Can You Use System Restore to Recover Deleted Files in Windows?

You deleted a file and someone told you to use System Restore. That advice sounds logical, yet System Restore works on system settings and not on your documents.

This guide explains what System Restore does and then shows the three tools that bring back deleted files.

Does System Restore Recover Deleted Files?

System Restore does not bring back deleted files. Microsoft states that it undoes changes without affecting your personal files. Its restore point is a snapshot of system files, registry settings and installed apps. See System Restore.

So a document, photo or video that you deleted remains deleted after a restore. System Restore also does not bring back a file that you saved after the restore point was created.

When should You Use System Restore?

Use System Restore when a recent app install, driver update or settings edit broke Windows. Microsoft describes it as a way to revert the PC to an earlier point in time.

1. Press Windows key + R, type rstrui.exe and press Enter.
2. In the Restore system files and settings box select Next.
3. Choose a restore point. Select Show more restore points when you do not see the one you want.
4. Optionally select Scan for affected programs to see which apps the restore removes.
5. Select Next then Finish. Windows restarts on its own.

When Windows does not start, Microsoft documents the same tool in the Windows Recovery Environment under Troubleshoot then Advanced options then System Restore. Windows asks an encrypted device for the BitLocker recovery key at that point.

Which Windows Tools Recover Deleted Files?

Start with the first tool and move down the table. Every step you take on the same disk lowers the chance of recovery.

How do You Restore a File From the Recycle Bin?

Windows sends most deleted files to the Recycle Bin first. One command sends a file in the bin back to its original folder.

1. Open the Recycle Bin icon on the desktop.
2. Right click the file.
3. Select Restore.

Restore sends the file back to its old folder. Files that you deleted from a USB disk or a network share do not go to the Recycle Bin.

How do You Restore Deleted Files With File History?

File History recovers files only from versions that it saved earlier. Microsoft states that you must connect an external disk or network location and enable the feature first. See backup and restore with File History.

1. Open File Explorer and go to the folder that held the file.
2. Right click the folder name and select Restore previous versions.
3. On the Previous Versions tab select a version from before the deletion.
4. Select Restore. Expand it and select Restore to when you want a different location.

Microsoft warns that a plain Restore replaces the current version and that this cannot be undone. Restore to a different folder when you are unsure.

How do You Use Windows File Recovery?

Microsoft describes Windows File Recovery as a command line app from the Microsoft Store. It tries to recover files from local drives that you cannot restore from the Recycle Bin. See Windows File Recovery.

Install the app and open it as administrator. Enter winfr followed by the source volume, the destination volume, a mode and optional switches. Source and destination must be different volumes.

:: Recover the Documents folder from C to a recovery folder on E
winfr C: E: /regular /n \Users\YourName\Documents\

Regular mode suits healthy NTFS drives. FAT and exFAT drives need /extensive mode. Microsoft states that recovery is not guaranteed because new data can overwrite the deleted space.

How do You Improve Your Chances of Recovery?

• Stop using the disk. New files can overwrite the space of the deleted file.
• Recover to a different volume. Windows File Recovery requires this.
• Create backups now. File History or any backup tool prevents the next loss.

For a full walkthrough on a desktop PC see how to recover deleted data from a desktop computer. For a restore point based fix of a different kind see how to fix error 0x80780119.