How do you recover deleted files on a computer

Accidentally deleting files on a computer can feel like a nightmare, especially when the lost data includes irreplaceable photos, work documents, or critical system files. Fortunately, recovering deleted files is often possible if you act quickly and use the right approach.

When you delete a file on your computer, it doesn’t immediately disappear from your hard drive. Instead, the system marks the space occupied by that file as available for reuse. Until that space is overwritten by new data, the file can often be recovered. This is why it’s crucial to stop using the drive immediately after file deletion.

Types of File Deletion:

Soft Deletion: Files sent to the Recycle Bin (Windows) or Trash (macOS) can be easily restored.

Hard Deletion: Files permanently removed using Shift + Delete (Windows), emptied Trash, or deletion from external drives require special recovery tools.

Step 1: Check the Recycle Bin or Trash

Before diving into complex recovery tools, always start with the simplest method:

Windows:

Open the Recycle Bin from the desktop.

Locate the deleted file.

Right-click and choose “Restore.”

macOS:

Open the Trash from the dock.

Find the deleted item.

Right-click and select “Put Back.”

Step 2: Use File History or Time Machine

If the file isn’t in the Recycle Bin or Trash, your next step is checking your system’s built-in backup features.

Windows File History:

Go to the folder where the file was located.

Click the “History” button in the toolbar.

Browse previous versions and restore the file.

macOS Time Machine:

Open the folder where the file was saved.

Launch Time Machine from the menu bar.

Navigate to a previous date and restore the file.

Step 3: Use File Recovery Software

Panda Assistant

Panda Assistant is a comprehensive data recovery software designed for individuals, professionals, and small businesses. It specializes in retrieving deleted files from a variety of storage devices, including internal hard drives, external USB drives, SSDs, SD cards, and more. With a clean interface and robust recovery engine, Panda Assistant stands out for its simplicity and high success rate.

Key Features

Intuitive User Interface

Panda Assistant is designed with ease-of-use in mind. Even users with no technical background can launch the application, select the affected drive, and begin scanning with just a few clicks.

Quick and Deep Scan Modes

If you recently deleted a file, the Quick Scan can locate it within seconds. For more complex recovery cases—such as formatted drives or deep system corruption—the Deep Scan thoroughly analyzes your device for buried data fragments.

Preview Before Recovery

Panda Assistant lets you preview files (images, documents, videos, etc.) before restoring them. This ensures you only recover what you need, saving both time and storage space.

Supports a Wide Range of File Types

Whether it’s Word documents, Excel spreadsheets, PDFs, photos, audio files, or videos, Panda Assistant supports recovery of over 1000 file formats.

Cross-Device Compatibility

It works with HDDs, SSDs, flash drives, microSD cards, digital cameras, and even lost partitions. This versatility makes it a one-stop solution for most data loss scenarios.

How to Recover Deleted Files with Panda Assistant

Download and Install

Download Panda Assistant from the official website and install it on a different drive (not the one from which you lost the files) to avoid overwriting data.

Select the Drive

Launch the software and choose the storage device where the files were deleted.

Scan the Drive

Select Quick or Deep Scan depending on your needs. The scan will display all recoverable files.

Preview and Restore

Preview the files you wish to recover. Select them and click “Recover” to save them to a secure location.

Step 4: Recover Files from Cloud Backups

Many users back up their data to the cloud, either manually or through services like OneDrive, Google Drive, or iCloud. These services often keep deleted files in a trash or bin for a limited time.

OneDrive:

Go to the OneDrive website.

Click on “Recycle Bin.”

Restore desired files.

Google Drive:

Open Google Drive in a browser.

Navigate to “Trash.”

Right-click on the file and choose “Restore.”

iCloud Drive:

Log in at iCloud.com.

Click on “Recently Deleted.”

Recover the file if available.

Step 5: Use Windows Previous Versions or macOS Versions

Windows and macOS both allow you to restore older versions of files if the feature is enabled.

Windows:

Right-click on the folder that contained the deleted file.

Select “Restore previous versions.”

Browse and restore available snapshots.

macOS (Document Versions):

Open the file in its native app (e.g., Pages, Word).

Click “File > Revert To > Browse All Versions.”

Choose a previous version to restore.

Step 6: Check for Temporary or Autosave Files

Many applications automatically save versions of documents you’re working on. Check for autosave or temp files in these locations:

Microsoft Word:

Open Word.

Go to “File > Info > Manage Document > Recover Unsaved Documents.”

Excel/PowerPoint:

Similar process through “Manage Workbook/Presentation.”

Adobe Photoshop/Illustrator:

Look for recovery files in application-specific autosave directories.

General Tip: Use “.tmp” or “~” searches in File Explorer or Finder to locate temporary files.

Advanced Techniques (For Tech-Savvy Users)

Use Command Line Tools:

Windows: Use chkdsk, attrib, or PowerShell commands.

macOS: Use Terminal with commands like ls, find, and grep to search hidden directories.

Hex Editors:

View and recover raw data by manually analyzing disk sectors.

Mount Disk Images:

Create a bit-by-bit clone of the drive before performing recovery, minimizing risk of further data loss.

When to Call a Professional Data Recovery Service

If the deleted files are of critical importance and software recovery fails, professional services may be your last resort. These services can handle:

Physically damaged drives

Formatted or corrupt partitions

SSD recovery with TRIM enabled (limited chances)

Top Services Include:

DriveSavers

Secure Data Recovery

Gillware

Ontrack

Expect costs between $300–$1500 depending on severity.

Recovery from SSDs: Special Considerations

Solid-state drives (SSDs) handle deletion differently due to the TRIM command, which clears deleted data almost immediately.

Key Points:

If TRIM is enabled and active, software recovery may not be possible.

If TRIM is disabled or the file was deleted from an external SSD (without TRIM), recovery is more feasible.

To check TRIM status on Windows:

fsutil behavior query DisableDeleteNotify

If it returns 0. TRIM is enabled.

Protecting Against Future Data Loss

Regular Backups

Use built-in tools like File History, Time Machine, or third-party software.

Enable System Restore

Allows rollback in case of system-level issues.

Use Cloud Storage

Services like Google Drive or Dropbox provide automatic syncing.

Avoid Unnecessary Formatting

Read prompts carefully before performing disk operations.

Use Antivirus Software

Malware can corrupt or delete files unexpectedly.

Create Recovery Media

A bootable USB can be life-saving if your OS fails.

Recovering deleted files on a computer is a process that depends largely on how the data was lost and how quickly you respond. From checking the Recycle Bin to using advanced data recovery tools like Panda Assistant, there are multiple paths to restoring lost information. If your data is extremely valuable or you’re unsure how to proceed safely, consulting a professional service may be the best course of action.

​

​

​

​

​

​