How to Recover Deleted Files Quarantined By Antivirus Software?

17 minutes read

If you have accidentally deleted files or if your antivirus software has mistakenly quarantined important files, you might be wondering how to recover them. Here are some steps you can take:

  1. Check the antivirus software quarantine folder: Most antivirus programs have a quarantine folder where they store potentially harmful files. This folder acts as a temporary storage for deleted or quarantined files. Open your antivirus software and navigate to its quarantine folder to see if your deleted files are there.
  2. Restore from quarantine: If you find your deleted files in the antivirus software quarantine folder, you may be able to restore them directly from there. Select the files you want to recover and look for the option to restore or recover them. This process will vary depending on the antivirus software you are using.
  3. Examine the recycle bin: If you have deleted files and they are not in the antivirus quarantine folder, check your computer's recycle bin. Sometimes, deleted files are not immediately removed from your system and are instead moved to the recycle bin. Locate the files you want to recover, right-click on them, and choose the "Restore" option. This will put the files back to their original location.
  4. Utilize file recovery software: If you cannot find your deleted files in the antivirus quarantine folder or the recycle bin, you can try using third-party file recovery software. There are numerous software options available, such as Recuva, EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard, or Disk Drill. Download and install one of these programs, follow the provided instructions, and scan your computer for deleted files. If the software identifies your files, you can typically restore them with a few clicks.
  5. Check backup sources: If you regularly backup your files, check your backup sources for the deleted or quarantined files. This may include external hard drives, cloud storage services, or network drives. Restore the files from your backup to recover them.
  6. Contact antivirus support: In cases where you are unable to recover your deleted files on your own, or if you suspect that your antivirus software made a mistake, contact the customer support for your specific antivirus program. They should be able to guide you through the process of recovering your files or offer further assistance.


Note that the success of the recovery process depends on various factors, such as the antivirus software used, the time elapsed since deletion, and the activity on your computer after the deletion. It is always recommended to take immediate action and not use your computer extensively before attempting to recover the deleted files.

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What is antivirus quarantine?

Antivirus quarantine refers to a security feature offered by antivirus software that isolates and stores potentially malicious files or programs detected on a user's device. When the antivirus software detects a suspicious file, it may move or copy it to a quarantined area. This helps prevent the file from causing any harm until further investigation is conducted. The file is effectively isolated from the rest of the system, unable to execute or impact any other files or processes. Users can review the quarantined items and decide whether to delete or restore them. Antivirus quarantine provides an additional layer of protection to safeguard systems from potential threats.


How to recover files quarantined by Avast antivirus?

To recover files that have been quarantined by Avast antivirus, you can follow these steps:

  1. Open the Avast Antivirus software on your computer.
  2. Go to the "Protection" or "Scan" tab, depending on the version of Avast you are using.
  3. Look for the "Quarantine" or "Virus Chest" option. It is usually located in the "Scan Results" or "History" section.
  4. Once you are in the Quarantine or Virus Chest section, you will see a list of files that have been quarantined or moved to the chest.
  5. Select the files you want to recover. You can either select individual files or use the select all option if you want to recover all files.
  6. Once you have selected the files, look for the option to restore or recover the files. This option is typically an icon that looks like a downward arrow or a button labeled "Restore" or "Recover".
  7. Click on the restore or recover option to recover the selected files. Avast will move the files back to their original location on your computer.


Note: It is important to exercise caution when recovering files from quarantine as they were initially detected as threats by the antivirus software. Ensure that you fully trust the files you are recovering before restoring them.


How to recover files deleted by Norton quarantine?

If you have accidentally deleted files using Norton quarantine, there are a few steps you can take to recover them:

  1. Check the Norton quarantine folder: Open the Norton software and navigate to the Quarantine section. Look for the deleted files in the list of quarantined items. If you find the files you're looking for, select them and choose the option to restore them to their original location.
  2. Use the Norton File Recovery tool: Norton provides a specialized tool called Norton File Recovery that can potentially help you recover deleted files. Download and install the tool from the Norton website, then follow the instructions provided to scan for and recover deleted files.
  3. Check your Norton backup settings: Norton includes the option to create backups of files before they are quarantined. If you had this feature enabled, you may be able to recover the deleted files using Norton's backup and restore functionality. Open the Norton software and navigate to the Backup section to check if any backups were created. If so, follow the instructions provided to restore your files.
  4. Use third-party file recovery software: If the above methods do not work, you can try using third-party file recovery software. There are numerous options available, such as Recuva, EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard, or Disk Drill. Download and install one of these programs, then follow the instructions provided to scan your computer for deleted files and attempt to recover them.


Remember to avoid saving any new files or making changes to your computer's storage until you have attempted to recover the deleted files. This reduces the risk of overwriting the deleted data and increases the chances of successful recovery.


What are the risks of recovering quarantined files?

There are several risks associated with recovering quarantined files:

  1. Malicious software: Quarantined files are typically identified as potential threats to your system's security. Recovering these files may reintroduce malware or other malicious software into your system, potentially causing further damage or compromising your personal and sensitive data.
  2. False positives: Antivirus or security software may sometimes identify legitimate files as potential threats and quarantine them. Recovering these files without proper verification could lead to the restoration of potentially harmful content.
  3. System instability: Quarantined files are often isolated because they pose a risk to the stability and functionality of your system. Restoring these files may result in crashes, errors, or performance issues, as they may still contain problematic code or conflicts with other system components.
  4. Reinfection: If you recover quarantined files that were part of an earlier malware infection, you risk reinitiating the same infection. This can happen if the underlying malware is still active on your system or if the files were not fully cleaned by your antivirus software.
  5. Data loss: In some cases, quarantined files might be damaged or incomplete due to their potential threat status. Attempting to recover these files could result in incomplete data or files that are unusable or corrupted.


To minimize these risks, it is recommended to exercise caution and consult with an IT professional or your antivirus software provider before attempting to recover quarantined files.

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