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Recover Lost Files with EaseUS Portable Data Recovery Software | 2026 Method
July 23,2026
6 min read -
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Page Table of Contents
Accidentally deleted an important file and emptied the Windows Recycle Bin? Don't panic. In many cases, deleted files can still be recovered if the storage space they occupied has not been reused.
The key is to act quickly. Stop using the drive where the files were deleted, avoid installing recovery software on that same drive, and recover restored files to a different storage device.
This guide reviews the best Recycle Bin recovery software for Windows and explains how to recover files after emptying the Recycle Bin, which free recovery tools are worth trying, and when professional data recovery may be necessary.
- 1. EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard💯
- 2. Recuva
- 3. TestDisk
- 4. Windows File Recovery
- 5. PhotoRec
- 6. Stellar Data Recovery
- 7. Disk Drill
- 8. Ontrack EasyRecovery
- 9. Cisdem Data Recovery
- 10. Puran File Recovery
- 11. DiskGenius
- 12. R-Studio
- 13. Wise Data Recovery
- 14. Recoverit Data Recovery
We evaluated the Recycle Bin recovery software mentioned above based on a number of factors, including performance, affordability, compatibility, and ease of use. The test results are displayed in the table below:
| ⚒Data loss cases | Focus on Recycle Bin recovery |
| 🔢Number of SD card recovery software tested | 14 |
| ⏳ Time duration | 4 weeks |
| 💻OS versions | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| ⚙ Cost | Free & Paid versions |
Can You Recover Files After Emptying the Recycle Bin
Yes, you may be able to recover files after emptying the Recycle Bin.
When you permanently delete a file in Windows, the operating system removes the normal file-system reference that lets you access it. The storage space can then be marked as available for future use. Until that space is reused, recovery software may be able to find and reconstruct some or all of the deleted file.
Windows File Recovery can also identify deleted files associated with the $RECYCLE.BIN structure during supported recovery operations.
However, recovery is not guaranteed. Your chances depend on several factors:
- How long ago the file was deleted
- Whether the Recycle Bin was emptied
- Whether new files have been saved to the same drive
- Whether the drive is an HDD or SSD
- Whether TRIM is enabled on an SSD
- Whether the file system is damaged
- Whether the deleted data was fragmented
- Whether you have a backup
- Whether the drive is physically healthy
What Happens When You Empty the Recycle Bin
Emptying the Recycle Bin removes the normal way Windows lets you restore the files.
It does not mean that every byte of the file is immediately replaced with zeros.
Instead, the storage space can become available for reuse. Recovery software may be able to locate remaining file-system information or reconstruct files from data that is still accessible.
That is why you should avoid writing new data to the affected drive after deleting important files.
What to Do Before Using Recycle Bin Recovery Software
Before downloading any recovery tool, take these steps.
1. Stop using the affected drive
Do not download files, install applications, copy large files, or continue normal work on the drive containing the deleted data.
Every new write can potentially reuse storage that contains information from your deleted files.
2. Do not install the recovery tool on the same drive
If you deleted files from your C: drive, install the recovery software on another drive whenever possible.
3. Do not save recovered files to the source drive
Always choose a different destination for recovered files.
Free Recycle Bin Recovery Is Possible
Yes. You can recover an emptied Recycle Bin with Recycle Bin Recovery Software. After emptying the Recycle Bin, files are not actually deleted from your hard drive. Instead, they are simply moved to another location on the computer. In this new spot on the hard drive is where deleted Recycle Bin files are held until they are overwritten by other files stored in the computer's memory.
This is why it is possible to recover items emptied from the Recycle Bin if you act quickly enough before they are overwritten. While it is not guaranteed that all lost data can be restored successfully, using specialist data recovery software is often beneficial to identify files that may have been thought lost forever. Keep reading to get the best data recovery software.
Top 14 Recycle Bin Recovery Software Free Download
To find out the most effective Recycle Bin recovery software, we have tried over 20 data recovery software and picked out the eight most workable ones. You can compare their features, pros, and cons to select the most effective one according to your needs.
Top 1. EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard Free for Recycle Bin Recovery
- Free✅ | For Windows, macOS, Linux⭐
As a comprehensive and reliable data recovery tool, EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard works well in recovering files that have been accidentally deleted, emptied from the Recycle Bin, formatted, or otherwise lost due to virus attacks and other issues. With a straightforward user interface, this Recycle Bin recovery software enables effortless navigation, making it suitable for novice and experienced computer users. EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard Free also offers dedicated tools for repairing selected files before recovery, download this software and recover deleted files from Recycle Bin for free.
EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard Free offers up to 2 GB of free data recovery, including 500 MB available by default and an extra 1.5 GB unlocked after sharing on Facebook and X.
| Pros | Cons |
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User Review (Full Information from Lifewire)
EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard is a free file recovery program for Windows and Mac operating systems. It recovers data from internal and external hard drives, USB devices, memory cards, iOS devices, music players, and similar devices...
