Have you ever accidentally deleted important PDF files while clearing space on your disk? It’s a heart-stopping moment when your finger slips and it’s too late.
If you’re wondering how to recover deleted PDF files effectively, this guide is for you. Below, we will share 6 effective ways to restore deleted PDF files without losing data.
Part 1: Where Do PDF Files Go When Deleted?
So, what happens when you click the Delete button on a PDF, and where do these files go?
In most cases, deleted files don’t actually disappear. When you delete a file, it usually goes into your Recycle Bin unless you have emptied it already.
However, if the file is not there, it doesn’t mean it’s gone forever.
The recovery success mainly depends on:
The Type of Deletion (Permanent Vs Temporary)
If the file was temporarily deleted, like in the Recycle Bin, the recovery of the PDF file is easier. On the other hand, permanent deletion makes recovery harder, but it is still possible.
The Time Since the Deletion
If you realize your mistake after a long time, the space occupied by the file will be overwritten. This will reduce your chances of recovering a deleted PDF. So, you should act quickly for the optimal results.
Backup Availability
Before starting the recovery process, you should check if a shadow copy or a cloud backup version exists.
Part 2: How to Recover PDF Document Just Deleted?
Sometimes, a folder may be accidentally dragged to the Trash or deleted unintentionally. If you notice in a few seconds, there is a great chance you can retrieve the PDF file manually.
Here are two quick ways to recover a PDF document just deleted.
Method 1: Check the Recycle Bin
Windows automatically moves deleted files to the Recycle Bin. However, this applies only if you have not used the Shift+Delete shortcut for deleting a PDF file.
This is how to restore deleted PDF files from the Recycle Bin
- Open the Recycle Bin: You should locate the icon on your desktop or in the control panel. Then double-click to open it.
- Search for your PDF: You can scroll through the files in the recycle bin or use the Search bar in the top right corner. Try typing “PDF” to filter for all documents.
- Restore the File: Once you have found your PDF document, just right-click on it, then select Restore.
Note: The file will automatically jump back to its original location. If you do not remember where it was saved, check the original location column in the Recycle Bin before you hit restore!
Method 2: Undo the Deletion
If you have not closed your folder window after deleting your PDF file, then the UNDO command can be utilized.
It is a quick way to restore a PDF file before the system even processes the move. There are two ways to do this.
- The Shortcut Keys: Just simply press Ctrl + Z on your keyboard for deleted PDF recovery.
- The Manual Way: Right-click anywhere in the empty space of the folder where the file was. Then select Undo Delete.
Part 3: How to Recover Deleted PDF Not in Recycle Bin?
Now, sometimes the situation can get worse. It is time to check your Windows and cloud services, which often keep shadow versions of your files.
- Method 1: Recover from File History
- Method 2: Check Your Cloud Backup
- Method 3: Restore Deleted PDF Files Free
- Method 4: Use Advanced PDF Recovery Software – 99% Recovery Rate🔥
Method 1: Recover From File History
The Windows File History is a built-in feature that automatically backs up your files. If the File History is enabled, then you can also use it to restore your deleted PDF.
Here is step-by-step guide
- Right-click on the folder or drive that contained your deleted PDF file.
- Then select Restore previous versions. If it was in a specific drive (like C:), right-click the drive and select Restore Previous Versions.
- A list of available previous versions of the folder or file will appear. You should select a version from before the PDF file was deleted (e.g., yesterday or last week).
- The version can now be previewed by selecting Open. When the specific version you want is found, just click Restore and get back your deleted PDF file.
Method 2: Check Your Cloud Backup
The Windows PCs are sometimes linked to a cloud service like OneDrive etc. These cloud services often keep separate Recycle Bins. They do not empty at the same time as your computer’s. What’s more, OneDrive usually keeps deleted PDF files for up to 30 days.
Here is how to retrieve a PDF file from the OneDrive cloud
- Open Microsoft OneDrive on your browser. Next, log in with your account.
- On the left-hand sidebar, click the Recycle Bin or Trash icon.
- Locate the deleted PDF file. Then select and click Restore.
Method 3: Restore Deleted PDF Files Free
If the above fixes do not work, there are still other ways to retrieve the PDF file.
Option 1: Windows File Recovery
Microsoft offers a free tool called Windows File Recovery. It is a command-line tool requiring you to type in specific instructions.
