Ctrl+Z Deleted My Files, How to Recover Undo Files

"I cut and pasted some photos to a folder that I created on the desktop. Then I deleted a few of those photos. Later, by using ctrl+z, I replaced those photos back there. But what happened was, by pressing ctrl+z, it deleted that whole folder with all of the photos in it. But again, pressing ctrl+z replaced the folder back to the desktop, but all the data that was on that folder was gone, and ctrl+z won't work anymore. I checked the original position where I copied them, and they were not there either. How do I recover a deleted file from Ctrl Z? Any help will be appreciated."

A very useful tool that makes work much easier is the Windows shortcut, and what we use the most are "Ctrl+C", "Ctrl+X", "Ctrl+V" and "Ctrl+Z". The former three shortcuts are about "copy, cut and paste" that we frequently employ, while the last one is about "undo changes".

By pressing Ctrl+Z keys simultaneously, we can undo the previous actions we made or restore other data files we're working on. However, it's not a master key. Like the scenario tells, some users have lost files by mistakenly pressing Ctrl+Z and are asking ways to recover deleted files. Don't worry. On this page, we will show you two effective methods to recover lost files lost by Ctrl+Z on Windows 10. Read on and get details. 

How to Recover Undo Files/Folders Windows 10

If you fail to undo the deletion by pressing Ctrl + Z keys on keyboards, you can right-click in the folder and select the 'Undo delete' option.

Step 1. Open the File Explorer. Find and locate the folder that used to contain the deleted file.

Step 2. Right-click on the folder and select "Undo delete".

how to recover undo files Windows 10

Step 3. Then this will ideally restore your recently deleted file just like Ctrl + Z would. 

How to Recover Files Lost by Ctrl+Z with File Recovery Software

If the above way doesn't work, don't be discouraged. You still have a great chance to recover Windows 10 Ctrl +Z deleted files by using competent data recovery software. EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard enables you to easily restore accidentally deleted files from a hard drive, SSD, USB flash drive, SD card, external hard drive, and more with a few clicks.

 Download for Win Recovery Rate 99.7%
 Download for Mac Trustpilot Rating 4.7

Key features of EaseUS file recovery software:

  • Recover photos, videos, documents, emails, and other 1000+ file types
  • Restore files from formatted hard drive, RAW drive, lost partition, OS crash, emptied Recycle Bin, etc.
  • Repair corrupted files automatically after the data recovery
  • Support data recovery on Windows 11/10/8/7 and Windows Server 2019/2016/2012/2008/2003

Now, download this data recovery software to recover Ctrl +Z deleted folders and files with step-by-step guides.

Step 1. Select a location and start scanning

Launch EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard, hover on the partition/drive where the deleted files were stored. Click "Scan" to find lost files.

select a location where you deleted files

Step 2. Select the files you want to recover

When the scanning has finished, select the deleted files you want to recover. You can click on the filter to display only the file types you want. If you remember the file name, you can also search in the "Search files or folders" box, which is the fastest way to find the target file. 

Choose recoverable files

Step 3. Preview and recover deleted files

Preview the recoverable files. Then, select files you want to restore and click "Recover" to store the files at a new storage locations instead of the disk where the data was previously lost.

Recover deleted files

More About Ctrl +Z Deleted Files Recovery in Windows 10

The Ctrl shortcut keys on Windows bring users huge conveniences. When used in combination with other keys, it can perform many useful functions, as mentioned at the beginning of the article. Let's talk a little bit more about Ctrl +Z here.

What Does Ctrl+Z Do in File Explorer?

Pressing the Ctrl+Z key combination can restore the last thing you clicked, typed, or changed to its previous state. It's faster than clicking the Edit > Undo feature! If you accidentally delete a file in Windows Explorer or File Explorer, pressing Ctrl+Z can recover the deleted files instantly without having to open the Recycle Bin.

What Happens if You Press Ctrl +Z?

Like what was said before, pressing Ctrl +Z can undo the last actions you made. Ctrl+Z also works in many situations where the Undo option isn't available.

How Do I Recover a Deleted File from Ctrl+Z?

You can use the two approaches in this article to recover a deleted file from Ctrl+Z. To recover deleted files in Windows 10, the best way is to use EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for help.

 Download for Win Recovery Rate 99.7%
 Download for Mac Trustpilot Rating 4.7

How to Recover Files Lost by Ctrl+Z on Mac?

Recover lost files from Ctrl+Z, accidental deletion, hard drive formatting, OS crash, virus attack, or other causes; you can use EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac for help. It supports photo recovery, video recovery, document recovery, backup recovery, and more. 

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Updated by Dany

Dany is an editor of EaseUS who lives and works in Chengdu, China. She focuses on writing articles about data recovery on Mac devices and PCs. She is devoted to improving her writing skills and enriching her professional knowledge. Dany also enjoys reading detective novels in her spare time.

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Written by Jean

Since graduating from university, Jean has been writing tech articles and has been a valuable member of the EaseUS team for over 5 years. Her areas of expertise include data recovery, disk partitioning, data backup, and multimedia world.

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