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How to Restore a Deleted File from the Recycle Bin

Tap a step to follow along in order.

  1. Double-click the Recycle Bin icon on your desktop

    Double-click the Recycle Bin icon on your desktop to open it.

  2. Find the file you want to recover

    Locate the file in the list -- you can also sort by file name or deletion date to find it faster.

  3. Right-click the file and select "Restore"

    Right-click the file you found and choose "Restore."

  4. Check the file in its original folder

    The restored file automatically returns to the folder it was in before it was deleted.

  5. Why it's useful

    If you delete an important file by accident and haven't emptied the Recycle Bin yet, you can get it back exactly where it was instead of worrying it's gone for good.

Accidentally deleted something important?

If you delete an important file by mistake and haven't emptied the Recycle Bin, there's no need to panic -- it can be restored to exactly where it was before, in just a couple of clicks.

Recovering several files at once

You don't have to restore files one at a time. Select multiple files in the Recycle Bin by holding Ctrl while clicking each one (or Shift for a consecutive range), then right-click and choose Restore to bring them all back together.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there any way to recover a file after the Recycle Bin has been emptied?

The built-in Restore feature can't help once the Recycle Bin is empty. At that point you'd need dedicated data recovery software, and success isn't guaranteed, especially if the drive has been used since.

Do old files in the Recycle Bin get deleted automatically?

Not by default, but if you turn on your system's storage-cleanup feature, files that have been in the Recycle Bin longer than a set period can be automatically and permanently deleted.