How to use Windows File Recovery for deleted PDF recovery
- Download the Windows File Recovery from the Microsoft Store.
- Find the app in your Start menu. Then right-click and select Run as administrator.
- Enter the Command and tell the tool where to look (Source) and where to save the recovered files. For example, winfr C: E: /regular /n *.PDF. This tells Windows to scan your C: drive and save results to your E: drive. It also tells you to look for PDF files.
- Confirm by typing Y when prompted to start the scan.
Option 2: Recuva
If the above tool with the command line feels too complex, then you can use Recuva. It is a free and user-friendly tool.
Steps to restore PDF files using Recuva
- Open Recuva and click the “Next” button.
- Select file type by choosing documents.
- Select location. If you know where the folder was, then select “In a specific location.” If you do not, just choose “I’m not sure.”
- Click start to scan. If the quick scan fails, then you should run it again by checking Enable Deep Scan. It takes longer but is much more thorough.
- If the color is green or orange, you can tick the boxes next to your PDFs and click Recover.
Method 4: Use Advanced PDF Recovery Software (99% Recovery Rate)🔥
If you have tried the above methods and are still unable to find the files you deleted or lost, you need a more advanced tool that can bring data back together.
The best option is a professional-level PDF file recovery software like iToolab RecoverGo Windows Data Recovery.
It is not like other free tools that often give up if a file is not well intact. iToolab RecoverGo uses advanced sector-by-sector scanning to reconstruct fragmented data.
Why Choose iToolab RecoverGo for Deleted PDF Recovery?
- User-friendly Tool: RecoverGo is a very user-friendly tool, so you don’t need to be an IT expert.
- 99% Success Rate: Advanced algorithms ensure a high recovery rate.
- Pause and Resume Later: With this tool, you can pause the process when scanning a large drive. Later on, you can start again without losing your progress.
- Advanced Scan Technology: RecoverGo has three scanning modes to help you find more lost PDF files.
- Supports 1000+ Formats: In addition to recovering the PDF document, this tool can also restore files with images, spreadsheets, and even the archives that were present in said deleted folder.
- Choose Specific Location: Users can select specific partitions or folders, or scan the entire disk.
3 easy steps on how to recover pdf documents
Step 1 Launch the software. Now select the drive or specific folder where your PDFs were originally stored. Then click the “Search for Lost Data” button.
Step 2 The software will begin a comprehensive scan until it is finished. You can use the File Type filter to select documents.
Step 3 After that, you can browse the list of documents. Then click the “Recover” button.
Tips to Increase PDF Recovery Success Rate
To restore deleted PDF files with a higher success rate, follow these tips:
- Stop Using the Drive Immediately: Every second you use your computer, the system creates temporary files. These files can overwrite your deleted PDF documents.
- Do not Install New Software on the Same Disk: If you lost files on your “C: drive”, then install your recovery tool on another drive.
- Select Only PDF/Document Formats: When scanning, utilize search filters to center on documents only. This makes the process fast and reduces strain on your drive.
- Use All Scan Methods: Try to start with a Quick Scan for immediate results. Switch to Deep Scan or Advanced Scan if your files do not appear or are empty.
Part 4: How to Prevent PDF Loss in the Future?
Recovering lost or deleted data is very stressful. The best way to recover a PDF document is to never lose it in the first place.
Here are some tips to prevent losing your PDF files in the future.
Set up Automatic Backups
Enable Auto-Sync by using services like OneDrive or Google Drive to auto-sync your most important folders. This should include the Documents Folder and Desktop.
Use the “3-2-1 Backup Rule”
So make sure to do the following:
- 3 Copies of Data: Keep your original file plus two backups of files in different locations.
- 2 Different Media: You should store backups on two different types of hardware. This could be your computer’s internal SSD and an external hard drive.
- 1 Copy Off-site: Try to keep one version in the cloud storage. This will protect against physical damage.
Smart File Management
- Relevant Naming: Try to use clear names for your files. For example, Project_Name.PDF instead of Untitled123.PDF. This will prevent you from deleting files that actually contain important work.
- Folder Structure: You should move files off your desktop. Organize them into folders like Work, Personal, or Archive.
Conclusion
Losing a PDF file can be stressful. With iToolab RecoverGo Windows Data Recovery, you can easily recover deleted PDFs as soon as possible. It offers a high recovery rate, and three scan modes can largely increase the recovery rate. This makes it a great choice to restore your lost PDF files.