{"id":27287,"date":"2020-01-09T00:48:55","date_gmt":"2020-01-09T00:48:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/?p=27287"},"modified":"2025-02-04T18:42:00","modified_gmt":"2025-02-04T18:42:00","slug":"how-can-i-recover-shift-deleted-files-in-windows","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/recover-shift-deleted-files-windows.html","title":{"rendered":"How Can I Recover Shift Deleted Files in Windows"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>All it takes to delete a file in Windows is a single button press, and all it takes to delete a file permanently is a single keystroke combination: <b>Shift<\/b> + <b>Delete<\/b>. When pulling an all\u2010nighter to finish a school presentation or prepare documents for a business meeting, it\u2019s very easy to make an honest mistake and accidentally delete a file using the <b>Shift + Delete<\/b> key combination. Fortunately, their recovery is still often possible.<\/p>\r\n<p><img class=\"border-blue border-radius-10 aligncenter wp-image-53274 size-full\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/shift-delete-files.jpg\" alt=\"how to recover shift deleted files in windows 11\" width=\"1967\" height=\"1135\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/shift-delete-files.jpg 1967w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/shift-delete-files-300x173.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/shift-delete-files-500x289.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/shift-delete-files-768x443.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/shift-delete-files-1536x886.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1967px) 100vw, 1967px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p>In this article, we explain in detail what <b>Shift + Delete<\/b> does and provide you with several methods that you can use to recover shift deleted files.<\/p>\r\n<p>If you&#8217;ve accidentally shift\u2010deleted files (documents, photos, or folders), here&#8217;s what to do:<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li>&#x1f6d1; Stop using the affected drive.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>&#x1f4bd; Check available backups.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>&#x1f9f0; Install reliable recovery software on a different drive.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>&#x1f50d; Scan the affected drive.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>&#x1f4c2; Recover found files to a separate location.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"what_does_shift_delete_do\"><\/span>What Does Shift + Delete Do?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p>To understand what <b>Shift + Delete<\/b> does, it\u2019s useful to first review what happens when you press the Delete key on its own.<\/p>\r\n<p>When you select a file and press the Delete key, the selected file is moved to the Recycle Bin, which is a temporary storage area for files that have been deleted by the user but have not yet been permanently erased from the file system.<\/p>\r\n<p>When you purposefully or accidentally shift delete files by pressing Shift + Delete, the file isn\u2019t moved to the Recycle Bin. Instead, Windows simply marks the storage area occupied by the file as being available for use by modifying the file table, a complete list of files with their various attributes. This applies to all file types in Windows 11, 10, and earlier, including documents (Word, Excel), photos, videos, and so on.<\/p>\r\n<div class=\"alert alert-info\" role=\"alert\">&#x1f4a1; <b>Tip<\/b>: If you frequently accidentally shift delete files, you can change Windows hotkeys using the Keyboard Manager feature in <a href=\"https:\/\/learn.microsoft.com\/en-us\/windows\/powertoys\/install\">PowerToys<\/a>. This can help prevent unintended permanent deletions and eliminate the need to recover shift deleted files or restore shift deleted files later.<\/div>\r\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"is_shift_deleted_file_recovery_possible\"><\/span>Is Shift Deleted File Recovery Possible?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p>When files are shift\u2010deleted in Windows, their recovery isn&#8217;t guaranteed but remains possible depending on the following interconnected factors:<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li>&#x23f3; <b>Time is a key factor<\/b>. A shift deleted file or folder remains <a href=\"\/howto\/recover-overwritten-files.html\">recoverable until overwritten<\/a> by new data. While an external storage device can simply be disconnected or ejected, the same can\u2019t be done with the main system drive as normal system operations continue to write new data to the drive.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><b>&#x1f446; But how intensely you use the device is just as important<\/b>. It doesn&#8217;t matter if a few weeks have passed since deletion if the drive has seen minimal use\u2014those files might still be recoverable. Conversely, just a few hours of heavy system activity like installing new software, downloading large files, or running Windows updates could permanently overwrite your deleted data.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><b>&#x2702;&#xfe0f; The type of storage device also plays a role.<\/b> Modern Solid State Drives (SSDs) use TRIM technology to improve performance by proactively erasing data storage blocks that have been marked as empty. Unfortunately, that\u2019s exactly what happens when you shift delete a file, so <a href=\"\/help\/ssd-drive-data-recovery.html\">SSD make file recovery more difficult<\/a>.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p>Here are your available recovery options based on these factors:<\/p>\r\n<div class=\"table_wrapper table_heading\"><p><\/p>\r\n<table>\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Possible approaches<\/td>\r\n<td>Suggested solutions<\/td>\r\n<td>When to Use<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td rowspan=\"3\">Recover shift-deleted files with data recovery software<\/td>\r\n<td><a href=\"#disk-drill\">Disk Drill &#x1f31f;<\/a><\/td>\r\n<td>Best tool for complicated data loss cases with an extended list of supported file types.<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><a href=\"#recuva\">Recuva<\/a><\/td>\r\n<td>Popular free data recovery software for simple data recovery cases.<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><a href=\"#windows-file-recovery\">Windows File Recovery<\/a><\/td>\r\n<td>A basic, lightweight CLI tool, suitable for the recovery of recently deleted documents, photos and audio files.<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td rowspan=\"3\">Restore shift deleted files without data recovery software<\/td>\r\n<td><a href=\"#file-history\">File History Backups<\/a><\/td>\r\n<td>The most common tool for backing up files. Allows you to choose between previous versions of files<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><a href=\"#backup-restore\">Backup &amp; Restore (Windows 7)<\/a><\/td>\r\n<td>If you\u2019re on older Windows versions (Windows 7 or 8) or the file you need is in an old backup.<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><a href=\"#cloud-backups\">Cloud Backups<\/a><\/td>\r\n<td>All the information you need on how to recover shift-deleted files from OneDrive, Google Drive, Dropbox backups.