Accidentally deleted an important document with Shift + Delete? When the Recycle Bin is empty, you might think you need expensive third-party recovery software. But Microsoft offers an official, free recovery tool that you can use right away.
Quick Summary
- Official Tool: “Windows File Recovery” free on Microsoft Store (app size approx. 2.3 MB)
- System Requirements: Windows 10 (Build 19041.0+) and Windows 11; supports NTFS, FAT, exFAT, ReFS
- Key Rule: Source drive (C:) and destination drive (D: or external USB) must be different
- Modes: Use
/regularfor recent deletions and/extensivefor older files or external drives
Why permanently deleted files can still be recovered
Permanently deleting a file does not immediately erase its actual data from your drive. The Windows file system simply marks the space where the data was stored as free space that can be overwritten. It is like erasing a chapter title from a book’s table of contents while leaving the actual pages intact.
However, if you keep using your computer, new data will overwrite those sectors, making recovery impossible. To maximize your chances of recovery, stop browsing the web, close running apps, and minimize PC usage immediately after noticing the deletion.
Windows File Recovery requirements and supported formats
Microsoft provides an official command-line tool called Windows File Recovery (winfr) for free through the Microsoft Store. At around 2.3 MB, it is lightweight, safe, and completely free of ads or paywalls.
Note that network drives and cloud storage like OneDrive cannot be recovered with this tool. Review the supported specifications and media before getting started.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Operating System | Windows 10 version 19041.0 (build 2004) or higher, Windows 11 |
| Supported Storage | Internal HDD, SSD (limited by TRIM), external drives, USB flash drives, SD cards |
| File Systems | NTFS, FAT, exFAT, ReFS |
| File Types | Documents (DOCX, PDF, XLSX, PPTX, etc.), photos (JPEG, PNG), audio/video (MP4, MP3), archives (ZIP), etc. |
How to run recovery commands: Regular vs. Extensive mode
Open Command Prompt as an administrator and enter the structured command. The basic syntax is winfr SourceDrive: DestinationDrive: [mode] [/n filter].
For recently deleted files on an NTFS drive, use Regular mode (/regular). For example, to recover your entire Documents folder from the C: drive to an external drive (E:), run winfr C: E: /regular /n \Users\<username>\Documents\. To target specific file extensions, add filters such as winfr C: E: /regular /n .pdf /n .docx.
If the file was deleted long ago or is on a USB or SD card (FAT/exFAT), use Extensive mode (/extensive). To search for files containing a specific word, run winfr C: D: /extensive /n report. To scan for photos in a specific folder, run winfr C: E: /extensive /n \Users\<username>\Pictures\.JPEG /n \Users\<username>\Pictures\.PNG.
Important rules to follow during recovery
The single most critical rule is that the source drive and destination drive letters must be different. If you attempt to restore deleted files from the C: drive back onto the C: drive, the recovery process itself will overwrite the data and fail. Always save recovered files to a D: drive or a separate external USB drive (E:).
When you run the command, a folder named Recovery_<date and time> is automatically created on the destination drive to store your recovered files. If you need to stop the process midway, press Ctrl + C.
If you accidentally deleted a file with Shift + Delete, stop using your PC immediately, plug in an external drive, and run the recovery command.