How to Recover Permanently Deleted Files in Windows 11 [3 Top Methods]

Windows 11 data loss occurs due to multiple reasons like an accidental deletion, a system crash, or a virus attack. Permanently deleting the files you need can be a very frustrating and stressful experience, just like what the Reddit user below is going through right now:

In this tutorial, we will discuss three methods and tools available to restore permanently deleted files in Windows 11, and provide useful tips to help you prevent data loss in the future.

Methods	Recovery Tips
🥇Windows 11 data recovery software	Use professional Windows 11 deleted files recovery software to get back lost files in any situation. You can recover Shift+Delete files in Windows 11.
💽Restore files from previous versions	Previous versions are from restore points or Windows backup. But you need to turn on the automatic backup feature beforehand.
🧿Retrieve with File History	Like undo permanent deletion, this solution is useful when File History is enabled before you lose files.

Recover Permanently Deleted Files in Windows 11 by Using Deleted File Recovery Software

Emptying the Recycle Bin doesn't necessarily mean that your files are gone forever. It might seem like it, but that's not exactly the case. The most effective way to retrieve permanently deleted files in Windows 11 is using EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard.

This data recovery tool works in different situations. For example, it can not only restore your deleted files but also recover files from your partition that is formatted by mistake.

How to recover permanently deleted files Windows 11 free?

You can try the free data recovery software of EaseUS to recover up to 2GB of data in Windows 11 for free. This software scans the drive through quick and deep scan algorithms and finds the permanently deleted files and folders for you.

Step 1. Select the location to scan

Choose the specific device and drive where you have permanently deleted files using Shift delete or emptying recycle bin. Then, click the "Scan" button to find lost files.

Step 2. Check the results

The software will automatically start scanning all over the selected drive. When the scan completes, select the "Deleted Files" and "Other Lost Files" folders in the left panel. Then, apply the "Filter" feature or click the "Search files or folders" button to quickly find the deleted files.

Step 3. Recover deleted files

Select the deleted files and click "Preview". Next, click "Recover" to save them to another secure location or device.

Don't forget to share this powerful file recovery software with your friends on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram!

Here is the video tutorial for restoring permanently deleted files in Windows 11. If you don't like reading words, you can get information from the video.

How to Restore Permanently Deleted Files Windows 11 from Previous Versions

Previous Versions works only if you have backed up your data using Windows 11 File History or created a restore point before. Follow the steps below to restore deleted files in Windows 11.

Right-click the file or folder location that has saved the deleted files you want to recover, and then select "Restore previous versions". You'll see a list of available previous versions of the deleted file or folder. If you have enabled Windows backup for backing up your files, the list will display the saved files on the backup and also available restore points.

Microsoft provides the ultimate guides on how to recover lost or deleted files from previous versions; go to see details.

Retrieve Permanently Deleted Folder in Windows 11 Files with File History

This method could work only if you turned on "File History" before you had permanently deleted your files or folders. File History is a built-in tool that can restore your files and folders to a previous version. Follow the steps below to restore permanently deleted files from File History in Windows 11.

Step 1. At the Task Bar, click the search icon, type "Restore Files", and click "Open".

Step 2. Look for the folder that contains the old address of your deleted files.

Step 3. You can right-click the files to preview them.

Step 4. Finally, select the files and click the "Restore" button. The deleted files will get back to their original location.

Know More: Where Do Permanently Deleted Files Go Windows 11

In Windows 11, the recently deleted files are in the Recycle Bin - you delete them by right-clicking it and selecting "Delete". This doesn't mean a permanent deletion. A permanently deleted file means you not only click the "Delete" option but also click the "empty Recycle Bin" button.

When a Windows 11 PC permanently deletes a file or the Recycle Bin is emptied, it removes the reference to the file. That is to say, the permanently deleted file is no longer readable by the computer, and you can no longer see the file on the drive.

However, the deleted files are still on the hard drive, SD card, or USB flash drive, at least until another file or part of another file is saved to the same location. Thus, if you want to restore permanently deleted files, you must take action as soon as possible. Once you have stored new data in the same location, the deleted files will get lost forever. At that time, there's little chance of getting them back.

Well, you can recover permanently deleted files in Windows 11 in three proven ways. Even if you have pressed the "Shift + Deleted" to delete a folder or file completely, you can undo permanent delete in Windows 11 efficiently.

Bonus Tip: How to Protect Your Data and Files in Windows 11

To avoid accidental deletions and misoperation, you need to learn how to protect your files and folders in Windows 11. The most straightforward way to protect your folder is password-protecting your folder in Windows 11. With the help of this method, you can:

• Avoid data loss even if multiple people use the same account on a computer. 
• Protect your confidential or private folders on the computer.
• Protect a folder with a password for additional file security.

The other way to protect your folder is to make a file backup in Windows 11. No matter how you lose your data, you can restore them with a backup. 

Conclusion

If you accidentally deleted files and folders from your Windows PC, you can recover them from the recycle bin folder. However, if you delete them permanently, the permanently deleted files and folders cannot be recovered from the Recycle Bin. In this article, we have walked you through the methods of how to retrieve files after permanently deleting them.

EaseUS data recovery software is recommended because you can retrieve all kinds of data even if you have little technical know-how.

Windows 11 Recover Permanently Deleted Files FAQS

The following are the frequently asked questions on restoring permanently deleted files in Windows 11. Check the brief answers for these problems.

Can a permanently deleted file be restored?

Yes, if you do the right thing, you can recover files that have been permanently deleted. First, do not use your device in case of data wiping. Then, apply professional deleted file recovery software to retrieve file as soon as possible.

How to recover permanently deleted files in Windows 11 using CMD?

You can try using the "chkdsk" command in Command Prompt to check the file system of the selected drive.  After the file system is repaired, you can access the device and recover permanently deleted files from Windows 11 using CMD.

How to restore permanently deleted folder in Windows 11?

If you have a backup of the folder, you can restore it from the backup. Alternatively, you can try using a data recovery tool like EaseUS data recovery software to scan the HDD/SSD/USB/SD card for any recoverable data. Then, preview and restore permanently deleted folders easily.

How to recover permanently deleted videos from laptop Windows 11?

You can try data recovery software such as EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard to recover deleted videos from a laptop running Windows 11. This program can scan the disk for any recoverable files and attempt to restore it. It's important to note that the chances of successfully retrieving deleted videos decrease over time as the data is overwritten by new files.