<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Shift delete recovery with the help of a professional data recovery service<\/td>\r\n<td><a href=\"#professional-service\">Professional File Recovery Service<\/a><\/td>\r\n<td>We suggest it when the hardware is damaged or you need expert assistance.<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n<p><\/div>\r\n<p>Remember: To maximize recovery chances when <a href=\"\/recover-deleted-files.html\">recovering shift deleted files<\/a>, stop using the affected drive immediately after discovering the deletion. Any new data written to the drive could overwrite your deleted files permanently.<\/p>\r\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"how_to_recover_shift-deleted_files_with_recovery_tools\"><\/span>How to Recover Shift-Deleted Files With Recovery Tools<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p>Data recovery tools can deliver excellent results when recovering shift deleted files, but the window of opportunity to use them can be relatively small, especially if the files were stored on your system drive. That&#8217;s why you shouldn&#8217;t waste any time and begin the recovery process using the best tool available.<\/p>\r\n<h3 class=\"title_sc_bg\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"method_1_use_disk_drill\"><\/span><span class=\"title_shortcode_bg\">Method 1:<\/span> <span id=\"disk-drill\">Use Disk Drill<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p>Among the many <a href=\"\/howto\/top-5-data-recovery-software-windows.html\">data recovery software tools<\/a> available, Disk Drill stands out thanks to its ability to effortlessly undo shift delete performed on around 400 different file formats across all commonly used Windows file systems, such as exFAT, FAT32, and NTFS.<\/p>\r\n<div class=\"alert alert-success\" role=\"alert\">&#x2705; Disk Drill\u2019s modern user interface is designed to make shift delete recovery accessible even to regular Windows users. The entire process boils down to just a few simple steps, and all recoverable files can be previewed before their actual recovery.<\/div>\r\n<p>To recover shift deleted files using Disk Drill:<\/p>\r\n<ol>\r\n\t<li><a href=\"\/download.html\">Download<\/a> and install Disk Drill on a different drive than the one containing your deleted files. This prevents overwriting the deleted data you&#8217;re trying to recover.<img class=\"border-gray border-radius-10 aligncenter wp-image-49780 size-full\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/disk-drill-install-windows.jpg\" alt=\"disk drill install windows\" width=\"1826\" height=\"1196\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/disk-drill-install-windows.jpg 1826w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/disk-drill-install-windows-300x196.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/disk-drill-install-windows-500x327.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/disk-drill-install-windows-768x503.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/disk-drill-install-windows-1536x1006.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1826px) 100vw, 1826px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Launch Disk Drill and select the drive containing your lost files. Then, click <b>Search for lost data<\/b> to begin scanning. Disk Drill automatically employs multiple recovery methods to maximize success, and it keeps you informed about the progress.<img class=\"border-gray border-radius-10 aligncenter wp-image-53173 size-full\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/disk-drill-search-for-lost-data-windows.jpg\" alt=\"disk drill search for lost data windows\" width=\"2718\" height=\"1520\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/disk-drill-search-for-lost-data-windows.jpg 2718w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/disk-drill-search-for-lost-data-windows-300x168.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/disk-drill-search-for-lost-data-windows-500x280.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/disk-drill-search-for-lost-data-windows-768x429.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/disk-drill-search-for-lost-data-windows-1536x859.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/disk-drill-search-for-lost-data-windows-2048x1145.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2718px) 100vw, 2718px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Next, select the files you want to recover. You can use the preview feature to verify file contents before recovery and filter results by date, size, or type to find specific files quickly.<img class=\"border-gray border-radius-10 aligncenter wp-image-53174 size-full\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/disk-drill-image-selected-for-recovery.jpg\" alt=\"disk drill image selected for recovery\" width=\"2722\" height=\"1556\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/disk-drill-image-selected-for-recovery.jpg 2722w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/disk-drill-image-selected-for-recovery-300x171.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/disk-drill-image-selected-for-recovery-500x286.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/disk-drill-image-selected-for-recovery-768x439.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/disk-drill-image-selected-for-recovery-1536x878.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/disk-drill-image-selected-for-recovery-2048x1171.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2722px) 100vw, 2722px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li><b>Click<\/b> the <b>Recover<\/b> button and select a different drive to save recovered files.<img class=\"border-gray border-radius-10 aligncenter wp-image-53175 size-full\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/disk-drill-drive-c-recovery-destination-selected.jpg\" alt=\"disk drill drive c recovery destination selected\" width=\"2716\" height=\"1542\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/disk-drill-drive-c-recovery-destination-selected.jpg 2716w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/disk-drill-drive-c-recovery-destination-selected-300x170.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/disk-drill-drive-c-recovery-destination-selected-500x284.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/disk-drill-drive-c-recovery-destination-selected-768x436.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/disk-drill-drive-c-recovery-destination-selected-1536x872.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/disk-drill-drive-c-recovery-destination-selected-2048x1163.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2716px) 100vw, 2716px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li><b>Open<\/b> the recovery destination folder in File Explorer and check the recovered files.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<p>As you can see, anyone can recover shift-deleted files using Disk Drill in just a couple of minutes and without any expert knowledge! That\u2019s because Disk Drill is designed with the average user in mind, unlike many other Windows data recovery tools, which often seem incomprehensible without a lengthy manual.