Data loss on Windows devices is an unfortunate situation that you can face due to various reasons such as accidental deletion, hardware failures, formatting errors, etc. Whatever is the cause for the deletion of data on Windows, there are always chances to restore them. Luckily, there are several free data recovery software and techniques available that you can use to get your deleted files back without any cost.
This comprehensive guide will provide you with step-by-step instructions that you can try to help you out. Here are the 3 best free methods to recover data in Windows along with tips to avoid such data loss incidents in the future.
What Causes Data Loss on Windows?
Before you learn free data recovery methods to restore your deleted files on Windows devices, it is important to understand the exact cause of the same. There are several reasons why files are deleted on your device. Some main causes are:
- Accidental Deletion: Instances may occur when you unintentionally delete files while organizing folders or cleaning up them on your device. To avoid such instances, you need to carefully check all the files and folders that you are deleting or transferring from your device storage.
- System Glitches: If your device crashes while a file is open or being configured, it may cause the loss of unsaved changes or the file itself. System errors or glitches can cause file corruption or deletion.
- Malware or Viruses: Malicious programs, like viruses or malware, can infect your system and delete or corrupt files.
- Accidental Formatting: You might have accidentally or intentionally formatted the storage device, which results in the deletion of all data on that drive.
- System Updates: Sometimes, the installation of system updates replaces the files or makes them inaccessible.
How do I Recover Lost Data in Windows?
Here are some quick and free data recovery methods that you can apply to restore lost files on Windows devices:
Method 01: Recover Deleted Data from Recycle Bin
Every file when deleted on Windows devices goes to the Recycle Bin folder and remains there for some specific days, particularly 30 days. After 30 days, the deleted files will be permanently removed from your device.
Before you apply any technical method to recover lost data on Windows, check the Recycle Bin folder. To recover lost files on Windows via Recycle Bin, go through the following steps:
- Launch Recycle Bin and locate the file you need to restore.
- Select and right-click on the file that you want back and select “Restore”.
Method 02: Recover Data Using File History Backup
If your deleted file is not present in the Recycle Bin folder, then you can check for the available backups. Windows OS provide several built-in backup utilities to easily create a backup of your important files to help you with data loss issues. One such amazing backup utility is File History, which you need to enable on your system to recover previous versions of your files.
Here are the steps that you need to follow to recover lost data on Windows devices using File History backup:
- Click on the File Explorer icon and open the folder where your deleted data was earlier stored.
- Right-click anywhere inside the folder and choose the Restore Previous Versions option.
- Now, select the most appropriate version of the File History backup that you want to restore and click Open to view its content.
- Select the files you want and click the green Restore button to save them at the desired storage location.
Method 03: Use Stellar Data Recovery Free Tool
Instances may occur when the above-mentioned methods fail to restore your lost data on a Windows device. In such cases, you can use a free data recovery software to restore your lost data. If you want to recover lost or missing files on Windows device without any cost, then Stellar Data Recovery Free will be the best choice. This amazing data recovery software allows you to restore lost files of any type, including photos, videos, documents, and more at no cost.
Along with the easy-to-use interface and simple data recovery process, the Stellar Data Recovery Free tool is known for several features. These features include:
- Supports recovery of files lost due to accidental deletion, partition loss, corruption, virus attacks, etc.
- Recover files from any internal or external storage device, USB drives, SSDs, and any other storage device.
- It is compatible with the latest Windows 11 OS along with the earliest Windows 10/8/8.1/7 OS versions.
- The software is available in multiple versions which vary in features. You can check their specifications and then select the tool that best suits your requirements.
You can go through the following 3 steps to recover data in Windows devices using the Stellar Data Recovery Free tool:
Step 1: Download and install the Stellar Data Recovery Free software on your Windows device. Launch the software and from the Select What to Recover window, choose the type of file you need to restore and click Next.
Step 2: Now, select the folder location from where you need to recover your lost data and click the Scan button.
Step 3: After successful completion of the scanning process, preview the recoverable files and select the files you need to restore. Tap the Recover button to save selected files back to your device.
Wrapping Up
Recovering data on Windows devices is quite a simple process if you implement proper data recovery workarounds. All the above-mentioned free data recovery methods will help you recover lost data on Windows devices. Along with the above 3 best free methods to recover data in Windows, you can consider some additional tips like creating proper backups for successful data recovery. These backups play a very important role when issues like data loss occur on your Windows devices.
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