Restoring deleted files/folders from a 'Shared Drive'

Restore Deleted Files or Folders from a Shared Drive

This article explains how to restore deleted files or folders from a shared drive by using the Previous Versions feature in Windows.

Before you begin: You must have access to the shared drive and know the folder location where the file or folder was last seen.

Restore Deleted Files or Folders ▾

Step 1: Go to the shared drive folder

Browse to the location on the shared drive where the file or folder was last seen.

Shared drive folder location in File Explorer

Step 2: Open Previous Versions

Right-click an empty area inside that folder and select Properties, then select the Previous Versions tab.

This tab displays restore points and previous versions of the folder from different time periods.

Folder properties window showing the Previous Versions tab

Step 3: Choose the version you need

Select a version from a time when the file or folder was still available, or from a time close to when the user believes it was deleted.

Step 4: Choose Open or Restore

There are two available options:

  • Open: Use this option if you want to browse the previous version and recover a specific file or folder from inside it.
  • Restore: Use this option if you want to restore the entire folder and all of its contents back to that selected version.
Note: If you only need one specific file, it is usually best to select Open first so you can locate and copy only the item you need.

Troubleshooting ▾

  • Make sure you are opening the correct shared drive path where the file or folder was originally stored.
  • If Previous Versions does not show any entries, there may not be an available restore point for that folder.
  • If you are unsure which version to choose, select a version from a time just before the item was deleted or last seen.
  • Use Open if you only need to recover one file instead of restoring the full folder.
  • If you do not have access to the shared drive or the restore options do not work, contact the Help Desk.

Still Need Help?

If you are unable to restore the deleted file or folder from the shared drive, please contact the Help Desk at 561-297-3999 for assistance.

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