<\/p>\r\n<h3 class=\"title_sc_bg\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"method_2_recuva\"><\/span><span class=\"title_shortcode_bg\">Method 2:<\/span> <span id=\"recuva\">Recuva<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p>When you need to restore shift deleted files but aren&#8217;t ready to invest in commercial data recovery software, <a href=\"\/howto\/recuva-review.html\">Recuva<\/a> offers a completely free solution that can help in basic data loss scenarios.<\/p>\r\n<p>The application\u2019s step-by-step approach guides you to locate the files you\u2019re looking for (documents, images, videos, etc.), but you can also tell Recuva to identify all recoverable files, which is the recommended option because not many file formats are supported to begin with so the recovery results are seldom overwhelming. For the same reason, it doesn\u2019t matter much that Recuva doesn\u2019t offer the same comprehensive scan result filtering options as Disk Drill.<\/p>\r\n<p><b>To restore shift deleted files using Recuva:<\/b><\/p>\r\n<ol>\r\n\t<li>Download Recuva from the official website, run the installer, and launch the program.<img class=\"border-gray border-radius-10 aligncenter wp-image-53176 size-full\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/recuva-installation-in-progress.jpg\" alt=\"recuva installation in progress\" width=\"1988\" height=\"1320\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/recuva-installation-in-progress.jpg 1988w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/recuva-installation-in-progress-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/recuva-installation-in-progress-500x332.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/recuva-installation-in-progress-768x510.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/recuva-installation-in-progress-1536x1020.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1988px) 100vw, 1988px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>When prompted, specify what type of data you want to recover (all, pictures, documents, etc.) or choose to look for <b>All Files<\/b>.<img class=\"border-gray border-radius-10 aligncenter wp-image-53177 size-full\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/recuva-all-files.jpg\" alt=\"recuva all files\" width=\"1586\" height=\"1094\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/recuva-all-files.jpg 1586w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/recuva-all-files-300x207.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/recuva-all-files-500x345.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/recuva-all-files-768x530.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/recuva-all-files-1536x1060.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1586px) 100vw, 1586px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>If you know where your files were located, point Recuva to that location to improve its ability to get back shift deleted files. If not, select the <b>I\u2019m not sure<\/b> option.<img class=\"border-gray border-radius-10 aligncenter wp-image-53178 size-full\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/recuva-not-sure.jpg\" alt=\"recuva not sure\" width=\"1630\" height=\"1102\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/recuva-not-sure.jpg 1630w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/recuva-not-sure-300x203.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/recuva-not-sure-500x338.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/recuva-not-sure-768x519.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/recuva-not-sure-1536x1038.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1630px) 100vw, 1630px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>For stubborn files that don\u2019t appear on a standard pass, check the <b>Deep Scan<\/b> box on the final wizard screen. Be prepared for a longer wait.<img class=\"border-gray border-radius-10 aligncenter wp-image-53179 size-full\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/recuva-deep-scan-option.jpg\" alt=\"recuva deep scan option\" width=\"1622\" height=\"1096\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/recuva-deep-scan-option.jpg 1622w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/recuva-deep-scan-option-300x203.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/recuva-deep-scan-option-500x338.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/recuva-deep-scan-option-768x519.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/recuva-deep-scan-option-1536x1038.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1622px) 100vw, 1622px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Once Recuva lists your files, select the ones you want, choose a recovery destination on a different drive (to avoid overwriting), and hit <b>Recover<\/b>.<img class=\"border-gray border-radius-10 aligncenter wp-image-53180 size-full\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/recuva-scan-results.jpg\" alt=\"recuva scan results\" width=\"1814\" height=\"1170\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/recuva-scan-results.jpg 1814w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/recuva-scan-results-300x193.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/recuva-scan-results-500x322.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/recuva-scan-results-768x495.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/recuva-scan-results-1536x991.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1814px) 100vw, 1814px\" \/><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<div class=\"alert alert-info\" role=\"alert\">&#x2139;&#xfe0f; If Recuva displays an option to upgrade to a premium version, promising advanced file recovery and other perks, you can safely ignore it. The premium version performs virtually the same as the free version.<\/div>\r\n<h3 class=\"title_sc_bg\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"method_3_windows_file_recovery\"><\/span><span class=\"title_shortcode_bg\">Method 3:<\/span> <span id=\"windows-file-recovery\">Windows File Recovery<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p>Windows File Recovery is Microsoft&#8217;s official Command Prompt-based tool for shift delete recovery without software installation from third parties.<\/p>\r\n<p>While Windows File Recovery lacks a graphical interface and requires some technical knowledge, this solution can help you recover many common file formats based on their signatures, including documents (PDF, Word, Excel) and multimedia files (JPEG, PNG, MP4). The tool can also recover any file whose file system pointers are still available.<\/p>\r\n<p>Here&#8217;s how to use this shift delete recovery app:<\/p>\r\n<ol>\r\n\t<li>Find <a href=\"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/store\/apps\/9n26s50ln705\">Windows File Recovery<\/a> in the Microsoft Store and install it.<img class=\"border-gray border-radius-10 aligncenter wp-image-53181 size-full\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/windows-file-recovery.jpg\" alt=\"windows file recovery\" width=\"2456\" height=\"1582\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/windows-file-recovery.jpg 2456w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/windows-file-recovery-300x193.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/windows-file-recovery-500x322.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/windows-file-recovery-768x495.