Recover Deleted Files from Recycle Bin after Empty

Accidentally deleted files? Recover them easily from the Recycle Bin or even after it's emptied with Recoverit!

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How to Recover Deleted Files from Recycle Bin

There is no need to panic if you have deleted important files from your Recycle Bin. As long as the data hasn’t been overwritten, recovery is still possible. Here are some reliable tools and techniques you can use to scan and restore deleted content from your drive.

Recover Directly from the Recycle Bin
0:48 Recover Directly from the Recycle Bin
Recover Files from Recycle Bin With Recoverit
1:46 Recover Files from Recycle Bin With Recoverit
Recover from Recycle Bin with File History
2:44 Recover from Recycle Bin with File History
Undelete Recycle Bin Using the System Restore Feature
3:30 Undelete Recycle Bin Using the System Restore Feature
Recover via Windows File Recovery
4:18 Recover via Windows File Recovery
Recycle Bin Recovery via Command Prompt
5:14 Recycle Bin Recovery via Command Prompt

Keys for Increasing Your Recycle Bin Recovery Success

Here are some tips that can help increase the chances of a successful data recovery. Failure to follow these suggestions may lead to permanent data loss.

stop using the device
Stop Using the Drive Immediately

When you delete files, they aren’t truly erased until new data overwrites them. To avoid permanent loss, stop using the drive where the files were deleted. Don’t install apps, save files, or even browse heavily.

Use a different drive
Start the Recovery Process Quickly

Time matters. The longer you wait, the greater the chance your deleted files get overwritten by system or app operations. Start the recovery as soon as you notice the data loss to improve your odds of getting everything back intact.

Back Up the Drive First

Your data is priceless, Create a data backup to reduce the stress on a failing drive. Recoverit provides this functionality which allows you to save data from the device before it fails.

Use Reliable Data Recovery Software

The better the tool, the higher the recovery success rate. Use trusted tools like Recoverit that offer deep scan capabilities, file preview, and support for recovering emptied Recycle Bin files.

Recover to a Different Location

Always restore recovered files to a different drive or an external storage device. Saving them back to the same location could overwrite other files you haven’t recovered yet. This simple step can prevent secondary data loss during recovery.

stop using the device
Stop Using the Drive Immediately

When you delete files, they aren’t truly erased until new data overwrites them. To avoid permanent loss, stop using the drive where the files were deleted. Don’t install apps, save files, or even browse heavily.

Use a different drive
Start the Recovery Process Quickly

Time matters. The longer you wait, the greater the chance your deleted files get overwritten by system or app operations. Start the recovery as soon as you notice the data loss to improve your odds of getting everything back intact.

Back Up the Drive First

Your data is priceless, Create a data backup to reduce the stress on a failing drive. Recoverit provides this functionality which allows you to save data from the device before it fails.

Use Reliable Data Recovery Software

The better the tool, the higher the recovery success rate. Use trusted tools like Recoverit that offer deep scan capabilities, file preview, and support for recovering emptied Recycle Bin files.

Recover to a Different Location

Always restore recovered files to a different drive or an external storage device. Saving them back to the same location could overwrite other files you haven’t recovered yet. This simple step can prevent secondary data loss during recovery.

stop using the device
Stop Using the Drive Immediately

When you delete files, they aren’t truly erased until new data overwrites them. To avoid permanent loss, stop using the drive where the files were deleted. Don’t install apps, save files, or even browse heavily.

Use a different drive
Start the Recovery Process Quickly

Time matters. The longer you wait, the greater the chance your deleted files get overwritten by system or app operations. Start the recovery as soon as you notice the data loss to improve your odds of getting everything back intact.

Back Up the Drive First

Your data is priceless, Create a data backup to reduce the stress on a failing drive. Recoverit provides this functionality which allows you to save data from the device before it fails.

Use Reliable Data Recovery Software

The better the tool, the higher the recovery success rate. Use trusted tools like Recoverit that offer deep scan capabilities, file preview, and support for recovering emptied Recycle Bin files.

Recover to a Different Location

Always restore recovered files to a different drive or an external storage device. Saving them back to the same location could overwrite other files you haven’t recovered yet. This simple step can prevent secondary data loss during recovery.

Recover Data from Recycle Bin in Any Data Loss Situations

When a file is deleted from your computer, it isn’t immediately erased. Instead, it’s usually moved to the Recycle Bin. However, data in the Recycle Bin isn’t completely secure and can still be lost due to several common scenarios.

Reliable
Manual Emptying Recycle Bin

Files are permanently deleted when the Recycle Bin is manual emptied on windows/macos. Recoverit can easily recover data from a empty recycle bin and saving you from extensive data loss.

