently deleted files. Right-click on a file and select Restore to retrieve it.
You can also use Previous Versions to restore from a restore point. Right-click on a file, select Properties > Previous Versions tab, and click Restore to recover a prior version.
File History automatically backs up files to another drive and allows restoring various versions. Go to Settings > Update & Security > Backup to set up and restore from File History.
System Restore lets you rollback your system to undo recent changes. Go to Settings > Update & Security > Recovery and select a restore point to revert to.
You can restore files from a backup created with Windows Backup. Go to Settings > Update & Security > Backup and select Restore files to recover from a backup.
Some third-party software like Recuva https://www.ccleaner.com/recuva can scan and restore deleted files. But results vary based on overwrite level.
Overall, it’s important to regularly backup files and enable protections like File History to easily restore files if needed.
