Most deleted files are not gone yet. Check the trash or recycle bin first, then backups, then the cloud. Act quickly: trash folders empty themselves after about 30 days.
Windows: Recycle Bin
Open the Recycle Bin from the desktop.
Find the file, right-click it, and select Restore. It returns to the folder it was deleted from.
If the bin was already emptied, move on to File History below. Do not save new files to the same drive until you have tried to recover.
Windows: File History
Open Control Panel, then select System and Security, then File History.
Select Restore personal files on the left.
Browse to the folder the file was in, pick the version from before the deletion, and select the green Restore button.
File History only works if it was turned on before the file was deleted, with a backup drive connected or a network location set.
Cloud and phone trash
OneDrive: open onedrive.live.com, select Recycle bin on the left, tick the file, and select Restore. Files stay there 30 days.
Google Drive: open drive.google.com, select Trash, right-click the file, and select Restore. Files stay there 30 days.
iPhone Photos: open Photos, go to Albums, scroll to Recently Deleted, select the photo, and tap Recover. Items stay 30 days.
Android Google Photos: open Photos, go to Library, then Trash, select the item, and tap Restore. Items stay 30 days, or 60 days if they were backed up.
If the file is not in any trash or backup, stop using the drive. Every new file written to it can overwrite the deleted data. Recovery software run from another drive is the last option, and it works best the sooner you try it.
Common questions
How long do deleted files stay in the Recycle Bin? Until you empty it, or until it fills up. When the Recycle Bin runs out of its allotted space, Windows deletes the oldest items to make room.
Can I recover a file after emptying the Recycle Bin? Sometimes, with File History or recovery software, but there is no guarantee. The sooner you try, and the less you use the drive meanwhile, the better the odds.
Can a formatted drive be recovered? Sometimes, with recovery software, but the odds drop sharply after formatting and new use. A drive that was securely wiped cannot be recovered.