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/windows-file-recovery-1536x989.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/windows-file-recovery-2048x1319.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2456px) 100vw, 2456px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Press the <b>Windows<\/b> key and type <b>Windows File Recovery<\/b>, then run the corresponding app as administrator. A Command Prompt window will open with the recovery tool.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Enter the desired recovery command in the following format:\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<pre>winfr source-drive: destination-drive: [\/mode] [\/switches]<\/pre>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t<li>For example, you can use the following command to recover the main Documents folder on drive C to a recovery folder on drive G:\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<pre>winfr C: G: \/regular \/n \\Users\\'username'\\Documents\\<\/pre>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t<li>For detailed instructions on how to use Windows File Recovery to its full potential, visit <a href=\"https:\/\/support.microsoft.com\/en-us\/windows\/windows-file-recovery-61f5b28a-f5b8-3cc2-0f8e-a63cb4e1d4c4\">Microsoft\u2019s support page<\/a>.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"how_to_recover_shift_deleted_files_in_windows_without_software\"><\/span>How to Recover Shift Deleted Files in Windows Without Software<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p>Windows offers several recovery options that can help you recover shift deleted folders and files even without installing additional software. These built\u2010in features are completely free, but they\u2019ll be useful only if they were enabled before the data loss incident.<\/p>\r\n<h3 class=\"title_sc_bg\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"method_1_check_file_history_backups\"><\/span><span class=\"title_shortcode_bg\">Method 1:<\/span> <span id=\"file-history\">Check File History Backups<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p>File History is a built\u2010in backup feature in Windows that automatically saves copies of your files so that you can restore them if they\u2019re lost, damaged, or accidentally deleted.<\/p>\r\n<div class=\"alert alert-info\" role=\"alert\">&#x2139;&#xfe0f; If File History was enabled at the time of the shift delete and the file was located in a backed\u2010up folder (Libraries, Desktop, and Favorites), you can use it to recover shift deleted files without additional software.<\/div>\r\n<p>Follow these steps to restore shift deleted files from your File History backups:<\/p>\r\n<ol>\r\n\t<li>Right\u2010click the folder that previously contained the deleted file.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Select <b>Restore previous versions<\/b> from the context menu. On Windows 11, click <b>Show more options<\/b> first.<img class=\"border-gray border-radius-10 aligncenter wp-image-53182 size-full\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/restore-previous-versions-windows.jpg\" alt=\"restore previous versions\" width=\"2090\" height=\"1228\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/restore-previous-versions-windows.jpg 2090w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/restore-previous-versions-windows-300x176.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/restore-previous-versions-windows-500x294.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/restore-previous-versions-windows-768x451.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/restore-previous-versions-windows-1536x902.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/restore-previous-versions-windows-2048x1203.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2090px) 100vw, 2090px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Choose the version of the folder that contains the file you want to restore and click <b>Restore<\/b>.<img class=\"border-gray border-radius-10 aligncenter wp-image-53183 size-full\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/restore-option-document-properties.jpg\" alt=\"restore option document properties\" width=\"1762\" height=\"1184\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/restore-option-document-properties.jpg 1762w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/restore-option-document-properties-300x202.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/restore-option-document-properties-500x336.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/restore-option-document-properties-768x516.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/restore-option-document-properties-1536x1032.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1762px) 100vw, 1762px\" \/><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<p>By default, File History backs up your User folder locations (Documents, Pictures, Desktop, etc.). To protect files in other locations, users need to add those folders manually using the Include in Library option. For more details on configuring and using File History, visit the official <a href=\"https:\/\/support.microsoft.com\/en-us\/windows\/backup-and-restore-with-file-history-7bf065bf-f1ea-0a78-c1cf-7dcf51cc8bfc\">Microsoft support page<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n<h3 class=\"title_sc_bg\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"method_2_use_backup_and_restore\"><\/span><span class=\"title_shortcode_bg\">Method 2:<\/span> <span id=\"backup-restore\">Use Backup and Restore<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p>Backup and Restore (Windows 7) isn&#8217;t just for older Windows versions\u2014it remains a viable option in Windows 10 and 11 for users who need to recover lost files and have set up the feature before the data loss incident.<\/p>\r\n<p>If you\u2019re among the Windows users who rely on Backup and Restore (Windows 7), then you can follow these steps to recover shift deleted files:<\/p>\r\n<ol>\r\n\t<li><b>Open<\/b> Control Panel.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><b>Go<\/b> to <b>System and Security &gt; Backup and Restore (Windows 7)<\/b>.<img class=\"border-gray border-radius-10 aligncenter wp-image-53184 size-full\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/backup-and-restore-control-panel.jpg\" alt=\"backup and restore control panel\" width=\"1868\" height=\"1220\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/backup-and-restore-control-panel.jpg 1868w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/backup-and-restore-control-panel-300x196.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/backup-and-restore-control-panel-500x327.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/backup-and-restore-control-panel-768x502.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/backup-and-restore-control-panel-1536x1003.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1868px) 100vw, 1868px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Select an available backup in the Restore section or click the <b>Select another backup to restore files from option<\/b> if no backup is listed.<img class=\"border-gray border-radius-10 aligncenter wp-image-53185 size-full\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/select-another-backup-to-restore-from.jpg\" alt=\"select another backup to restore from\" width=\"1840\" height=\"1194\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/select-another-backup-to-restore-from.jpg 1840w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/select-another-backup-to-restore-from-300x195.