MY CARTRestore a Deleted File from the Recycle Bin in Windows 10 – Instructions
Restore a Deleted File from the Recycle Bin in Windows 10: Video Lesson
This video lesson, titled “The Recycle Bin,” shows you how to restore a deleted file from the Recycle Bin in Windows 10. This video lesson is from our complete Windows tutorial, titled “Mastering Windows Made Easy v.10.”
Restore a Deleted File from the Recycle Bin in Windows 10: Overview
You can restore a deleted file from the Recycle Bin in Windows 10 if you mistakenly delete a file from your computer’s “C:” drive. Windows has a file deletion safeguard called the Recycle Bin. The Recycle Bin holds files and folders deleted from your computer’s hard drive until you empty it. When you empty the Recycle Bin, Windows then permanently deletes the items within it.
However, if you haven’t emptied the Recycle Bin yet, you can retrieve the file you sent there when you deleted it from your hard drive. Think of the Recycle Bin as a paper-recycling bin. The paper that you toss into the recycling bin stays there until it is taken away. If you needed to find a real piece of paper you had accidentally tossed in, you’d have to rummage through the bin to find it.
To restore a deleted file from the Recycle Bin in Windows 10, open the Recycle Bin by double-clicking the icon on your Windows Desktop. Then select the file or files to restore within the “Recycle Bin” window that appears. Next, click the “Manage” tab of the “Recycle Bin Tools” contextual tab within the Ribbon. Then click the “Restore the selected items” button in the “Restore” button group on this tab. Doing this then moves the files back to their original locations in your hard drive. To restore all the items in the Recycle Bin, click the “Manage” tab of the “Recycle Bin Tools” contextual tab within the Ribbon. Then click the “Restore all items” button within the tab.
Restore a Deleted File from the Recycle Bin in Windows 10 – Instructions: A picture of a user restoring a deleted file from the Recycle Bin in Windows 10.
You will also want to periodically empty items from your Recycle Bin to save space on your computer. When you delete items from the Recycle Bin, they are permanently removed from your computer. After doing this, you will not be able to retrieve them! For this reason, only empty the Recycle Bin when you are absolutely sure you will never again need any of the files in it.
To empty the Recycle Bin, double-click its icon on the Desktop to open the Recycle Bin window. Then click the “Manage” tab of the “Recycle Bin Tools” contextual tab within the Ribbon. Then click the “Empty Recycle Bin” button in the “Manage” button group. Windows then shows a prompt, asking you to confirm you want to permanently delete the items in the Recycle Bin. Click “Yes” to delete the items or “No” if you are unsure.
Restore a Deleted File from the Recycle Bin in Windows 10: Instructions
- To restore a deleted file from the Recycle Bin in Windows 10, open the Recycle Bin by double-clicking the icon on your Windows Desktop.
- Then select the file or files to restore within the “Recycle Bin” window that appears.
- Next, click the “Manage” tab of the “Recycle Bin Tools” contextual tab within the Ribbon.
- Then click the “Restore the selected items” button in the “Restore” button group on this tab.
- Doing this then moves the files back to their original locations in your hard drive.
- Alternatively, to restore all the items in the Recycle Bin, click the “Manage” tab of the “Recycle Bin Tools” contextual tab within the Ribbon.
- Then click the “Restore all items” button within the tab.
- To empty the Recycle Bin, double-click its icon on the Desktop to open the Recycle Bin window.
- Then click the “Manage” tab of the “Recycle Bin Tools” contextual tab within the Ribbon.
- Then click the “Empty Recycle Bin” button in the “Manage” button group.
- Windows then shows a prompt, asking you to confirm you want to permanently delete the items in the Recycle Bin.
- Click “Yes” to delete the items or “No” if you are unsure.
