[Solved] Deleted File/Folder Not in Recycle Bin

The Recycle Bin is a valuable tool for anyone working on a computer. It is a secure spot to store deleted files temporarily. All items removed from the computer disk are automatically sent here, which remains until you delete them permanently by selecting Empty Recycle Bin. This means you can quickly and easily recover needed documents, photos, and other files if you delete them by mistake or change your mind.

However, the deleted file is not in the Recycle Bin due to your wrong operations and settings. Don't worry if you have such problems. This article will help you fix such issues and help you recover accidentally deleted files as much as possible.

Quick Navigation

Part 1. Why is Recycle Bin Not Showing Deleted Items?

Part 2. How to Fix the Problem That Deleted File Is Not In Recycle Bin

Part 3. How to Recover Deleted Files That are Not in the Recycle Bin

Part 4. How to Avoid Accidental Loss of Important Files

Part 5. FAQS

Why is Recycle Bin Not Showing Deleted Items?

Many users may be surprised that deleted files or folders are not always found in the Recycle Bin. It may be caused by the following:

If you accidentally delete a file and can't find it in your computer's Recycle Bin, don't panic! You can use the methods below to fix it and undelete files.

How to Fix the Problem That Deleted File Is Not In Recycle Bin

Usually, when removing a file, it is placed in the Recycle Bin. Unfortunately, sometimes the deleted file not showing in recycle bin, leaving you frustrated and confused about what happened. Don't worry - all hope is not lost! There are several solutions you can take to help resolve this issue.

Ways 1. Check the "Don't Move the Files to Recycle Bin" Option

1. Select the "recycle bin" icon on the desktop, right-click and select the "properties."
2. Check if this option is selected. If yes, then please cancel it.

Ways 2. Adjust the "Maximum size" Threshold

1. Open "Recycle bin Properties."
2. Find the "Custom size" under the "Settings for the selected location" option.
3. Now, click on the drive above and set the maximum size for deleted files. Note that this value should be as significant as possible. For example, if you specify 100M, when you delete a file over 100M, it will not be put into the recycle bin.
4. Click "OK" to confirm the operation.

Ways 3. Check the "Show Hidden Files" Option

1. Open the "recycle bin," choose the "View" tab in the top menu, and then click "Options."
2. Switch to the "View" tab in the popup.
3. Under the "Advanced settings" option, select "Show hidden files, folders, and drives."
4. Open the recycle bin again after clicking "OK" and refresh the list with "F5" to check for deleted items.

Ways 4. Check the Registry

1. Simultaneously hit "Windows + R" and type "regedit."
2. In the open window, navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWARE > Microsoft > Windows > CurrentVersion > Explorer > DeskTop > NameSpace.
3. Check if a Key is named "{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}" under the "NameSpace". If not, please create one, double-click "(Default)" in the right panel, and set "Value data" the value specifies "Recycle Bin."
4. Finally, restart your computer and open the Recycle Bin to check for deleted items.

Ways 5. Fix Damaged Recycle Bin

1. Hit the window key and type "CMD."
2. Select "Command Prompt" and click "Run as administrator."
3. Type "rd/s/q C:\$Recycle.bin" and tap on "Enter."
4. Restart your Windows PC.

If none of the above solutions can help you solve the problem that the deleted file is not in the Recycle Bin, it may be that the Recycle Bin is set incorrectly or its fault caused it to be removed permanently. For that, don't worry. You can still use the various methods below to get them back.

How to Recover Deleted Files That are Not in the Recycle Bin

Losing important files can be very frustrating, especially when the recycle bin not showing deleted items. Are they gone forever? However, that's not necessarily true. Actually, you can recover deleted files with the proper ways or tools, even if they have yet to be placed in the recycle bin.

Ways 1. Recover Deleted Files Not In Recycle Bin with Tool

Don't be afraid if you've accidentally deleted a file but can't find it in your computer's Recycle Bin. Finding lost files with software is easier than you might think. Here, you can use iBeesoft Data Recovery. It uses the latest algorithms and can extract almost any deleted item. Even if it gets corrupted when lost, it automatically repairs it and returns a complete file.

1. Download and install iBeesoft undelete software.
2. Run it and click "Go to settings" to uncheck the file types you don't need to retrieve to speed up the scan.
3. From the list of drives, select the one where the deleted files were saved and click on "Scan" to start looking for lost data.
4. As soon as scanning gets completed, you will see a list of recovered files. You can click "Preview" to check them.
5. Finally, after selecting the required files, tap on the "Recover" option to save the files on your PC.

Ways 2. Restore Recycle Bin Not Showing Deleted Items from Previous Versions

If you know about the previous version feature, you may get help to recover deleted files quickly. It is part of the Volume Shadow service to record file any modification and roll back to any version if needed. Here are the specific steps to use it:

1. First, locate the folder from where the file got deleted and right-click on the same.
2. Tap on the "Restore Previous Version." Then, you will see the folder versions for recovering deleted items.
3. Choose one from the previous version's list and click "Open" to check for your deleted file.
4. When you find targets, you can click on the "Restore" option to save deleted files that don't show in recycle bin.

Ways 3. Retrieve Deleted Files by Windows File Recovery

Microsoft Windows File Recovery utility is a powerful and largely overlooked tool for getting deleted files on your computer. It might help you when you accidentally delete some essential items. But it is a command line interface, which is difficult for novices to use. But you don't have to worry; we will guide you to recover permanently deleted files in Windows 11, 10.

1. Open "Microsoft Store" and download "Windows File Recovery" on your PC.
2. Run it and type "winfr C: D: /r /n *.mp3" "C" is the drive that needs to be scanned, "D" is the drive to save the recovered files, and "*.mp3" is the file type to be recovered. You can modify them according to your needs.
3. You can open drive D to check the recovered files when the progress is complete.

Ways 4. Find Deleted Files Are Not In Recycle Bin from Windows Backup

If you are searching to recover deleted files not in recycle bin on Windows 10/11, then the Windows Backup feature can be handy. It is so because, at frequent intervals, Windows Backup creates your file copies so that you can restore them in times of need.

1. Press the "Windows + I" keys to open the Settings on Windows.
2. Select "Update and Security" and the option for "Backup."
3. Now go ahead by clicking the "Go to Backup and Restore (Windows 7)" option.
4. Tap "Restore My Files" and follow the wizard to complete the recovery process.

How to Avoid Accidental Loss of Important Files

Losing important files can be distressing and costly, especially if they don't appear in the Recycle Bin. So much so that we don't even have a chance to regret it. To avoid such a situation from happening again, there are some tips you can take to prevent essential data from disappearing. They are:

• 🚫 Try to avoid using the Shift + Del keys when deleting a file, so you have a chance to undo it.
• 🗑️ Ensure the Recycle Bin is functioning correctly to avoid deleted files not appearing in this area.
• 📤 Setting up an automated backup system that copies your most important files to a secure location such as a cloud storage account.
• 🗃️ Properly labeling your files and keeping yourself organized will help ensure they stay safe.
• ⛱️ Occasional checks for system updates and virus scans can prevent malicious programs from deleting or damaging essential files.

Implementing these practices will guarantee the safety of some items but should provide peace of mind knowing you've done what you can to defend against any data disasters.

FAQS

Conclusion

Many people will encounter the problem of the deleted file is not in the recycle bin. For this, we have compiled all the solutions about it with remedies and hope this article is helpful for you.