Deleted File Not in Recycle Bin | Try These Methods

Where did the deleted files go? They are not in Recycle Bin

Files play a big role in people’s daily life, holding memories, wits, and sweat of people in their study, work, research, etc. Tons of files are being created every second all around the world. Meanwhile, considerable unwanted files are being deleted every day. But to err is human – some users might delete the wrong files and urgently need to restore them.

Unfortunately, a large number of users found that their deleted files are not in Recycle Bin. Don't worry; this article aims to unveil this mystery and give some feasible solutions.

Causes of deleted files not in Recycle Bin

Please check if you have deleted your files in these ways, which may be the cause of deleted files not in Recycle Bin. 

>> You have permanently deleted files by Shift delete.

When files are shift deleted, they will bypass the Recycle Bin and be directly removed.

>> The deleted file is too large to recycle.

There is no time limit for the Recycle Bin in Windows, but a size limit. If the files or folders are bigger than the Recycle Bin size limit, they will be permanently deleted as well.

>> The Recycle Bin has met the size limit/is full.

When the Recycle Bin is about to be full, any items added might exceed the size limit.

>> You have either emptied the Recycle Bin or deleted files from it again.

There will be nothing in the Recycle Bin if you accidentally empty it. But don’t worry, you can still recover items deleted from Recycle Bin.

>> The files were deleted from an external storage device.

Files deleted from an external hard drive (including external hard drive, USB, SD card, etc.) will not be moved to the Recycle Bin on your desktop (on C: drive) but directly wiped from the computer.

>> Improper Recycle Bin settings.

In the Recycle Bin Properties, users could specify the location, custom size, etc. If you have enabled “Don’t move files to the Recycle Bin. Remove files immediately when deleted, then all data deleted will be permanently deleted, too.

How to recover deleted file not in Recycle Bin (3 solutions)

Now, after you have been clear about why deleted files are not in the Recycle Bin, you can get deleted files back much more easily. Check the detailed guide below.

Solution 1. Recover deleted files not in Recycle Bin using software

Compared to conventional data recovery methods, a highly efficient and reliable tool like FastRecovery offers a superior data recovery experience. It is the simplest and safest way to find deleted files that are not in the Recycle Bin.

With its clean, intuitive interface and cutting-edge algorithms, it ensures you can recover deleted files with a high success rate and at fast speeds. It also offers a range of convenient features to save you time and effort.

Download now to enjoy an easy permanently deleted file recovery. Compatible with Windows 11/10/8/7 SP1 & Server

Step 1. Install and run the software, then click Deleted Files Recovery. You can also choose a more suitable alternative. All of them can help you retrieve data without causing any damage.

Step 2. Hover the mouse over the affected drive/partition > click Scan.

Step 3. It automatically scans the chosen drive with Quick Scan to search for deleted or missing files. During scanning, you can click the Stop or Pause button if you select the wrong disk or something goes wrong.

Step 4. Wait for the process to complete, then select files by Type (default) or Path, with options to sort, search, filter, and preview files. 

👉Under the Type section: 

• Specify the data type and click the arrow next to type, size, date modified, etc., to sort files. 
• To locate files quickly, type the file name or extension (e.g., docx for Word files) in the search box.
• Or use the filter feature, similar to the Type category, allowing you to further specify the size of files, from less than 512 KB to 1GB above.
• Once found, double-click the files to preview. 

👉 Under the Path section: Directly navigate to the original location where you saved deleted files. Sort files if needed.

Step 5. Select the files you need and click Recover to retrieve deleted files not in Recycle Bin. 

In this way, you could fix the issue “Deleted file not in Recycle Bin” with ease. Also, as a useful tool, it supports data recovery from formatted hard drive and applies to other data loss situations.

In addition, you could upgrade FastRecovery to restore unlimited files with unlimited licenses on different devices.

Solution 2. Restore deleted files via File History

Backups are pretty useful when users meet data loss. File History, Previous Versions, Backup and Restore, etc., are both backup features offered by Windows.

If you don’t have a backup habit, then you really should do. Use professional data backup software for Windows to protect your data.

