Accidentally deleting important folders is a scenario that almost everyone encounters at some point. Whether it’s a critical project folder, photos, or important documents, losing files can cause significant frustration and anxiety. Fortunately, Windows 10 offers several ways to recover deleted folders, depending on how they were deleted, and how much time has passed since deletion.
Before diving into recovery methods, it’s essential to understand how files and folders are deleted in Windows 10:
Move to Recycle Bin: When you delete a folder from your desktop or File Explorer, Windows typically moves the deleted folder to the Recycle Bin (unless you permanently delete it with a "Shift + Delete" command or empty the Recycle Bin afterward).
Permanent Deletion: If you use "Shift + Delete" or empty the Recycle Bin, Windows marks the data as deleted, but it doesn’t immediately erase the content from the storage device. Instead, the space occupied by the folder becomes available for overwriting by new data.
File System Structure: Windows uses a file allocation table to organize data on your drive. When you delete a folder, the file system removes its reference, but the data remains intact until it is overwritten by new data.
Methods to Recover a Deleted Folder
1. Check the Recycle Bin
The first and easiest place to check for a deleted folder is the Recycle Bin. As mentioned earlier, when you delete a file or folder in Windows, it is typically moved to the Recycle Bin instead of being permanently erased from your drive.
Steps to recover a folder from the Recycle Bin:
Open the Recycle Bin: You can do this by double-clicking the Recycle Bin icon on your desktop or in the File Explorer.
Search for the Folder: Browse through the list of deleted files and folders. You can also use the search bar in the Recycle Bin window to find the folder by name.
Restore the Folder: Once you find the folder, right-click on it and select Restore. The folder will be restored to its original location.
Check the Folder’s Location: After restoring, navigate to the original location where the folder was stored to confirm the recovery.
If the folder is not in the Recycle Bin, you can proceed to other recovery methods.
2. Restore Previous Versions of the Folder
Windows 10 has a built-in feature that allows you to restore previous versions of files and folders. This feature relies on System Restore and File History, so if these have been configured before the folder was deleted, you might be able to restore the folder to an earlier state.
Steps to restore a deleted folder using previous versions:
Navigate to the Parent Folder: Go to the location where the folder was stored before it was deleted.
Right-click the Parent Folder: In the File Explorer, right-click on the parent folder (or the empty space in the folder where the deleted folder was).
Select "Restore Previous Versions": From the context menu, select Restore previous versions. This will open a list of available previous versions of the folder.
Choose a Version: Browse through the versions listed and choose a version that corresponds to a time before the folder was deleted.
Restore the Folder: Select Restore to recover the folder. You can also copy the folder to another location to ensure the original version is not overwritten.
If this method doesn’t work, and you haven’t set up File History or System Restore, you might need to look into third-party recovery tools.
3. Use File History to Recover the Folder
If File History is enabled on your computer, it can create backups of your files and folders. This allows you to recover not only individual files but also entire folders that have been deleted.
Steps to recover a deleted folder with File History:
Open Settings: Press the Windows key + I to open Settings.
Navigate to Update & Security: Select Update & Security and then go to the Backup section.
Open File History: Under Backup, you will see the option to "More options" under File History. Click on it.
Restore Files: Scroll down and click Restore personal files. This will open a window where you can browse through the backups made by File History.
Select the Folder: Navigate to the location where the folder was stored before deletion. Once you find it, select the folder.
Restore the Folder: Click the green Restore button to recover the folder to its original location.
If you didn’t have File History enabled, you may need to consider third-party solutions or external backups.
4. Use Windows Backup to Restore the Folder
If you’ve been using Windows Backup (or another backup solution), this is another potential method for restoring a deleted folder.
Steps to restore a folder from Windows Backup:
Open Settings: Press Windows key + I to open the Settings app.
Navigate to Update & Security: Go to Update & Security > Backup.
Go to Restore Files: If you have a backup, click Go to Backup and Restore (Windows 7).
Choose the Backup: Choose the appropriate backup from the list and follow the prompts to restore the deleted folder.
This method can be highly effective, provided you have backups available.
5. Using Data Recovery Software (For Permanent Deletion)
Panda Data Recovery is a powerful, user-friendly data recovery software designed to help users recover lost or deleted files from a variety of storage devices, including hard drives, USB drives, memory cards, and other external storage media. Whether you’ve accidentally deleted important documents, lost files due to a system crash, or experienced data corruption, Panda Data Recovery offers an effective solution for retrieving your precious data. With its advanced scanning algorithms, intuitive interface, and compatibility with both Windows and Mac systems, it is an excellent choice for both novice and experienced users.
File Recovery
Panda Data Recovery specializes in recovering a wide range of file types, including documents, images, videos, audio files, emails, and more. It can restore files that were lost due to accidental deletion, formatted partitions, or corrupted file systems. The software supports the recovery of files from NTFS, FAT, exFAT, and other file systems, making it versatile for different types of storage devices.
Multiple Storage Device Support
One of the standout features of Panda Data Recovery is its ability to recover data from various types of storage devices. This includes traditional hard drives (HDDs), solid-state drives (SSDs), USB flash drives, SD cards, and external storage devices. Whether you're working with a desktop, laptop, or external media, Panda Data Recovery provides a comprehensive solution for all types of storage media.
Deep Scan and Quick Scan Options
Panda Data Recovery offers both quick and deep scanning modes, allowing you to recover files based on the severity of the data loss. The Quick Scan option is ideal for recovering recently deleted files that haven't been overwritten, whereas the Deep Scan option is designed for more complex data recovery scenarios, such as files lost after formatting or severe corruption. The deep scan option thoroughly examines the storage device to find recoverable files that are no longer visible in the file system.
Preview Files Before Recovery
Before proceeding with a recovery, Panda Data Recovery allows users to preview the files that can be restored. This feature is particularly useful to ensure that you are recovering the correct files and to save time by selecting only the necessary files for restoration. It supports various file formats for preview, including photos, text documents, videos, and more.
Recover Lost Partitions
In addition to recovering deleted files, Panda Data Recovery can help users recover lost or deleted partitions. If your hard drive’s partition table has been corrupted or you’ve accidentally deleted a partition, the software can scan your disk for lost partitions and restore them, ensuring access to all the data stored within.
Easy-to-Use Interface
Panda Data Recovery is designed with simplicity in mind, featuring a clean, intuitive interface that guides users through the recovery process step by step. Even users with limited technical experience can easily navigate the software and complete the recovery process without difficulty.
Safe and Secure
The software operates in a non-destructive manner, ensuring that no further data is overwritten during the recovery process. This is crucial because overwriting can reduce the chances of a successful recovery. Panda Data Recovery guarantees that your original data remains intact while you recover the deleted files.
6. Use Command Prompt (For Advanced Users)
For more advanced users, the Command Prompt can sometimes be used to recover deleted files and folders that haven’t been fully overwritten. This method involves using the attrib command to search for hidden or system files that may not appear through normal recovery methods.
Steps to recover using Command Prompt:
Open Command Prompt as Administrator: Right-click the Start button and select Command Prompt (Admin).
Navigate to the Folder’s Location: Use the cd command to navigate to the directory where the folder was stored.
Run the attrib Command: Type the following command and press Enter:
bash
attrib -h -r -s /s /d *.*
This command will unhide hidden files and folders and can potentially restore a deleted folder to view.
Check the Folder: After running the command, check if the deleted folder appears in the location.
This method can be a bit tricky, so be careful and ensure you understand the commands before proceeding.
