Windows 8 is arguably the most confusing operating system Microsoft has released in the last two decades, which perhaps explains why and then many users want to know how to recover deleted files on Windows 8. If you're amid them, then you've found the right article because we draw three universally applicable methods to aid y'all recover both recently and permanently deleted files.

How to Recover Deleted Files on Windows 8/8.one

windows 8 recycle bin empty

Windows eight/8.1 does a lot of things very differently compared with the previous and subsequent versions of the operating system. Fortunately, file deletion isn't amid them, which means there are still just two ways to delete files:

  • 🟢 Delete: When you select a file and press the Delete primal on your keyboard or select the Delete option from the context menu, you move the file into the Recycle Bin. To recover it from there, employ the first method described in this article.
  • 🔴 Permanent delete: When y'all select a file and press Shift + Delete, the file becomes permanently deleted, and you can recover it using the second and third methods described in this commodity. Files as well become permanently deleted when you format a storage device.

Method 1: Recycle Bin

windows 8 recycle bin iconThe Recycle Bin is kind of like a purgatory for deleted files, which are moved there to give the user a chance to change his or her mind before they get permanently deleted. That happens when the Recycle Bin is emptied. Until so, you can follow the steps beneath and easily get all missing files dorsum without any software.

To recover deleted files from the Recycle Bin on Windows 8/8.ane:

  1. Double-click the Recycle Bin icon on the desktop.windows 8 recycle bin icon
  2. Select all missing files.
  3. Choice i: Click on any of the selected files to drag them all to your desktop or any other binder.windows 8 recycle bin drag
  4. Pick 2: Right-click whatever of the selected files and select the Restore pick to move them to their original locations.winows 8 recycle bin restore

If you can't find the missing files in the Recycle Bin because it has already been emptied or because the files were deleted using the Shift + Delete shortcut, then you need to move on to the next method.

Method 2: File History

file history icon windows 8Windows 8 introduced a new automated file fill-in tool that, unlike the fill-in tool in the previous version of Windows, doesn't depend on restore points. The name of this backup tool is File History, and y'all can use it to recover even permanently deleted files that are no longer present in the Recycle Bin.

To restore permanently deleted files using File History on Windows viii/8.1:

  1. Press the Windows fundamental to display the Windows 8 Starting time screen.
  2. Type "file history" and select Restore your files with File History from the listing of results on the right.file history windows 8 start menu
  3. Navigate to the folder where your files were located.
  4. Use the arrow buttons to select a backup that contains the missing files.
  5. Select your files and click the green restore button.file history windows 8 restore annotated

Unfortunately, File History isn't enabled by default on all computers running Windows 8/8.1. That means you might non be able to utilize this backup feature at all.

If you can't use File History because information technology's not enabled on your computer, don't worry: at that place's all the same one method that you can try to get your files dorsum, and there'due south a pretty practiced chance that it will evangelize fantabulous results.

Method three: Data Recovery Software

disk drill iconWhen build-in backup solutions neglect, it's time to use information recovery software. Whereas Windows 10 users tin can download Microsoft's new Windows File Recovery tool from the Microsoft Store, Windows viii users have to rely on tertiary-party information recovery applications.

One easy-to-utilize data recovery software awarding that'due south compatible with Windows eight/viii.1 is Disk Drill Information Recovery. Its free version can recover upwards to 500 MB, and users can choose exactly which missing files they want to recover and preview them while they're still technically deleted.

To recover missing files on Windows 8/8.1 using Disk Drill:

  1. Download Disk Drill for Windows.download disk drill windows 8 internet explorer annotated
  2. Open the downloaded file to install it.install disk drill windows 8
  3. Launch Disk Drill and scan your storage device.disk drill windows 8 search for lost data
  4. Choose which missing files you desire to undelete and click the Restore button.disk drill windows 8 file select recover
  5. Select the folder where y'all desire to move the recovered files.windows 8 disk drill recovery directory

To recover more than 500 MB of data, you need to upgrade to Disk Drill PRO.

Is Windows eight Nonetheless in Need in 2022?

windows 8 market share

Windows 8 is peradventure the most hated operating system Microsoft has always released, so it may come as a surprise that its latest version (Windows viii.1) still enjoys a market share of more 2%, according to NetMarketShare.

To put the number into perspective, macOS x.15 has a market share of around 5.three%, and all Linux distributions have a combined market share of merely 1.five%.

That said, there are overwhelmingly more than new daily activations of Windows 10, and then information technology'south only a matter of time earlier the market share of Windows 8 will fall below ii%, especially considering that support for Windows 8 ended on Jan 12, 2016.

FAQ

Conclusion

Despite its age and numerous flaws, Windows 8/viii.1 is all the same used past millions of people around the world, many of which are drastic to know how to recover deleted and permanently deleted files. In this article, nosotros've described three effective methods to help you recover from all data loss situations that don't involve concrete damage. As long as yous closely follow our step-by-step instructions, yous should be able to get your data back in no time.