How to Get Back Deleted Documents [5 Ways]

In today's digital age, accidental deletion of important documents can be a common and frustrating issue for many users. Whether you mistakenly deleted a critical report, a cherished photo, or an essential project file, the feeling of losing valuable data can be distressing.

However, there's no need to panic! With the right approach and tools, you can often recover deleted documents successfully. This article will guide you through the process of document recovery, offering step-by-step solutions to retrieve your lost files effectively.

How to get back deleted documents - 5 ways

To get the deleted files back, you can employ the five effective methods, each of which can help you overcome this predicament.

Way 1. Restoring deleted documents from the Recycle Bin

If you accidentally delete files on your Windows PC, don't worry! They might still be in the Recycle Bin waiting to be retrieved. Here's how to get back a deleted Word document from the Bin:

Step 1. Open the Recycle Bin by double-clicking its icon on your desktop.

Step 2. Scan through the Recycle Bin to find your mistakenly deleted documents or use the search function to locate them.

Step 3. Right-click on the pictures you wish to recover and choose the "Restore" option.

Way 2. Recovering deleted documents using File History

In case you have emptied the Recycle Bin and don't have an immediate backup, you can try recovering your deleted files using File History:

Step 1. Type "Restore files" in the search bar and click "Open" to access File History.

Step 2. Look for the deleted pictures or folders containing them.

Step 3. Click on the green refresh button to restore the deleted photos to their original locations.

Way 3. Using Command Prompt for file recovery

If the previous methods do not work or you seek an alternative solution, Command Prompt can help recover missing documents. However, exercise caution as it may not guarantee complete recovery, and missteps could lead to data loss. Lets see how to get back deleted documents via CMD:

Step 1. Search for Command Prompt and run it as an administrator.

Step 2. Enter the command "chkdsk [drive letter]:/f" and press Enter. Confirm by typing 'Y' and hitting Enter.

Step 3. Next, type in the drive letter and press Enter. Then enter "attrib -h -r -s /s /d [drive letter]:*.*" to initiate the file recovery process on that disk.

Way 4. Resort to AOMEI Partition Assistant Professional software

For a secure and user-friendly document recovery process, consider using AOMEI Partition Assistant Professional software. This powerful tool can effectively restore various file types, including pictures, documents, videos, and more, even in scenarios like emptying the Recycle Bin or lacking backups.

It can handle data recovery from formatted hard drives, external drives, and SD cards. Moreover, it offers concise guidance and practical functions for a seamless recovery experience on Windows systems including Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7/Vista/XP.

Follow these simple steps to see how to get a deleted document back:

Step 1. Open the AOMEI Partition Assistant Professional software and click on "Recover" > "Recover Data" in the top toolbar of the main interface.

Step 2. The software will initiate the recovery process.

Step 3. Select the disk containing the deleted pictures and click "Start Scan." Wait patiently as the software scans for the targeted photos. You can use the Filter option to search for specific file types.

Step 4. Once the scan is complete, select the desired photos and click the "Recovery" button to start the restoration process. After that, you can find the recovered pictures on your PC.

Step 5. Choose the folder to save the restored data, and you're done! The restored files will be visible when the Completion icon is displayed.

Way 5. Recovering deleted documents from Previous Versions

If you have a system restore point created before removing the files, you can use Previous Versions to see how to get deleted Word documents back:

Step 1. Right-click on the folder where you originally saved the photos before deletion and select "Restore Previous Versions."

Step 2. Choose the version you want to retrieve, and click the "Restore" button to recover your accidentally deleted pictures.

Conclusion

Losing important documents can be distressing, but with the right knowledge and tools, you can know how to get back deleted documents successfully. Always start by checking the Recycle Bin or Trash, and if that fails, explore other options like backups, recovery software, or professional data recovery services.

Remember to take preventive measures and back up your files regularly like cloning the hard drive to avoid future data loss. By following these steps, you'll increase your chances of retrieving your deleted documents and easing the stress of data loss.