If you need to recover deleted files from C drive, this article covers the most effective solutions. Learn how to recover files from a formatted or corrupted C drive in Windows 10 and 11 with detailed, easy-to-follow instructions.
When you delete a file from your C drive, Windows doesn’t immediately erase it from the storage device. Instead, the file is marked as "deleted," and its space is marked as available for overwriting. As long as the space hasn't been reused by new data, the deleted file still exists on the drive in a fragmented form and can be recovered using the right methods.
So, "Can I recover deleted files from C drive?" Yes, it is possible to recover permanently deleted C drive files, depending on certain conditions. In one word, using the right recovery methods before the data is overwritten can help you restore deleted files from your C drive.
Losing important files from your C drive can be a stressful experience. Whether it’s due to accidental deletion, a system crash, or a virus, the good news is that in many cases, deleted files from the C drive can still be recovered. The following methods will guide you through some of the most effective ways to recover deleted files from your C drive, ranging from built-in Windows utilities to more advanced data recovery tools. Let's explore these solutions step by step.
If the files you deleted are still in the Recycle Bin, they can easily be restored with just a few clicks.
Step 1. Open the Recycle Bin by double-clicking the icon on your desktop.
Step 2. Browse through the deleted files or use the search bar to find the file(s) you're looking for.
Step 3. Right-click on the file(s) you want to recover and choose "Restore".
The files will be restored to their original location on the C drive.
If you have always enabled File History, a built-in tool (for Windows 8/10/11), to back up files in advance, then you can recover previous versions of files or folders.
Step 1. Open File Explorer and navigate to the folder in C drive where your deleted file was located.
Step 2. Right-click the folder and select "Restore previous versions".
Step 3. Choose a version from the list and click "Restore".
The file will be restored to its previous state before deletion.
Windows File Recovery is a command line app available from the Microsoft Store. It can recover lost files that have been deleted from your local storage device (including internal drives, external drives, and USB devices) and can’t be restored from the Recycle Bin.
Step 1. Download Windows File Recovery app in Microsoft Store and install it.
Step 2.In the Command Prompt window, enter the command in the following format:
winfr source-drive: destination-drive: [/mode] [/switches]
For example: Recover your Documents folder from your C: drive to the recovery folder on an D: drive.
Winfr C: D: /regular /n \Users\\Recycle Bin\
Step 3. When you are prompted for confirmation to continue, enter Y to start the recovery operation.
CHKDSK is a built-in Windows tool that scans your drive for errors and can help recover some deleted files, especially if the deletion was due to a system issue or corruption.
Step 1. Search Command Prompt in the Start menu, right-click Command Prompt from the result list and run it as an administrator.
Step 2. In the command prompt window, type the following command: chkdsk c: /f /r. (Following picture is checking G drive.)
Step 3. Press Enter and let CHKDSK scan and repair the drive. It will search for bad sectors and attempt to recover readable data.
If the above methods don't work or you are not quite familar with commands, using professional Windows data recovery software is a good choice. Here, we strongly recommend you trying MyRecover. This tool scan your drive sector by sector to locate files that have been deleted but not yet overwritten. Even if you have formatted C drive and cause data loss, it can also help recover files from C drive.
Step 1. Download and install MyRecover.
Step 2. Open the software and select your C drive for scanning.
Step 3. The tool will scan for deleted files and show you a list of recoverable files.
Step 4. Select the files you wish to recover and choose a destination for saving them.
The MyRecover comes with Free, Professional and Technician version. Each version can help users to restore data (texts, pictures, videos, audios, emails, compressed files) from formatted, corrupted, virus-attack storage device. Even if you cannot boot computer as usual, you can make a bootable media via MyRecover and perform data recovery.
Recovering deleted files from the C drive is possible using various methods, including restoring from the Recycle Bin, utilizing Windows' built-in tools, running CHKDSK for disk repair, or employing professional data recovery software. The success of recovery depends on how long the files have been deleted and whether the space they occupied has been overwritten. To avoid future data loss, always consider regular backups and activate tools like File History or third-party backup software.