Overall, EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard Free is a versatile tool with advantages and disadvantages, underscoring usability as its highest priority. You may want to jump to the detailed Recycle Bin recovery tutorial right now. Click this link to go directly. Go to the Recycle Bin recovery tutorial >>
If you think this recommendation is helpful, please share this guide with more Windows users!
Top 2. Recuva (Free Recycle Bin Recovery Software)
- Free✅ | For Windows, macOS⭐
If you are looking for 100% free data recovery software, you should consider Recuva. This free data recovery software is designed to safely restore deleted files, including pictures, music, documents, videos, emails, and more. One of the best features of Recuva is its deep scan, which allows users to locate hard-to-find files that even Recycle Bin may not be able to identify. Another great thing about Recuva is that it's pretty easy to use, so anyone can start using it without too much effort and recover deleted files in Windows 11 or other versions.
| Pros | Cons |
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User Review (Full Information from Techradar)
Recuva is a feature-rich data and files recovery program that's up there with the best we've used. For starters, it enables you to retrieve data from reformatted or damaged drives, improving the chance of a successful recovery. A deep scan mode is also available, which helps find hidden files...
Top 3. TestDisk (Free Download)
- Free✅ | For Windows, macOS, Linux⭐
TestDisk is a powerful and free data recovery software. It is an open-source application and works on multiple operating systems, making it suitable for a wide user base. This tool helps you recover lost partitions, as well as individual files, even after the Recycle Bin has been emptied. The features of TestDisk data recovery also include the repair of corrupted boot sectors and partition tables, providing practical solutions to users with system crash issues.
| Pros | Cons |
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User Review (Full Information from Techradar)
If you're looking for a free file recovery tool(opens in new tab), one of the first suggestions you'll come across is TestDisk and PhotoRec.
Top 4. Windows File Recovery (from Microsoft)
- Free✅ | For Windows⭐
Windows File Recovery is Microsoft's Windows-compatible software, which is designed to help users recover deleted files from their system. It is an advanced tool that scans, identifies, and recovers data that has been deleted from the Windows Recycle Bin. With this tool, you can get back photos, documents, videos, and more.
| Pros | Cons |
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User Review (Full Information from Help Desk Geek)
If you don't have access to another file recovery program and the computer already has Windows File Recovery, it might be worth using first. If your usual file recovery app cannot recover the files, then Windows File Recovery may be worth trying as a backup solution.
Top 5. PhotoRec (Open-source Software)
- Free✅ | For Windows, macOS, Linux⭐
PhotoRec is a free, open-source data recovery tool designed to help recover photos, documents, videos, compressed archives, and more. With this tool, you can undelete files in Windows on Windows, Linux, and Mac devices. Besides, this free data recovery software works well in retrieving files from FAT/NTFS/exFAT/ext2/ext3/ext4 filesystem/HFS+.
| Pros | Cons |
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User Review (Full Information from Alternativeto)
I used PhotoRec on my GNU/Linux PC (Xubuntu 20.10) to undelete deleted photos on an SD card in my camera. It worked fantastically and took little time. Great software, I immediately donated a few bucks.
Top 6. Stellar Data Recovery (1GB Free)
- Free✅ | For Windows, macOS⭐
Stellar Data Recovery is an advanced tool for restoring lost or inaccessible data from both Windows and Mac computers. It boasts a suite of multiple features, such as quick scanning to identify lost files, secure data recovery, file selection for recovery, support for data storage media, previewing of necessary files before saving them, and the ability to store recovered files in any location of choice.
| Pros | Cons |
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User Review (Full Information from Trustpilot)
Devashish Sharma was able to fix my Stellar Deduplication issue in an efficient manner. Excellent troubleshooting skills!
Hope these recommendations are helpful and let you learn more about Recycle Bin recovery software, don't hesitate to share this passage on Facebook or X.
Top 7. Disk Drill (500MB Free)
- Free✅ | For Windows, macOS⭐
Another free Recycle Bin recovery software I recommend is Disk Drill. It is a powerful data recovery tool that provides reliable solutions to retrieve accidentally deleted files or data. With the help of powerful scanning algorithms, you can quickly locate and retrieve lost data from Windows and Mac devices. Users can preview recoverable files in Disk Drill before committing to a full recovery package, which can be especially helpful when dealing with sensitive information.
| Pros | Cons |
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User Review (Full Information from Lifewire)
Disk Drill is a nifty free file recovery program, both because of its long list of features and its exceptionally simple-to-use interface.
Top 8. Ontrack EasyRecovery
- Free✅ | For Windows, macOS⭐
Ontrack EasyRecovery is a useful data recovery tool that helps users safely and effectively restore files, folders, documents, and more. It offers a host of valuable features, such as the ability to create bootable media for emergency boots, identify and repair faulty or missing system files, fully control compressed file recovery from archives, search for vital Windows system files, and much more.
| Pros | Cons |
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User Review (Full Information from PCmag)
Ontrack EasyRecovery deserves its long-standing reputation as the powerhouse among data recovery software. (Full Information from PCmag)
Top 9. Cisdem Data Recovery
- Free✅ | For Windows, macOS, Linux⭐
Are files removed by accidentally deleting them, by using the shortcut "Shift+Del," or both? Remain calm. With the use of Cisdem Data Recovery, erased files - including emails, documents, pictures, audio files, archives, and more - can be promptly recovered easily. This software is the OEM product of EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard; you can find similar features to the EaseUS Recycle Bin recovery tool.
| Pros | Cons |
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User Review (Full Information from Trustpilot)
Cisdem Software is excellent, for example, cisdem data recovery, pdf converter ocr, video converter, and appcrypt.
