What to Do Right After Deleting an Important File
A calm first-response checklist that protects your best chance of recovery.
Read guide →Data recovery
Protect your recovery chances before you scan.
Deleted files are often recoverable, but every new write to the affected drive can reduce the odds. Start with preservation, then choose the least risky recovery path.
Stop using the affected storage device. If it makes unusual sounds, disconnects repeatedly, or is not detected reliably, software may not be the right next step.
A safer sequence
Work through the problem in order.
01
Preserve
Stop downloads, installations, updates, and file copies to the affected drive.
02
Identify
Confirm whether the loss came from deletion, formatting, corruption, or physical failure.
03
Recover elsewhere
Scan from a separate drive and save recovered files to a different destination.
Guides
Start here.
BitLocker Recovery Key: Check These Places Before Resetting
Match the key ID, search the right accounts, and avoid a reset that removes your files.
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