Deleted Files Reappear Again in Windows 11

Has it ever happened to you that you tried deleting a few bunch of files and the deletion process seemed to be successful, but when you turned on the computer the other day, your deleted files appeared again in the same directory? It can be very annoying when you want to get rid of those files and the deleted files come back again and again even after multiple deletion attempts.

So what do you do? Here are 5 steps to follow. But first, a bonus package for our readers.

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Method 1: Reset Recycle Bin

Your Recycle Bin might have become corrupted. This is the most common reason behind deleted files reappearing again. You’ll need to reset Recycle Bin for each drive affected with this problem. Resetting the Recycle Bin will fix this problem for most users.

Warning:

When you reset the Recycle Bin, you lose all the files in the concerned drive. For example: After resetting the Recycle Bin for drive C:\, all files stored in the Recycle Bin originally from drive C:\, will be permanently lost. It is highly recommended that you temporarily move the Recycle Bin contents to some other folder before starting this operation.

Steps:

1. Click on the Start button and type Command Prompt.
2. Right-click on Command Prompt from the Search Results.
3. Select the Run as Administrator option.
4. If you want to repair Recycle Bin for the drive C:\, type the following command:
   • rd /s /q “C:\$Recycle.bin”
5. If you want to repair the Recycle Bin for any other drive, replace “C:\” with the actual drive letter.
6. Press Enter.
7. The process may take some time. If you’ve got too many files in the Recycle Bin with a larger size, this may take additional time.
8. One the process is complete, you can type exit to quit Command Prompt.
9. Restart your computer.

Method 2: Use System File Checker

System File Checker (SFC) might help fix the deleted files reappearing issue if the underlying issue is caused due to corrupt operating system files and components.

1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator.
2. Type sfc /scannow and press Enter.
3. This may take some time. Wait until the entire process is finished.

Method 3: Turn Off Cloud Sync

If you’re using OneDrive, Google Drive, Dropbox or any other cloud storage sync software, it may be syncing your files in real-time. A technical glitch in the real-time file cloud syncing can cause your deleted files to reappear again. You can disable the cloud syncing to stop this annoying behavior. The exact steps may differ.

For OneDrive Client:

1. Click on the More icon in the Notification Area of the taskbar.
2. Click on the OneDrive icon.
3. Click on Help & Settings.
4. Select Pause Syncing.
5. Delete your files again.

For Google Drive:

1. Click on the More icon.
2. Right-click on Google Backup & Sync.
3. Select the Pause option.
4. Delete your files now.

For Dropbox Client:

1. Click on the More icon.
2. Click on the Dropbox icon.
3. Click on Pause file sync.
4. Now try deleting your files again.

Important: To avoid such cloud syncing issues in the future, it is recommended that you get rid of duplicate documents and files on the cloud. If you’re syncing files between multiple devices on a regular basis, duplicate files can cause a lot of conflicts. You can get rid of the duplicate files on your cloud using a cloud-based duplicate finder such as Cloud Duplicate Finder. CDF is safe and uses the official APIs from the respective cloud service providers to get a temporary token to access and manage your files. The token is revocable by simply signing out from your cloud service after deleting the duplicates.

Method 4: Scan for Viruses

Malware infection is another reason. Update the Antivirus software you use and scan the entire hard disk for viruses & malware. Keep your system up-to-date with the latest Windows Updates.

Method 5: System Restore

You can also try your luck with System Restore. System Restore utility will help you get back to an earlier point in time and fix the file deletion issue.

1. Type Recovery in the Search Box.
2. Open Recovery from the Search Results.
3. Click on Open System Restore.
4. Select Choose a different restore point, and then click on Next.
5. Choose a restore point and then click on Next.