Losing important data on your Windows 11 PC can be a distressful experience. Such data loss issues can occur on your device due to many reasons, such as accidental deletion, formatting, file system corruption, etc. However, you must note that when your data is deleted, it is not always permanently gone. The information may still be present on your drive and can be recovered using a variety of methods. Luckily, there are various free data recovery software tools and manual workarounds available that you can try to recover your lost files without any cost.
This guide covers some effective methods to help you learn how to recover lost data on Windows 11 for free and some preventive measures as well, that you can try to avoid such data loss issues in the future.
What Causes Data Loss on Windows 11?
Data loss on Windows 11, like on any other operating system, can occur for various reasons. Some of the most common causes of data loss on Windows 11 are:
- Accidental Deletion: You may have mistakenly deleted important files or folders while cleaning up your system or performing other tasks on your device.
- File System Corruption: Sometimes, due to improper system shutdowns, power outages, or software crashes, the file system becomes corrupted and all data stored on the disk becomes inaccessible or gets deleted.
- Malware or Virus Attacks: Malicious software like viruses or malware can delete, encrypt, or corrupt files. If backups are not available, recovering data from a malware or ransomware attack can be very difficult and costly.
- Operating System Errors: Failed or faulty Windows updates can corrupt files or make them inaccessible.
- Improper Ejection of Drives: Removing external drives without safely ejecting them can lead to data corruption.
- Partition Loss or Damage: Partition errors or deletions can lead to the loss of all files within that partition.
Quick Methods to Recover Lost Data on Windows 11
Irrespective of the above causes for the deletion of files on your Windows 11 PC, there are several free data recovery methods available online that you can try to restore lost data. In this part of the blog, we will discuss some commonly used Windows data recovery methods to help you in recovering lost data:
Method 01: Check the Recycle Bin Folder
Before diving into any other method, it is important to check the Recycle Bin folder. Every file when deleted on your Windows device goes to the Recycle Bin and remains there until you permanently delete them or empty the bin. Follow the below steps to recover files from the Recycle Bin:
- Double-click on the Recycle Bin icon on your desktop to open it.
- Browse through the files and folders to locate the deleted file you need to restore.
- Right-click on the file or folder and select Restore.
Once done, check if your file is restored to its original location. If the Recycle Bin is empty, don’t worry—there are other ways to recover the data.
Method 02: Recover Lost Data Using File History Backups
Windows 11 provides built-in File History backup utility, which automatically creates backups of files in specific folders, such as Documents, Music, Pictures, and Desktop. If you have enabled File History backup on your device, it can be a lifesaver in recovering lost data. All you have to do is:
- Type CP in the search box of your desktop and select the Control Panel.
- Go to System and Security > File History.
- Now, click Restore personal files in the left sidebar.
- Browse through the available versions of your files and select the one you want to restore.
- Select the file and click the green Restore button to recover it.
If File History wasn’t enabled before losing your data, you can’t use this method, but there are other options you can try.
Method 03: Try Cloud Storage Recovery
Another backup alternative that you can try to recover lost or deleted data on your Windows 11 device is via cloud storage services such as OneDrive, Google Drive, or Dropbox. Cloud storage services often have a versioning system, meaning previous versions of files may still be available even if they were deleted or overwritten locally.
Here’s how you can recover lost data for free using OneDrive backups:
- Open any web browser and go to the OneDrive website.
- Log in with your Microsoft account and go to the Recycle Bin section.
- Browse for the files you want to recover and click Restore.
If you’ve shared files with others, OneDrive will also keep a history of changes, allowing you to revert to earlier versions of the file.
Method 04: Use Free Data Recovery Software
Instances may occur when the Recycle Bin, File History, and cloud backup options aren’t able to recover your lost data. In such cases, you can use third-party free data recovery software like Stellar Data Recovery Free to restore your lost or deleted files without any cost. This all-in-one data recovery software completely scans your storage device and locates the deleted files, so you can restore them back to your device.
- The Stellar Data Recovery Free software offers a user-friendly interface that even non-tech users can use for easy and hassle-free recovery.
- The free version of the software recovers files up to 1 GB for free. To restore files more than that, you can switch to other paid versions.
- It supports the recovery of files deleted from multiple storage devices, including your hard drives, memory cards, USB drives, and more.
- It offers both a quick and deep scan option which allows you to thoroughly scan your storage drive, ensuring recovery of data even in complex data loss scenarios.
Steps to recover lost data on Windows 11 for free using this amazing free data recovery software:
Step 1: Download and install the Stellar Data Recovery Free software on your Windows 11 PC. Launch the software and from the homepage, select the type of file you need to restore and click Next.
Step 2: Choose the storage drive where your deleted data was earlier stored and click Scan to initiate the scanning process.
Step 3: After the scan process is completed, preview the recoverable files and choose the ones you need to restore. Click the Recover button to save selected files at the desired location on your device.
Preventive Tips to Avoid Data Loss on Windows
Though it is easy to recover lost data in Windows 11 devices using the aforementioned methods, but you should try avoiding such data loss issues. Here are some preventive measures that you can consider to avoid data loss on your Windows 11 PC:
- Regular Backups: Use built-in backup utilities, external drives or cloud services to back up important data frequently.
- Use Antivirus Software: Keep a reliable antivirus program installed on your device to prevent malware and ransomware attacks.
- Safely Eject External Drives: Always use the “Safely Remove Hardware” option before removing the storage drive from your device to avoid data corruption.
- Avoid Power Surges: Use an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) to protect against sudden shutdowns.
- Be Careful with Formatting: Double-check the drive before formatting to avoid accidental data loss.
- Use Strong Passwords: Protect your system with strong passwords to avoid unauthorized access and data tampering.
Conclusion
Issues like data loss on your Windows 11 PC can occur at any time. Such issues generally happen due to simple human error or more complex reasons like hardware failure or malware attacks. However, the aforementioned Windows data recovery methods, including free data recovery software or manual approaches, can help you get your deleted files back. Moreover, you can consider preventive measures such as performing regular backups, using reliable antivirus software, and handling hardware and software correctly to avoid such data loss issues on your device.
