How to Recover Deleted Files in Windows 11

Windows File Recovery is an application to find files deleted or deleted from Windows Recycle Bin. Its use goes through command lines (it has no graphical interface). Windows File Recovery works on Windows 11 and Windows 10 (version 2004 and later). Sometimes, we delete files considered obsolete or delete by mistake or accidentally essential files. It’s fine when the file is still in the Recycle Bin, but when you or a cleaning software emptied the Windows Recycle Bin, what are your chances of recovering a deleted file?

Are you wondering how to recover permanently deleted files in Windows 11? Here, we will see how to install and use Windows File Recovery to restore lost, deleted or deleted files from Recycle Bin on Windows 11.

Ways to Recover Deleted Files in Windows 11

1. Using Microsoft’s Windows File Recovery Tool

Situations that commonly lead to data loss on our PC include Human error, Software issues, Data corruption, Hardware malfunction, Unpredictable disasters, Malware, OS Upgrading etc. To solve this, Microsoft has introduced the Windows File Recover utility. It is a free and efficient tool that can save your life by recovering deleted files from a computer. The tool can recover files from a hard disk, USB drive, or memory card such as an SD card. If you want to recover deleted files in Windows 11, you should try the Windows File Recover utility before installing a third-party tool.

• Open the Microsoft Store app and go to the Windows File Recovery page using the search bar.
• Then click GET to download and install the app.
• Press Launch to open the application.
• You land on a Command Prompt window with the various instructions for using Windows File Recovery.

Note: You can access Windows File Recovery via the winfr.exe command from a command prompt running as administrator. You can also open “Windows File Recovery” from the Start Menu or Search.

• Before going further into the recovery commands, create a folder where you will drop your recovered files (Suppose the folder name is Recover). Creating this folder on a different drive is recommended than the one where you lost or deleted your files (a USB drive or an external drive will do just fine).
• Return to the command prompt.
• Windows File Recovery is accessible via the winfr command. The syntax is as follows:

winfr source-drive: destination-folder [/switches]

For example, winfr C: D: \ Recover / regular / n Users \ <user> \ Downloads \

• Windows File Recovery offers two possible recovery modes:

1. Regular: The standard recovery option for uncorrupted NTFS drives. Use for recently deleted files on an NTFS drive.

/regular-/r

2. Extensive: Full recovery option suitable for all file systems. Use for files deleted on a FAT / exFAT drive or files deleted a long time ago on an NTFS drive (option to be also used after formatting or on a corrupted drive).

/extensive-/e

• Suppose we want to recover all files with the .docx extension deleted on the C drive and save them to the D: \ Recover folder. Type the following command, then press Y to continue:

winfr C: D: \ Recover / r / n * .docx

Windows File Recovery will search and recover in standard mode all the .docx files deleted from drive C and place them in the Recover directory located on drive D.

• The process usually takes several minutes. When finished, hit the Y key to navigate the folder where your recovered files are saved.

Note: It sometimes happens that duplicates appear, the process is then interrupted, and you are asked to choose between:

(o) overwrite: overwrite the previous file
(s) skip: skip this step
(a) always overwrite: always overwrite the previous file
(n) never overwrite: never overwrite the previous file
(k) keep both once: keep both files for this time
keep (b) both always: always keep both files

• Enter the Documents directory (since these are .docx files) and then into docx.
• Find your lost or deleted files.

Now you know how to use Windows File Recovery to find lost, deleted or deleted files from Recycle Bin.

For more information, see Microsoft’s documentation: aka ms/winfrhep

2. Third-Party Recovery Software

There are many Third-Party Recovery Software available online to recover deleted files. These tools can recover files from any storage devices like hard drives, SSD, USB drives etc. We can use data recovery tools across all versions of Windows, including the latest Windows 11 Operating System.

• Download and Install any third-Party Recovery Software (Search on the Internet for the best Recovery Software) 
• After installing, you can choose the drive.
• Now start the scanning process.
• Download the recovered data to the desired location.