How to recover deleted files on Windows and Android

Have you ever accidentally deleted a file and regretted it later? Don't worry; it happens to the best of us. Fortunately, deleted files aren't entirely gone and can be recovered. Here is a step-by-step guide through which you can restore the deleted files easily.

Recovering deleted files on Windows

To recover the deleted files on Windows, you can check the following places where you’d be able to restore them.

Check the Recycle Bin

The first place to look for deleted files is the Recycle Bin. You can find it on your desktop or in the File Explorer navigation pane.

Restore or delete

Select the files you want to restore or delete permanently. You can also empty the entire Recycle Bin or restore all items.

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OneDrive Recycle Bin

If you have OneDrive synced with your Windows files, check the OneDrive Recycle Bin on the web or in the cloud icon on your taskbar.

Change Recycle Bin settings

To change the 30-day default retention period, go to Settings > Accounts > Windows backup > OneDrive folder syncing.

Recovering deleted files on Android

Google Photos

If you use Google Photos, tap Library > Trash to find recently deleted files. You can restore or permanently delete them.

Files by Google

Use the Files by Google app to find deleted files in the Trash folder. Select a file to restore or delete it permanently.

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Samsung Apps

If you have a Samsung phone, use the Samsung Gallery or My Files app to recover deleted files from the Recycle bin.

Google DriveWeb version

Go to Google Drive on the web and click the Trash link in the navigation pane.

Restore or delete

Select files to restore or permanently delete them.