If you’re looking for a solution that will help you restore a file deleted by Norton, look no further! We will show you what to do if this antivirus deleted some of your data and explain how to get the lost files back in a snap using the correct tools.

Why Norton Can Delete Important Files

Norton can delete files if it thinks they’re malicious. In such cases, Norton automatically quarantines them by placing them in a hidden folder that’s not accessible to anyone. After a certain period, the antivirus will delete the content of the hidden folder, making it impossible for you to access your files—but not impossible to recover them.

Method #1: Undelete Norton Deleted Files With Data Recovery Software

You have two main options on how to restore files that were deleted by Norton and are not present in the quarantine folder: You can retrieve them from a backup, or, if you don’t have a backup, you can use data recovery apps like Disk Drill or Recuva. Data recovery apps can recover all deleted files that are still physically present on your hard drive (meaning they haven’t been overwritten yet), so it’s best to use them as soon as possible.

Option A: Disk Drill for Windows

Disk Drill is one of the most beloved names in the data recovery world. It lets you recover up to 500 MB of files for free, and the software has a clean and simple interface that allows anyone to get a hold of the program in no time. The latest version of Disk Drill supports hundreds of file formats, and it comes packed with useful features that can help you protect your files against data loss. Disk Drill is fully compatible with all recent versions of Windows and macOS, and a single license unlocks both Windows and macOS versions.

To recover deleted files with Disk Drill, follow these steps:

  1. Download Disk Drill from the company’s website and install it on a different drive than the one you want to recover to avoid overwriting (e.g., you can use a USB or an external drive). Disk Drill Download Window
  2. Launch Disk Drill and select the drive you want to scan for lost files. Disk Drill First Prompt
  3. Click on the ‘Search for lost data’ button. Disk Drill Deep Scan
  4. Check out which files you want to save (Pro tip: the ones you can preview are usually recoverable).
  5. Hit the ‘Recover’ button and select where you want the lost files to be stored (you should save the files on a different volume to avoid overwriting).

And that’s it! You’re good to go! The program is as you can see easy to work with and doesn’t require much tinkering. I’ve been using it for quite a while now and I have no words of praise (keep in mind that I’ve reviewed countless data recovery programs over the past couple of years).

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Keep in mind that you have to buy the full version of the program if you want to restore more than 500 MB of files. On the other hand, the purchase is worth every penny as the program does its job perfectly. There are often numerous discounts on the company’s official website, so be sure to catch them to save a buck or two and get Disk Drill at a lower price!

Option B: Recuva

Recuva is another well-known name in the data recovery world that can help you recover Norton-deleted files. The program can recover an unlimited amount of data for free, and its straightforward user interface makes it suitable even for less experienced users. Just keep in mind that Recuva hasn’t been updated in a while, so it can’t deliver nearly as good results as Disk Drill. To restore lost files with Recuva, you need to:

  1. Download Recuva from the company’s official website and install it on any other storage device except the one you want to scan.
  2. Open the program and click on ‘Next’ to begin the wizard. Recuva Install Wizard
  3. Choose which type of files you want to recover. Recuva First Prompt
  4. Select where you want Recuva to perform the research. Recuva Second Prompt
  5. Choose which files you want to recover and select the location where you want Recuva to save them. Recuva Fourth Prompt
  6. Hit the ‘OK’ button and follow the rest of the prompts that will ask you to click ‘OK’ (Pro tip: check the ‘Enable Deep Scan’ option if you want more detailed results). Recuva Final Prompt

Method #2: Restore Files From Norton Quarantine

Files that are in Norton quarantine are isolated from the rest of your computer, meaning that they can’t contaminate other files or infect your system. After a certain time, the antivirus deletes them automatically. If you want to restore them and save them from deletion, you will have to:

  1. Open the Norton antivirus.
  2. Double-click the ‘Security’ button from the product’s main window. Norton Main Window
  3. Click on ‘History’.
  4. Select the files you want to restore in the drop-down list from the ‘Security History’ window. Norton First Prompt
  5. Choose what you want to do with the files in quarantine–you can either:
    • Restore the files–This option will transfer the quarantined files to their original location on your computer, but it’s only available if you’ve manually sent the items to the quarantine.
    • Restore & exclude the files–This option allows you to restore the quarantined files to their original location on your computer without repairing them. The files will also be excluded from being detected in the future Norton scans.
    • Remove the file from history–If you just want to remove your items from the ‘Security History’ log, this option is for you.

FAQ

Conclusion

If you’ve lost your files because Norton has deleted them, you shouldn’t worry too much because there are tools like Disk Drill that can help you deal with this situation, and we’ve described how to use them in this article.

Contributor

Logan tried many things before he fell in love with writing in 2011. HandyRecovery gives him a chance to share his knowledge and produce useful and fact-filled articles about tech-related topics. This freelance writer has been working on many projects, and combining writing with his passion for technology is a dream come true for him. People always considered him a computer geek, which is probably a good description.

Andrey Vasilyev
Editor

Andrey Vasilyev is an Editorial Advisor for Handy Recovery. Andrey is a software engineer expert with extensive expertise in data recovery, computer forensics, and data litigation. Andrey brings over 12 years of experience in software development, database administration, and hardware repair to the team.