Top 10. Puran File Recovery
- Free✅ | For Windows⭐
Partitions and erased files can be recovered with Puran File Recovery. Files can also be restored from formatted disks and the emptied Recycle Bin for free. Regardless of the file system, almost anything Windows recognizes as a disk can be inspected. Any type of storage device, including hard drives, pen drives, memory cards, cell phones, CDs, and DVDs, can be used.
| Pros | Cons |
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User Review (Full Information from Lifwire)
Puran File Recovery is a free file recovery program. If you need to restore lost or deleted files, Puran File Recovery is a great solution, as the disk scans are quick, and the program is easy to learn.
Top 11. DiskGenius
- Free✅ | For Windows⭐
DiskGenius is a feature-rich data recovery manager that is free and dependable. To enable both advanced users and beginners by streamlining data recovery operations. This software is a dependable choice whether you wish to restore deleted files or formatted/damaged files from Recycle Bin.
| Pros | Cons |
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User Review (Full Information from TechRadar)
While the user interface is lacking and leads to some confusion, the functionality on offer in Eassos DiskGenius is considerable. Pricing is sensible, matching competitors while offering a little more, but most importantly, the free version of DiskGenius is largely unrestricted, making it ideal for home users and small businesses.
Top 12. R-Studio
- Free✅ | For Windows, macOS, Linux⭐
R-Studio is a data recovery program that can help you recover data that has been erased accidentally from the Recycle Bin, damaged by viruses, hard drive corruption, or partition loss. This self-service utility allows data to be restored from FAT, NTFS, and ReFS on Windows, Mac, and Linux computers.
| Pros | Cons |
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User Review (Full Information from TechRadar)
An impressively complete recovery utility, with options for retrieving lost data, managing disks and partitions, and creating virtual RAIDs. While there might be too much here for the beginner, the wealth of options cannot be overlooked.
Top 13. Wise Data Recovery
- Free✅ | For Windows, macOS⭐
Wise Data Recovery is also a wonderful Recycle Bin data recovery software. It can be used for free to recover deleted files up to 2 GB, including emails, documents, videos, and pictures. Wise Data Recovery can swiftly recover files that have been completely erased by using Shift + Delete, emptying the Recycle Bin, or even formatting a disk.
| Pros | Cons |
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User Review (Full Information from TechRadar)
Wise Data Recovery is a good free option for recovering deleted files. But, if you have a damaged hard drive, you may get more bangs for your buck from other data recovery tools.
Top 14. Recoverit Data Recovery
- Free✅ | For Windows, macOS⭐
Wondershare Recoverit data recovery software supports both Windows and macOS operating systems. It can recover any kind of file, including emails, documents, graphics, audio, and video files. Recoverit can recover data from all circumstances involving data loss, such as accidentally emptying the Recycle Bin.
| Pros | Cons |
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User Review (Full Information from TechRadar)
Wondershare Recoverit is a data protection software that stores all your important information. There are lots of advanced features and a free option.
What Is the Best Free Recycle Bin Recovery Tool
If you want a simple answer:
- For a beginner: Start with a graphical recovery tool such as EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard or Recuva.
- For a completely free Microsoft solution: Try Windows File Recovery.
- For advanced users: Consider TestDisk or PhotoRec.
- For complex recovery: Consider R-Studio or a professional recovery service.
The best tool is ultimately the one that can actually find and safely recover your missing files.
Final Verdict
If you need a simple graphical solution, EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard is a practical starting point for recovering deleted files after the Recycle Bin has been emptied. Its current free version provides a limited amount of recovery before a paid plan may be required. If you specifically need recycle bin file recovery free, Windows File Recovery, TestDisk, PhotoRec, and Recuva are alternatives worth considering. The right choice depends on whether you need an easy interface, unlimited free recovery, advanced file-system recovery, or support for a more complicated data-loss situation.
Most importantly, do not keep using the affected drive after deleting important files. The sooner you stop unnecessary writes and begin a controlled recovery process, the better your chances of recovering the data that remains accessible.
Recycle Bin Recovery Software FAQs
That's all about Recycle Bin recovery. Keep reading, and you can get additional help.
1. How do I recover permanently deleted files?
Follow the steps to Restore Deleted Files in Windows 10:
- Launch EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard
- Select the disk partition and click Scan
- Preview and restore lost Windows files
2. Can Recycle Bin be recovered?
Yes. Recycle Bin recovery after emptying is possible. You need to run data recovery software or Windows backup to restore lost data.
3. Where do files go after being deleted from the Recycle Bin?
They are still on the drive. Windows marks its storage space as free, allowing other files to be stored on it.
4. How to prevent data loss?
- Back up your data regularly
- Maintain your computer
- Use reliable hardware components
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