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/select-another-backup-to-restore-from-500x324.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/select-another-backup-to-restore-from-768x498.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/select-another-backup-to-restore-from-1536x997.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1840px) 100vw, 1840px\" \/><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<div class=\"alert alert-success\" role=\"alert\">&#x1f530; <b>Good to know<\/b>: Because Backup and Restore (Windows 7) backs up user libraries by default, there\u2019s a good chance that you\u2019ll be able to recover shift deleted files saved on your drive with it.<\/div>\r\n<h3 class=\"title_sc_bg\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"method_3_cloud_backups\"><\/span><span class=\"title_shortcode_bg\">Method 3:<\/span> <span id=\"cloud-backups\">Cloud Backups<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p>The latest versions of the Windows operating system integrate Microsoft\u2019s cloud backup service, OneDrive, which is designed to automatically back up your files to the cloud to provide an additional layer of protection against accidental deletion, including shift delete.<\/p>\r\n<p>If you\u2019ve enabled OneDrive backups, you can easily recover shift deleted folders or files from the cloud:<\/p>\r\n<ol>\r\n\t<li>Go to the <a href=\"https:\/\/onedrive.live.com\">OneDrive website<\/a> and sign in with your Microsoft account.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Navigate to the <b>Recycle Bin<\/b> in the left-hand menu.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Locate the deleted file or folder, select it, and click <b>Restore<\/b> to recover it to its original location.<img class=\"border-gray border-radius-10 aligncenter wp-image-53186 size-full\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/recycle-bin-onedrive-restore.jpg\" alt=\"recycle bin onedrive restore\" width=\"2526\" height=\"1556\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/recycle-bin-onedrive-restore.jpg 2526w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/recycle-bin-onedrive-restore-300x185.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/recycle-bin-onedrive-restore-500x308.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/recycle-bin-onedrive-restore-768x473.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/recycle-bin-onedrive-restore-1536x946.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/recycle-bin-onedrive-restore-2048x1262.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2526px) 100vw, 2526px\" \/><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<p>If you use other cloud backup services like Google Drive, Dropbox, or Mega, the process is similar. These services also store deleted files in a Recycle Bin or Trash folder for a limited time, allowing you to restore them.<\/p>\r\n<p>Have you just found out that OneDrive (or some other cloud backup service) isn\u2019t enabled on your machine? Then consider this to be a good opportunity to <a href=\"https:\/\/support.microsoft.com\/en-us\/office\/sync-files-with-onedrive-in-windows-615391c4-2bd3-4aae-a42a-858262e42a49#bkmk_keypoints\">enable it<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n<h3 class=\"title_sc_bg\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"bonus_professional_file_recovery_service\"><\/span><span class=\"title_shortcode_bg\">Bonus:<\/span> <span id=\"professional-service\">Professional File Recovery Service<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p>If you don\u2019t feel that you have the skills or time necessary to recover shift deleted files yourself, you can always take advantage of professional data recovery services. However, you should be prepared to pay quite a lot of money to get your files back, and some professional data recovery places don\u2019t even guarantee successful recovery. There\u2019s also the issue of privacy since you wouldn\u2019t be the first person in the world to have his or her personal data stolen by an employee working for a professional data recovery place.<\/p>\r\n<p>If you&#8217;re looking for a reliable data recovery service, <a href=\"\/data-recovery-center.html\">Clever Files Data Recovery Center<\/a> offers professional recovery with a <b>No Data \u2013 No Charge<\/b> guarantee, meaning you only pay if they successfully recover your files. They maintain high security standards to protect your data and provide a free evaluation of your case before proceeding with recovery.<\/p>\r\n<div class=\"alert alert-info\" role=\"alert\">\r\n<p>&#x1f530; Considering how simple and cost-effective it is to recover shift deleted files with Disk Drill, we highly recommend you <a href=\"\/free-data-recovery.html\">give it a try<\/a> before you spend your hard\u2010earned money on professional data recovery services.<\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"conclusion\"><\/span>Conclusion<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p>When you accidentally shift\u2010delete a crucial file, that heart\u2010stopping moment doesn&#8217;t have to be the end of the story because you have multiple paths to potentially retrieve your data. The key is acting quickly and choosing the right approach for your situation. If you had backups enabled, start there. They&#8217;re your safest bet. If not, pause what you&#8217;re doing (to avoid overwriting deleted data) and use a data recovery tool to locate and recover the file.<\/p>\r\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"faq\"><\/span>FAQ<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n<div><section itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/FAQPage\">\r\n<div style=\"border-bottom: 0px solid rgb(213, 217, 217);\" class=\"panel panel-default faq-block\" itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Question\" role=\"tablist\">\r\n            <div class=\"panel-heading\" role=\"tab\" id=\"heading1\">\r\n                <div class=\"panel-title\" itemprop=\"name\">\r\n                    <a class=\"toggle-link transition-all collapsed\" role=\"button\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse-item-1\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapse-item-1\"><h3 class=\"panel-title\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"does_shift_delete_permanently_delete_files\"><\/span>Does shift delete permanently delete files?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>                   \r\n                    \t<svg class=\"transition-all panel-toggle\" width=\"16px\" height=\"16px\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\">\r\n                            <g stroke=\"none\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\">\r\n                                <path d=\"M7,7 L7,0 L9,0 L9,7 L16,7 L16,9 L9,9 L9,16 L7,16 L7,9 L0,9 L0,7 L7,7 Z\" fill=\"#000000\"><\/path>\r\n                            <\/g>\r\n                        <\/svg>\r\n                   <\/a>\r\n                <\/div>\r\n            <\/div>\r\n            <div id=\"collapse-item-1\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-labelledby=\"heading1\" aria-expanded=\"false\" style=\"\">\r\n              <div class=\"panel-body\" itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\">\r\n<div itemprop=\"text\">\r\n                <p>Shift+Delete bypasses the Recycle Bin and marks the file space as available for use, but it doesn&#8217;t immediately overwrite the data. The files remain recoverable using data recovery software until that space is used for new data.