Have you ever deleted files from your phone or computer by mistake? Or formatted a device and regretted it straight away? Most of us have been there. And when it happens, all you want is to recover the deleted files.
Deleted files can stay recoverable until they are overwritten: stop using the device. If software does not solve it, see Bot’s phone data recovery, which starts with a free diagnosis.
Often these are files that simply can’t be lost: company financial spreadsheets, photos from years ago, a college assignment due next week. Once they’ve been deleted, can they still be recovered?
In this article we explain what you can do. There’s no need to panic: here’s how to recover files deleted from your computer’s Recycle Bin, a USB flash drive, a memory card or any other device you use.
Is it possible to recover deleted files?
Deleting files by accident is very common. It’s no coincidence that the computer asks “Are you sure you want to delete this file?”. Even so, it’s easy to confirm and delete the wrong file, or to change your mind later.
Files can also be lost through formatting. Formatting creates a new, empty file system on the device, so everything stored on it disappears from view, including the operating system if it was on that drive.
Formatting is often done in critical situations, such as a virus infection or a general system failure, to “reset” the device and get it working again. The problem is that formatting, whether intentional or accidental, can take important files with it.
So let’s look in detail at what happens to deleted files in each of these cases and whether they can be recovered.
Deleted files
Yes, deleted files can often be recovered. But the outcome depends on how they were deleted and on the device they were stored on.
On a desktop or laptop computer, files you delete normally go to the Recycle Bin (the Trash on a Mac). It keeps deleted files for a while, up to a size limit set as a percentage of the disk. When that limit is reached, the oldest files are removed automatically.
From there you can simply select the files, click Restore and they go back to their original folders. But it isn’t always that simple.
If the file was too large for the Recycle Bin, if you deleted it permanently (for example with Shift + Delete) or if you have already emptied the bin, it can no longer be restored from there.
Also, not every device has a Recycle Bin. Windows and Mac computers do, but phones, tablets, USB flash drives and memory cards don’t. When you delete a file from an SD card, for example, it is deleted permanently, even if the card is connected to a laptop at the time.
Even so, the file doesn’t necessarily vanish for good. In most cases the system only removes its entry from the file system and marks the space as free; the data itself stays where it was until something new is written over it. As long as that space hasn’t been overwritten, the file can often be recovered with data recovery software or in a lab. The exception is SSDs and many modern phones, where the TRIM command and encryption can make deleted data unrecoverable quite quickly.
Formatted files
Files lost through formatting can often be recovered too, but not from the Recycle Bin: formatted files never go there.
When a device is formatted, everything stored on it is removed at once. This is different from deleting files yourself, where you choose what to delete and, on laptops and PCs, the items usually go to the Recycle Bin first.
A quick format works much like a permanent deletion: the file system is rebuilt, but the old data usually remains on the device, invisible to the user, until it is overwritten. That is why it can often be recovered with data recovery software and procedures. A full format, on the other hand, may write zeros across the whole drive (Windows does this from Vista onwards), and on an SSD formatting usually triggers TRIM. In those cases recovery is generally no longer possible.
Can formatting be reversed?
Formatting can’t be undone. Once the file system and its contents have been wiped, there is no button that takes you back.
That doesn’t mean the files stored on your computer, phone, tablet or other device are lost, as long as they haven’t been overwritten.
Bear in mind that this is not really “unformatting”. Data recovery gets your files back, but it doesn’t restore the system exactly as it was before.
How do I recover deleted files from WhatsApp?
The quickest way to get back deleted WhatsApp messages and media is to uninstall the app and reinstall it, then restore the chat history when prompted.
This only works if backups were enabled (Google Drive on Android, iCloud on iPhone). WhatsApp backs up chats on the schedule you choose, for example daily, so reinstalling and restoring brings back what was in the latest backup. Anything received or deleted after that backup won’t come back this way.
Recover deleted files with specific programs
Besides the method above, you can use specialized programs to try to recover lost files on your phone or other storage media.
A file manager can help you find files that were moved, hidden or saved to an unexpected folder, but it can’t bring back files that were actually deleted. For those you need data recovery software.
If you have tried these options without success, the best way to recover files from your phone is to turn to a company that specializes in data recovery.
Advantages of hiring a data recovery company
When it comes to recovering deleted files, a specialized service is the safest choice: it gives you the best chance of recovery without causing further damage to your phone.
Here are some reasons to turn to a specialist to recover deleted messages and other files:
- The procedure is carried out without damaging the device or other files;
- Lost data and files are recovered quickly;
- Specialized tools and in-depth knowledge of systems, devices and brands;
To get lost WhatsApp messages back, restore your latest backup. For files lost from hard drives, USB flash drives, memory cards and SSDs, Bot can help you recover them safely.
Talk to our experts now!
How do I recover deleted files?
As we’ve seen, files lost through deletion or formatting can often be recovered.
If you have a backup of the files, in the cloud or on another device, there’s nothing to worry about: just open the backup and copy the files back. Keeping backups is the best way to protect yourself against accidental file loss, and it will save you a lot of headaches.
But we don’t always have everything backed up. So let’s look at how to recover deleted files in different situations:
How to recover deleted files from Recycle Bin
If you have permanently deleted files from your computer’s Recycle Bin, recovery takes more than just clicking Restore.
Before you do anything else, stop using that disk. Don’t save, install or download anything to it until the files have been recovered, and never install a recovery program on the same drive you want to recover from. Every new write can overwrite the deleted data and make recovery difficult or even impossible. If the files were on the system disk, the safest option is to shut the computer down.
The next step is the recovery itself, with the right tools or with qualified professionals.
