I accidentally deleted several gigabytes of files from my Downloads folder. They are not in the Recycle Bin, and I do not know what caused the deletion. I scanned the drive with Recuva, and some filenames still appear in the results, so I'm hoping the data can be restored. Are there any free recovery options, and is there anything I should do right now to improve my chances?
4 Answers
Stop using that drive as much as possible. New downloads, installations, or other file activity could overwrite the deleted data and make recovery impossible. Since Recuva can still see some filenames, try recovering the most important files to a different drive or USB device—not back into the Downloads folder.
Check your browser’s download history. It may show the original locations and let you download especially important files again. Also review Windows Storage Sense settings and make sure automatic cleanup is not configured to delete items from Downloads in the future.
Unfortunately, deleted files are not always recoverable, especially if the drive has been used since the deletion. If the files are irreplaceable, stop experimenting with the drive and consider making a sector-by-sector image or using a professional recovery service.
The color usually indicates the estimated condition of the file. Files marked red are often heavily overwritten or unlikely to recover correctly, but it is still worth trying the free recovery option if the program allows it. Save anything recovered to another drive, and try a different free recovery tool if Recuva limits the files you need.
Recuva shows some files in red, and clicking Recover seems to send me toward the Pro version. Does the red status mean those files cannot be recovered for free?