How To Recover Files On Windows Without Using Recovery Software?

One thing about data loss is, you never know when it will strike you and how much damage it will cause. Be it your work files, images, videos, or documents, you can lose them all with just one wrong move. In some cases, the fault is not even yours, especially if your system crashes. 

If you have lost data on your PC, using Windows Data Recovery software may seem like the ultimate solution. But there are other ways that can help you retrieve your data or files even without using such a recovery tool. If you are wondering how it works, we have included the details in this post.

Check The Recycle Bin

When you delete a file on your Windows PC, it goes straight into the Recycle Bin, which is like a temporary holding area where all your deleted files stay until you decide to empty the bin or restore them.

Here’s what you need to do:

• Go to the recycle bin.
• Now search for the file you want to recover.
• Right-click the selected file and choose the “Restore” option. This will send the file back to the folder you deleted it from.
• If you want to restore multiple files at once, hold the Ctrl key while selecting them, and choose “Restore the selected items.”
• You can also drag and drop files from the Recycle Bin into any other folder you prefer.

Note: You can recover files from the Recycle Bin only if you haven’t emptied it.

Use File History Backup

File History happens to be a built-in backup feature available in Windows 8.1, 10, and 11. If you had File History turned on before the file went missing, you may be able to recover a previous version of it.

Here’s how:

• Go to the search bar and enter “Restore your files with File History.” Click the option when it appears.
• Look for the file you want to retrieve. Remember, there can be multiple versions of the same file.
• Select the version you want and hit Restore.
• Now you can drag the file to the folder you want to store it.

You don’t always need recovery software to get your files back on Windows. By following these methods, you can retrieve your files with just a few clicks.