<\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n                <div class=\"clearfix\"><\/div>\r\n              <\/div>\r\n            <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div style=\"border-bottom: 0px solid rgb(213, 217, 217);\" class=\"panel panel-default faq-block\" itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Question\" role=\"tablist\">\r\n            <div class=\"panel-heading\" role=\"tab\" id=\"heading2\">\r\n                <div class=\"panel-title\" itemprop=\"name\">\r\n                    <a class=\"toggle-link transition-all collapsed\" role=\"button\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse-item-2\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapse-item-2\"><h3 class=\"panel-title\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"is_it_possible_to_recover_shift_deleted_files_in_outlook\"><\/span>Is it possible to recover shift deleted files in Outlook?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>                   \r\n                    \t<svg class=\"transition-all panel-toggle\" width=\"16px\" height=\"16px\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\">\r\n                            <g stroke=\"none\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\">\r\n                                <path d=\"M7,7 L7,0 L9,0 L9,7 L16,7 L16,9 L9,9 L9,16 L7,16 L7,9 L0,9 L0,7 L7,7 Z\" fill=\"#000000\"><\/path>\r\n                            <\/g>\r\n                        <\/svg>\r\n                   <\/a>\r\n                <\/div>\r\n            <\/div>\r\n            <div id=\"collapse-item-2\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-labelledby=\"heading2\" aria-expanded=\"false\" style=\"\">\r\n              <div class=\"panel-body\" itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\">\r\n<div itemprop=\"text\">\r\n                <p>Yes, Outlook provides several recovery options for shift-deleted items, including the Recoverable Items folder (Deleted Items &gt; Recover Deleted Items) and Exchange Server backups, which can be used for recovery purposes by administrators.<\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n                <div class=\"clearfix\"><\/div>\r\n              <\/div>\r\n            <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div style=\"border-bottom: 0px solid rgb(213, 217, 217);\" class=\"panel panel-default faq-block\" itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Question\" role=\"tablist\">\r\n            <div class=\"panel-heading\" role=\"tab\" id=\"heading3\">\r\n                <div class=\"panel-title\" itemprop=\"name\">\r\n                    <a class=\"toggle-link transition-all collapsed\" role=\"button\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse-item-3\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapse-item-3\"><h3 class=\"panel-title\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"can_i_use_command_prompt_or_powershell_to_restore_shift-deleted_files\"><\/span>Can I use Command Prompt or PowerShell to restore shift-deleted files?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>                   \r\n                    \t<svg class=\"transition-all panel-toggle\" width=\"16px\" height=\"16px\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\">\r\n                            <g stroke=\"none\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\">\r\n                                <path d=\"M7,7 L7,0 L9,0 L9,7 L16,7 L16,9 L9,9 L9,16 L7,16 L7,9 L0,9 L0,7 L7,7 Z\" fill=\"#000000\"><\/path>\r\n                            <\/g>\r\n                        <\/svg>\r\n                   <\/a>\r\n                <\/div>\r\n            <\/div>\r\n            <div id=\"collapse-item-3\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-labelledby=\"heading3\" aria-expanded=\"false\" style=\"\">\r\n              <div class=\"panel-body\" itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\">\r\n<div itemprop=\"text\">\r\n                <p>Yes, you can use Microsoft\u2019s Windows File Recovery tool. This Command Prompt-based data recovery software can help recover shift-deleted files using commands like <b>winfr source-drive: destination-drive: \/regular \/n \\path\\to\\files\\<\/b>.<\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n                <div class=\"clearfix\"><\/div>\r\n              <\/div>\r\n            <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div style=\"border-bottom: 0px solid rgb(213, 217, 217);\" class=\"panel panel-default faq-block\" itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Question\" role=\"tablist\">\r\n            <div class=\"panel-heading\" role=\"tab\" id=\"heading4\">\r\n                <div class=\"panel-title\" itemprop=\"name\">\r\n                    <a class=\"toggle-link transition-all collapsed\" role=\"button\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse-item-4\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapse-item-4\"><h3 class=\"panel-title\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"what_is_shift_delete_shortcut\"><\/span>What is Shift + Delete shortcut?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>                   \r\n                    \t<svg class=\"transition-all panel-toggle\" width=\"16px\" height=\"16px\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\">\r\n                            <g stroke=\"none\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\">\r\n                                <path d=\"M7,7 L7,0 L9,0 L9,7 L16,7 L16,9 L9,9 L9,16 L7,16 L7,9 L0,9 L0,7 L7,7 Z\" fill=\"#000000\"><\/path>\r\n                            <\/g>\r\n                        <\/svg>\r\n                   <\/a>\r\n                <\/div>\r\n            <\/div>\r\n            <div id=\"collapse-item-4\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-labelledby=\"heading4\" aria-expanded=\"false\" style=\"\">\r\n              <div class=\"panel-body\" itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\">\r\n<div itemprop=\"text\">\r\n                <p>When you press the <b>Shift<\/b> and <b>Delete<\/b> keys at the same time in Windows with a file selected, you delete the file permanently without moving it to the Recycle Bin first. This shortcut can save you time, but it can also cause you a lot of issues, so use it carefully.<\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n                <div class=\"clearfix\"><\/div>\r\n              <\/div>\r\n            <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div style=\"border-bottom: 0px solid rgb(213, 217, 217);\" class=\"panel panel-default faq-block\" itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Question\" role=\"tablist\">\r\n            <div class=\"panel-heading\" role=\"tab\" id=\"heading5\">\r\n                <div class=\"panel-title\" itemprop=\"name\">\r\n                    <a class=\"toggle-link transition-all collapsed\" role=\"button\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse-item-5\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapse-item-5\"><h3 class=\"panel-title\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"how_can_i_recover_shift-deleted_files_in_windows_10\"><\/span>How can I recover Shift-deleted files in Windows 10?