How to Recover Permanently Deleted Files for Free?

Losing an important file by mistake can be frustrating, especially if you’ve already emptied the Recycle Bin or deleted it using Shift + Delete. While it may seem like the file is gone forever, that’s not always the case. Deleted files often remain on the drive until new data overwrites them, giving you a chance to recover them. That’s why it’s important to stop using the affected drive as soon as possible. In this article, we’ll cover the best free ways to permanently recover deleted files and share important tips to avoid making the situation worse.

What Happens When a File Is Permanently Deleted?

Normal deletion and permanent deletion operate differently. A normal deletion means the file goes to the Recycle Bin, where it can be recovered later. Permanent deletion means the file will be deleted immediately or after the Recycle Bin is cleared. This can occur when deleting files on the USB drive or the SD card, or when deleting large files that cannot fit in the Recycle Bin. Until new files overwrite that space, the deleted file may still be recoverable.

Before proceeding with recovering your deleted files, ensure you stop using the drive containing them. Avoid copying, saving, installing, or downloading any data to this drive, as additional data could overwrite your deleted files. It is also a good idea to verify whether your file exists within your backup system or in your online storage. If your files have been deleted from a USB drive, an SD card, or an external hard drive, then do not use the drive anymore. Remember that SSDs use the TRIM feature, which can make file recovery more difficult if you wait too long.

Different Free Ways to Recover Permanently Deleted Files

1. Check the Recycle Bin

If you have deleted the files using the Recycle Bin or Shift + Delete, you can proceed directly to the next recovery steps. This approach will only work if the file is still in the Recycle Bin.

• Open the Recycle Bin.
• Search for the deleted file by name or file type.
• Right-click on the file and choose ‘Restore.’
• The file will be restored to its original place.

2. Restore from File History

Another way to recover deleted files is File History. It is a Windows feature that provides backup copies of your files. If it was enabled, you may be able to recover a previous version of your deleted file.

• Search for “Restore your files with File History” on Windows.
• Open the recovery window.
• Browse the available file versions.
  
• Select the file or folder you want to recover.
• Click Restore to save it back to its original location.

3. Check Cloud Storage

Deleted files may remain in cloud storage for some time before being permanently deleted. If you previously uploaded the file to a cloud storage service, you may be able to restore it.

• Log in to your OneDrive, Google Drive, Dropbox, or another cloud account.
• Browse to the folder where the file was saved.
• Open the Trash or Deleted Files folder.
• Restore the file to its original location or download a copy.
  

4. Restore from a Backup

If you have a backup of your files, recovering them is usually quick and easy. Check your external hard drive, USB backup, or any manually created backup folders for the missing file.

Recover Permanently Deleted Files for Free Using Stellar Data Recovery Free Edition

When manual recovery methods fail, you can try Stellar Data Recovery Free Edition. This software will help retrieve deleted files from a Windows PC, a USB drive, an SD card, or other external media. The program allows scanning the disk, browsing, and restoring the retrieved files. In the Free Edition, there is up to 2GB of free data retrieval, including 1GB by default and an additional 1 GB through social networking.

Follow these steps to recover permanently deleted files using Stellar Data Recovery Free Edition.

1. Download and install Stellar Data Recovery Free Edition.
2. Launch the software.
3. Choose the type of files to recover or select Recover Everything.
   
4. Select the drive where the files were deleted.
5. Run a scan and use Deep Scan if needed.
   
6. Preview recoverable files.
7. Recover the selected files.
   
8. Save recovered files to a different drive.
9. If you need more recovery space, you can unlock an extra 1GB for free.

Steps to Get Your 2 GB Free Data Recovery

You can increase the free recovery limit by following these steps.

1. Click Get it Now in the activation window.
2. Select Upgrade Later to continue with the 1GB free version.
3. When you reach the limit, click the option to unlock an additional 1GB.
4. Share your experience on social media.
5. Enter the review link, your name, and your email address.
6. Submit the form to activate the 1GB bonus using the key sent to your email.

When Should You Use Deep Scan?

Most recovery tools start with a Quick Scan because it is faster. However, it may not find every deleted file. If the Quick Scan doesn’t show your file, try Deep Scan instead. It is also useful if the drive was formatted, the storage device became inaccessible, or the file was deleted a long time ago. Deep Scan takes longer to complete but may find additional recoverable files.

You can recover many different files that were deleted, depending on the storage device’s status. It can be documents, pictures, videos, emails, and ZIP files. The types of document files that can be recovered include Word, Excel, PDF, and PowerPoint files. At the same time, among the types of picture files that can be recovered are JPG, PNG, HEIC, and RAW. File recovery software is also compatible with Windows PCs/Laptops, SSDs, hard disks, USB drives/ SD cards.

Things to Keep in Mind

File recovery is not always successful, so it’s important to keep your expectations realistic. Once your files have been overwritten with new data, there is no way to recover them successfully. Another problem that might affect the success of file recovery is the TRIM functionality in SSDs. With the Stellar Data Recovery Free Edition, one can restore up to 2GB of data free of charge. If one needs to recover data larger than 2GB, they will have to purchase the software.

Tips to Improve Your Recovery Chances

The actions you perform after deletion could affect the ability to recover your files. It is important not to use the drive containing the deleted files, as you may overwrite them with fresh data. If possible, try installing the software on another drive. This helps avoid writing new data to the same storage location.

Always make sure to transfer the recovered files to another drive, not back to the original one. If your files are not found during a Quick Scan, a Deep Scan is available. Preview your recoverable files before recovery to ensure they are the right ones. Complete the file recovery process immediately and keep regular backups to reduce the risk of future data loss.

Final Verdict

Recovering permanently deleted files depends on how the files were deleted and whether the data has been overwritten. For instance, restoring files from the Recycle Bin or a backup is the preferred method when they are available. Whereas, when the files are deleted by pressing “Shift” and “Delete”, deleted from the Recycle Bin, or deleted from an external hard drive, then the use of Stellar Data Recovery Free Edition will be useful. It lets you scan your storage device, preview recoverable files, and recover up to 2 GB of data for free, with the option to upgrade to a paid edition if needed. For users who need to recover more than the free limit, Stellar offers paid plans starting at around $49. The paid plans are worth considering if you need to recover more than the free limit. However, the Stellar Data Recovery Free Edition is one of the best options to recover files.