Thread marked as SOLVED, glad to see this one had a happy ending.
We also have a detailed Windows 11 file recovery guide here:
🔗 https://www.handyrecovery.com/recover-deleted-files-on-windows-11/
And if you’re comparing recovery software options, check out our 2025 roundup:
🔗 https://www.handyrecovery.com/best-data-recovery-apps.html
✅ For anyone finding this later, here are a few key takeaways:
Stop using the drive as soon as possible after deletion
Never download or install recovery tools on the same drive where the file was deleted
Always recover files to a different drive (external USB or a second internal drive/partition) to avoid overwriting data
🗂️ I also wanted to mention built-in backup features that often get overlooked. Although not many people back up their data regularly, Windows actually includes several built-in tools that can help you recover permanently deleted files in Windows 11 (if they were set up ahead of time).
If you had File History enabled, you might be able to recover older versions of files from your Documents, Pictures, Desktop, and other folders.
Windows 11 also still includes the classic Backup and Restore (Windows 7) feature, which supports both file backups and full system images. If you’ve ever used it, your deleted file might be in there.
There’s also Restore Previous Versions, which can show earlier states of individual files and folders (if backups or restore points exist).
Finally, OneDrive deserves a mention. If file sync was turned on, there’s a chance your file is still in the cloud. But here’s the caveat: if you deleted the file locally and also emptied your system Recycle Bin, that deletion often syncs to OneDrive as well, meaning the file could be gone from both places. It’s still worth checking, but keep in mind that OneDrive mirrors deletions.
Thanks to everyone who contributed.
