After the release of Windows 10 2004 Build last month, Microsoft has added a new Windows Recovery Tool to recover deleted files on Windows 10 computers. While there are plenty of data recovery programs, the unique part about this tool is that it’s native to Windows so it works much better than third-party software. Basically, the chances of data recovery will be much higher than any other tool. The only downside is that the new Windows Recovery Tool is a command-line program which is not everyone’s cup of tea. Anyway, I have tried my best to simplify the instructions so that you can get your files back easily. With that in mind, let’s go ahead and learn how to recover deleted files using Windows Recovery Tool.
Before I begin the guide, let me tell you that Windows Recovery Tool works with HDD, SSD, external hard drives, USB drives, and even SD cards which is just amazing. Apart from that, you should be on Windows 10 2004 build (June 2020 update) and above to be able to use this feature. With that out of the way, let’s now jump to the steps.
The simplest way to recover files is to use the below syntax. Just type winfr and enter the drive that you want to search for deleted files. Next, enter the drive where you want to store the recovered files. For example, here I am searching the whole C drive for deleted files and storing the recovered files on the G drive.
If you want to scan for a particular file format then follow the below syntax. Here, I am searching for deleted PDF files in C drive and storing the recovered files in G drive.
You can use the same syntax for MP3, MP4, DOC, PPT, ZIP, and other file formats.
winfr C: G: /r /n filename
winfr C: G: /n \Users\yourusername\Documents\
Frequently Asked Questions
Utilize the New Windows Recovery Tool to Retrieve Deleted Files and Folders
Q. Can We Recover Permanently Deleted Files in Windows 10?
Yes, you can. But it’s strongly recommended that you recover the deleted files as soon as possible. It will ensure that the deleted files are not overwritten.
You will have to install Windows Recovery Tool and then use Command Prompt to start the recovery process. I have explained the instructions in detail above so go through that.
Q. How Do I Recover Permanently Deleted Files From My Computer?
Windows Recovery Tool has two modes: Segment and Signature. Segment is set by default and it works most of the time. However, if it fails to recover the permanently deleted files then you can use the Signature mode. It will surely help you retrieve permanently deleted files on your Windows PC. Go through the tutorial for more details.
Q. Where Do Deleted Files Go?
When you delete a file, it does not get erased from the hard disk completely. Only the pointer to the file is removed from the end-user so no one can access it. However, the file is available in the hard disk sector and it will remain there until it’s overwritten by another set of data.
