Deleted File Not in the Recycle Bin: Common Causes & Proven Solutions

We often take the recycle Bin for granted – like a Genie who can magically retrieve your files. However, what if the Recycle Bin doesn’t have your deleted files? Where did the deleted file disappear? And how can you recover deleted files that are not in the Recycle Bin? This article will provide solutions for retrieving a file that is not in the Recycle Bin.

Why Do Files Go Missing From the Recycle Bin?

The Recycle Bin is the first filter that protects your data from total loss, ensuring safe recovery in cases of accidental file deletion. Its little wastebasket icon sits on the Desktop, acting as a ‘holding bay’ for files that you press ‘Delete’ on.

When a deleted file is not visible in the Recycle Bin, the following reasons could be why:

• You used Shift + Delete to delete the files.
• Files got deleted through the Command Prompt.
• The removed files were on a flash drive.
• The computer settings use the option Don’t move files to the Recycle Bin.
• You emptied the recycle bin.
• The recycle bin is full or corrupted.
• The deleted files are much larger than the maximum size of the recycle bin.
• The deleted files or folders are hidden and can’t be accessed.

Some Quick Fixes When Files Disappear from the Recycle Bin

Now that you have noticed that your deleted files are not in the recycle bin, what’s next? Before you try to retrieve your files from an empty Recycle Bin, it is best to fix the problem. The next few steps will help you prevent files from disappearing from the Recycle Bin.

How to Recover Deleted Files Not Visible in the Recycle Bin

Two solutions will help you restore files that are not in the Recycle Bin. Follow our step-by-step methods to retrieve your files quickly.

Method 1: Retrieving Files Using Windows Backup and Restore

Windows Backup helps you create copies of your files from time to time to make sure that you can always restore them. If you have used the Windows Backup feature to create backups, you can retrieve files with the following steps:

1. Connect your backup storage media to your Windows PC.
2. Go to settings by pressing Windows key + I  key combination.
3. Select Update & Security and then Backup.
4. Then click on Go to Backup & Restore (Windows 7).
5. Click on Restore my Files.

The Previous Version feature – which is a part of the Volume shadow service creates a restore point that helps roll back changes. It maintains a file history to help retrieve files and folders even if the recycle bin is empty or you shift-deleted them.

Here’s how to restore files using File History:

1. Go to the folder that used to have the deleted file and right-click. Now click Restore previous versions. An option to recover the folder will appear.
2. Search for the deleted file from the list of available previous versions and click Restore.

1. Turn on System Protection from the Control Panel.
2. On the left side of the bar, click on System & Security > System > System Protection.
3. Available drives will show up with corresponding protection.
4. Select a particular drive and click on configure.
5. Click on restore system settings and previous versions of files then click on Ok.

You will now have the option to recover files in the future.

These are the inbuilt features for Windows 10 that can help you restore files that have been deleted from the recycle bin. However, if your files have been deleted from a different location, you must use a data recovery tool.

Method 2: Use a Data Recovery Tool

When the inbuilt tools for Windows are not yielding results, you will have to use reliable data recovery software. A top-rated and reliable data recovery tool is Disk Drill Data Recovery. We will use it to illustrate how to recover deleted files not in the Recycle Bin.

1. Download the tool. Open the official website for Disk Drill to download the setup and install it on an external drive to avoid further data loss. Give Disk Drill administrator privileges, as this is essential for the scanning algorithms to run.
2. Launch Disk Drill. Run Disk Drill by double-clicking on its icon or searching for it from the Start Menu. A dialog box will pop up, prompting you to select a drive for recovery. As the Recycle Bin is placed in the main hard drive, select it.
3. Start the Scan. Once you select the drive for recovery, choose a scanning algorithm. Disk Drill offers a choice between quick or deep scans, or let the software optimize the algorithms for recovery. Click the Search for lost data button to initiate the scan.
4. Choose Files for Recovery. After Disk Drill finishes scanning, it shows you a window with all the files it has found. You can now filter the results to narrow it to the files you want to recover. Disk Drill will prompt you to select a recovery location, make sure you choose a storage location, that is not your main drive to avoid file corruption or data being overwritten.
5. Restore Deleted Files from Recycle Bin. Once you select the files for recovery, click on the Recover button. Disk Drill will save all the retrieved lost files to your new storage location.

You can move the restored files to a newer location if you so desire, and continue using your computer as always.

Tips To Increase Chances of Recovery And Prevent Future Data Loss

Here are some helpful tips and best practices to prevent file deletion:

Always Ensure That You Confirm the Deletion of a File

To make Windows display a confirmation dialog, follow these steps:

1. Right click on the Recycle Bin and click on Properties.
2. Click on the General tab.
3. Check whether the Display delete confirmation dialog is enabled, and toggle it on if not.
4. You will now be prompted to confirm the deletion of files.

Make the Recycle Bin Visible

The Recycle Bin stores deleted files, but what if its icon is also missing? By default, the desktop should show you a shortcut for the Recycle Bin. However, if you are unable to see the Recycle Bin, follow these steps:

1. Click on the Start button, or press the Windows key.
2. Select Settings.
3. Click on Personalisation > Themes > Desktop settings.
4. Make sure that the Recycle Bin checkbox is toggled on and click on Apply.

Change How Long a File Remains in the Recycle Bin Before Being Erased

Here’s how you can modify this setting:

1. Right-click on the Start Menu and select System and then Storage
2. Click on the Change how we free up space automatically button.
3. Select the length of time that you prefer the most.

FAQs

Conclusion

The bottom line is that there are quite a few ways to deal with a deleted file not in the Recycle Bin. Usually, the files are either hidden or not accessible but can be recovered through several methods. Speedy responses and data recovery software can help you recover files before new data overwrite them.