How to Permanently Delete Files on Windows so They Cannot Be Recovered

Most Windows users believe that emptying the Recycle Bin is enough to delete a file. In reality, files deleted this way can be easily recovered using specialized software, which can be an issue if you need to eliminate sensitive or confidential data. To permanently delete files on Windows so they cannot be recovered, here are some straightforward methods.

First of all, it's important to understand what actually happens when you delete a file from your Windows, even from the Recycle Bin.

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Why Are Deleted Files Not Actually Gone from Windows?

When you delete a file on Windows, it doesn't immediately disappear from your storage drive. Instead of fully removing the file, the operating system merely marks the space it occupies as free. Windows then shows that this space can be overwritten by new data in the future. However, until actual overwriting occurs, fragments of the deleted file remain on the drive, making them recoverable with the right tools and knowledge.

For instance, if you delete four files occupying 1 GB in total and then empty the Recycle Bin, Windows will show 1 GB more free space. However, these files remain stored until overwritten by new data.

This seemingly harmless process can pose a serious privacy risk, especially when disposing of sensitive data that you don't want to be recoverable. Examples include personal photos, financial documents, or business information, which unauthorized individuals could easily retrieve. This becomes a significant issue if you plan to sell your computer or laptop. The person gaining access to your old device could recover much of the data you thought was deleted.

To keep sensitive files secure on Windows, you can use BitLocker, a built-in encryption tool. If files are recovered after standard deletion, they will still require the encryption key to be accessed.

How can you permanently delete files on Windows so that they cannot be recovered by other people?

If you want to permanently delete files on Windows so they cannot be recovered, you need methods that overwrite the deleted data on your hard drive. This can be done using specialized applications for secure deletion or the built-in Cipher command.

Using the Cipher Command to Overwrite Deleted Data

Few users know that Windows includes a built-in tool called "Cipher," which can overwrite all free space on your storage drive with random data. This prevents deleted files from being recovered, though the process can take a long time if you have significant free space. Note: Cipher is not recommended for SSDs as it can increase wear on the drive. While Cipher is primarily an encryption tool, using the /w option will overwrite only unallocated space./w", this will only overwrite the unallocated space.

To use this function, open Command Prompt as an administrator and type:

cipher /w:c:

This command line will overwrite all free space on the drive C. You can replace the drive letter with the appropriate one as needed. It is also not necessary to process the entire unit; you can specify a full folder, such as “C:\secretfolder". This is a faster method because it only overwrites the free space in that directory. It is important to note that this feature only works on drives formatted with the NTFS file system.

How to Permanently Delete Files on Windows so They Cannot Be Recovered — How do you permanently delete files on Windows with Cipher.

Advanced Disk Formatting

If you want to completely delete all data on hard disk so that they can no longer be recovered, advanced formatting is a very good solution.

1. Open Disk Management.

2. Format the drive using the option Full Format (not Quick Format).

This process will take longer, especially if the hard drive has a large capacity and many stored files.

Using Specialized Software for Complete Data Deletion

For greater security, use a program like DBAN to completely erase the drive through several overwrite cycles. If you need to erase very important data, Blancco Drive Eraser is also a complete solution for companies.

Blancco Drive Eraser supports DoD Standard (DoD 5220.22-M). To understand better, DoD standard 5220.22-M for data deletion is a rigorous protocol developed by the United States Department of Defense (DoD) to ensure the complete and irreversible deletion of data from storage devices. This standard is considered one of the most secure and reliable methods of erasing data, and is widely used in government, military and commercial organizations that handle sensitive information.

How do you permanently delete files on Windows if you have SSD?

For SSDs, the safest way to ensure that data cannot be recovered is to use the secure wipe function. The way SSDs handle data (especially through the TRIM command) makes recovering deleted data extremely unlikely. However, many computers include a secure erase function for SSDs in the BIOS. A better option is to use the software provided by the drive manufacturer.

Before using a BIOS tool or third-party application to completely wipe your SSD, check if your drive manufacturer doesn't already offer an official tool for this purpose.

Conclusion

So if you want to permanently delete the files on the Windows, simply moving them to the Recycle Bin and then emptying the trash is not enough. The files are still kept until other data is overwritten in their place. To permanently delete data from Windows, requires specialized applications for this operation, or the use of the Cipher command line. Also, total formatting is a solution within reach of any level of user to permanently delete data from Windows.