File History is one of the backup tools offered by Windows. It stores the C: drive files on a different (external hard drive is preferable) drive, including Documents, Pictures, Videos, Downloads, Desktop files, etc.

If the files you deleted were stored on the C: drive, you could restore them using this method.

Step 1. Go to Control Panel > click System and Security.

Step 2. Click File History.

Step 3. Click Restore personal files.

Step 4. Find and select the files you deleted > click the Recover button.

If you have never enabled File History, you could also refer to the methods given below.

Solution 3. Get deleted files back using the Backup and Restore feature

There is also an embedded backup tool in Windows named Backup and Restore (Windows 7).

It is used to ensure the compatibility of a Windows 7 backup on a Windows 10/11 machine. In addition, it could also help Windows 10/11 users backup their wanted files and hard drives.

Step 1. Start Control Panel > System and Security > Backup and Restore (Windows 7).

Step 2. Click Restore my files.

Step 3. Click Browse for files > select the files you need to restore > Next.

Step 4. Specify the destination according to your preferences > click Restore.

Thus, you could recover deleted files not in Recycle Bin.

How to prevent the deleted files not in recycle bin issue

Now, with your removed files retrieved successfully, you may think it is the end and you can sit back and relax. However, if there are something improper with the Recycle Bin settings or other features, your files may be lost again.

Here are some fixes to prevent this issue from happening again.

Fix 1. Check the recycle bin settings

>> Right-click the Recycle Bin icon on your desktop > Properties > make sure you don’t tick the option Don’t move files to the Recycle Bin. Remove files immediately when deleted.

Otherwise, your files will bypass the bin right away.

To make it safer, it is also suggested to tick the option Display delete confirmation dialog.

And then, every time you remove an item, you will be prompt to check if you really want to delete the file.

Fix 2. Check if you have enabled storage sense

As discussed in the reason part, if there is insufficient space in the trash can, the files might be automatically removed from the bin to free up some space.

There is also another automatic feature to keep enough space on your hard drive – Storage Sense.

Users who have activated this feature may notice that the Recycle Bin deletes files automatically. You could disable it to avoid files from disappearing from the bin.

Step 1. Click the Windows Start menu > Windows Settings > System.

Step 2. Click Storage > Configure Storage Sense or run it now.

Step 3. Switch off Storage Sense. Specify whether you need to clean up temporary files according to your preferences.

FAQs

1. What is the best software to recover files missing from Recycle bin?

If your files are missing from Recycle Bin, it's likely that they have been permanently deleted. FastRecovery is the best Windows data recovery software available. With its simple, intuitive interface, cutting-edge algorithms, and support for a wide range of recovery scenarios, it’s fully equipped to meet all your needs.

2. Can I get back emptied recycle bin files safely?

To get back emptied Recycle Bin files safely, please be sure you don't add data, format the disk, and stop data recovery as soon as possible. Another core point is to use a data recovery software with a high success rate and fast speed.

3. How to recover permanently deleted files from PC without backup?

To recover permanently deleted files from PC without backup, using professional data recovery software will be the best choice. But if your disk is severely damaged or the data loss scenario is complex, consult with data recovery services.

4. How to recover deleted photos missing from Recycle bin on external drive?

To recover deleted photos missing from Recycle Bin on external drive, you need to check if you have any backup first. If not, employ a reliable data recovery software like FastRecovery. 

• Download and install FastRecovery on your computer. 
• Click Deleted Files Recovery.
• Select the external hard drive with deleted files and click Scan.
• Just wait and select the files to recover. 

Conclusion 

If you find the deleted file not in Recycle Bin, likely that you have permanently deleted it, emptied the Recycle Bin, or the files were deleted from an external hard drive.

No matter how you have lost/deleted the files, you could restore them from a backup or turn to a useful Windows data recovery tool – FastRecovery. To improve data security, check out these suggestions.

• Check twice before deleting anything. File deletion is one of the biggest causes of file loss.
• Never empty the Recycle Bin unless necessary.
• Back up vital files to avoid data loss in the future.
• When using external hard drives like USB flash drives, delete data prudently.