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>                   \r\n                    \t<svg class=\"transition-all panel-toggle\" width=\"16px\" height=\"16px\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\">\r\n                            <g stroke=\"none\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\">\r\n                                <path d=\"M7,7 L7,0 L9,0 L9,7 L16,7 L16,9 L9,9 L9,16 L7,16 L7,9 L0,9 L0,7 L7,7 Z\" fill=\"#000000\"><\/path>\r\n                            <\/g>\r\n                        <\/svg>\r\n                   <\/a>\r\n                <\/div>\r\n            <\/div>\r\n            <div id=\"collapse-item-5\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-labelledby=\"heading5\" aria-expanded=\"false\" style=\"\">\r\n              <div class=\"panel-body\" itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\">\r\n<div itemprop=\"text\">\r\n                <p>Even though Shift-deleted files can\u2019t be easily retrieved from the Recycle Bin, they can still be recovered using a data recovery software application like Disk Drill:<\/p>\r\n<ol>\r\n\t<li>Download and install Disk Drill on your Windows 10 computer.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Launch Disk Drill and scan the drive on which the Shift-deleted files were located.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Go through the list of recoverable files and select the lost files.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Click the <b>Recover<\/b> button and specify a suitable recovery directory.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Verify that the files have been successfully recovered.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n                <div class=\"clearfix\"><\/div>\r\n              <\/div>\r\n            <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div style=\"border-bottom: 0px solid rgb(213, 217, 217);\" class=\"panel panel-default faq-block\" itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Question\" role=\"tablist\">\r\n            <div class=\"panel-heading\" role=\"tab\" id=\"heading6\">\r\n                <div class=\"panel-title\" itemprop=\"name\">\r\n                    <a class=\"toggle-link transition-all collapsed\" role=\"button\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse-item-6\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapse-item-6\"><h3 class=\"panel-title\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"what_is_shift_delete_in_excel\"><\/span>What is Shift + Delete in Excel?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>                   \r\n                    \t<svg class=\"transition-all panel-toggle\" width=\"16px\" height=\"16px\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\">\r\n                            <g stroke=\"none\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\">\r\n                                <path d=\"M7,7 L7,0 L9,0 L9,7 L16,7 L16,9 L9,9 L9,16 L7,16 L7,9 L0,9 L0,7 L7,7 Z\" fill=\"#000000\"><\/path>\r\n                            <\/g>\r\n                        <\/svg>\r\n                   <\/a>\r\n                <\/div>\r\n            <\/div>\r\n            <div id=\"collapse-item-6\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-labelledby=\"heading6\" aria-expanded=\"false\" style=\"\">\r\n              <div class=\"panel-body\" itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\">\r\n<div itemprop=\"text\">\r\n                <p>Shift + Delete in Excel does something completely different than Shift + Delete in File Explorer. Instead of permanently deleting the selected cell, the shortcut lets you move the content of the cell to another cell.<\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n                <div class=\"clearfix\"><\/div>\r\n              <\/div>\r\n            <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div style=\"border-bottom: 01px solid rgb(213, 217, 217);\" class=\"panel panel-default faq-block\" itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Question\" role=\"tablist\">\r\n            <div class=\"panel-heading\" role=\"tab\" id=\"heading7\">\r\n                <div class=\"panel-title\" itemprop=\"name\">\r\n                    <a class=\"toggle-link transition-all collapsed\" role=\"button\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse-item-7\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapse-item-7\"><h3 class=\"panel-title\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"what_does_ctrl_shift_alt_r_do\"><\/span>What does Ctrl + Shift + Alt + R do?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>                   \r\n                    \t<svg class=\"transition-all panel-toggle\" width=\"16px\" height=\"16px\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\">\r\n                            <g stroke=\"none\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\">\r\n                                <path d=\"M7,7 L7,0 L9,0 L9,7 L16,7 L16,9 L9,9 L9,16 L7,16 L7,9 L0,9 L0,7 L7,7 Z\" fill=\"#000000\"><\/path>\r\n                            <\/g>\r\n                        <\/svg>\r\n                   <\/a>\r\n                <\/div>\r\n            <\/div>\r\n            <div id=\"collapse-item-7\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-labelledby=\"heading7\" aria-expanded=\"false\" style=\"\">\r\n              <div class=\"panel-body\" itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\">\r\n<div itemprop=\"text\">\r\n                <p>That depends on where you use it. In Adobe Premiere Pro, for example, you can use it to insert a registered symbol. Chromebook users use this shortcut to reset their devices.<\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n                <div class=\"clearfix\"><\/div>\r\n              <\/div>\r\n            <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/section><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"All it takes to delete a file in Windows is a single button press, and all it takes to delete a file permanently is a single keystroke combination: Shift + Delete. When pulling an all\u2010nighter to finish a school presentation&#8230;","protected":false},"author":7868,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2630],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-27287","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-recover-deleted-files-on-windows"},"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>7 Ways to Recover Shift Deleted Files on Windows 11\/10<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Even files deleted using the Shift + Delete key combinatino can be recovered if you follow the instructions provided in this article.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/recover-shift-deleted-files-windows.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"7 Ways to Recover Shift Deleted Files on Windows 11\/10\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Even files deleted using the Shift + Delete key combinatino can be recovered if you follow the instructions provided in this article.