How to Recover Files Deleted from the Recycle Bin

To recover permanently deleted files (those not present in the Recycle Bin), you can check your backups, such as those created using the File History tool on Windows. If you don’t have any backups or if they don’t contain your files, then you can try data recovery software like Disk Drill:

1. Download and install a Disk Drill on a non-system drive.
2. Select your system hard drive and initiate a scan.
3. Preview recoverable files and select those you need.
4. Choose a safe recovery location (not the original drive).

Use these steps to recover data from an empty Recycle Bin:

1. Download and install Disk Drill.
2. Launch the app and select the disk that contains the Recycle Bin.
3. Click the Search for lost data button to start scanning.
4. Preview found files and choose those to be recovered.
5. Click Recover to restore the files.

Recover deleted files from the Windows 10 Recycle Bin with these steps:

1. Open the Recycle Bin by clicking its icon.
2. Locate the items you wish to recover.
3. Select the files or folders for recovery by highlighting their checkbox.
4. Right-click and choose Restore to recover the data to its original location.

To recover files from the Windows 11 Recycle Bin:

1. Locate the Recycle Bin icon on your desktop and double-click it.
2. Select each file you want to recover (you can either click and drag with your mouse or hold the Shift key while clicking on individual files).
3. Either click and drag the selected files to a safe location outside the Recycle Bin or right-click any selected file and choose the Restore option to move the selected files to their original locations.

To recover deleted files from the Recycle Bin without software:

1. Open the Start menu and type "file history".
2. Choose the "Restore your files with File History" option.
3. Navigate to the location where your deleted Recycle Bin items were last located.
4. Use the arrows at the bottom to display backups of the location you’ve just navigated to.
5. Select backed up copies of your Recycle Bin items and click the green "Restore" button to restore them without software.

Items may not appear in the Recycle Bin for several reasons. The system may be set up to skip the bin and permanently delete data. In this case, you need to enable the Recycle Bin by right-clicking on its icon and selecting Properties. You might need to add space to the Bin so it can handle large files.

Yes, you can. The free trial version of Disk Drill enables you to recover up to 500 MB of data before upgrading to the pro version of the software. This is the best way to discover the power and intuitive ease of operation of the tool by performing a real data recovery without any financial commitment.

Yes you can, with Disk Drill data recovery software. Here’s how to do it.

1. Download, install, and launch the free version of Disk Drill.
2. Select the disk that contained the Recycle Bin from the app’s list of available devices.
3. Click the Search for lost data button to start the scanning algorithms.
4. Preview the recoverable data and select the files you want to restore.
5. Click the Recover button to perform the recovery. The free Windows version of Disk Drill lets you restore up to 500 MB for free.

When files are emptied from the Recycle Bin, they aren't immediately erased but the space they occupied is marked as available. The files themselves may still exist until that space is overwritten. However, if you're using an SSD with TRIM technology, deleted data might be proactively erased. In either case, backups are your best protection against permanent data loss.

You can undo emptying the Recycle Bin by restoring your lost files through Windows File History. Just follow these steps:

1. Open the Start menu and type “file history”.
2. Choose the Restore your files with File History option.
3. Find and select your files from all the backed up folders.
4. Now, click the green Restore button.

If the Recycle Bin icon isn’t showing up on your desktop, you can follow these steps:

1. Select the Start button, then select Settings.
2. Select Personalization > Themes > Desktop icon settings.
3. Select the Recycle Bin checkbox, then click Apply.

Use this procedure to change the space allocated to the Recycle Bin.

1. Right-click on the Recycle Bin and select Properties.
2. Modify the value in the Custom size field to the amount of space you prefer.
3. Click Apply.

Use these steps to show or unhide the Recycle Bin Icon.

1. Select the Start button, then select Settings.
2. Select Personalization > Themes > Desktop icon settings.
3. Select the Recycle Bin check box > Apply.

You can stop Windows from instantly deleting files by activating the deletion confirmation dialog box. Follow these steps:

1. Right-click on the Recycle Bin and select properties.
2. Open the General Tab.
3. Check the box next to Display delete confirmation dialog.

Yes, the Recycle Bin is a permanent location on your Windows computer.  It acts as a temporary storage area for deleted files. Typically, files remain in the Recycle Bin for 30 days before permanent deletion, but this period can be adjusted. You have the option to restore deleted files from the Recycle Bin or empty it manually at any time.

By default, the Recycle Bin keeps files for 30 days, after which they are deleted permanently. However, you can adjust this time period by changing the Recycle Bin's storage settings. It's also important to note that the so-called permanent deletion isn't always actually permanent. File recovery programs and backups make it possible to recover deleted files even if they’re no longer in the Recycle Bin.