Free & Feasible Ways to Recover Deleted Word Files

Want to recover deleted word files freely? This tutorial offers you several feasible ways on how to recover deleted word files.

Penny

By Penny / Updated on May 27, 2022

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Can I recover deleted word files?

Microsoft Word is a word processing program created by Microsoft. Many businessmen and individuals usually use it to create and save documents. Another significant advantage is that you can create different formats based on your need. Therefore, whether an accidental deletion or intentional deletion, it will lead to data loss. Let’s look at some cases.

   
   
   
       

I deleted my word files accidentally, and I cannot find them in my recycle bin. Luckily, I have made a backup. So could you help me recover it with my backup? Thanks.

   
   
   
   
       

Help! I’ve emptied my recycle bin before, now I want to use them. Is there any way to recover word files? And there’s no accessible backup for me to use. Thanks in advance.

These two cases represent two scenarios for deletion, which also suggests there’re two feasible ways to recover deleted word files. Maybe one of them is right for you.

How to recover deleted word files?

How to recover a deleted file from Microsoft Word? If there’s a valuable backup including your desired word files, you can refer to the first case. If not, you can skip the former solution and move to other solutions. Please scroll down. 

Case 1. Recover deleted word files with backups

The first case is heavily dependent on accessible backups. To some degree, quite a few users prefer Google Drive rather than the Windows feature. And Trash in your Google Drive can save deleted files for 30 days, which is similar to recovering pictures from the Recycle Bin. So these steps depict how to recover deleted word files from Trash of Google Drive.

Tips:  Ensure you’ve enabled and used Google Drive, then this method can work for you. Meanwhile, pay attention to the period-30 days.

Step 1. Open your Google Drive, go to “Drive” > “Trash”.

Step 2. Right-click on the file you need by browsing all the files or entering the targeted file name.

Step 3. Click the “Restore” button to get them back.

google-drive-trash-restore

If you’ve shared some word files with your contacts, you can also recover this word file within one month. It’s impossible for you to retrieve word files from Trash beyond 30 days.

Case 2. Recover deleted word files using Windows File Recovery

If there’s no accessible backup for you, you can utilize another troubleshooting data recovery software, Windows File Recovery. Nevertheless, this command-line program is only available for Windows 10 and later versions from the Microsoft Store.

All file systems (NTFS, non-NTFS, FAT, ex-FAT, and REFS) could be supported by Windows File Recovery using the Regular, Extensive, Segment, or Signature mode.

As stated earlier, this is a command-line utility, which suggests you have to enter different command lines for corresponding scenarios. You can adjust this basic command line winfr source-drive: destination-drive: [/mode] [/switch] and input adjusted command lines in the Command Prompt window.

Notes:✎...
Ensure your source drive and destination drive are different. That means your recovered files need to be saved in a different location from the scanning drive.
Avoid using your PC as much as possible if you’ve found your word files were gone.
Check your file systems with the following form.

 

File system

Examples

FAT and exFAT

SD cards, flash or USB drives (< 4GB)

NTFS

Computers (HDD, SSD), external hard drives, flash or USB drives (> 4GB)

Step 1. Click the “Get” button to download Windows File Recovery from the Microsoft Store, then install it on your computer.

microsoft-store-get

Step 2. Enter “Windows File Recovery” in the search box, and click the “Run as administrator” button to run it.

windows-file-recovery/windows-file-recovery-run-as-adminstrator

Step 3. Select a suitable mode with this guideline after checking your file system.

 If you deleted your files recently, select the Regular mode directly. Otherwise, the Extensive mode (a thorough recovery option suitable for all file systems) is a better option.  

Step 4. Combine command lines with the following common switches. 

Switches

Meaning

Supported mode(s)

/n

Filter the scan range: scans for a specific file with its file name/path/type, etc.

All

/y:

Recover specific extension groups.

Signature

/k

Recovers system files.

NTFS Segment

/u

Recovers undeleted files, for example, from the Recycle Bin.

NTFS Segment

For instance, you can input Winfr C: E: /regular /n *.docx to recover your word files from the C drive to the E drive

Step 5. Press “y” to continue. Please wait patiently, then you can click your destination drive or folder to confirm your recovered word files. If you want to stop the recovery process, press the “Ctrl + C” button.

Free WinfrGUI 

Here comes a more user-friendly tool, 100% free WinfrGUI. Because there’s an accessible graphical user interface for you. More importantly, this reliable software has invoked all the functions of Windows File Recovery. Please pay attention that it is only compatible with Windows 10/11. Let’s perform how to recover word files within the three steps below.

Download Freeware Win 10 2004 and above
Secure Download

Step 1. Download and install WinfrGUI on your PC. Then select a partition to scan, and select a destination place (folder or another partition) to save your recovered word files.

select-partition-to-scan-and-location-to-save

Step 2. Select Quick Scan or Deep Scan first. Then select “Documents” after clicking “Advanced Settings”.

choose-scanning-mode-advanced-settings

Step 3. Click “Start Recovery”. Please wait patiently, then you can click your destination place to check your recovered word files.

click-start-recovery

Efficient MyRecover 

As mentioned above, WinfrGUI needs to work with Windows 10 and later versions. That may discourage some users from using it. Luckily, MyRecover could bridge this gap.

You don't need to upgrade your operating system because this user-friendly data recovery software works with Windows 11/10/8/7 and Windows Server. Furthermore, it can keep the deleted/lost data in its original format. Let's have a closer look at other fascinating functions below. 

This powerful software offers good coverage of 200+ types of data: Word, PPT, Excel, Photos, Videos, Audios, Emails, Webpages, and Compressed files. 
It's possible to keep its original directory, and file name for the deleted files. 
You're allowed to recover the deleted/lost files from SSD/HDD. 
The combined scanning method of Quick Scan and Deep Scan detects your data without omissions.

Are you bothered by deletion, disk formatting, or virus attack? Don't hesitate to download it and enjoy the high recovery rate now!

Download SoftwareWin 11/10/8/7/Server
Secure Download

Step 1. Install and run MyRecover on the computer. Then select the partition/disk that includes your deleted Word files, and click "Start Scan". 

select-a-partition-to-scan

Step 2.  Quick Scan and Deep Scan can search all the deleted Word files and other lost files on your selected partition/disk.

scan-lost-data

Step 3. Check your scanning results and click "Recover x files". And save your recovered Word files in a new position.

select-deleted-word-files-click-recover

Wrapping up

This tutorial shares several free solutions to recover word files. For example, if you’ve used Google Drive, you can recover your needed word files using it. Otherwise, maybe you can try Windows File Recovery to restore them.

Given that there’s no graphical user interface (GUI) for you, you have to enter specified command lines to recover deleted word files, which is indeed hard for non-experts. All in all, MyRecover could be the most user-friendly software. Why not have a try?

Penny
Penny · Editor
Penny works as an editor at AOMEI Technology, while she's a tester and editor for AOMEI Data Recovery Tools. She enjoys helping users with data recovery issues on Windows and iPhones using simple and practical solutions. Outside of work, she has a strong affection for pets, particularly giant pandas.