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/recover-shift-deleted-files-windows.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Data recovery tips. Recover deleted files on Mac, Windows.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Command-Shift-4.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"750\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"338\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"David Morelo\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:title\" content=\"7 Ways to Recover Shift Deleted Files on Windows 11\/10\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:description\" content=\"Even files deleted using the Shift + Delete key combinatino can be recovered if you follow the instructions provided in this article.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Command-Shift-4.jpg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@MoreloWrites\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@Cleverfiles\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"David Morelo\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"14 minutes\" \/>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"7 Ways to Recover Shift Deleted Files on Windows 11\/10","description":"Even files deleted using the Shift + Delete key combinatino can be recovered if you follow the instructions provided in this article.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/recover-shift-deleted-files-windows.html","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"7 Ways to Recover Shift Deleted Files on Windows 11\/10","og_description":"Even files deleted using the Shift + Delete key combinatino can be recovered if you follow the instructions provided in this article.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/recover-shift-deleted-files-windows.html","og_site_name":"Data recovery tips. Recover deleted files on Mac, Windows.","og_image":[{"width":750,"height":338,"url":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Command-Shift-4.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"David Morelo","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_title":"7 Ways to Recover Shift Deleted Files on Windows 11\/10","twitter_description":"Even files deleted using the Shift + Delete key combinatino can be recovered if you follow the instructions provided in this article.","twitter_image":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Command-Shift-4.jpg","twitter_creator":"@MoreloWrites","twitter_site":"@Cleverfiles","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"David Morelo","Est. reading time":"14 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/recover-shift-deleted-files-windows.html#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/recover-shift-deleted-files-windows.html"},"author":{"name":"David Morelo","@id":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/#\/schema\/person\/cb572c3c6f21975a615fae2d1c5ce0c4"},"headline":"How Can I Recover Shift Deleted Files in Windows","datePublished":"2020-01-09T00:48:55+00:00","dateModified":"2025-02-04T18:42:00+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/recover-shift-deleted-files-windows.html"},"wordCount":2888,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/#organization"},"articleSection":["Recover Deleted Files on Windows"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/recover-shift-deleted-files-windows.html","url":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/recover-shift-deleted-files-windows.html","name":"7 Ways to Recover Shift Deleted Files on Windows 11\/10","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/#website"},"datePublished":"2020-01-09T00:48:55+00:00","dateModified":"2025-02-04T18:42:00+00:00","description":"Even files deleted using the Shift + Delete key combinatino can be recovered if you follow the instructions provided in this article.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/recover-shift-deleted-files-windows.html#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/recover-shift-deleted-files-windows.html"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/recover-shift-deleted-files-windows.html#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"\u0413\u043b\u0430\u0432\u043d\u0430\u044f","item":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/fr\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"How Can I Recover Shift Deleted Files in Windows"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/","name":"Data recovery tips. Recover deleted files on Mac, Windows.","description":"","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/#organization","name":"CleverFiles","url":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/dd-mac-1024-flat.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/dd-mac-1024-flat.png","width":512,"height":512,"caption":"CleverFiles"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/x.com\/Cleverfiles"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/#\/schema\/person\/cb572c3c6f21975a615fae2d1c5ce0c4","name":"David Morelo","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/web-fin-headshot-site-color-background-96x96.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/web-fin-headshot-site-color-background-96x96.jpg","caption":"David Morelo"},"description":"David Morelo is a professional content writer focused on the technology sector, with expertise ranging from consumer products to the latest tech innovations. His approach involves personally testing each product according to strict editorial standards before writing detailed reviews, guides, and articles. David brings firsthand experience with Mac, Windows, and iOS platforms to his work. With over six years in the field, David\u2019s writing helps readers get the most out of their tech products. His content is straightforward, making complex topics easy to understand, even for non-technical users. As Content Team Lead at CleverFiles, he specializes in making data recovery topics accessible. Education: David Morelo holds a Bachelor's degree in English for Education. Outside of his professional life, he enjoys spending time with his family, biking, and sharing memorable moments with friends. Experience: David Morelo is a writer who shares his expertise on various reputable technology platforms. You can check out his portfolio at davidmorelo.com. He is also the author at Maketecheasier, where he delves into technical topics. You'll find his work at handyrecovery.com, where he shares his knowledge of data recovery. In addition, David writes at pandorarecovery.com, where he shares his knowledge in software testing.","sameAs":["davidmorelo","https:\/\/x.com\/MoreloWrites"],"url":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/author\/david-morelo\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27287","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7868"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27287"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27287\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":53305,"href":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27287\/revisions\/53305"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27287"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27287"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27287"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}