Are you looking for free software to permanently delete files in Windows 11/10? This post lists some free File Shredder software for Windows 11/10 that will help you erase files permanently beyond recovery.
The Recycle Bin in the Windows operating system functions as a special directory where deleted files can be stored temporarily before being permanently deleted. This ensures that the user can still browse the deleted files and restore them if they have been deleted accidentally. A user can then, when he wants, manually clear out the Recycle Bin by using its ‘Empty Recycle Bin’ function.
When you delete a file, using the Empty Recycle Bin function, Windows 11/10 removes the index for the file and prevents the operating system from accessing the file’s contents. However, one can still recover the file’s contents until it has been overwritten by another file, which may or may not happen. Similarly, files that have been encrypted with EFS leave behind the unencrypted contents of the file on the disk. You can many times recover deleted files. To delete, erase or destroy them permanently, you can use any one of these free tools.
Delete Files Permanently in Windows 11/10
You can delete files and data securely and permanently by using the following methods:
- Free File Wiper
- SDelete or Cipher
- Microsoft Surface Data Eraser
- Other free File Shredder software
Let us take a look at them in detail.
1] Free File Wiper
It’s a simple utility that lets you permanently delete files and folders via the context menu.
Once you decide to shred a file and send it via the context menu, a confirmation box will appear first.
After you click Yes, the files will be deleted permanently. The files or folders that are deleted are overwritten with standard and random patterns and after the wipe, cannot be undeleted or restored.
The tool displays an icon near the taskbar. Right-clicking allows you to set the options.
Whenever files are selected and deleted the icon residing in the system tray turns red and displays delete progress. The operation is super quick and once initiated, cannot be canceled. If you don’t like the icon appearing on your desktop, after setting your options, you can right-click it again and select Exit. The tool will continue to work, nevertheless.
Since Free File Wiper is a portable application, it does not require any installation method and can be easily carried on a USB drive. Please note that, although the application is distributed as freeware, the author accepts donations from its users. If you encounter a ‘Donate’ window appearing on your computer screen once a week, do not be irritated. You can get it here.
2] Delete files permanently with SDelete or Cipher from Microsoft
Microsoft SysInternals also offers a powerful tool that allows you to permanently delete files. With the SDelete tool from Microsoft, which you can download for free, you can overwrite the contents of free space on your disk to prevent deleted or encrypted files from being recovered. Cipher is a command-line tool from Microsoft that lets you encrypt, decrypt, securely erase, wipe deleted data and free space.
Read: How to wipe Hard Disk and MFT clean.
3] Microsoft Surface Data Eraser
Microsoft Surface Data Eraser is a simple tool that boots from a USB stick and allows a user to perform a secure wipe of all data from a compatible Surface device
4] Free File Shredder software
Apart from these, there are other freeware to delete files permanently. These free Secure Delete software will help you securely delete your data irrevocably. Some of them are being mentioned below:
- DBAN
- Overwrite
- BleachBit System Cleaner
- OW Shredder
- ForceDelete
- DeleteOnClick.
- Secure Delete
- Prevent Restore
- FileShredder.
Have you been using any of these? If so, which one would you recommend? Or maybe we have missed your favorite free tool. Do share and let us know.
How do you permanently delete files so they cannot be recovered?
To permanently delete files so they cannot be recovered, use the keyboard shortcut “Shift + Delete” after selecting the files on your computer. This action bypasses the Recycle Bin, making recovery harder. You can also use file shredding software that overwrites data and prevents file restoration.
Are permanently deleted files really gone?
Permanently deleted files are not immediately gone from your hard drive. Rather, the system marks the space as available for new data. Until overwritten, these files can be recovered using specialized software, making them not truly gone until completely overwritten by new information.
How do I remove all traces from deleted files?
To remove all traces of deleted files, use a tool like Eraser. Drag and drop files into Eraser or right-click and choose “Erase”. Tools like Eraser securely delete files, removing all traces from your computer.
TIP: These Free Data Recovery Software to recover deleted files in Windows may also interest you.