Reliable
Recycle Bin Not Showing Files

Shift + Delete files, the files bypass the Recycle Bin and are permanently removed. or Recycle Bin may be set to 'Don’t move files to the Recycle Bin' in its properties, which causes files to be permanently deleted right away.

Reliable
Recycle Bin Capacity Limitation

When the Recycle Bin reaches its storage limit, older files may be automatically removed to make room for new ones.

Reliable
External Drive Deletion Files

Files deleted from USB drives, SD cards, or external hard drives typically do not go to the Recycle Bin and are permanently removed.

Reliable
System Crashes or Disk Errors

Sudden shutdowns, system failures, or hard disk issues can corrupt recycle bin database or index lead to files unexpected loss.

Recover Data from Recycle Bin in Operating System

When the operating system deletes an item, it does not physically remove it from your storage media. Though you can’t see or access the
data, it can be recovered even after you empty the Recycle Bin.

Recover Files from Recycle Bin Windows
Recover Files from Recycle Bin on Windows

A corrupted Recycle Bin on Windows is a common issue — but fortunately, it can often be fixed using reliable methods similar to those used for general data corruption.

*Compatible with Windows 11/10/8/8.1/7/Vista and Windows Server editions from 2003 to 2022.
Retrieve Files from Trash on Mac
Recover Files from Trash on macOS

If you have accidentally deleted files, the Trash is the first place you should look to try and recover your lost data. If you've emptied the Trash, you can try Time Machine backups or Recoverit data recovery software.

*Aslo Compatible with macOS 10.10 Yosemite through macOS 14 Sonoma.
Retrieve Files Deleted from Recycle Bin Recovery in Linux
Linux Trash Bin Data Recover

Linux systems handle deleted files differently from Windows. While most desktop environments (e.g., GNOME, KDE) include a Trash folder (similar to the Recycle Bin), files deleted via terminal commands like rm bypass the Trash entirely. If you deleted files via the Linux desktop's Move to Trash option, recovery is straightforward.

Best Recycle Bin Recovery Software

Tech Specs
operating-system
Operating System:

Windows11/10/8.1/8/7/Vista/XP, macOS10.13-macOS15

Files System
Files System:

ExFAT. FAT16. FAT32. NTFS. ReFS. Raid. RAW. ext4 and BTRFS under the Linux OS, etc.

Files System
Storage Device Supported:

Computer/laptop, hard drive, memory card, USB/flash drive

Check Technical Specs>>
Fast Scan

quickly and efficiently to recover your lost data.

Recover While Scanning

allows you to recover files while scanning.

100% Safe & Secure

quickly and efficiently to recover your lost data.

21 Years

data recovery experience.

200+ Million

total downloads.

Since 2003

recovery experts.

Recover Deleted Files from Recycle Bin with Software - Recoverit

Reliable way on how to recover deleted files from recycle bin after empty and provide step-by-step instructions on how to do it.

step
Step 1: Download and Install Recoverit
  • Download Recoverit
  • Install it. Make sure to install it on a drive different from the one you're recovering data from.
  • Launch Recoverit and open it.
step
Step 2: Scan the Recycle Bin
  • Select "Recycle Bin" (or choose the drive where your files were deleted from if the Recycle Bin was emptied).
  • Click the "Start" button to begin scanning for recoverable files.
step
Step 3: Recover Your Data
  • Once the scan is complete, browse through the recovered files.
  • Select the files you want to recover.
  • Click "Recover" and choose a location to save the recovered files (preferably not on the same drive to avoid overwriting).

Recycle Bin Recovery FAQs

Yes, it is possible to recover files that have been emptied from the Recycle Bin, but only if they haven’t been overwritten. Once you empty the Recycle Bin, the files are still on your hard drive until new data is written over them. You can use data recovery software like Recoverit to scan your hard drive and attempt to recover these files.
Yes. Even after the Recycle Bin is emptied, files can often be recovered using professional data recovery tools — as long as the data hasn’t been overwritten.
It depends on how much you use your computer. The more you write new data (install apps, download files, etc.), the higher the risk of overwritten sectors. To improve your chances, begin recovery as soon as possible.
If the file is still in the Recycle Bin, just open it, right-click the file, and choose "Restore". If the Recycle Bin has been emptied, recovery without software is very limited. You can check File History or OneDrive (if enabled), but most cases will require recovery software.
It depends. If the external drive (USB, SD card, external HDD) has its own Recycle Bin and you haven’t formatted it, you may be able to recover deleted files using third-party software that supports external storage scanning.