How to recover files that are permanently deleted

Losing files permanently can feel devastating whether it’s important work documents, cherished photos, or critical data. When files are “permanently deleted,” many users assume there’s no way to get them back. However, in many cases, permanent deletion does not mean total erasure. There are several methods and tools available that can help you recover files even after they have been permanently deleted.

Regular Deletion: When you delete a file normally (e.g., pressing Delete or moving it to the Recycle Bin), the file is not immediately erased. Instead, its entry in the file system’s directory is removed, marking the space as available for new data, while the file content remains physically on the disk until overwritten.

Emptying Recycle Bin or Shift+Delete: This bypasses the Recycle Bin and removes the file reference directly. The data still exists on the disk but is flagged as free space.

Formatting Drives: Formatting can erase the file system structure, but data may remain until overwritten.

Secure Deletion: Tools that overwrite data with random bits or zeros multiple times aim to make recovery impossible.

TRIM on SSDs: Modern SSDs have a feature called TRIM, which instructs the drive to erase deleted data promptly, making recovery difficult or impossible.

Understanding these mechanisms helps in selecting the best recovery approach.

Immediate Actions After Permanent Deletion

Acting quickly after permanent deletion significantly improves your chances of recovery. Here’s what you should do right away:

Stop Using the Affected Drive

Every new file saved or program installed can overwrite the deleted files, reducing recovery chances.

Avoid Installing Recovery Software on the Same Drive

Download and install recovery software on a different drive or device to prevent overwriting.

Note the File Location

Knowing where the file was stored can help narrow down the scanning area and speed up recovery.

Disconnect the Drive If External

If the deleted files were on an external hard drive, USB flash drive, or memory card, disconnect it immediately to avoid accidental overwriting.

Methods to Recover Permanently Deleted Files

There are several techniques to recover permanently deleted files, each with advantages and considerations.

Method 1: Use File Recovery Software

Panda Assistant

Accidentally deleting files permanently can be a nightmare especially if they contain important documents, photos, or other valuable data. Fortunately, Panda Assistant offers a reliable and easy-to-use solution to recover permanently deleted files quickly and safely.

When files are permanently deleted such as by emptying the Recycle Bin, using Shift+Delete, or formatting a drive they don’t immediately disappear from your storage device. Instead, the system marks their space as available, making it possible for recovery software like Panda Assistant to locate and restore these files before they get overwritten.

Panda Assistant uses advanced scanning algorithms to dig deep into your hard drive, SSD, USB, or external storage device to find files that the operating system no longer recognizes. It supports a wide range of file types, including documents, images, videos, and more. The software offers both quick and deep scan modes, allowing you to recover files even in complex deletion scenarios such as formatted drives or corrupted partitions.

The recovery process with Panda Assistant is straightforward: install the software on a different drive than the one you want to recover from, select the affected drive, and start the scan. After scanning, Panda Assistant displays recoverable files with previews, enabling you to select the exact items you need before restoring them safely to a different location.

Method 2: Restore Previous Versions or Backups

Windows and macOS offer built-in features to restore previous file versions, which can sometimes recover deleted files.

Windows Previous Versions:

Right-click the folder where the file was located.

Select Restore previous versions.

Browse available versions and restore the one containing your file.

This depends on whether System Restore or File History was enabled before deletion.

macOS Time Machine:

Connect your Time Machine backup drive.

Open the folder where the file was deleted.

Enter Time Machine and browse to previous snapshots.

Select and restore the deleted file.

Cloud Backups:

If your files were synced with services like OneDrive, Google Drive, Dropbox, or iCloud, check the cloud recycle bin or version history.

Restore deleted files from there.

Method 3: Use Command-Line Tools (Advanced Users)

For users comfortable with the command line, tools like TestDisk and PhotoRec offer powerful recovery options.

TestDisk: Primarily designed to recover lost partitions but can also recover deleted files.

PhotoRec: Recovers various file types by scanning file signatures, ignoring file system metadata.

These tools work on Windows, Mac, and Linux and can recover files even from formatted or corrupted drives.

Method 4: Professional Data Recovery Services

If software methods fail or the drive has physical damage, professional recovery services are the next step. These experts have specialized tools and cleanroom environments to recover data from damaged disks.

When to consider professional help:

The drive is making unusual noises (clicking, grinding).

The disk is physically damaged.

The file system is severely corrupted.

Data is extremely valuable.

Professional recovery can be expensive but is often the only option in critical cases.

How Deletion Works on Different Storage Devices

Traditional Hard Drives (HDD)

Deleted files remain on the disk until overwritten. Recovery is generally easier unless data has been overwritten.

Solid-State Drives (SSD)

Due to the TRIM function, deleted files are often erased almost immediately, reducing recovery chances. Some SSDs may keep partial data depending on the controller and firmware.

USB Drives and Memory Cards

Like HDDs, deleted files remain until overwritten, so recovery is usually possible with software unless the device was formatted or heavily used afterward.

Special Considerations for Specific File Systems

Different file systems handle deletion differently, impacting recovery.

NTFS (Windows default): Tracks file metadata; recovery tools can use this information to recover files.

FAT32 / exFAT: Common on removable drives; simpler metadata can make recovery more challenging but still feasible.

APFS / HFS+ (Mac): Supports snapshots and backups, increasing recovery chances with Time Machine.

EXT4 (Linux): Deletion is quick, but recovery is possible with the right tools.

How to Maximize File Recovery Success

Act Immediately: Stop using the device as soon as you notice the loss.

Use Reliable Software: Choose tools with good reviews and high recovery success.

Recover to Different Storage: Never recover files to the same drive.

Make Disk Images: Use software to create a sector-by-sector clone and work on the clone to avoid damaging the original.

Try Multiple Tools: If one fails, another might succeed.

Regularly Back Up Data: Prevention is the best cure.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Continuing to use the affected drive after deletion.

Installing recovery software on the same drive.

Saving recovered files back to the original location.

Ignoring signs of physical drive failure.

Prevention Tips for Future Data Loss

Enable automated backups (Windows File History, macOS Time Machine).

Use cloud services for important files.

Regularly back up data to external drives.

Avoid sudden shutdowns; use UPS for power backup.

Use file recovery software proactively.

Set up version control for critical documents.

While the phrase “permanently deleted” sounds final, many deleted files can still be recovered with the right tools and actions. Immediate response, the right recovery software, backup strategies, and professional help when necessary all contribute to successful restoration.

About us and this blog

Panda Assistant is built on the latest data recovery algorithms, ensuring that no file is too damaged, too lost, or too corrupted to be recovered.

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We believe that data recovery shouldn’t be a daunting task. That’s why we’ve designed Panda Assistant to be as easy to use as it is powerful. With a few clicks, you can initiate a scan, preview recoverable files, and restore your data all within a matter of minutes.

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