How to Retrieve Files in Windows 10, Even After Emptying the Recycle Bin
Creating additional space in Windows 10 computers or other storage devices is much easier by freeing up space taken by old files than upgrading to larger volumes. That is why many people opt to delete more files from their storage devices when they have new files to be stored.
However, emptying storage to create more room for new files can be dangerous when done without proper risk assessment. Adequate risk assessment helps you understand which files might be of help in the future so that you handle them differently from old files that are of no use any more.
When creating more space, many people prefer to go as far as emptying the recycle bin. While this is a good way to get more space in your PC, it might not be the best idea. What happens when you change your mind later and want to recover the files?
Can I Restore Deleted Files from Recycle Bin?
Many people ask this question. Definitely, the answer is yes. It is possible and you can recover accidentally emptied Recycle Bin data. Get back all your files in good condition with some special tricks.
As a temporary storage area, the recycle bin keeps your files for a period of time before they are lost permanently. During this period, you can restore the files in Windows 10 without worrying about their originality.
However, when this period elapses, usually about 30 days, the files are permanently deleted. You can also manually delete them before this period elapses. The beauty of emptying the recycle bin is that it gives you additional space in your PC. However, this comes with the dark side of possible loss of valuable files. Whether you are doing this by emptying the bin or clearing files with the “Shift + Delete” button, you need to rethink your actions beforehand.
In this article, we focus on showing you some of the methods you can use to recover files from recycle bin in Windows 10, even after emptying the recycle bin.
How to Retrieve Files in Windows 10 after Emptying Recycle Bin
We have tried a number of methods for recovering data after emptying the recycle bin. While all these methods can be used differently and independently, they have different advantages and shortcomings.
For instance, there are cases where you will be required to build backups while others can be so cumbersome. The only method that we find more effective and less engaging is Disk Drill by CleverFiles recovery. We have made it top of our list with steps to retrieve lost files on Windows 10. Read on to find out more.
Method 1: Recover Emptied Recycle Bin with Disk Drill
Disk Drill comes in three versions for Windows 10 users. The free version, the pro version, and the enterprise version. With the free version, you get up to 500 MB of data for free. You also get to enjoy using additional features such as disk backup and Recovery Vault.
The pro version supports personal unlimited recovery at $89 only. This is much lower compared with its competitors. The enterprise version is meant for unlimited commercial recovery and comes with priority support.
To recover data after emptying the recycle bin in Windows 10, follow the steps below:
Step 1: Install Disk Drill on your PC
The first step is to download the software from the official website then install it on your Windows 10 computer. The software now supports all modern versions of Windows and a separate version for Mac is also available.
Step 2: Launch the software and search for Deleted Files
After successful installation, launch Disk Drill and choose the volume that contains the recycle bin. That is where the files were originally stored before they were deleted. This is in many cases the drive that contains the operating system and related files, marked with the letter “C”.
Tap on the “search for lost data” icon to start searching for the emptied files.
Step 3: Choose Files to Restore
Once the search ends and the software provides you with a preview of the available data, select the ones you want to restore then specify the recovery directory. You should avoid sending recovered files back to where they were lost from. Tap “Restore” to recover them.
Method 2: Retrieve Emptied Recycle Bin with Previous Versions
If you use Windows 8 or newer versions, then you must be aware of File History. If this feature was enabled on your Windows 10 computer before emptying the recycle bin, then you will be able to recover deleted files from it. Below is the step-by-step process to follow.
Step 1: Launch File Explorer on your Pc and locate the folder where your files were stored before you lost them.
Step 2: Right-click on an empty space in that folder then choose “Properties option.”
Step 3: Navigate to the previous versions tab and choose a previous version of that folder.
Step 4: Open the folder and locate the missing files. Move them to a different location where you can easily gain access to them.
Method 3: Restore Emptied Recycle Bin from OneDrive
Windows 10 integrates OneDrive as a default storage application. It is a reliable recycle bin recovery tool that you can use anytime. If you have enabled this backup service, then you will be able to use it for all your recoveries. Follow the steps below:
Step1: Launch your browser and go to https://onedrive.live.com/ to access your OneDrive account.
Step 2: Locate the folder with your files and choose the files you need.
Step 3: Click the download button and your files will be sent back to local storage.
Method 4: Retrieve Files from Backup
You may have created some form of local backup before emptying the recycle bin. This is a data recovery for Windows 10 that should come in handy at this stage. Check USB flash drives, external hard drives or some other storage devices. And retrieve your data from them.
