[Solved] Recycle Bin Deleted Files Automatically

Found Recycle Bin deleted files automatically? This article explains the reasons and offers solutions to fix it as well as method to restore files deleted from Recycle Bin.

Lora

By Lora / Updated on September 20, 2023

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Computer users will not be unfamiliar with Recycle Bin. Once you delete something accidentally or you regret the deletion, the first place you will visit is the Recycle Bin. With this place that temporarily stores removed items, users can quickly restore deleted files from Recycle Bin as they like.

But sometimes they may fail to do so – because they find Recycle Bin deleted files automatically. The wanted files were not in the Recycle Bin. In this article, you will get the following contents:

  • Why does my recycle bin automatically delete files?
  • How to recover deleted files from Recycle Bin?
  • How to stop Recycle Bin from automatically deleting files?

The issue: Recycle Bin automatically deleting files

I am running Windows 8.1 - How do I stop the Recycle Bin from automatically deleting the items if I want to restore a deleted file? The deleted files used to stay in the Recycle Bin until I deleted them. A deleted file doesn't even make it to the Recycle Bin; it just disappears!” – Microsoft Community

Why does my Recycle Bin automatically delete files?

Have you ever met Recycle Bin deleting files automatically? Why is it?  We could figure out several causes.

  • You have enabled Storage Sense. It deletes temporary and recycles bin files to free up space.
  • You have set up an auto-deletion task. Task Manager allows users to manage auto tasks like emptying Recycle Bin.
  • The files bypassed the Recycle Bin, such as large files, or data on external storage devices. 
  • The files were hidden in the Recycle Bin by viruses or unintentionally by you.

How to restore files deleted from Recycle Bin

If there is any important data deleted in the Recycle Bin, please restore them first. Any operation on the disk may overwrite the deleted files and make them disappear. Now the problem is how to restore files deleted from Recycle Bin?

Here we will take MyRecover as an example and show you how to restore files deleted from Recycle Bin step by step. 

MyRecover - recover deleted and lost data easily
  • Has a high level of algorithms. So you can recover deleted and lost data quickly and successfully.
  • Recover files deleted from the Recycle Bin or data loss scenarios, such as accidental deletion, disk formatting, virus infection, etc.
  • Support 200+ recoverable file formats, such as recover Word documents, Excel, PPT, JPG, PNG, SVG, MP4, ZIP, etc.
  • Recover 
  • Filter, preview, and recover files during the scanning process. And keep their original file name/format/path/quality.
  • Recover files in almost Windows systems including Windows 11/10/8/7 SP 1 & servers.
Download SoftwareWin 11/10/8/7/Server
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⚠️Notes:
  • Please remember not to store recovered files in the original location, which leads to data overwriting and further data loss.c

  • Quick Scan is only for NTFS disks. If your affected drive is a non-NTFS drive, please find your wanted files in the Other missing files.

  • MyRecover currently supports 30MB of free data recovery. If you have a large amount of data, please upgrade MyRecover to the premium version.

Step 1. Install and run the software. Select the C: drive and click the Start Scan button.

select-location-to-scan

Step 2. It will scan your disk automatically with Quick Scan and Deep Scan methods. During this process,  you can search, filter, preview, and recover files deleted from the Recycle Bin.

scanning-drive

Step 3. Go to Deleted Files, Recycle Bin, or Other Missing Files and locate files deleted from Recycle Bin. Then, click the Recover x files button and select a new location to store them.

select-deleted-files-from-recycle-bin-click-recover

How to stop Recycle Bin from deleting files automatically

After recovering permanently deleted files, you can stop Recycle Bin from deleting files automatically with confidence.

Method 1. Check if your files were hidden

Sometimes, files could be just hidden by misoperations or viruses and become invisible and inaccessible.

More specifically, if viruses infect your computer, you may find your files deleted/missing/encrypted, etc. You could use CMD to remove viruses.

>> Go to Recycle Bin> click View in the toolbar > toggle Hidden files > see if your "deleted" files arevisiblenow.

recycle-bin-show-hidden-files

If the deleted files are not in the Recycle Bin, they might have been permanently deleted; please move on and see the following methods.

Method 2. Disable Task Scheduler

As discussed above, Task Scheduler is a built-in app to help users manage their computers in an automatized way.

Users could set actions that run automatically on a daily/weekly/monthly routine. Then they don't need to operate it manually every time, which is pretty convenient.

Also, users could create a task to automatically delete/empty the Recycle Bin. If you have enabled one, then turn it off and stop it from deleting files in the future.

Step 1. Input Task Scheduler in the Windows search box > open it.

Step 2. Locate your auto deletion/Recycle Bin emptying task > click Disable in the Selected Item.

disable-auto-deleting-task

Thus, you could disable the auto deletion and prevent your files in the Recycle Bin from being deleted again.

Method 3. Turn off Storage Sense

Computer hard drives often have ample storage space, but it is also necessary to manage the disk space for better performance. Storage Sense is an inbuilt feature that cleans up disk space automatically.

If you have activated this feature, you will find Recycle Bin deleted files automatically.

storage-sense

Now follow the steps to disable it and prevent it from deleting files again.

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

windows-settings-click-system

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

storage-configure-storage-sense

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

turn-off-storage-sense

Then the files won't be removed automatically anymore.

How to prevent data loss in the future 

To prevent data loss from bothering you again, you might as well take some actions/precautions.

  • Delete files prudently.
  • Do not empty the Recycle Bin readily unless you run low on disk space.
  • Use antivirus software to protect your machine from viruses.
  • Back up important files from time to time.
  • Use professional data backup software for Windows to guard against data loss.
  • It will be better to save the backup copies in different places.

Wrapping up

Read this article for solutions when you find Recycle Bin deleted files automatically. To cope with this issue better, you need firstly figure out the reasons behind it and then take corresponding measures.

Try to show hidden files in the Recycle Bin, disable Task Scheduler, and turn off Storage Sense. Please remember to restore files deleted from Recycle Bin first. Otherwise, your data may disappear forever. Try data recovery software like MyRecover!

MyRecover

Powerful data recovery software in any scenario.

Lora
Lora · Editor
Lora is an editor of AOMEI Technology. She is also a tester and editor of AOMEI Data Recovery Tools. -- "Keep testing, write the most useful tutorials for helping people recover the lost data for Windows and phones" is the most meaningful thing for her. Dedicated to creating helpful tutorials, she hopes her tutorial can assist users to effortlessly solve data loss problems on their personal computers and mobile phones.