Deleted files: what to do and what not to do so that you can recover them
Deleted photos or documents by mistake? The first steps decide. Where to look, what not to do and when it is time to stop trying and call an expert.
Deleting a file usually does not destroy it straight away. The system only marks the space on the disk as free. Until new data overwrites it, there is a chance of recovery. So the rule is: the sooner and the fewer interventions, the better.
What to do straight away
- Stop saving anything new to the disk or card. Do not install programs, download files or take photos.
- Check the Recycle Bin on Windows, the Trash on a Mac and the Recently Deleted folder on your phone.
- Look in the cloud's bin. OneDrive, Google Drive and iCloud keep deleted files for some time.
- On Windows, try Previous Versions on the folder if you have File History turned on.
What to avoid
- Do not install a data recovery program on the same disk you are recovering data from.
- Do not save recovered files back to the same disk.
- Stop using a camera memory card after deleting or formatting it.
- Do not run disk repairs or defragmentation until you have your data.
An SSD is a different case
Modern SSDs free up deleted space automatically using a feature called TRIM. That is why deleted files often cannot be recovered from an SSD. The bin, the cloud and regular backups matter all the more.
When the disk clicks or the computer cannot see it
If the disk makes unusual noises, keeps disconnecting or the computer cannot see it at all, switch it off immediately. Every further start can make the damage worse. Such a disk needs an expert assessment, or possibly a laboratory.
We first run a diagnostic and tell you whether recovery is possible and how much it will cost. We start the recovery only after you agree. Success cannot be promised in advance; it depends on the condition of the disk and on what happened to it after the deletion.
Next time: a backup
The most reliable recovery is the one you do not need. Keep important data in at least two copies, for example on your computer and in the cloud or on an external drive.