Yes, you can try it at home. There are programs that can recover deleted data (you’ll find some options below). But you need to be careful: any mistake with the files or the device can put all the data at risk and even make recovery impossible.
That’s why we recommend professional help to recover files deleted from the Recycle Bin safely. A company that specializes in data recovery, such as Bot, knows how to handle each situation and uses professional tools designed for the job.
How to recover deleted files from a USB flash drive
If files have been deleted from a USB flash drive, there is no Recycle Bin to restore them from. The deletion is permanent.
Windows doesn’t keep a Recycle Bin for USB flash drives, so files deleted from them skip it entirely. You may come across Command Prompt tricks online (such as the attrib command) that promise to recover deleted files from a USB flash drive; in reality they only reveal files that were hidden, for example by a virus, and don’t bring back files that were deleted.
Even so, only use the Command Prompt if you know what you’re doing, because a wrong command can cause serious damage.
You can also use data recovery software, as explained above, but it’s worth repeating that this requires care.
That’s why it’s always best to talk to a specialized company before doing anything that could ruin your chances of getting your data back.
How do I recover deleted files from my phone’s SD card?
SD (Secure Digital) cards and their smaller versions (miniSD and microSD) are widely used in Android phones, digital cameras and other devices to store photos, videos, music and other files.
Like a USB flash drive, an SD card has no Recycle Bin. But if you connect the card to a computer, you can use data recovery software to try to get your files back. Some recovery apps can also work with the card inside the phone. Either way, stop recording anything to the card as soon as you notice the files are missing.
Once again, our recommendation is to get help from a specialized company. Entrust your files to reliable professionals who have experience with these cases and use the right tools.
Can I recover deleted files from a memory card?
The SD card we’ve just discussed is one type of memory card, but there are others, such as CompactFlash, xD-Picture Card and Memory Stick, which are also used in digital cameras and other devices that need to store files.
They differ in write speed and capacity, but all memory cards have one thing in common: they don’t have a Recycle Bin.
So, as with SD cards, you can connect them to your computer and try data recovery software. For extra peace of mind, though, it’s worth entrusting your data to a specialized company.
How do I get back files I deleted from my external drive?
External hard drives connected to a Windows computer usually have their own Recycle Bin, so check it first: files deleted through File Explorer may still be there. If they were deleted permanently, deleted on another computer or the drive was formatted, the next step is a data recovery tool, and you should stop writing to the drive straight away.
However, you have a better chance of recovering your external drive and keeping your files safe if you rely on the professional help of a specialized company, especially if the drive is clicking, isn’t recognized or has been dropped.
How do I get back programs I uninstalled?
Deleting files and formatting devices also affects installed programs.
You may uninstall a program and then regret it. In that case, you can use System Restore to return Windows to a restore point created before the program was removed. But be sure of what you’re doing: this procedure removes any apps, drivers and updates installed after that restore point. It doesn’t affect your personal files.
If System Restore isn’t available, the simplest way is usually to reinstall the program. What a data recovery company can help you get back are the files that program used or created, such as documents, databases or project files.
Formatting, on the other hand, wipes everything stored on the device, including installed programs. In this case the programs can’t be brought back with their original settings; they have to be reinstalled.
If you are formatting on purpose, you can back up your data and program settings beforehand, either manually or with dedicated software.
The problem is when the computer is formatted by accident or because of a virus. In these cases, users rarely have a backup of their programs, so they have to be reinstalled one by one. You can download each program again or use a tool that installs several at once, such as Ninite.
What is the best program to recover deleted files?
Data recovery programs can be a do-it-yourself solution for recovering deleted files in simpler situations, such as files deleted by mistake from a healthy drive. Here are some of the tools you can use:
- Recuva (Windows)
- Disk Drill (Windows and Mac)
- Recoverit (Windows and Mac)
- EaseUS (Windows, Mac, iOS and Android)
Once the program is installed (on a different drive from the one you want to recover), it scans the device for deleted files. Recovery can sometimes be complete, but not always, especially if the data has already been overwritten.
There are, however, a few things to keep in mind about these tools.
They usually have free versions with a limit on how many files or how much data you can recover. If you need to recover a large amount of data, you’ll probably need the paid version.
In more complex cases, such as corrupted files or physical damage to the hard drive, these tools are of limited use and offer little chance of recovery. A drive that clicks, isn’t recognized or keeps disconnecting should not be scanned with software at all, because every attempt can make the damage worse.
What’s more, mishandling storage devices can cause permanent damage, so a do-it-yourself solution can be risky. You don’t want to put important files in danger, do you?
That’s why professional help is always the best option. A company that specializes in data recovery has the right equipment, specialists and working environment for the job, along with experience in every kind of data loss, from the simplest to the most complex.
With professional help, your data is handled safely and your chances of recovery are much higher, even after files have been permanently deleted.
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How Bot can help
Bot specializes in data recovery, with more than two decades of experience, and handles even the most complex cases of data loss on hard drives, phones, USB flash drives, memory cards and other devices.
Bot uses professional data recovery equipment and software in a laboratory with strict particle control (a Class 100 (ISO 5) cleanroom), which protects the devices while they are being worked on. You can rely on our expertise and facilities to recover your files, with a 96% success rate.
So, if you’ve lost files from your phone, restore your latest backup first. If you or your company need to recover deleted files from a computer, hard drive, USB flash drive, SSD or memory card (including a microSD card taken from your phone), count on Bot. The standard diagnosis is free and so is collection of your device (islands not included).
Fill in the quote form now so we can analyze your case and show you how Bot can help.
